Batterie Dollmann

Situated on the south western tip of Guernsey. The Channel Islands were captured by the German Army in 1940 and Hitler ordered that the Islands should be fortified. Convinced that the British (Churchill) would try to recover the Islands. This was the last things on the governments mind as it would have killed many British civilians on the islands and also had no strategic advantage. By May 1943 there were 16,000 German personnel in Guernsey. These included army units, naval coastal artillery and air force anti-aircraft units, customs officials, military police, administrators and construction workers.

 

The island was ringed with heavy batteries, three Naval (Abteilung 604) & eight Army Heeres Kusten Artillerie). Sizes range from 15cm to 30.5cm. the Mirus Batterie. Mostly captured guns from all over Europe. The Dollmann Batterie were (f) French Schneider et Cie. of Le Creusot. Krupp overhauled the guns and sent them here. I visited the Island in 2000 and the camera was an early digital with very little memory, so I never took enough photos. Such a shame now looking back . The Batterie has now been renovated and must be worth a visit, especially when they fire the gun. IV Battalion 1265 Artillery Regiment. 4 x 22cm K532(f) guns.

Open emplacement for a 22cm K532(f) gun.

Plan of the third emplacement one of four that were here. 4 & 14 are two ammunition bunkers, 4 was converted to accommodation for some reason. 14 would have had shells in ones side and cartridges in the other. 5 & 11 were ready ammunition spaces. There were two 5cm mortars each side. These mortars are for close defence, probably for an attack via the cliff side.

The centre pinion to swivel the gun around, the outer chaser rail is fitted to the chassis of the gun.

Bad translation - No light over open.

What it may have looked like.

After capture.

22cm K532(f) gun.

Field firing a 22cm K532(f) gun.

5 cm leGrW 36 position.

Batterie Dollmann, Pleinmont, Guernsey