Wn128 La Heuge
WN · K.V.Gruppe Cotentin Ost · AOK 7 Normandy · France
Wn128 La Heuge
This defence covers a slither of land pointing out into the Channel. Both sides of the defence would have been flooded so the two tracks here would be the only way on & off the beach.
Wn128 La Heuge
Wn128 La Heuge
Troops of the 709th Static Infantry Division. Probably a platoon stationed here.
1 x R677.
2 x Vf58c.
2 x Unterstands.
1 x Wellblech.
1 x Ringstand for a 5cm KwK.
1 x 5cm KwK L/42.
1 x Sk bunker.
1 x Ringstand Pz.T.
1 x Vf/Pakstand.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
Plan of the defence. As far as I could see there was no R677 bunker. It may have been planned or being built up to D-Day. There was a Vf/Pak stand here, so there may have been a 7.5cm Pak 40 here??
1947
Wn128 La Heuge
Nr1694 ringstand for a 5cm KwK L/42
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
This Nr1694 ringstand has four ammunition niches around the inside wall and the gun pivoting in the centre. The 5cm KwK L/42 was an ex tank gun, made redundant when 7.5cm & 8.8cm guns started to be used. Although redundant in tanks, here as beach defence. They could be ruthless. On D-Day they did a lot of damage to landing craft and even tanks.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
The view the gun would have had.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
Tobruk Vf58c type one of three we found here. Two standard Tobruks and one had a Pz.T tank turret fitted.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
Looking down onto the machine gun ring.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
The house has now been demolished.
This is centre of the position.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
A very small either ammunition or shelter to keep out of bad weather.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
Part of the barbed wire defence that would have ringed the defence and the minefield.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
Three Eisenpfahel barbed wire defence posts.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
Probably made by the infantry section/platoon that was stationed here. Part of the 709th Static Infantry Division. A division made up of older, wounded or eastern soldiers. That is how Hitler defended his Atlantikwall, by using lower calibre troops and captured eastern soldiers who would rather be treated better as soldiers, than they would as POW’s.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
Corrugated iron half round in shape and covered in a thick layer of concrete, made these very efficient small bunkers. A fire at one end to heat and cook on.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
You can see the remains of the corrugated iron roof.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
Fire place in the back of the bunker.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
Corrugated Iron remains.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
The forward facing Tobruk 58c type.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
This Tobruk has a larger opening but it does give an idea how it may have looked here..
1944
Wn128 La Heuge
There were four unterstand here and this is the second we found, note, now covered over are the steps down inside.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
Eisenpfahel barbed wire post upside down, this is actually the base of the post. The idea of turning it upside down was so a directional lamp could be placed on the top. This way light could be shined in one direction and a patrol could find their way back.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
The modern hard road down to the beach.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
This may have been the ringstand Pz.T type Tobruk.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
The view this gun would have had.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
The entrance.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
Barbed wire post.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
This looks to be a road block stopping access to the hinterland from the beach.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
Two concrete walls either side with the left side having several niches.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
A niche set into the wall and a small extra niche added on the left. A Belgian gate could be drawn into the roadway and completely block off the road.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
There is another use here, sand was recovered from beaches to be used in concrete manufacturing to build all the bunkers around the coast. There is a sand wall near Gatteville, another at Bonneville-Carteret and there must have been many more.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
Rommel's Asparagus, anti-shipping and anti-tank defences made of concrete and reinforced with steel rods.
22 Normandy 2008
Wn128 La Heuge
22 Normandy 2008