Gi11 La Grande Côte 'Gleiwitz'

Gironde Nord · OK 1 Vendée - Charente Maritime · France

Gi11 La Grande Côte 'Gleiwitz'

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

The southern end of Gironde north on a long sandy beach of La Grande Cote. A large Stützgpunkt with many defence & living bunkers. We did not visit the site but saw it from a distance.
Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'
Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'
Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'
 

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

4 x R621 group shelter.

1 x R501 group shelter.

1 x R502 twin group shelter.

1 x R637 monitoring post for army coastal batteries.

2 x R669 casemate for field guns 160°.

1 x Vf1b shelter for up to six men.

2 x Vf61a position for French 5cm fortress mortar.

3 x Vf69 heavy mortar position.

5 x Vf58c 80cm circular Tobruk.

1 x Vf machine bunker.

2 x 7.5cmF.K.236(b)

09 November 2012

R637 monitoring post for army coastal batteries.
R637 monitoring post for army coastal batteries.
R669 casemate for field guns 160°.
R669 casemate for field guns 160°.
Vf69 heavy mortar position.
Vf69 heavy mortar position.

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'
The Grande Cote a lovely beach. In the summer this area is full of bathers.

09 November 2012

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'
Two R669 casemates with 7.5cm F. K. 236(b) with several mortar Vf Ringstand & Tobruk's. Five machine gun Tobruk's and an R637 fire control post. With two field guns of 7.5cm in casemates covering the western end of the beach. A fire control post to coordinate their fire and also the fire of batteries inland. R502, R501 and R621's to accommodate the guns crews. Five Tobruk's to defend the site and a set of three 81cm Mortar emplacements that could bring down a devastating amount of mortar bombs on a concentrated area.

09 November 2012

2 x 7.5cm F. K. 236(b) guns.
2 x 7.5cm F. K. 236(b) guns.
Tobruk.
Tobruk.
Several machine gunners.
Several machine gunners.

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'
The view along the beach, many years ago with my family, we swam and the kids played around these bunkers on our two week summer holidays. Mine fields were sown both sides of the site and continued east towards Royan and west to the Atlantik.

09 November 2012

The beach was mined on both sides of Gi11, a thick belt of them.
The beach was mined on both sides of Gi11, a thick belt of them.
A box of mine fuzes.
A box of mine fuzes.
Laying mines.
Laying mines.

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'
Left - R669 next - Tobruk , R637 in the middle. 2 x R621's & an R502.

09 November 2012

R669.
R669.
R637.
R637.
R621.
R621.

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'
An air photo before the sea took over.

SHM 1946

Photos probably taken from the side window of a French owned Airforce L4 or L5.
Photos probably taken from the side window of a French owned Airforce L4 or L5.

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'
An R669 casemate before the sea took them. 160° of angle of attack.

SHM 1946

details
details
Cleaning rods.
Cleaning rods.
Gun room
Gun room

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'
A nice view of the bunkers showing how close and compact this defence was.

SHM 1946

R502.
R502.
R621.
R621.

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'
R637 measuring post and a Vf69 heavy mortar position.

SHM 1946

R637.
R637.
Observing the fire..
Observing the fire..
Observing the fire.
Observing the fire.

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'
Vf58c Mortar Tobruk.

SHM 1946

Vf58c Tobruk.
Vf58c Tobruk.
5cm mortar that could be fired from a small Tobruk. There would be a two man crew.
5cm mortar that could be fired from a small Tobruk. There would be a two man crew.
Box of mortar bombs.
Box of mortar bombs.

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'

Gi11 La Grande Cote 'Gleiwitz'
 

09 November 2012