Good Morning
Lots of research work done yesterday on a few of the sites and we will be sharing that with you in the next few weeks.
For volunteering at our sites for research and maintenance please contact us so we can come up with a rota and more details for you info@jerseywartours.com
80 years ago today in Jersey 22nd February 1941
Today would be the 237th day of the Islands Occupation with 1,537 days remaining.
"Tobacco running out; many tobacconists supply their customers with cigarettes only. Several horses arrive from France for States work. Germans take over more accommodation at the General Hospital; maternity cases are transferred to the Dispensary. During the past week, three German planes have crashed at the Airport, one of them a Troop Carrier, which resulted in several casualties."
Leslie Sinel
Civilian working at the evening post
Further afield
22nd February 1941
The commonwealth graves commission record 126 deaths this day 80 years ago, the average age was 20.
RAF Action
On the 22nd February three attacks on U-Boats in the North-Western Approaches were made by surface craft but without visible results.
Mediterranean
H.M.S. Terror (15-inch Monitor) sank off Derna as a result of damage from near misses in two bombing attacks at Benghazi and off Derna on the 22nd
Luftwaffe Action
On the 22nd two fighter sweeps were made over Kent and the Thames Estuary; about 190 enemy aircraft took part, the largest number employed against this country since November. Fifteen attacked Manston aerodrome with bombs and cannon fire, but without causing serious damage
Occupation Focus
The cover of today's blog is from a small defence position above the German Tunnel Ho5 which is found in St Aubin close to the harbour and one of our core projects.
Our HO5 project aims are to research and protect this WW2 Tunnel found in Jersey in the Channel Islands. This Tunnel is part of the German Nazi-era fortifications and was built using forced and slave labour. The funding of the project has been made possible by you! either by joining us on a tour or from donations. However, we are a long way from done and any additional support will help secure further work here and help to secure this important historical site.
As always, much more information on the blue link and 3d tour below
Book Recommendation
The February book recommendation is "Six Days." The story centres around the paratroopers of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division and the brave citizens of the quiet French hamlet. The battle of Grainges maybe not be known as some of the invasion stories but this beautifully illustrated novel captures the true story.
Exploring bunkers Always get permission from the owner Take a torch, a spare and one more for luck Don't go alone & tell someone where you will be and for how long You will get dirty as most are often full of rubbish and may have been used as a public toilet Anything you find still belongs to the person that owns the property Unexploded ordnance is still found in Jersey if you see or find anything that looks like ordnance please call the bomb disposal officer on 01534 612 61
Sources of Information German Documents are housed at The National Archived in Washington or Archive in Kew UK T-78 Roll 317: OKH Coastal and Channel Defenses Files 1940-44 -
T-78 Roll 318: OKH Coastal and Channel Defenses Files 1941-43
T-315 Roll 1639: 216th Security Division War Diary
(Kriegstagebuch), Belgium, France & Russia 1939-42
T-1022 Roll 2423: Various War Diaries (Kriegstagebucher), Channel Islands 1941-44
Atlantic Wall Coastal Battery Lists: Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, & France 1944-45
T-312 Roll 1559: 7th Army War Diary (Kriegstagebuch), France 1941-43 & T-312 Roll 1558
T-315 Roll 1643: 216th Security Division War Diary
(Kriegstagebuch), Belgium, France & Russia 1939-41
T-311 Roll 16: Army Group D War Diary (Kriegstagebuch), Western Front Aug-Nov 1944 Operation Green Arrow - Occupation of the Channel Islands MOD 584 Allied Technical Intelligence Reports 1942-45 German Preparations for Invasion of the United Kingdom 1941-42 B-833, 319th Infantry Division (1941-45) German Seacoast Defenses, European Theatre - prepared by the Artillery Evaluation Board
BBC News & Archives
The Britannica Jersey Occupied by Michael Ginns - ISBN 978-1-905095-29-2 Operation Nestegg Plans Operation Hardtack Plans Operation Basalt Plans RAF Photos care of The National Collection of Aerial Photography
The National Archive of Newspapers Bundesarchiv - Multiple Photos - and Files A Map of slave labour camps. Kindly Provided by Emilio Pérez Photo's and information provided by fans Onsite visits & internet research
Cabinet Papers Second World War memoranda (cab 661- cab 665) After the Battle Multiple Magazines
CIOS Archive & Publications (become a member here)
If we have used any photos or information which you believe to posted without permission, please contact us at info@jerseywartours.com and we will resolve asap.
Jersey War Tours is Registered with the Jersey Financial Services Commission as a Non-Profit Organisation - NPO1207
Jargon Help
Widerstandsnest (WN) = Resistance Nest (RN) A small pocket of resistance would be made up of small groups of up to 10 men with light weapons. They would man Anti-tank weapons, an observation post or a field gun. Stützpunkt St.P = Strongpoint (STP) Next level up from an RN and consisted of several RN's. STP areas would have a combination of weapons and different branches of the military used. Examples of this can be found with Strongpoint Greve de Lecq and Strongpoint Corbiere Einsatzstellung = Operational Position or Action Post Smaller MG type position generally it was only maned during an alert Feldwache = Field Watch Early resistance nest
Jägerstand
Jäger Casemate was a special design and name for bunkers designed to hold a 10.5cm field gun
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