I would like to share a recent find, this Soldbuch to Obergefreiter Bruno Brückner is a little treasure for anyone interested in the Atlantikwall.
Bruno Brückner joined the Kriegsmarine at the age of 18 in June 1941. After training with various units, Brückner was transferred in April 1942 to the Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 244 occupying the area of Calais in France. He ended up with the 6. Batterie, which was manning the most impressive of all coastal batteries along the entire Atlantikwall: Batterie Lindemann, consisting of three naval gun turrets of 40,6 cm calibre. These guns were used to bomb the south coast of the UK. Brückner was assigned to Panzerturm Caesar, as the signature of its commander, Kapitänleutnant Peschel, can be found throughout the Soldbuch. Strength of the entire Batterie: 280 men, 34 NCO's, 4 officers.
During most of the war, Batterie Lindemann was a frequent target of Allied aerial attacks, and was also bombed by counter-fire of long range British guns. But only two men of the Abteilung were killed during all these attacks, and the gun turrets remained active after the Allied invasion in Normandy. Brückner was awarded the Kriegsabzeichen f.d. Marineartillerie on the 3rd of September, 1944. Around this date, the first of three guns (Bruno) was damaged and out of action.
As the Allies broke out of Normandy, Batterie Lindemann and the surrounding area of the Calais - Boulogne coast were surrounded by the Canadians on the 10th of September 1944. Three days later, on the 13th, the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, C.A.S.F., tried to seize the batteries near the Cap Blanc Nez, but were repelled by the Marine-Artillerists. On the 18th of September, Brückner - who was among the youngest and probably the most courageous men of the Batterie - was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse. After another heavy air attack (3.000 lbs of bombs) on the 21st, the Batterie Lindemann crew repelled another Canadian ground attack on the 22nd.
Preceded by another aerial bombing, the final attack on Batterie Lindemann began on the 25th of September 1944, by the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, supported by heavy tanks and artillery. They attacked the battery from behind through the Noires Mottes hills, and opposed strong resistance, although the Germans could not use their guns as they could not be turned away from the sea. Even during the attack by the Canadians, Turm Caesar kept on firing its last rounds towards the UK, and was responsible for the last civilian victim by cross-chanel artillery fire in Great-Brittain on the 26th of September, 1944: a 63 year old woman named Patience Ransley.
Bruno Brückner was captured during this battle for the Batterie Lindemann, on September 26th at 9.30 hours, German time. Later that day, Kapitänleutnant Lokau, who was in charge of the Batterie, surrendered the remainder of his garrison to the Canadians. The men were shocked by the effect of aerial and artillery bombardments, and the flame-throwing tanks aiding the Canadian infantry.
Brückner survived the war and was released from captivity on the 11th of March, 1948. The Soldbuch is complete except for the portrait photo which has, so unfortunately, been removed. Hope you like it!
Bruno Brückner joined the Kriegsmarine at the age of 18 in June 1941. After training with various units, Brückner was transferred in April 1942 to the Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung 244 occupying the area of Calais in France. He ended up with the 6. Batterie, which was manning the most impressive of all coastal batteries along the entire Atlantikwall: Batterie Lindemann, consisting of three naval gun turrets of 40,6 cm calibre. These guns were used to bomb the south coast of the UK. Brückner was assigned to Panzerturm Caesar, as the signature of its commander, Kapitänleutnant Peschel, can be found throughout the Soldbuch. Strength of the entire Batterie: 280 men, 34 NCO's, 4 officers.
During most of the war, Batterie Lindemann was a frequent target of Allied aerial attacks, and was also bombed by counter-fire of long range British guns. But only two men of the Abteilung were killed during all these attacks, and the gun turrets remained active after the Allied invasion in Normandy. Brückner was awarded the Kriegsabzeichen f.d. Marineartillerie on the 3rd of September, 1944. Around this date, the first of three guns (Bruno) was damaged and out of action.
As the Allies broke out of Normandy, Batterie Lindemann and the surrounding area of the Calais - Boulogne coast were surrounded by the Canadians on the 10th of September 1944. Three days later, on the 13th, the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, C.A.S.F., tried to seize the batteries near the Cap Blanc Nez, but were repelled by the Marine-Artillerists. On the 18th of September, Brückner - who was among the youngest and probably the most courageous men of the Batterie - was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse. After another heavy air attack (3.000 lbs of bombs) on the 21st, the Batterie Lindemann crew repelled another Canadian ground attack on the 22nd.
Preceded by another aerial bombing, the final attack on Batterie Lindemann began on the 25th of September 1944, by the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, supported by heavy tanks and artillery. They attacked the battery from behind through the Noires Mottes hills, and opposed strong resistance, although the Germans could not use their guns as they could not be turned away from the sea. Even during the attack by the Canadians, Turm Caesar kept on firing its last rounds towards the UK, and was responsible for the last civilian victim by cross-chanel artillery fire in Great-Brittain on the 26th of September, 1944: a 63 year old woman named Patience Ransley.
Bruno Brückner was captured during this battle for the Batterie Lindemann, on September 26th at 9.30 hours, German time. Later that day, Kapitänleutnant Lokau, who was in charge of the Batterie, surrendered the remainder of his garrison to the Canadians. The men were shocked by the effect of aerial and artillery bombardments, and the flame-throwing tanks aiding the Canadian infantry.
Brückner survived the war and was released from captivity on the 11th of March, 1948. The Soldbuch is complete except for the portrait photo which has, so unfortunately, been removed. Hope you like it!
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