Just returned from a trip to Normandy and thought I would post a few pics of some of the sites I visited. First up is the Batterie de Merville. The site was home to four guns, believed by the allies to be 150mm but in reality turned out to be modified WW1 Czech guns.
The site was heavily bombed on the night of 5th-6th June 1944 and many of the casemates suffered direct hits. Unfortunately they were very well constructed and were still operational after the bombing finished.
The task of silencing the guns was given to 9th Battalion Parachute Regiment which was part of 3rd Parachute Brigade under the command of Lt Col Terence Otway.
The site is now very peaceful and is surrounded by farmland on two sides and housing on the others. In casemate one there is a small museum with various displays of German life within the battery, equipment, uniforms, weapons etc. There is a light and sound show here also where you stand directly behind a gun and experience the ariel bombardment, the firing of the gun and then the attack by the Paras.
View of casemate one from the top of casemate two.
The site was heavily bombed on the night of 5th-6th June 1944 and many of the casemates suffered direct hits. Unfortunately they were very well constructed and were still operational after the bombing finished.
The task of silencing the guns was given to 9th Battalion Parachute Regiment which was part of 3rd Parachute Brigade under the command of Lt Col Terence Otway.
The site is now very peaceful and is surrounded by farmland on two sides and housing on the others. In casemate one there is a small museum with various displays of German life within the battery, equipment, uniforms, weapons etc. There is a light and sound show here also where you stand directly behind a gun and experience the ariel bombardment, the firing of the gun and then the attack by the Paras.
View of casemate one from the top of casemate two.
Comment