Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer (Omaha Beach)
K.V.U. Gruppe Bessin (Gold/Omaha Beach) · AOK 7 Normandy · France
Wn60 (StP Colleville) Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
3.Grenadier-Regiment 726
1 x Observation.
1 x Wasser bunker.
2 x Vf61a mortar Tobruk´s.
2 x Vf59a MG. Tobruk´s.
1 x Tank turret Tobruk.
1 x Vf59a Mortar Tobruk.
3 x Unterstands.
1 x APX R 3.7cm KwK 144(f) & co-axle MG.311(f).
2 x 7.5cm F.K.235(b).
2 x 5cm Fest.Gr.W 210(f) mortars.
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
A narrow road off the D514 will take you to Wn60 or park at the Village de Vacances and walk along the coast and up the hill following where the Americans advanced (Fox 1 Draw).
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Parking here and walk through the gate and into the field.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
German Army map of he area showing StP Colleville with Wn60 just outside the group..
German field map of their defences
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Several items are overlaid here.
1 - Black line is the attack of L Company.
2 - White arrows are the line of FOX 1 draw.
3 - Blue, yellow & red are the defences of Wn60.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The first thing you see is a quite deep trench running around the edge of the field on the left.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf61a Mortar Tobruk. This ringstand is for a 5cm mortar a 5cm Fest.Gr.W 210(f) mortars. Captured from French army stocks of which there were thousands of them and millions of 5cm mortar bombs, many for use in the Maginot line. A pre war French defence of it borders. These weapons were taken on charge of the German army as a small infantry weapon and also as the name says, a Fest or fortress weapon. Here mounted in two Vf61a Tobruk´s and they could shower down mortar bombs in a 360° all around the Wn and more importantly down on the beach.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf61a Mortar Tobruk entrance with an ammunition chamber on the left (not photographed but like one in the small pictures.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf61a Mortar Tobruk the pintail FPzK2823 mounting that the mortar sat in a 950S6 fitting.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf61a Mortar Tobruk. Two men would work the gun, one below going between the magazine and the Tobruk pit to deliver fresh mortar rounds and the guns commander who would direct and fire the gun. They may have had a field telephone connection with their forward controller in the observation on the cliff edge and he would direct their fire to where he saw the need.
The centre pint-le is a FPzK2823 mounting.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf61a Mortar Tobruk painted designs of what could be seen in this direction helping the crew to orientate quickly to changes of direction.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The trench continuing on. This allowed troops to move around from any position in relative safety and not be seen by an enemy. Thus being moved from areas of in activity to where they were needed if an attack was coming in.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Even after 70years the trenches are still very deep.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf61a Mortar Tobruk, the second one. Looking along the complete length of Omaha Beach.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf61a Mortar Tobruk the pint-le for a 950S6 fitting for a 5cm Fest.Gr.W 210(f) mortar.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf61a Mortar Tobruk entrance.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
On 6th June 1944 around 40 Wehrmacht soldiers were in this important strong point, the Wn60. It is the best preserved strong point and one of the best viewing points of the whole of Omaha Beach.
Two companies of the 16th Reg. of the 1st Inf. Div. which landed at 7am under the cover of the vertical cliffs, attacked Wn60 at around 8.00am. They took advantage of a path which by passed it on the west and attacked from the rear. The battle was short and bloody with , grenades and explosive charges flushing out the Germans who were hidden in their bunkers and shelters.
At 9am the last German surrendered. (31 Germans survived to surrender).
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
FOX beach.
15 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The trench continues onward.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
A small connecting trench running out to a weapons pit/observation. The machine guns they could have used were not all the latest models, usually MG.34´s or MG.08´s the WW1 model belt fed machine gun.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Weapons pit/observation.
15 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The second is a forward observation point for artillery observer and the local commander.
23 November 2008
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The second is a forward observation point for artillery observer and the local commander.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The second is a forward observation point for artillery observer and the local commander.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The second is a forward observation point for artillery observer and the local commander. Here the artillery observer could control the fire of three batteries of guns from the 352dn artillery, 1./352, 3./352 & 10./1716. All this by cables laid into the ground and also probably radio. A lot of cables were badly damaged on D-Day due to bombing.
23 November 2008
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The second is a forward observation point for artillery observer and the local commander.
