The 54-miles of Atlantic coast north of Bayeux – stretching from Utah Beach in the west to Sword Beach in the east – are littered with WWII museums, monuments, cemeteries, and battle remains left in tribute to the courage of the British, Canadian, and American armies that successfully carried out the largest military operation in history: D-Day. (It’s called Jour J in French.) It was on these serene beaches, at the crack of dawn on June 6, 1944, that the Allies (roughly one-third Americans and two-thirds British and Canadians) finally gained a foothold in France. From this moment, Nazi Europe was destined to crumble.
At the time of my visit, a bit less than a month following will mark the 81st anniversary of the landings. Very very few of the veterans are left – normally only a couple of dozen are at the anniversary since the youngest of them would be in their early 90s. Locals talk of the last visits of veterans with heartfelt sorrow; they have adored seeing the old soldiers in their villages and fear losing the firsthand reports of the battles. All along this rambling coasts, locals will never forget what the troops and their families sacrificed all those years ago. A warm regard for Americans has survived political disputes, from de Gaulle through Trump and beyond. This remains particularly friendly soil for Americans – a place where US soldiers are still honored and the image of the US as a force for good remains largely untarnished.
Introduction
The Longues-sur-Mer Gun Battery (also known as “Batterie Allemande”) stands as one of the most impressive and well-preserved remnants of Nazi Germany’s Atlantic Wall defenses in Normandy, France. Located strategically between Omaha Beach and Gold Beach, this historical site offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore authentic World War II coastal artillery fortifications that played a significant role during the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944.
As the only German coastal battery in Normandy to retain its original guns, Longues-sur-Mer provides an unparalleled glimpse into the military engineering and strategic planning that went into the Atlantic Wall defenses. The site has been classified as a historical monument since October 2001 and remains in an excellent state of preservation.
Historical Significance
Construction and Purpose
The Longues-sur-Mer battery was constructed between September 1943 and April 1944 as part of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall – a massive chain of coastal fortifications stretching from Norway to Spain. The battery was built to defend the Normandy coastline against the anticipated Allied invasion.
The battery comprised:
- Four 150mm TbtsK C/36 naval guns manufactured by the Škoda Works in Plzeň, Czechoslovakia
- Massive concrete casemates with walls over 2 meters (6.6 feet) thick
- A fire control post on the cliff edge with advanced observation equipment
- Ammunition bunkers and personnel shelters
- Defensive positions including machine gun nests, mortar positions, and minefields
The battery’s strategic location allowed its guns to fire on both Omaha Beach to the west and Gold Beach to the east, with a range of approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles). This positioning made it a significant threat to the Allied invasion forces.
Role During D-Day
On the night of June 5-6, 1944, the battery was subjected to extensive Allied bombing, which damaged the communication lines between the fire control post and the gun emplacements but failed to destroy the casemates themselves.
During D-Day (June 6, 1944), the battery engaged in an intense artillery duel with Allied naval forces:
- The battery began firing on Allied ships at around 6:00 AM
- HMS Ajax and HMS Argonaut returned fire, forcing the battery to temporarily cease operations
- French cruisers Georges Leygues and Montcalm, along with USS Arkansas, subsequently knocked out several of the gun positions
- Despite the damage, one gun continued firing intermittently until the evening
- In total, the battery fired approximately 170 rounds during the day, though none struck their targets
On June 7, following a second Allied air bombardment, the surviving 120 German troops surrendered to the advancing British forces from the 2nd Devonshire Regiment.
The Gun Casemates
Four German casemates (three with guns intact) – built to guard against seaborne attacks – hunker down at the end of a country road, past a sparkling new visitors center. The guns, 300 yards inland, were arranged in a semicircle to maximize the firing range east and west, and are the only original coastal artillery guns remaining in place in the D-Day region. This battery, staffed by 194 German soldiers, was more defended than the better-known Pointe du Hoc. The Longues-sur-Mer Battery was a critical link in Hitler’s Atlantic Wall defense, a network of more than 15,000 defensive structures stretching from Norway to the Pyrenees. These guns could hit targets up to 12 miles away with relatively sharp accuracy if linked to good target information. The Allies had to take them out.
It took seven soldiers to manage each gun, which could be loaded and fired six times per minute. The shells weighed 40 pounds. Above the bunker you can see the hooks that secured the camouflage netting that protected the bunker from Allied bombers.
The Fire Control Post
Perhaps the most fascinating structure on the site, this two-story observation bunker sits on the cliff edge with panoramic views of the English Channel. From this position, German officers directed the battery’s fire. The post:
- Was built partially into the cliff for camouflage
- Housed sophisticated fire control equipment
- Offers spectacular views of the coastline where the invasion took place
- Was featured in the 1962 film “The Longest Day”
The lone observation bunker was designed to direct the firing; field telephones connected the observation bunker to the gun batteries by underground wires. Peering out to sea from inside the bunker makes one appreciate the strategic view over the Channel.
Unfortunately it was closed off from visiting – it was unclear if this was due to a renovation or the removal of access due to safety concerns. 🙁
Conclusion
The Longues-sur-Mer Gun Battery offers one of the most authentic and well-preserved glimpses into the Atlantic Wall defenses that the Allied forces faced on D-Day. Its strategic importance, remarkable state of preservation, and the presence of the original guns make it a must-visit site for anyone interested in World War II history or the D-Day landings.
