German air and sea defences in the Gironde and western France in WW2
Overview of the German Defences in western France
The Gironde Estuary (the largest estuary in Western Europe at approximately 50 miles long by 2–7 miles wide) was a vital conduit for transporting men and equipment into France via the port of Bordeaux. As such, many attempts were made to mine the estuary approaches. The area was code-named DEODAR by RAF planners and many gardening ops to sow (drop) sea mines in the estuary were made throughout the war.
As such, the Germans recognised the need to defend the area from attacking bombers and seaborne attacks. The banks on both sides of the mouth of the estuary had bunkers, anti-aircraft emplacements and searchlights. To this day their concrete casements remain as a reminder of the war.
ED559's route would have taken the Lancaster right over several anti-aircraft batteries and searchlights. Batteries were sited at Royan, Soulac, Point du Chay, on the La Coubre peninsular. The La Coubre area had several batteries over which ED559's return course would overfly.
As such, the Germans recognised the need to defend the area from attacking bombers and seaborne attacks. The banks on both sides of the mouth of the estuary had bunkers, anti-aircraft emplacements and searchlights. To this day their concrete casements remain as a reminder of the war.
ED559's route would have taken the Lancaster right over several anti-aircraft batteries and searchlights. Batteries were sited at Royan, Soulac, Point du Chay, on the La Coubre peninsular. The La Coubre area had several batteries over which ED559's return course would overfly.
German coastal defences on the Gironde and French coast
The German command structure for the defence of the Atlantic Wall (Atlantikwall) was based primarily on an AOK Armeeoberkommando (Army Higher Command).
The Gironde was designated AOK 1, commanded from Bordeaux by the German 1st Army (split into two army corps: LXXX Army Corps (HQ in Poitiers) and LXXXVI Army Corps (in Dax). AOK 1 covered south-west France and the Atlantic coast covering approximately 817 km or 508 miles.
Within the AOK, specific coastal areas were designated as KVA (Küsten Verteidigungs Abschnitt (Coastal Defence Sections). Within a KVA there were specific festung (fortress). Each festung would have numbered strong points Stützpunkte (Heavy Support Point) and Widerstandsnesten (Light Resistance Nest).
The use of the German term festung denoted that an area had been so sufficiently built up with defences to be, the Germans hoped, as 'unconquerable'.
The west coast of France from La Rochelle to the Spanish border was split into three coastal defence zones:
In addition to the KVAs, the coast was divided into Bezifferungsbereich zones.
1 KVA D - HQ in Fontenay-le-Comte - two zones:
1 KVA E1 - HQ in Royan - one zone covering both banks at the mouth of the Gironde estuary
1 KVA E2 - HQ in Labouheyre - two zones:
1 KVA F - HQ in Cambo-les-Bains - one zone:
The Gironde was designated AOK 1, commanded from Bordeaux by the German 1st Army (split into two army corps: LXXX Army Corps (HQ in Poitiers) and LXXXVI Army Corps (in Dax). AOK 1 covered south-west France and the Atlantic coast covering approximately 817 km or 508 miles.
Within the AOK, specific coastal areas were designated as KVA (Küsten Verteidigungs Abschnitt (Coastal Defence Sections). Within a KVA there were specific festung (fortress). Each festung would have numbered strong points Stützpunkte (Heavy Support Point) and Widerstandsnesten (Light Resistance Nest).
The use of the German term festung denoted that an area had been so sufficiently built up with defences to be, the Germans hoped, as 'unconquerable'.
The west coast of France from La Rochelle to the Spanish border was split into three coastal defence zones:
- KVA D - Gruppe Nord, Les Sables-d'Olonne, La Rochelle, Île de Ré and Île d'Oléron
- KVA E - Gironde Nord, Gironde Süd, Bordeaux, Arcachon, Legé and Mimizan
- KVA F - Soustons, Bayonne & Saint-Jean-de-Luz
In addition to the KVAs, the coast was divided into Bezifferungsbereich zones.
1 KVA D - HQ in Fontenay-le-Comte - two zones:
- "Sa" - Les Sables d'Olonne
- "Ro" - La Rochelle
1 KVA E1 - HQ in Royan - one zone covering both banks at the mouth of the Gironde estuary
- "Gi" - Gironde
1 KVA E2 - HQ in Labouheyre - two zones:
- "Ar" - Arcachon
- “Bo” – Bordeaux
1 KVA F - HQ in Cambo-les-Bains - one zone:
- "Ba" - Bayonne
North Gironde Fortress area (Festung Gironde Nord)
The north bank of the Gironde (between Les Fées and Pointe de Suzac) was designated the North Gironde Fortress area (Festung Gironde Nord) and was headquartered at Royan and comprised of approximately 5,000 men. Strong points within this zone were designated "Gi" and fell under command of KVA E1.
Construction of this coastal battery on the north bank began in 1944 and was it was to be equipped with four 240 mm guns (range 18 miles) taken off the French warship Condorcet following the scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon in late November 1942. Only two bunkers of the Regelbau S542 type were completed when further work stopped following the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944.
Construction of this coastal battery on the north bank began in 1944 and was it was to be equipped with four 240 mm guns (range 18 miles) taken off the French warship Condorcet following the scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon in late November 1942. Only two bunkers of the Regelbau S542 type were completed when further work stopped following the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944.
South Gironde Fortress area (Festung Gironde Süd)
A southern counterpart, South Gironde Fortress area (Festung Gironde Süd), was commanded from Le Verdon and comprised approximately 3,500 men. The primary location was the former French defensive position called Fort Requin. This coastal battery was equipped with four French 138 mm guns dating from 1910 and with a range of 15 km. These four guns were emplaced in M180 bunkers with a central M162a command bunker. The Germans also installed a M145 ammunition bunker as well as a R622 bunker for the support troops. The area was protected from attack by a series of machine gun pillboxes, Tobruks and trenches behind minefields.
Both the fortresses on either bank were so well defended that the Allies did not attack them but simply cut them off as they advanced (there were several similar ports in France that were surrounded). The fortresses surrendered at the end of the war in April 1945.
Both the fortresses on either bank were so well defended that the Allies did not attack them but simply cut them off as they advanced (there were several similar ports in France that were surrounded). The fortresses surrendered at the end of the war in April 1945.
​Defence sectors (Seeko)
German naval defences along the French coast were split into nine Defence Sectors (Seeko) each with a Commander of Coastal Sector (Seekommandant). The commander was in overall charge of all Kriegsmarine units in the area, including flak units based on land and on flak barges at sea - the Naval Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group (Marine Flakartillerie Abteilung). The Gironde Estuary came under the Seeko Loire-Gironde, with headquarters at Saint-Nazaire.
Both areas were indeed so well defended that they were isolated and surrounded by the Allies until they surrendered following Operation Venerable in April 1945.
Both areas were indeed so well defended that they were isolated and surrounded by the Allies until they surrendered following Operation Venerable in April 1945.
Luftwaffe Nightfighters
There were no reports from any of the German night-fighter squadrons of a four-engine bomber being intercepted and shot down in the vicinity of the Gironde Estuary on the night of the 4/5 March, 1943. It would appear that the infrequency of incursions by bombers probably made it unlikely the Germans would station a squadron to cover the area.
German Night Fighter claims March 4/5 1943
