discussion WW2 German Bunkers

[Peter Gillson]

Now we are on floor 'G' which supported the Battery Strassburg.



the essential stove . the hole to the right - covered with perspex, was a hole through which grenade could be dropped onto attacking troops.




across the landing is another grenade hole and an embrasure for close defence



the following are a series of photos through the observation slits:

 

[Peter Gillson]

this floor serviced the battery Steinbruch.

A 3 telephone system:




A pair of binoculars positioned to be used by visitors.


Across the landing is a heavy machine gun table which may be interested to any scratch builders...


Sadly, this is one of only two which remain in the Channel Islands.



finally a view of the stair well

 

[Peter Gillson]

Up a level to the level which supported the mighty Mirus Battery of 30cm, ex Russian battleship guns.

(The light is a modern health and safety requirement)


Embrasure on this level. Note the ladder leading to the roof.


Air raid alarm bell operated by the lookout on the roof, these would have been on all levels.


An example of the ranging diagrams were painted above all of the observation slits, and part of a stove chimney.



A Das Richt-und Hohenwinkel-Sehrohr C/V made by Zeiss which was designed for shipboard use to determine range and bearing of targets and comprises of 3 sets of binocular telescopes.






you can just see in the above photo the window has been opened to give a clearer view.




the next two are views through the Bearing Officers telescope (left lense)




View through the Bearing Officers telescope (right lense)




View through the Ranging Officer’s telescope



A 10x50 standard rangefinder on a pillar mount, - these would have been on all levels.



View through the left lens of the rangefinder– note the grid



View through the right lens of the rangefinder



obviously when used normally you look through both at the same time and your brain merges the two together, unfortunately that is beyond my photographic skills.

Unusually, this level also had radio communication to the Mirus Battery commander as well as multiplayer telephones.


Peter

 

[Allen Dewire]

Fantastic Peter,

Thank you so much for taking the time to post all the info and pictures. Absolutely fascinating stuff....

Prost
Allen

 

[Guest]

interesting how command and control varied.

I misremembered slightly: there were no Luftwaffe troops on Walcheren. There were seven navy coastal batteries and seven navy anti-aircraft batteries. By most accounts, these navy artillerymen put up decidedly more resistance against Allied troops than the army infantry (who were very much second-rate troops).

the following are a series of photos through the observation slits:

That makes me wish “our” Leitstände hadn’t all been demolished ca. the 1960s Of course, you probably wouldn’t have as good a view from the one that was closest to where I live:

(Apparently, this one had a tiled floor. My father has told me about how, when he was a child, they used to slide down it )

A Das Richt-und Hohenwinkel-Sehrohr C/V made by Zeiss

Going by the explanatory card you pictured, I suspect someone didn’t realise that “das” simply means “the”

 

[Peter Gillson]

Jakko - interesting to have a tile floor, it can be surprising just how well some were fitted out, as were the crew quarter on this one.

This is the final instalment - were have worked our way up the tower and are on the open roof. not a lot to see, basically an open are which was an observation level and would have had a small AA gun mounted. in the photo is one of the chimneys, while in the wall itself you can see a number of storage units which would've had wooden doors fitted and used for anything needed on the roof.


Now we return to the ground level for a part which was built a little after the tower itself - the crew's quarters, rooms K&L in the diagram below:

View attachment 339318

These have been partially restored but are mainly fitted out as museums with various artefacts. The photos below are of the restored NCO room which is room L in the diagram.




the next photo is interesting - an example of the straw/cement mix which was made into sheets and used to insulate the rooms. The insulation being put behind the wooden palennling which covered the walls.




The next few photos are of the site around the tower:

side view towards the entrance:

 

[Peter Gillson]

Finally, a few photos from around the site:


Closer view of the entrance, which is on the left. in front is the entrance defence through which an MG would have been mounted, giving a clear field of firing across the entrance. to the right of you can just see part of the metal air vent. this would have been connected to the air filter inside.



3/4 front view:


front view



the other side:



and the rear. the flat concrete o the right is the roof of the crew's quarters, while the area outside the bottom of the picture is the door way.



Peter

 

[Peter Gillson]

Finally, a bit of an afterthought, but incase anybody is interested in how the local area was fortified during the war, a few maps.

The first is a repeat of one showing the Island, and this tower is at the bottom left (south-west)point, MP3:





this copy of a map from the German records shows the local area:



The area immediately around the tower was code named Westberg and had mine fields between it and the cliffs to the left as well as radar, flak emplacements and all surrounded by barbed wire.

As an aside - the generator bunker is now used by a local motorbike club as their clubhouse.

to the south was a four gun emplacement of 22cm guns, name Battery Dollman, named after the General of that name. it too is protected by minefield and various AA and At guns.

The battery Dollman was an army battery, the combat mission of which was: to engage the enemy forces attempting to land or already landed, especially in the south-west sector; to provide harassing fire onto Mould Huet bay; and to provide barrage onto Vazon bay. as an army unit, to was not directed by the troops in the MP tower.

Peter

 

[Mickc1440]

Fascinating Peter. Many thanks for sharing with us.