24 September 2005
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
More field positions.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Details
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
A position that may have been constructed to take a 2cm Flak 38 that had not yet arrived.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
A view across the Wn showing the trenches running around the field.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position covering the S/E sector of the Wn. Its a Vf59a but without the ammunition room, presumingly to save time and materials so reserve ammunition would be kept in the further Vf59a..
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position ready ammunition space.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position two ready ammunition spaces..
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The view out of the Tobruk.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Moving on to the the next Vf90a along its trench.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position 2.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position the steps down from the trench.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position passageway.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position very large ammunition room. I cannot see any bed fittings to the wall so it may not be a living bunker.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position, not sure what the niche is for??
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position steps to the Tobruk.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position, this one has its pint-le and a 965S7 fitting would be attached to the pint-le and an s.MG.34 on another mounting fitted on the top.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position the view along Omaha Beach.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Vf59a machine gun position.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The view east.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Now moving down the hill side.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The route down.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Position for a 7.5cm F.K.235(b).
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Position for a 7.5cm F.K.235(b).
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Position for a 7.5cm F.K.235(b) entrance to a tunnel that was not completed to connect the two 7.5cm gun positions.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The tunnel entrance.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The other end of the tunnel.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Small arms ammunition set into the trench system.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Small arms ammunition set into the trench system.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Another position.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
APX R 3.7cm KwK 144(f) & co-axle MG.311(f). This gun also could not fire down onto the beach so like most of the guns here literally none could shoot onto the beach.
1944
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Small field bunker.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Small field bunker entrance. This is probably a command post for the lower part of the hill and should have had a field telephone link from the observation on the hill so that the two field guns could be targeted.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Small field bunker inside showing the walls and windows..
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Small field bunker looking out of the door..
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Small field bunker date it was built. Who was AK??.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Wasser bunker, I am not sure if this bunker should or did have an end wall, if not there are two answers here:
One it could have not been finished and was used as a bunker.
Two it could have had a water tank fitted inside.
The hole in the top is to fill the bunker/tank with water.
19 March 2006
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
One of the two 7.5cm Field Kannon's situated here in Wn60..
My archive
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The second 7.5cm Field Kannon's situated here in Wn60..
My archive
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
FOX 1 Draw.
23 November 2008
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The beach looking east.
23 November 2008
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
A Bigot map showing the defences of Wn60 produced just before D-Day and would be seen by US troops before they landed.
Bigot map
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The beach looking west.
23 November 2008
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
D-Day started very early with B17 and Liberators bombing the beach defences. They actually bombed late and killed far more cows than anything else. Then the ships started firing on beach targets and inland batteries. Next LCT(R) tank landing craft filled with rockets. About 6.30 swimming Sherman tanks should have swum in but there was a terrible problem and most sank. Then the Infantry landed with no or little support. The LCT(R) most rockets fell short. So as the landing craft came in, machine guns started firing into the craft and the infantry running up the beach. With Wn60 L Company landed past Wn60 and managed to come along the beach and up into FOX1 draw. Most of the weapons and observation could not see down below the lip of the hill. One reason why the defenders were hampered in seeing what was going on was that the USS Doyle and other destroyers were firing directly at them keeping their heads down.
LCT(R)
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Remains of Sommerfeld tracking.
23 November 2008
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Sommerfeld tracking remains in the cliff.
23 November 2008
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Not sure what it was??
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
This is the cliff edge that protected L Company when their landing craft took them too far to the east and turned around and landed here under the cliff, thus the Grenadiers on the hill could not see them and they managed to get ashore in pretty good condition.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
With the picture below you could have a Now and Then photo.
23 March 2015
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
With the picture above you could have a Now and Then photo.
Sheltering under the cliff.
1944
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
More wounded sheltering from the battle.
1944
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
As soon as the battle was over the area became a staging post for the advance into France. Whole areas of the battlefield were turned over from a defence to a massive transit camp. The plan shows what Wn60 furthest to the right was used for.
US Army
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
Reinforcements arriving off their landing craft.
US Army
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
If you look carefully nearly the whole of Wn60 is now taken over as a transit sleeping area as it is full of tents.
1944
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
The battle for Wn60, it looks like German artillery is firing onto the beach area.
1944
Wn60 Colleville-sur-Mer, (Omaha Beach)
23 March 2015