Good morning
Welcome to the weekend and I hope you all have lots planned.
Quick update on re-opening, We are really struggling to open for tours & volunteer work due to this rule (which we respect).
"plan and maintain 2 metres or more physical distancing between household groups at all times"
I think we may be stuck until the 1 Meter rule returns have reached out for more detailed guidance but nothing back yet.
Have a fantastic day!
Cheers
Phil
80 years ago today in Jersey 6th February 1941
Today would be the 219th day of the Islands Occupation with 1,553 days remaining.
German Diaries record the setup of Feldwache (early defence and watchpoint)10 situated close to Lewis Tower.
Changes to petrol rationing published in the local paper.
Further afield
6th February 1941
The commonwealth graves commission record 109 deaths this day 80 years ago, the average age was 26.
British Intelligence
The battleship Bismarck was reported at Gdynia on the 6th February
Atlantic
On the 6th February, H.M. Minelayers Southern Prince (below) and Port Quebec laid 1,110 mines between the Faroe Islands and Iceland,
British Motor torpedo boats laid mines off the Belgian Coast on the night of the 6th/7th February.
German Motor Torpedo Boats S.30, S.54, S.58, S.59 sank British ship Angularity on the east coast of England; 2 were killed, 1 was captured by S.30.
German submarine U-107 sank Canadian ship Maplecourt 250 miles northwest of Ireland at 1752 hours, killing the entire crew of 37. “Maplecourt” was part of convoy SC-20 from Montreal, Canada, to Preston, England.
RAF
The British Royal Air Force established the Directorate of Air Sea Rescue (Motto: "The sea shall not have them"). Operationally it was to become known as Air Sea Rescue Services (ASRS),
The new Directorate took up its duties on 6 February 1941 and during the next six months, the small staff established close relations with various organisations that had a role to play in sea rescues. In addition to dealing with actual rescue activities, the Directorate of Air/Sea Rescue was responsible for the development of life-saving equipment in conjunction with the Director of Operational Requirements. From its foundation it had four main problems to solve:
1. How to teach aircrews to ditch and abandon an aircraft in the sea.
2. How to keep aircrew alive after they had abandoned their aircraft.
3. How to locate the aircrew.
4. How to bring them safely home
Occupation Focus
The cover of today's blog is the German Batterie Moltke Located at the south of Les Landes. Originally planned to be 'Marinebatterie 1' armed with four 15cm SK c/28 guns in revolving turrets. Four fortress type gun emplacements were built to house these, but the guns never made it to Jersey. Older 15.5cm French GPF field guns were used instead.
Batterie Moltke
5./HKAR 1265 4 x K 418(f) 155 mm Canon de 155 GPF 12.5-mile range
Please enjoy the below 3d tours of the batterie bunkers and the video of one of these captured guns in use with the Canadian forces in WW2.
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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