Click the photo below or above link for dates and booking options for the WW2 boat tour. In the past two years, this tour has sold out fast so please book early to avoid disappointment. Worth remembering we are a non-profit and the money made from our tours is used to fund ongoing maintenance and projects supporting the education of WW2 history.
80 years ago today in Jersey 4th February 1941
Today would be the 217th day of the Islands Occupation with 1,555 days remaining.
Vegetable prices are to be controlled, the first list being issued by the Department of Essential Commodities.
Further afield
4th February 1941
The commonwealth graves commission record deaths 206 this day 80 years ago, the average age was 29.
RAF Action
Air reconnaissance over Cherbourg on the 4th February showed one destroyer in port, and two large naval units of unspecified character were seen in Lorient.
Three aircraft attacking seaborne trade in home waters were shot down by RAF fighters, and on the 5th one was shot down by fighters and one by HM Trawler Lady Philomena.
The bombing of Germany and Occupied Territory. Weather conditions were again unfavourable. Bomber Command flew 38 sorties by day and 155 by night and Coastal Command 19 by day and 25 by night.
British minelaying
The only Naval minelaying operation in the period under review was carried out by H.M.S. Teviot Bank which laid 265 mines in the East coast Barrier on the 4th February. Minelaying by aircraft has been mainly confined to the French Atlantic coast.
German Navy
German submarine U-93, having damaged British ship “Dione II” (below) on the previous day with gunfire northwest of Ireland, sank the ship at 0440 hours with the deck gun and the anti-aircraft gun; 28 were killed, 5 survived.
Occupation Focus
The cover of today's blog is the German Resistance Nest Jasmin is a Second Line Resistance Nest. It lies on the highest section of the island between Strongpoint Bouley and Resistance Nest Bonne Nuit Fort
Weapons and Equipment
Two light Machine Gun 34’s Two French Machine Guns mounted in tank turrets Two 5cm French fortress mortars One 40cm searchlight One twin Machine Gun 34 mount
As always, much more information on the blue link including exact location and map.
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 as well 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, 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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