German Freya radar installation near the entrance to Fort George, St Peter Port manned by the Luftwaffe.
Photographed from the vicinity of the Imperial hotel on 8th June 1941, this view of Rocquaine Bay shows its most obvious feature, Fort Grey. Known to locals as the 'Cup and Saucer’ an interesting feature is the Martello Tower painted white as this was subsequently camouflaged by the Germans. This Photograph is from a small collection of six taken by an unknown German soldier posted to Guernsey in 1941 with 319 Infantry Division.
Castle Cornet viewed from the White Rock on 9th April 1941. No German defence works are built yet, though of interest are the antennas surmounting Castle Cornet, the chimneys seen left removed post war and other structures also removed. This Photograph is from a small collection of six taken by an unknown German soldier posted to Guernsey in 1941 with 319 Infantry Division.
The arrival of a 22cm gun battery at the White Rock, St Peter Port ready for transportation to the gun site. The guns could be disassembled into several lighter loads to facilitate movement if heavy tractors were unavailable. Note the anti-landing poles on the granite wall to prevent enemy landings.
Post war photograph showing several structures of Batterie Steinbruch prior to their removal during the quarry expansion at Les Vardes, St Sampson.
German naval personnel man-handling a 17cm artillery piece into position at Fort Albert, Alderney.
Post war photograph showing several structures of Batterie Steinbruch prior to their removal during the quarry expansion at Les Vardes, St Sampson.
Barrel recovered from Brehon Tower, note that the sign suggests that it is a 88mm gun but is in fact a 10.5cm K331(f) gun.
Barrel recovered from Brehon Tower, note that the sign suggests that it is a 88mm gun but is in fact a 10.5cm K331(f) gun.
Sudetenland 1942 is inscribed in the concrete at Batterie Scharnhorst which was home to four 15cm K18 artillery pieces capable of firing a shell 24.8Km. The guns were transferred to Jersey in 1944.
Inside the command post of Batterie Elefant, Bailiffs Cross Road, St Andrew, Guernsey where plotting information is collated then communicated to the gun positions for aiming and firing. This was situated in close proximity to the 'Paper House’ and the observation tower.
Inside the fire control and observation tower of Batterie Elefant, St Andrew, Guernsey. Here we see the gun control and range-taking staff at work. The tower was adjacent to the 'Paper House’. Note the range board in the background and the camouflage draped over the wooden structure.
This distinctive building was known as the 'Paper House’ and was constructed of lightweight materials resembling paper. The building was situated on a vinery at Bailiffs Cross Road, St Andrew, Guernsey which formed part of Batterie Elefant. The Germans built a fire control and observation tower alongside the building which was draped in camouflage. The 'Paper House’ was demolished in 1978.
The battery commander and the battery sergeant-major of Batterie Elefant inside La Jaoniere, Bailiffs Cross Road, St Andrew, Guernsey. Note the field telephone and the assortment of hand stamps on the table.
Four Germans from Batterie Elefant approach the house known as La Jaoniere at Bailiffs Cross, St Andrew, Guernsey. The house was one of many used by members of the artillery battery during the occupation in the vicinity.
Group photograph showing members of artillery Batterie Elefant which was situated at Bailiffs Cross Road, St Andrew, Guernsey. The photo was taken in the grounds of what is now Les Bourgs Hospice and the building in the background is known as Les Marronniers.
Batterie Elefant situated at Bailiffs Cross Road, St Andrew, Guernsey consisted of three 21cm Morser 18 guns with a range of 16.7km. This was a medium howitzer that had the ability to fire at high angles of elevation. The three guns were mounted on open platforms. Here, the battery commander poses for a photograph alongside one of his guns. Note he is wearing the ribbon of the 1914 Iron Cross, 2nd Class in his second buttonhole, which he won in World War 1.
The remains of the original camouflage were still visible here on a post war photograph of the 10.5cm K331(f) bunker at Fort Hommet.
Post war photograph of a mortar position and a personnel bunker which were eventually buried in the sand dunes at L`Eree located between the two car parks. Messrs J&D Norman Ltd had a concession from the States of Guernsey for the removal of sand in the area.
This steel turret was cut up as part of the post war scrap drive, one of the only examples still visible in Guernsey. The structure housed a number of machine guns in the turret as part of the fortification at Rocquaine, St Peters.
Post war photograph showing one of the structures of Batterie Steinbruch prior to its removal during the quarry expansion at Les Vardes, St Sampson.
German fortification with the name Ursel above the entrance of a bunker located at Castle Cornet.
Post war photograph of a reinforced field order (RFO) personnel bunker which forms part of the defences at Rocquaine, St Peters.
This steel turret was cut up as part of the post war scrap drive, one of the only examples still visible in Guernsey. The structure housed a number of machine guns in the turret as part of the fortification at Rocquaine, St Peters.
Post war photograph looking through the observation slit of the command post of Batterie Dollmann, Pleinmont. In the background MP4 a naval direction finding tower can be seen.
Ornate cast concrete plaque commemorating the death of Uffz. Hirscher who drowned and another soldier Ritscher, cause of death unknown but possibly from aircraft attack. The plaque was removed from Brehon Tower and is now on display at the German Occupation Museum.
Post war photograph of Brehon Tower which housed two 2cm Flakvierling anti-aircraft guns on the roof, each weapon comprised of four barrels per gun. The tower also housed a 10.5cm K331(f) gun facing north.
Post war photograph of Brehon Tower which housed two 2cm Flakvierling anti-aircraft guns on the roof, each weapon comprised of four barrels per gun. The tower also housed a 10.5cm K331(f) gun facing north.
Batterie Mirus, the largest German installation in the Channel Islands housed four 30.5cm naval guns, this example shows that the Germans camouflaged the structure to look like a cottage.