User:KWS PEI/sandbox

On 6th June 1944 Wehrmacht Heeren forces in Basse Normandie: Calvados-Baie de Seine were responsible for two Küsten Verteidigung Abschnitt - Divisional Coastal Defensive Sections: 7 KVA ‘H1’ Caen and 7 KVA ‘H2’ Bayeux. Fighting with allocated LXXXIV Korps resources, responsible for tactical situation in KVA Caen was Infanterie-Division 716., a Coastal Static Division (Mobilization Welle 15). Having the task of defeating landings, it first manned an extended line of defensible posts, along its assigned 47 km of Normandy Coast and then positioned all resources then available above the Coastal Plain. This 'split' the Division across two Regimental Coastal Defensive Sections: on the left would be fighting Küsten Verteidigungs Gruppe Courseulles and on the right Küsten Verteidigungs Gruppe Riva-Bella.



The Design
Across the JUNO Sector, the Atlantikwall Frankreich (Basse Normandie) saw only two levels of fortification: Feltmessige Anlage (Fa): Type 1 - Field Works, and Verstärkt Feltmessig (Vf): Type 2 – Reinforced Concrete, at one Strongpoint (Stutzpunkte - StP.) and nine Resistance Nests (Widerstandnesten - WN). This in addition to mining the beach foreshore, and setting out back-shore obstacles of three principal types: "herissons" Czech hedgehog, Element "C" Belgian de Cointet Gates, and (mined) timber stakes.

The Stützpuntkte (StP.) - Strongpoint at Courseulles-sur-Mer, was a complex of three fortified positions, strengthened by numerous standard concrete fortifications, defending entry into the River Seulles. The strong-point layout, astride the river, followed no particular design, established on the basis of weapons available, the terrain features of the beach front, and troops to occupy. The concrete fortifications - casemates were supported by earthen entrenchments, in which mortars and heavy machine guns were emplaced, its two principal resistance positions manned by about 30-50 men, intended to fight under independent command, for an extended period of time.

The Widerstandnesten (WN) - Resistance Nests were smaller defensible localities, incorporating one or two concrete gun casemates, with observation and fighting positions, dominating the beaches, intended to deny landings or holding key terrain. In the JUNO Sector, two strong WNs were located within the immediate setting of the beach-front towns, (WN 27 and WN 28) they the core of the eastern flank defence, causing more losses to the Canadians, than the inland defenders.

Deny Landing
K.V.-Gruppe Courseulles, on the Seine Bucht, was not equally resourced as it was thought that four off-shore reefs (Les Roches de Ver, Les Iles de Bernieres, Les Roches de Lion, and Les Essarts de Langrune) would impede any landing; landings thus considered quite improbable. The defence of the immediate Courseulles, Coastal Defence Area among many things, called first on Bataillon II./Grenadier-Regiment 736, isolated in fixed fortifications, hoping to 'hold' what became five beaches of The JUNO Sector, fighting as a key component of Küsten Verteidigung Unterabschnitt Gruppe Seulles. On its left, its companies deployed forward Osten-Batallion 441, arriving late into the Sector and not well resourced, was assigned to K.V.U.-Gr Meuvaines.



K.V.U.-Gr Seulles
Against four Canadian landings, Grenadier-Regiment 736. deployed two light companies: Kompanie 5./ II 736., divided between Saint Aubin-sur-Mer (WN 27) and Bernières-sur-Mer (WN 28), and Kompanie 6./ II 736., fighting the three WNs at Strongpoint Courseulles-sur-Mer. These two companies would be fighting with anti-tank weapons taken from Poland, France and Czechoslovakia, and platoons manned with Polish nationals (Volksdeutsche), Germans not fit for regular service, and Russian Hilfswilliger. The Batallion II./736 Headquarters - HQ Stab. Gefechtsstand was positioned to the rear of its rifle companies at the Chateaux de Tailleville.

K.V.U.-Gr Meuvaines
Tasked to deny any landings, Grenadier-Regiment 726. commanded one light rifle company: Kompanie 7./ II 736., sited at Strongpoint Ver-sur-Mer (WN 33), fighting away from its Batallion/Regiment, and deployed forward three companies of Ost-Battalion 441 (Ukrainian). Its Kompanie 1. (Ukrainer-Kp. 52) at Hameau de Vaux (WN 33a), Kompanie 4. South of Ver-sur-Mer and Kompanie 3. West of Ver-sur-Mer. The Batallion II./726 Headquarters - HQ Stab. Gefechtsstand was positioned forward of its four rifle companies at Saint-Croix-sur-Mer.

Disrupt Consolidation
Beyond any Canadian foothold, the containment in the coastal zone would have to rely on Bataillon II./Grenadier-Regiment 726., Northeast of Creully, Panzerjäger-Abteilung 200., Northwest of Carpiquet, and Bataillon II./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 192., North of Caen. Beyond local counterattacks, Infanterie-Division 716., could only bring forward Kompanie 7. / II 192. / PzD.21., first located at Périers-sur-le-Dan, south of Plumetot, and Kompanie 5./ Sturmgeschütz-Abt 200. / Pz.Div.21., moved up from Cambes-en-Plasne at Epron, to help contain The Canadians.

