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Coordinates: 49°16′10″N 0°11′52″W / 49.26944°N 0.19778°W / 49.26944; -0.19778
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{{Short description|Coastal fortification in Normandy, France}}
{{Infobox military structure
{{Infobox military structure
|name=Merville Gun Battery
| name = Merville Gun Battery
|partof=[[Atlantic Wall]]
| partof = [[Atlantic Wall]]
|location=[[Normandy]], France
| location = [[Normandy]], France
|coordinates=
| coordinates =
| image = Merville_Gun_Battery_(6818465782).jpg
|image=[[File:Merville2 web.jpg]]
|caption=The Merville Battery today
| caption = Largest casemate of the Merville Battery today
|image2=
| image2 =
|caption2=
| caption2 =
|type=[[Artillery battery]]
| type = [[Artillery battery]]
|code=
| code =
|built=[[World War II]]
| built = [[World War II]]
|builder=[[Germany]]
| builder = [[Organisation Todt]]
|materials=Concrete, steel, barbed wire
| materials = Concrete, steel, barbed wire
|height=
| height =
|used=1944
| used = 1942-1944
|demolished=
| demolished =
|condition=Still exists
| condition = Several casemates and trench system
| ownership = {{flag|Nazi Germany}}<br>1942–44<br />
|ownership=[[France]]
{{flag|France}}<br>1944–present<br />
|open_to_public=Yes
| open_to_public = Yes
|controlledby=Germany 1944, France 1944–present
| controlledby =
|garrison= [[Wehrmacht]]
| garrison = [[Wehrmacht]]
|current_commander=
| current_commander =
|commanders=
| commanders =
|occupants=
| occupants =
|battles=[[Normandy landings]], [[Operation Tonga]]
| battles = [[Normandy landings]], [[Operation Tonga]]
|events=
| events =
}}
}}


The '''Merville Gun Battery''' was a coastal fortification in [[Normandy]], [[France]], in use as part of the Nazis' [[Atlantic Wall]] built to defend continental Europe from Allied invasion. It was a particularly heavily fortified position and one of the first places to be attacked by Allied forces during the [[Normandy Landings]] commonly known as D-Day.
The '''Merville Gun Battery''' is a decommissioned coastal fortification in [[Normandy]], [[France]], which was built as part of the Germans' [[Atlantic Wall]] to defend continental Europe from Allied invasion. It was a particularly heavily fortified position and one of the [[Battle of Merville Gun Battery|first places to be attacked]] by Allied forces during the [[Normandy Landings]] commonly known as D-Day. A British force under the command of Lieutenant Colonel [[Terence Otway]] succeeded in capturing this position, suffering heavy casualties.


==Defences==
==Defences==
{{see|Battle of Merville Gun Battery}}
{{further|Battle of Merville Gun Battery}}


The Merville Battery was composed of four {{convert|6|ft|m|adj=mid|-thick}} steel-reinforced concrete gun [[casemate]]s, built by the [[Todt Organisation]]. Each was designed to protect [[First World War]]-vintage [[Skoda houfnice vz 14|14/19 Tschechisch 100&nbsp;mm guns]].<ref>Zaloga and Johnson 2005, p. 29</ref> Other buildings on the site included a command bunker, a building to accommodate the men, and ammunition magazines. During a visit on 6&nbsp;March&nbsp;1944, to inspect the defences, [[Field Marshal (Germany)|Field Marshal]] [[Erwin Rommel]] ordered the builders to work faster, and by May&nbsp;1944, the last two casemates were completed.<ref name=merville>{{cite web|accessdate=22 August 2011|title=The Merville Battery|publisher=Merville Battery Museum|url=http://www.batterie-merville.com/the-merville-battery?lang=en}}</ref>
The Merville Battery is composed of four {{convert|6|ft|m|adj=mid|-thick}} steel-reinforced concrete gun [[casemate]]s, built by the [[Todt Organisation]]. Each was designed to protect [[First World War]]-vintage Czech-made [[Skoda houfnice vz 14|leFH 14/19(t) 100&nbsp;mm (3.93-inch) mountain howitzers]] with a range of 8,400 m.<ref>Zaloga and Johnson 2005, p. 29</ref>


