Ra145 Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

STP · K.V.Gruppe Rance · AOK 7 Brittany · France

Ra145 Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin 'Paulus'

Pointe de la Garde Guerin is a point of rock sticking out into the sea to the west of St Malo, Brittany's north coast. A fortified hill built originally by the French on the Maginot line principal but the war arrived and the building work was taken over by the Todt Organization.

12 November 2013

1877 – 1932) was a French civil servant, soldier, and Member of Parliament. He is best known for his advocacy for the string of forts that would be known as the Maginot Line[Wiki].
1877 – 1932) was a French civil servant, soldier, and Member of Parliament. He is best known for his advocacy for the string of forts that would be known as the Maginot Line[Wiki].
Maginot fort in the Alsace in 1940.
Maginot fort in the Alsace in 1940.
Block 14 at Ouvrage Hochwald in 1940 on the Maginot Line.
Block 14 at Ouvrage Hochwald in 1940 on the Maginot Line.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
 

Google Maps

View from the car park.
View from the car park.
The view driving east.
The view driving east.
Maginot soldiers.
Maginot soldiers.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin 'Paulus'

StP Paulus Ra145

1 x R120a.

1 x R634 + Pakstand.

1 x R501.

2 x R611/SK.

1 x R676.

1 x Search light.

2 x Vf58c Tobruk's.

2 x 7.5cm F.K.(H).

1 x 4.7cm Pak112(f).

Kavernes. (tunnels).

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin 'Paulus'
R120a on the top.
R120a on the top.
Plan.
Plan.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
A lovely plan cut into stone. A - 400m of galleries. B - Entrance for personnel & vehicles. C - Casemates. D - Fire control post. E - Observation post. F - Search light.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
View from Dinard Golf Course. A large lump of Granite.

09 October 2006

Another lump of Granite.
Another lump of Granite.
Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The original entrance. A post war photo taken just before the metal work was removed.

09 October 2006

Closer look at the entrance.
Closer look at the entrance.
Another view.
Another view.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
We entered via the R676 as the door was wide open and walked to the centre. Then turning right and down to what was the original entrance. From there we walked back to the centre and out to the first R611, then the centre section with ladder to the R120 that is on the top of the hill. On to the last R611 and the barrack rooms. Then the observation post and the search light and then retracing our steps out.

internet

H676 small casemate for a 4.7cm Festungspak.
H676 small casemate for a 4.7cm Festungspak.
Close combat embrasure..
Close combat embrasure..
Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The path to the R676, its quite dangerous so be warned.

09 October 2006

French military removing a live shell from inside.
French military removing a live shell from inside.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
R676 4.7cm Pak112(f) gun looking at of the gun room

09 October 2006

How it may have looked inside.
How it may have looked inside.
Fortress Pak gun.
Fortress Pak gun.
R676 casemate.
R676 casemate.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
R676 4.7cm Pak112(f) gun. Ammunition storage in the left hand slot. Door into the tunnel.

09 October 2006

Plan of the embrasure..
Plan of the embrasure..
How the front embrasure would have looked.
How the front embrasure would have looked.
A heavy steel plate could be drawn up over the gun to cover it.
A heavy steel plate could be drawn up over the gun to cover it.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Inside the casemate looking out at the view and where the gun had to cover.

09 October 2006

Plan.
Plan.
Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
A 4.7cm gun and a co axle 7.92 machine gun.

09 October 2006

4.7cm Pak room.
4.7cm Pak room.
In front or the gun was a steel sliding door that by turning the handle the door would wind down to open.
In front or the gun was a steel sliding door that by turning the handle the door would wind down to open.
The door winding down.
The door winding down.
The door wound down.
The door wound down.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
This is the empty shell case pit. When the gun fired, the case came out of the breach and down a tube into this pit. At the end of the battle one of the gunners would climb down and retrieve the cases and send them back for re cycling.

09 October 2006

Case.
Case.
Shell.
Shell.
An empty gun room.
An empty gun room.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Looking inside the casemate at the gun room. The slot on the left is where ready ammunition was stored. The door to the tunnels ( souterrain).

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The main tunnel was hewn out of the rock but where it met the casemate it was concreted.

09 October 2006

Plan.
Plan.
Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Looking back at the casemate.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The tunnel running on to the centre.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
In the middle the tunnel starts to be concreted. Some additional details will go here

09 October 2006

Plan.
Plan.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
A small anti-room. Its been smashed about.

09 October 2006

Plan.
Plan.
Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Plan.
Plan.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Where the tunnel meets the entrance defence. On the left an R501 adjusted to fit.

09 October 2006

On the left is the R501casemaate.
On the left is the R501casemaate.
Plan of the R501.
Plan of the R501.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Close combat embrasure. Inside the adjusted R501.