K.V.-Gr Courseulles
While the five Canadian landings at Juno Beach were reinforced, not being affected by localized counter-moves, the Canadians (hochbewerteten) brought forward the fight to K.V.-Gruppe Courseulles having to now 'defend' against two infantry brigade groups. At the eastern end of the Canadian landings, they were now free to make a run for the Château de Tailleville, and down into Beny-sur-Mer. At the western end, Ost-Batallion 441 not having fought well, the Canadians would soon get into open ground moving astride The Seulles

Panzer-Division 21.
With a cadre of veterans drawn from the Eastern Front, Pz.Div.21 was reconstituted on 15 July 1943, in Brittany; its ranks filling with conscripts from Germany. While deemed unfit for service on the Eastern Front, it departed France in March 1944 to take part in the military occupation of Hungary. Returned to Brittany, on April 26th, 1944, in mid-May it moved to positions at Caen. The Division began D-Day with its motorized infantry committed to Infanterie-Division 716., dispersed across the northern approaches to Caen, under strict orders not to ‘commit’ (further) forces without orders from Army Group B. Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment. 192 (mot.), having previously deployed its II. Batallion. (mot) on the Northwest approach above Caen, with its Stab at Le Mesnil and Stabs-Kompanie at Villons-les-Buissons (from 13 May).

The Counter-Move
It's commander absent, (Generalmajor Edgar Feuchtinger in Paris) and the tactical situation unclear, Panzer-Division 21., was not able to confirm orders and finalize regrouping, for any action, before 17h00. When ordered three counter thrusts were attempted, East of The Orne: Kampfgruppe Von Luck, West of The Orne: Panzerkampfgruppe Oppeln, and North of Caen: Kampfgruppe Rauch.



Ordered north of Caen, Kampfgruppe: Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 192. Oberst Josef Rauch was to prevent a link-up of the CA JUNO and UK SWORD landings. Avoiding the front of the leading Canadian units, KGr Rauch moved up with Stp Douvres-la-Deliverande securing its left flank, moving via Mathieu, west of Plumetot, and Cresserons it was able to reach the coast west of Lion-sur-Mer by 20h00. Linking with Kompanie 11. / Battalion III. / Gren-Regt 736., which was still holding its positions south of the village, with the landing of the British 6th Airlanding Brigade, to its rear, KGr Rauch was ordered to withdraw to Saint-Contest-Cussy, leaving elements of Battalion I./192., at La-Delivrande.

At days end, Infanterie-Division 716., of its 'six' battalions there remained Gren-Regt 736./Bn III. (UK Sword) - at less than 20% casualties); all others were remnants, the artillery had been reduced to 20% of its initial strength, there were six guns left, they west of The Orne, and five or six guns east of The Orne. Anti-tank elements had lost 75% of their strength, anti-aircraft elements (Kp 3./716.) about 66% and all other units about 33%.

Historical Sources

 * Major J.R. Martin, Report No. 147 - Historical Section, Canadian Military Headquarters. Canadian Participation in the Operations in North-West Europe, 1944. Part 1:  The Assault and subsequent operations of 3 Cdn Inf Div. Dated 3 Dec 45
 * Capt. A.G. Steiger, Report No. 40 - Historical Section (G.S.) Army Headquarters. The Campaign in North-West Europe: Information from German Sources. Part I: German Preparations in The West.  Dated 28 Apr 51
 * Capt. A.G. Steiger, Report No. 41 - Historical Section (G.S.) Army Headquarters. The German Defences in the Courseulles-St.Aubin Area of the Normandy Coast: Information from German Sources. 716 Inf Div 6 Jun 44 - Initial Situation. Dated 20 Jul 51
 * Capt. A.G. Steiger, Report No. 50 - Historical Section (G.S.) Army Headquarters. The Campaign in North-West Europe: Information from German Sources. Part II: Invasion and Battle of Normandy (6 Jun - 22 Aug 44).  Dated 14 Oct 52
 * Lt. R.H. Roy, Report No. 54 - Historical Section (G.S.) Army Headquarters. Canadian Participation in the Operations in North-West Europe, 1944. Part 1:  The Assault and subsequent operations of 3 Cdn Inf Div. Dated 30 Jun 52
 * Kampf Der 716.Division in der Normandie, Generalleutnant Richter, Wilhelm. Allendorf, den 31 Mai 1947. The Battle of the 716th Infantry Division in Normandy, Wilhelm Richter, 1947. US Army Europe: Manuscript No. B-621 / WWII Foreign Military Studies 1945-54: NARA M1035.

On-Line Sources

 * Richard Drew's Site http://www.atlantikwall.co.uk/ Atlantikwall: WW2 Defences from 1941-1944, France: AOK 7 Normandie., by individual page, provides good detail of the JUNO WNs in this article. The lists are quite definitive and this site is a very valuable resource.
 * Marc Laurenceau's Site 'Encyclopédie du débarquement et de la bataille de Normandie' (the French version) at http://www.dday-overlord.com offers most comprehensive lists of details, of the JUNO WNs, without a lot of context, and on all things D-Day.

Book Sources

 * Richard C. Anderson's Book: Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall: The 1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers on D-Day, in his Chapter 4: German Planning and Preparation, very well identifies by JUNO WN the detail of the weapons at each JUNO WN, on the seawall and inland.
 * Anderson, Richard C., Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall: The 1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers on D-Day, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA., 2010, ISBN 9780811742719.
 * Chris McNab's Book: Hitler's Fortresses: German Fortifications and Defences 1939-45, offers complete detail of the design and engineering of Atlantic Wall works found on JUNO Beach.
 * McNab, Chris (Ed), Hitler's Fortresses: German Fortifications and Defences 1939-45, Osprey Publishing GB: Oxford UK / New York NY, 2014. ISBN 9781782008286.

Category:Operation Neptune Category:1944 in France Category:Battles and operations of World War II involving Germany Category:Battles of World War II involving Canada Category:Invasions by Canada Category:Military history of Canada during World War II