Other buildings on the site include a command bunker, a building to accommodate the men, and ammunition magazines. During a visit on 6&nbsp;March&nbsp;1944, to inspect the defences, [[Field Marshal (Germany)|Field Marshal]] [[Erwin Rommel]] ordered the builders to work faster, and by May&nbsp;1944, the last two casemates were completed.{{cn|date=January 2024}}
⚫
The battery was defended by a [[2 cm Flak 30/38/Flakvierling|20&nbsp;mm anti-aircraft gun]] and several [[machine gun]]s in 15 gun positions, all enclosed in an area {{convert|700|by|500|yd}} surrounded by two [[barbed wire]] obstacles {{convert|15|ft}} thick by {{convert|5|ft}} high,<ref>Ford, p.41</ref> which also acted as the exterior border for a {{convert|100|yd|m|adj=mid|-deep}} [[minefield]]. Another obstacle was an [[Anti-tank trench|anti-tank ditch]] covering any approach from the nearby coast.<ref name="Gregory108">Gregory 1979, p. 108</ref>

[[File:Merville2 web.jpg|thumb|Side view of another casemate]]

⚫
The battery was defended by a [[2 cm Flak 30/38/Flakvierling|20&nbsp;mm anti-aircraft gun]] and multiple [[machine gun]]s in fifteen gun positions, all enclosed in an area {{convert|700|by|500|yd}} surrounded by two [[barbed wire]] obstacles {{convert|15|ft}} deep by {{convert|5|ft}} high,<ref>Ford, p.41</ref> which also acted as the exterior border for a {{convert|100|yd|m|adj=mid|-deep}} [[minefield]]. Another obstacle was an [[Anti-tank trench|anti-tank ditch]] covering any approach from the nearby coast.<ref name="Gregory108">Gregory 1979, p. 108</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==
Line 41: Line 47:


==References==
==References==
*{{cite book|last=Ford|first=Ken|title=D-Day 1944 (3): Sword Beach & the British Airborne Landings|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=Oxford, UK|year=2011|isbn=9781849087216}}
*{{cite book|last=Ford|first=Ken|title=D-Day 1944 (3): Sword Beach & the British Airborne Landings|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=Oxford, UK|year=2011|isbn=978-1-84908-721-6}}
*{{cite book|last1=Gregory|first1=Barry|last2=Batchelor|first2=John|title=Airborne Warfare, 1918–1945|publisher=Exeter Books|year=1979|location=Exeter, UK|isbn=9780896730250}}
*{{cite book|last1=Gregory|first1=Barry|last2=Batchelor|first2=John|title=Airborne Warfare, 1918–1945|publisher=Exeter Books|year=1979|location=Exeter, UK|isbn=978-0-89673-025-0}}
*{{cite book|last1=Zaloga|last2=Johnson|first1=Steven J|first2=Hugh|title=D-Day Fortifications in Normandy|series=Volume 37 of Fortress Series|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=Oxford, UK|year=2005|isbn=9781841768762}}
*{{cite book|last1=Zaloga|last2=Johnson|first1=Steven J|first2=Hugh|title=D-Day Fortifications in Normandy|series=Volume 37 of Fortress Series|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=Oxford, UK|year=2005|isbn=978-1-84176-876-2}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* ''The Day the Devils Dropped In''. Neil Barber, Pen & Sword Books 2002. ISBN 978 1 84415 045 8
* ''The Day the Devils Dropped In''. Neil Barber, Pen & Sword Books 2002. {{ISBN|978-1-84415-045-8}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Merville Battery}}
{{Commons category|Merville Battery}}
* [http://www.batterie-merville.com/ The Merville Battery - Official Site]
* [http://www.pegasusarchive.org/ The 6th Airborne Division in Normandy]
* [http://www.pegasusarchive.org/ The 6th Airborne Division in Normandy]
* [http://www.1940.co.uk/history/article/merville/merville.htm The Merville Battery]



