 |
German Defenses at Omaha Beach(June 6, 1944)
Click on map to enlarge Units:Directly at the coast in Widerstandsnestern (Resistance nests)
CO General Wilhelm Richter HQ in Caen (where the Caen Memorial is now located) Strenght / Division ca. 7.770 Men about half of the men the Division should have had. Regiments: 726 und 736 In the second Line:
Generalleutnant Dietrich Kraiss HQ at Le Molay-Littry Grenadier Regiment 916 [Oberst Goth - HQ in Trevieres] 2 Batalions Grenadier Regiment 915 [Oberstleutnant Karl Meyer ] 2 Batalions Grenadier Regiment 914 [ Oberstleutnant Ernst Heyna] 2 Batalions
List of Resistance Nests (Widerstandsnester) from East to WestWN 60East of WN 61 on a little hill east of Colleville overlooks "La Revolution" bay Consisted of: Trechsystem for small arms 1 Tobruk for a Renault MG-Turret Plattform for 2cm Flak Shelter for ca. 8 Men1x 7,5 cm Gun 4xGranatwerfer (grenade launchers) Strength: 40 Men History: WN60 was taken from the east, as they had no view on the beach. WN 61East of the valley of Colleville (E-3 Draw) To get there use the the little road leading to the sea at the center of Colleville across the town hall. follow the signs: OMAHA BEACH or Plage D'Omaha Consisted of: 1 x 8,8 cm protected by a Bunker (finished at 25.04.1944) had the job to guard the beach from the east to the west. The only other 8,8 cm as at WN 72. This is where the National Guard monument is at Vierville. You'll find a Tobruk - mabe for a tank turret, othe sources talk about a 50mm AT-gun. You'll also find some tobruks for Machine guns. WN 61 had to seal the beach from the easterly side. An AT-ditch ran across to stop enemy movents. This ditch was later used as a first aid post. Strength : >20 Men WN 62Largest Strongpoint of Omaha Beach Western Stronpoint of the E-3 Draw Use the same road from Colleville and continiou to the little parking lot. Then you can walk up to the strongpoint. You can also use the walkway from the cemetery down to the beach and turn right until yu see the casemates. Strength: 35 Men 21 Infantry soldiers of 3. Kompanie 726 Regt. 716 ID 7 soldiers of Artillerieabteilung 352 ID They had a concrete shelter and observation post that was connected to a bunker for the radio man. The survivior Hein Severloh explained the locationto me in October 2001 7 Infantry soldiers of 916 Gren Reg / 352 ID Armement: 1 Bunker for the soldiers with connecting trenches to a bunker with "Lichtsprechgerät" (device that sent phone signals via a light beam to a receiving unit) to communicate with WN 63. 2 Casemates (Typ H669) für Tcheque 7,5 cm Guns, both were not finished on D-Day. the steel embrassures for the guns had not arrived yet. Tobruks for 5cm Granatwerfer Trenches (also not yet finished) for small arms 5cm AT-gun Heavy maschine gun position of Franz Gockel 1 50mm AT-gun of 916 Gren Reg was on the upper part of WN62 facing down E-3 draw. It knocked out on Sherman tank and was not visible from the sea side. WN 63On the left hand side when you drive down E-3 Draw from Colleville. You can only see a door in the bushes. It was only a command post. There are two main rooms and a rear exit that leads on the plateau fromwhere you can see WN 62. WN 64Weak point of the defences. Driving down from St. Laurent to the beach it is on the right hand side on top of the plateau. H 612 Bunker for a russian 7,62 cm gun - not finished Trenches / barbed wire / mines 2cm FLAK 2 x Grenade launchers in Tobruks WN 65At the westside of the Rouquet Valley (E - 1 Draw) Everybody knows the picture of GI's (2nd ID) moving up a bluff on Omaha. Armement: H 677 Bunker for 5o mm AT-gun - the gun is still there - 2 x 5cm grenade launchers in Tobruks 1 x additional 5o mm AT 1 x 75 mm up the road to St. Laurent. Careful this road is a one way street you can only drive downhill from St. Laurent. On top of the bluff you will find a memorial for the 1st provisional Air field at Omaha. WN 66Drive back from WN65 and park at one of the parking lots in front of the two Restaurants. WN 66 is on the eastern side of D-3 Draw. Armement: 1 x Bunker 5o mm AT - not finished 2 x Tobruk for heavy grenade launchers 1 x 5o mm AT on the bluff Various trenches on top of the bluff Between WN 66 and 68 was an AT-ditch. A concrete wall sealed off the road leading up D-3 Draw WN 67Nebelwerfer emplacement / Nebelwerfer Abteilung 84 Drive up D-3 Draw to St. Laurent where the traffic circle is. After you passed the museum you will see crossroads. The emplacement was about in that area on top of the eastern plateau. Armement: Nebelwerfer/Multiple Rocket Lauchers Caliber 32 , about 25 bis 35 The lauchers were made out of wood One controlbunker The locals and veterans say that no rocket was fired, because they not arrived yet. WN 68On the other side of WN 66 on the western plateau Stretching fom the plateau down to the Restaurant L'Omaha Behind the beach was a Tobruk with Panzer IV Turret Above 2 Tobruks with Renault Turret 1 x 50mm AT gun 1 concrete structure on the bluff with 2 gun slits. A network of trenches to connect the bunkers WN 69North of the street from St. Laurent to Vierville This position does not exist any more! In 2003 I had the chance to talk to a veteran of this strong point who lives in former east Germany now. He said that they had 2 Artillery pieces of German origin 1 x 20mm ADA gun There were no concrete structures The German Wehrmacht also called it WN 67/A WN 70Secured the open strtch of field between St. Laurent and Vierville on the Plateau. You need to walk about 10 min from the street Armement: 2 x 75 mm Guns Tobruk MG 2 x Tobruk Grenade lauchers 50 mm 1 x 2 cm FLAK Barbed wire Minefield WN 71On the eastern Plateau of D-1 Draw. From there you have an excellent view over the Beach D-1 Exit was the most fortified sector on Omaha Beach. Sectors: Charlie and Dog Green Armement: Concrete structure with gun slits to the west side Tobruks for heavy grenade lauchers Concrete shelters Trenches, barbed wire, minefield WN 72On the west side of D-1 Draw below Vierville The best constructed strongpoint of the Germans at Omaha. 1 Casemate Typ H667 guarding the beach from west to east with a PAK 43 - 8,8 cm - Today you find the National Guard memorial on top To stop the americans from advancing up the road was also blocked by a AT-wall. West of the 8,8 Bunker you'll find another Bunker for a 50 mm both bunkers were connected by trenches 2 other Tobruks Around the strong point were barbed wire and Mines. WN 73Small strongpoint overlooking the western bluff 1 x 75 mm Gun firing down on the beach, not visible from the sea side Mines, trenches and barbed wire WN 74Radarstation at Pointe de Raz Some shelters and dug outs, Mines and trenches Source: Omaha Beach |
 |
