StP21 Lion-sur-Mer “Trout” Sword Beach)
K.V.Gruppe River-Bella (Sword & Juno Beaches) · AOK 7 Normandy · France
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
'Trout' was the code name given by the allies to denote it as a strong point.
Wn21 a strong point in front of houses and perched on top of a 20' high cliff, had been damaged by fire from the sea but was still usable. The machine gun post attached to the observation post and firing eastwards, had not been hit. The machine guns in this post and in the smaller open post, had fired many rounds. There was a 75mm gun [7.5cm F.K.231(f)] in an open position which may have fired.
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
10./736 Inf. FluWa - a Luftwaffe forward aircraft spotting station in a wooden emplacement.
4 x Peilstand (Observation).
1 x M.G. stand.
2 x Nr1694 ringstands.
2 x Bf65a Tobruk.
7 x Feldmassige (field bunkers)
2 x 5cm KwK L/60 guns.
1 or 2 x 2cm Flak 30.
1 x 7.5cm F.K.231(f).
Geoportail
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Wn21 showing its mine field Mf51 on the coast and Mf50 covering its western approaches.
CAB 146/482
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
The view towards Wn21 and the low cliffs beyond.
09 March 2013
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Fortified house at Lion-sur-Mer shelled by landing craft all day on D-Day, finally silenced on the evening by Marine Commando who through in some dynamite and won the VC doing so.
Interesting, only Stan Hollis won a VC on D-Day. But that is what the rear of the photos states?
2001/150
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
One of the beach exits to the east of the town.
WO 252/149
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Wn21 today.
09 March 2013
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Wn21 around the 22nd June 1944.
WO 252/149
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Wn21 and the very distinctive house front and its still here but glass now fills in the canopy.
There are photos of Rommel on one of his tours of inspection outside this house.
09 March 2013
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
House today.
31 October 2016
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Wn21 in all its glory, the canopied house, two observations and an M.G. stand.
Bombarded by the Allied Navy's at first light on the 6th June 1944.
shm
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
The view today with it all gone.
31 October 2016
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Observation posts and M.G. stand.
DEFE 2/433
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Observation posts and M.G. stand a better detailed picture.
Post Card
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
8 foot machine gun pit.
It also it may have been the FluWa a Luftwaffe forward aircraft spotting station.
DEFE 2/433
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Where the observation bunker was situated.
09 March 2016
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Observation posts and a near miss on the house behind it.
DEFE 2/433
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
A later photo of the one before as the hose has now been demolished.
The several observations and M.G. stand.
shm
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Looking back. Here was a 5cm KwK L/60 in an open Ringstand.
31 October 2016
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Continuing along the from where my last photo was taken and today there is a sailing club. But then, it was a way for fisherman to push their boats into the water. D-Day and for a few months it became a very important beach exit for anything landing in the area.
WO252/149
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Now we go inland one block and to the D514. There is now a camp site that straddles the road and in here was an Nr.1694 Ringstand a 5cm KwK L/60 an ammunitions bunker and a an unterstand.
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
The camping site and roughly where the gun sat and circled the ammunition store.
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Ammunition store.
31 October 2016
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Ammunition store.
31 October 2016
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Ammunition store.
31 October 2016
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Ammunition store.
31 October 2016
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
This is the 5cm gun here.
Inland a 5cm gun and a Tobruk machine gun and mortar positions had been constructed to guard the roads leading from the beach and running eastwards and westwards. It was reported that the mortars and machine guns fired from this position were a considerable nuisance to those on 'Sword' beach for the first few days of the assault. The positions were all taken by attack from the land side. [DEFE 2/433].
WO 252/149
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Another picture of the gun also showing on the rear of the shield are instructions printed. The D514 is running past the gun. There seems no damage at all to the gun position.
WO252/149
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Prior to D-Day maps were produced to show what would be found when they were to attack.
'Trout' was the code name given by the allies to denote it as a strong point.
Bigot Map
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Landings.
Air
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Beach defences.
09 March 2013
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
31 October 2016
Wn21 Lion-sur-Mer
Internet