StP234 Batterie Hamburg M.K.B., Flak. K.V.U.Gruppe Cherbourg See, KVR J1, Normandy.
FLAK · K.V.U.Gruppe Cherbourg See · AOK 7 Normandy · France
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
11 March 2002 my friend Ian and I were on a bunker hunting trip to Normandy and took a walk around the back of Turm 2. Two dogs came running out and started barking, followed by the farmer. He was lovely, started to chat away to us. Now Ian and I do not speak French, he did not speak English. There were several mutual words that I understood and then he just forgot we were English and continued in, what I would call. Norman French.
He took us into his home, the ammunition bunker and emplacement of Turm2. He showed us into the three ammunition rooms, which were the bedrooms, the passageway was his kitchen and the open emplacement had a glass green house lean too against the wall. This was his living room. He then kindly walked us around the fields pointing out where certain positions were.
His father owned the farm before the war. War came and the invaders needed space to build a batterie of heavy guns. So the local farmers were told to leave. Well the batterie was built, the war ends and the Mayor tells our farmers father, he can have his farm back, bunker and all.
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
SHM Plan Flack in yellow.
2 x Flakstellung with 2cm Flak 29.
6 x 7.5cm Flak M36(f).
5 x 2cm Flak 28.
SHM
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
On this air photo of 1947 you can just see the six 7.5cm Flak M36(f) and at least two 2cm Flak bunker positions..
IGNF1947
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
One of at least two antiaircraft buildings (Flakstellung), protecting Battery Hamburg. From left to right, the ramp is a covered exit leading out to a trench onto the road. Several rooms with quit a strong re-enforced roof, then the flak Ringstand with a Tobruk (observation).
In the front possibly an ammunition store.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
My plan of the Flakstellung.
One of at least two antiaircraft buildings, protecting Battery Hamburg. From left to right, the ramp is a covered exit leading out to a trench onto the road. Several rooms with quit a strong re-enforced roof, then the flak Ringstand.
In the front possibly an ammunition room.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
The Farmer kindly showing me around the flak building.
The odd protruding block is a Tobruk added on.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
Damage from either a tank or an aircraft attack, of which there were several.
24 October 2004
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
This picture showing the Tobruk sticking out and the odd way it was constructed, more by a soldier than a builder???
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
Inside the crew room.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
This is inside the right hand door, a small room with access to the AA Ringstand above & a basement room to the left
24 October 2004
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
To the right stairs to the flak Ringstand.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
To the right stairs to the flak Ringstand.
02 January 2000
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
As you come up the steps. The Tobruk can be seen here.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
Flak Ringstand & Tobruk.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
Footwear??????
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
View from Tobruk looking south. The rough finish to the Tobruk is actually a form of camouflage.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
'9' time code directions.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
'12' time code directions.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
A plate with - Enzling 3000.
xxugxx 2400.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
'6' time code directions.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
The Tobruk sat on the side and below an ammunition niche and in the floor, the fitting for a still rod. To mount the machine gun onto. Or a search light, if needed.
24 October 2004
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
Stairs down to a tunnel.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
Stairs down to a basement.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Flakstellung.
The tunnel running down into the ground, the farmer said it came out by the road, in a trench?
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Guard post
Here in the hedge is a concrete guard post
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Bunker (ammunition).
We would never have known about this bunker if the farmer was not with us. Today we have books by Alaine Chazette/Frederick Clott & others that specialist in drawing very accurate plans. The year 2000 we had very little to go on.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Bunker (ammunition).
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Bunker (ammunition).
24 May 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
Ammunition bunker in the field.
24 October 2004
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
6 x 7.5cm Flak M36(f).
This is one of the guns that were here. They were in field positions but some open emplacements may have been provided.
1944 US Army Signals Corps, Nicholas Rudziak.(Thank you to Jim Swan)
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
7.5cm M36(f).
Flak M36(f) were captured guns. These French guns were originally descended from Canon de 75 modéle 1897 field gun that were used in improvised anti-aircraft mounts during World War One. During the 1920s Canon de 75 antiaérien mle 1913-1917 specialized air defense versions of the Canon de 75 modèle 1897 field gun were outmoded as an anti-aircraft weapon and development of a new gun barrel was begun in 1928.
11 March 2002
StP234 Batterie Hamburg Flak
11 March 2002