German Anti-Aircraft
Batteries on Jersey
On the German range map above you can see the anti-aircraft ranges marked as circles filled with stripes. By late 1944 the Germans on Jersey had 144 light/medium anti-aircraft (AA) guns and 37 Heavy guns (88's). They were manned by the German Airforce (Luftwaffe), Army (Heer) and Navy (Kriegsmarine). It is worth noting that most strongpoints and resistance nests also had smaller calibre AA positions.
In October 1943 the Luftwaffe on Jersey was organised as "Mixed Anti-Aircraft Battalion 364" (Gemischte Flak Abteilung 364). Most Batteries could have a dual role to defend against sea and land targets. Below is a map showing all of the flak defences in Normandy, Brittany and the Channel Islands in late 1943. You can see the Channel Islands batteries provide the west coast of Normandy with cover.
Even with all the guns and Batteries in place the planes carring US paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st Airborne, pass between Alderney and Guernsey on the way in to the landing points in Normandy on the 6th of June 1944. Below is a map showing the route. We will be writing up on thier encounter with the Channel Island batteries in a future post.
Below is our work on finding as many of these batteries as possible on Jersey.
