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Writer's picturePhil (JWT Admin)

The Road to Liberation - 18th December 1940


Good morning everyone


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Have a great day.

Thanks

Phil





Above top is the German WW2 10.5cm Artillery Gun Bunker found at Resistance Nest High Tower. This resistance nest formed part of the anti-invasion defence system on the West Coast of Jersey. There was a Jersey Round Tower here hence the name "High Tower" but the Germans destroyed it to make way to stronger bunker defences.


Two sMG 34 Machine Guns

One 5cm LeGrenatwerfer 36 mortar

Two 4.7cm Pak K36(t) both attached with MG37(t) machine-guns

One 10.5cm K 311(f) in a Jäger type casemate

One medium flame-thrower

One 40cm searchlight


 

Occupation Focus

80 years ago today 18th of December 1940

Today would be the 171st day of the Islands Occupation with 1,603 days remaining.

" German soldier killed when a lorry in which he was a passenger goes over the quayside and into the harbour the Germans deny that he was killed, although his body was under the water for nearly an hour! Experiments made with incendiary bombs recently dropped proved that the Germans are using a different type which contains an explosive substance. "


Leslie Sinel

Civilian working at the Evening Post

 

Further afield

80 years ago today

18th of December 1940

H.M. Submarine Triton


On 28 November 1940, Triton left Malta for a patrol in the southern Adriatic Sea. On 6 December, the Italian merchant Olimpia was torpedoed by a British submarine in the area. Her distress message was picked up by the Royal Navy, which assumed that the attack had been carried out by Triton. The submarine was never heard from again 80 years ago today she was declared lost with all hands.



Also on the 18th December 1940 Hitler issued formal orders to the German armed forces to begin the detailed planning for the invasion of Russia, known as Operation Barbarossa.


Directive No. 21 – Case Barbarossa

The German Armed Forces must be prepared, even before the conclusion of the war against England, to crush Soviet Russia in a rapid campaign.

The Army will have to employ all available formations to this end, with the reservation that occupied territories must be insured against surprise attacks.

The Airforce will have to make available for this Eastern campaign supporting forces of such strength that the Army will be able to bring land operations to a speedy conclusion and that Eastern Germany will be as little damaged as possible by enemy air attack. This build-up of a focal point in the east will be limited only by the need to protect from air attack the whole combat and arsenal area which we control, and to ensure that attacks on England, and especially upon her imports, are not allowed to lapse.

The main efforts of the Navy will continue to be directed against England even during the eastern campaign.

In certain circumstances, I shall issue orders for the deployment against Soviet Russia eight weeks before the operation is timed to begin.

Preparations which require more time than this will be put in hand now, in so far as this has not already been done, and will be concluded by 15th May 1941.

It is of decisive importance that our intention to attack should not be known.



 

The December book recommendation is "The Americans on D-Day."

This book has 450 dramatic photographs captured in northern France during the first day and week of its liberation and is available on kindle! Click the photo to find out more. It also would make a fantastic Christmas Present.



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