09 October 2006

Plan.
Plan.
Plan of a close combat embrasure.
Plan of a close combat embrasure.
How it may have been used.
How it may have been used.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
This is the entrance from above. There is a lot of damage here.

09 October 2006

Plan.
Plan.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Ra Bw453. The earth piled up is the western entrance now filled in. Left is the R634, next the entrance between into the Pak garage and then the Pak garage.  The main entrance where lorries could drive through and out the other side, this is how big it is. Very much alike the ''Guns of Navarone''.

09 October 2006

This is the close combat embrasure under the canopy in the main picture.
This is the close combat embrasure under the canopy in the main picture.
Plan.
Plan.
''Guns of Navarone''.
''Guns of Navarone''.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Pak garage..

09 October 2006

Plan
Plan
A 4cm Pak gun outside its garage.
A 4cm Pak gun outside its garage.
How it may have been used.
How it may have been used.
Plan of a Pak garage..
Plan of a Pak garage..

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
R634 six embrasured turret bunker. Crew room.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Crew room at night.
Crew room at night.
Crew room daytime.
Crew room daytime.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
R634 six embrasured turret bunker. Crew room.

09 October 2006

Building a six embrasured bunker.
Building a six embrasured bunker.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
R634 six embrasure turret bunker. Door to the turret. The turret has been removed and back filled in with earth.

09 October 2006

Ventilation room.
Ventilation room.
40P8 type dome may have been here.
40P8 type dome may have been here.
Inside a dome.
Inside a dome.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
R634 six embrasure turret bunker. Small close combat room. This is the close combat defence covering the entrances.

09 October 2006

Plan.
Plan.
Close combat room covering the entrance.
Close combat room covering the entrance.
How the close combat may have looked.
How the close combat may have looked.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Heading back into the tunnels.

09 October 2006

The red arrow shows the position.
The red arrow shows the position.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Passing through a cloud layer, very spookie. The tunnel rises towards the middle of the hill and then drops down to each position and you pass through a cloud layer a few times.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The start of the first casemate. A mix of hewn stone and finished concrete.

09 October 2006

Plan.
Plan.
Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The tunnel down to the Tobruk's.

09 October 2006

Plan of the tunnel to the Tobruk's.
Plan of the tunnel to the Tobruk's.
Plan.
Plan.
Cutting through the rock.
Cutting through the rock.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Strengthened section with a 434po1 door.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The door is now just open and I could not squeeze through but I did manage this photo (next page). This is a double door so that if one is blocked the other will open with a window and a shutter to close off the window. Bolts to lock off the door and large rings to be used as handles.

09 October 2006

434po1 door.
434po1 door.
Door in one side.
Door in one side.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
This would have taken you on to the two Tobruk's Now its blocked and the Tobruk's covered over.

09 October 2006

Door in one side.
Door in one side.
Door in one side.
Door in one side.
Plan of a Tobruk.
Plan of a Tobruk.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Just the front section of an R611 plan was used possibly without the two small ammunition niches.

09 October 2006

R611 casemate.
R611 casemate.
Here they have used the front section of an R611.
Here they have used the front section of an R611.
Plan of the casemate, tunnels & the double Tobruk.
Plan of the casemate, tunnels & the double Tobruk.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Rear of the casemate with the tunnel coming in. The guns were 7.5cm F.K.243(h).

09 October 2006

7.5cm F.K.243(h) They were captured Hungarian guns..
7.5cm F.K.243(h) They were captured Hungarian guns..
How it may have looked inside.
How it may have looked inside.
Plan.
Plan.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Looking into casemate and the embrasure where the gun would have fired through. The floor has been removed, it was a store for fired shell cases and somebody has spent a long time digging it out.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Spent cartridge space under the casemate floor.
Spent cartridge space under the casemate floor.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The view the guns would have had.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Roof ventilation. Set into the roof beams are vents to suck out the fowl air when the gun fires.

09 October 2006

R669 extraction.
R669 extraction.
Bunker extractor fan.
Bunker extractor fan.
External vent.
External vent.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
R611 the front view today.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The two casemates set into the hill.

09 October 2006

Plan.
Plan.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
A picture of the casemates before the undergrowth had grown up. There is an odd feature on the side of the casemates they have a square almost Tobruk shaped box attached??

Plan.
Plan.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The view from above. The two R611 casemates pointing east.

IGNF 1947

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Back into the tunnels to the centre. There are several caverns built into the sides of the tunnel that were used as crew quarters, storage, etc. They had an entrance off the tunnel and also a small close combat window to defend each entrance.

