Good morning everyone!
Welcome to the 3,412th day of the lockdown! Not going to lie it's getting a little bit like groundhog day but the blog is keeping my mind fresh and it's really interesting seeing what happened 80 years ago.
Have a fantastic day
thanks
Phil
80 years ago today in Jersey 28th January 1941
Today would be the 212th day of the Islands Occupation with 1,562 days remaining.
80 years ago today the Masonic temple in Jersey was ransacked by a special group of German soldiers and many of the artefacts ended up on display in Berlin. After this, the German Field Police's sealed the temple and had door seal to track unauthorised access. Here is a photo of the seal (above) and subsequent investigation by the Monuments and Fine Art Branch (below). The taken artefacts have not been found but it is believed that during the war they were displayed in Berlin.
Further afield
28th January 1941
The commonwealth graves commission record 146 deaths this day 80 years ago, the average age was 24.
Allied Naval Action
Six enemy merchant ships were sighted off Ushant steering north-east on the 28th, and H.M. Destroyers Kashmir and Kipling were sent to intercept but were unable to locate them.
H.M. Destroyer Westcott (below)was damaged in a collision with H.M. Corvette Bluebell on 28th January when escorting an outward-bound convoy in the North-Western Approaches but was able to reach her base under her own steam.
Luftwaffe Action
Focke-Wulf 200 sight an Allied convoy the SS Grelrosa cargo ship with a cargo of wheat, was sunk by Focke-Wulf ‘Condor’ aircraft about 400 miles W of Northern Ireland. Five of her crew were lost.
Occupation Focus
The cover of today's blog is the German Resistance Nest WN Grande Charriere which is found on the south coast.
As always, much more information on the blue link
The January book recommendation is "A Hero Among Millions."
A touching story by a son of a quiet hero/ survivor of World War II who happened to be the commander of Squadron 34 who operated in the Channel Island waters.
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, these 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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