Good Evening
Sorry on the delay some technical difficulties with the internet connection today.
Have a fantastic night!
Cheers
Phil
80 years ago today in Jersey 7th February 1941
Today would be the 220th day of the Islands Occupation with 1,552 days remaining.
Further afield
7th February 1941
The commonwealth graves commission record 73 deaths this day 80 years ago, the average age was 28.
RAF Raid Assessment Reports
Aerial photographs taken between 2118 hours and 2204 hours by Bomber Command P.I.U. of the attack on Boulogne on the night of the 7th/8th February show following results A 750-ft. long white building was straddled to the West of the goods station.. Fires were started across the railway bottleneck connecting the goods yard to the main railway station and in adjoining buildings. Fires were also to be seen in the town, on a large warehouse on the Quai Chanzy, near the goods yard, on the quay side of the Bassin de Retenue, and near the new road bridge. The photographs taken at 2204 hours show that the intensity of some of the fires had greatly increased since they had first been photographed during the earlier part of the raid.
Atlantic
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay Fisher carrying Government stores was sunk by enemy aircraft while in a coastal convoy off the Firth of Tay on the 7th February
Luftwaffe Action
On the morning of the 7th February, a low-level attack was made on Fraserburgh, where a gasholder was fired and a number of U.X.B's. were dropped. That afternoon the swing bridge and harbour works at Lowestoft were damaged and eight people killed.
Occupation Focus
The cover of today's blog is the German Resistance Nest Bel Royal Located at the south in St Aubin's Bay.
Weapons and Equipment
Two Machine Guns MG34 mounted in a 6 loophole turret on a type 115d Bunker, One 4.7cm Pak K36(t) with co-axial MG37(t) Machine Gun housed in a Type 631b casemate, Ringstand built into AntiTank Wall
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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