09 October 2006

Each one has a small embrasure like this one.
Each one has a small embrasure like this one.
Plan.
Plan.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Entrance into this brick barracks room for about 17men.

09 October 2006

Image Caption
Image Caption
Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
17 man vaulted barracks. Some of these could pre date 1942 and be a French.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
17 man vaulted barracks. Another vault notice Mike entering the small close combat room defending the vault.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The centre section with access to the R120 on the top of the hill.

09 October 2006

R120 Artillery observation post..
R120 Artillery observation post..
R120 sitting on the top of the hill.
R120 sitting on the top of the hill.
An R120 at ground level.
An R120 at ground level.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Looking up to the access to the R120 on the top. There would have been a ladder running right up to the top and its a long way up there.

09 October 2006

R120 sitting on the top of the hill.
R120 sitting on the top of the hill.
R120 plan. The red dot is the dome where a 360deg view through 4 small holes and a periscope in the middle. next a chart room, crew,commander,store, close combat & ammunition.
R120 plan. The red dot is the dome where a 360deg view through 4 small holes and a periscope in the middle. next a chart room, crew,commander,store, close combat & ammunition.
Inside an observation turret.
Inside an observation turret.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The R120 on the top. R120 artillery observation post with a dome and inside the dome a periscope.

24 July 2015

21P7the type of dome that may have been used here, a periscope came up through the the middle.
21P7the type of dome that may have been used here, a periscope came up through the the middle.
Periscope.
Periscope.
The view today.
The view today.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Here are two water tanks each side of the access.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Looking into one of the tanks. Water was always a problem in any army, its surprising how much a platoon of infantry can use. I believe there is also a large rectangular water tank on the east side.

09 October 2006

The outside water tank.
The outside water tank.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Continuing on.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Another cavern that has not been finished.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Strengthened tunnel. This may have had doors on it. There is a frame and hinges set into it.

09 October 2006

Plan.
Plan.
It may have had doors across like these 494P2.
It may have had doors across like these 494P2.
R699 door frame.
R699 door frame.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The rear of the second R611 casemate.

09 October 2006

R611 plan here.
R611 plan here.
10.5cm case and shot.
10.5cm case and shot.
Cordite powder bags used to increase the power of the gun.
Cordite powder bags used to increase the power of the gun.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Looking at the bricked up embrasure. On the far side is the large round hole for the extractor vet and the fan would have fitted onto it. The slot is for fired shell cases to be dropped down into the spent case store under the gun room.

09 October 2006

R611 gun room.
R611 gun room.
Spent case store under gun room.
Spent case store under gun room.
10.5cm boxed ammunition.
10.5cm boxed ammunition.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
During the battle for the hill the Americans fired heavy artillery at these guns, most hitting the hill or the concrete around them. One actually came in through the embrasure and exploded amongst the ammunition stored at the rear of the gun. There should have been steel doors closing the rear of the casemate off from the tunnels. But when firing the gun, these should be kept open to allow blast from the gun firing to dissipate. As these doors were open the blast from the exploding shell and ammunition went right through the tunnels. I believe this is why they capitulated.

09 October 2006

Plan.
Plan.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The American advance in August 1944.

August 1944

Sherman's advancing..
Sherman's advancing..
18 August 1944.
18 August 1944.
Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Heading for the Observation Post at the point of the Pointe.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Continuing on.

09 October 2006

Plan.
Plan.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
A half door used here. I think its the top half of a 343P01 type steel door. Either the engineers got their calculations wrong or it was designed to be like this??

09 October 2006

343P01 type steel door.
343P01 type steel door.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Inside the Observation Post. Now the viewing slit has been almost sealed up.

09 October 2006

Plan.
Plan.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Observation Post.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Observation Post.

24 July 2015

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The next exit is for a search light.

09 October 2006

Plan.
Plan.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Rear door for the searchlight.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The view from the sealed door. The view from the sealed door to where the railway tracks that would have carried the searchlight in and out of its store. There a Tobruk on each side as protection against attack.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
The view down. The two Tobruk's show up well and you can see the railway lines.

09 October 2006

1947 picture.
1947 picture.
Search light.
Search light.
Search light.
Search light.

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Heading out and meeting the Adder again. When we came in we had no idea there was an Adder snake living in the gun room floor. It was not until we left that we saw it. Also we saw NO Bats in the whole system.

09 October 2006

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'

Ra145 Pointe de la Garde Guerin StP 'Paulus'
Important visitors to St Malo 1944. Left to Right: Lt. Diestel, an unknown, Gen.Ob. Dollmann, Gen der Fallschr.Tr Kurt Student. Behind, two unknowns. [Thank you to Renaud Blaise].

1944