⚫
{{Portal|World War II}}


{{coord|49|16|10|N|0|11|52|W|source:frwiki|display=title}}
{{coord|49|16|10|N|0|11|52|W|source:frwiki|display=title}}


⚫
{{World War II}}
{{Battle of Normandy}}

[[Category:Atlantic Wall]]
[[Category:Operation Overlord]]
[[Category:Operation Overlord]]
[[Category:Normandy]]
[[Category:Normandy]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Calvados (department)]]

[[Category:Military history of France during World War II]]
[[de:Artilleriebatterie bei Merville]]
[[Category:Military history of Normandy]]
[[fr:Batterie de Merville]]
[[Category:Artillery battery fortifications in France]]
[[he:קרב סוללת מרוויל]]
[[Category:World War II sites in France]]
[[nl:Batterij van Merville]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Calvados (department)]]

Latest revision as of 01:21, 25 August 2024

Merville Gun Battery
Part of Atlantic Wall
Normandy, France
Largest casemate of the Merville Battery today
TypeArtillery battery
Site information
Owner Nazi Germany
1942–44
 France
1944–present
Open to
the public		Yes
ConditionSeveral casemates and trench system
Site history
BuiltWorld War II
Built byOrganisation Todt
In use1942-1944
MaterialsConcrete, steel, barbed wire
Battles/warsNormandy landings, Operation Tonga
Garrison information
GarrisonWehrmacht

The Merville Gun Battery is a decommissioned coastal fortification in Normandy, France, which was built as part of the Germans' Atlantic Wall to defend continental Europe from Allied invasion. It was a particularly heavily fortified position and one of the first places to be attacked by Allied forces during the Normandy Landings commonly known as D-Day. A British force under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Terence Otway succeeded in capturing this position, suffering heavy casualties.

Defences

[edit]
Further information: Battle of Merville Gun Battery

The Merville Battery is composed of four 6-foot-thick (1.8 m) steel-reinforced concrete gun casemates, built by the Todt Organisation. Each was designed to protect First World War-vintage Czech-made leFH 14/19(t) 100 mm (3.93-inch) mountain howitzers with a range of 8,400 m.[1]

Other buildings on the site include a command bunker, a building to accommodate the men, and ammunition magazines. During a visit on 6 March 1944, to inspect the defences, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel ordered the builders to work faster, and by May 1944, the last two casemates were completed.[citation needed]

Side view of another casemate

The battery was defended by a 20 mm anti-aircraft gun and multiple machine guns in fifteen gun positions, all enclosed in an area 700 by 500 yards (640 by 460 m) surrounded by two barbed wire obstacles 15 feet (4.6 m) deep by 5 feet (1.5 m) high,[2] which also acted as the exterior border for a 100-yard-deep (91 m) minefield. Another obstacle was an anti-tank ditch covering any approach from the nearby coast.[3]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Zaloga and Johnson 2005, p. 29
  2. ^ Ford, p.41
  3. ^ Gregory 1979, p. 108

References

[edit]
  • Ford, Ken (2011). D-Day 1944 (3): Sword Beach & the British Airborne Landings. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-721-6.
  • Gregory, Barry; Batchelor, John (1979). Airborne Warfare, 1918–1945. Exeter, UK: Exeter Books. ISBN 978-0-89673-025-0.
  • Zaloga, Steven J; Johnson, Hugh (2005). D-Day Fortifications in Normandy. Volume 37 of Fortress Series. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-876-2.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Merville Battery.


49°16′10″N 0°11′52″W / 49.26944°N 0.19778°W / 49.26944; -0.19778

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