This is the only remaining German long gun battery. The reason is that almost all were salvaged for the metal after the war because metal was in short supply.
This battery was just to the west of Omaha Beach on the land that belonged to a private farmer. They sat back from the beach about half a mile because, with a range of 10 miles, there is no reason to have them on the shore line. They are safer farther back.
There was an observation structure closer to the shore that would phone back instructions on firing coordinates. The Germans did not have the phone line hooked up yet, so on D-day the guns fired blindly. They did not have a single hit.
After the war, the French government came in and told the farmer that they would remove the guns. The farmer objected, saying, “these are my guns, you leave them alone.” So the French officials arrested the farmer for obstruction. In court the farmer asked how much the government expected to get from the scrap value of the guns. They quoted an exorbitant amount. The farmer pulled out that amount of cash and said that should settle it. The judge decided that if the farmer wanted the guns that much, he could have them. The court gave the farmer the money back.
The sad ending to the story is that after the farmer died, the guns and that land went back to the state. Nobody does anything to maintain the guns, so they will eventually rust away. Elwood periodically complains to the French officials to at least rub some oil on the parts once a year to maintain them, but none of the French care. (I would not be surprised if Elwood were to start oiling the guns himself.)
Photo:
One of the 4 long guns, with Elwood. Note that Elwood wore a US Army Airborne uniform the day of our tour.
This battery was just to the west of Omaha Beach on the land that belonged to a private farmer. They sat back from the beach about half a mile because, with a range of 10 miles, there is no reason to have them on the shore line. They are safer farther back.
There was an observation structure closer to the shore that would phone back instructions on firing coordinates. The Germans did not have the phone line hooked up yet, so on D-day the guns fired blindly. They did not have a single hit.
After the war, the French government came in and told the farmer that they would remove the guns. The farmer objected, saying, “these are my guns, you leave them alone.” So the French officials arrested the farmer for obstruction. In court the farmer asked how much the government expected to get from the scrap value of the guns. They quoted an exorbitant amount. The farmer pulled out that amount of cash and said that should settle it. The judge decided that if the farmer wanted the guns that much, he could have them. The court gave the farmer the money back.
The sad ending to the story is that after the farmer died, the guns and that land went back to the state. Nobody does anything to maintain the guns, so they will eventually rust away. Elwood periodically complains to the French officials to at least rub some oil on the parts once a year to maintain them, but none of the French care. (I would not be surprised if Elwood were to start oiling the guns himself.)
Photo:
One of the 4 long guns, with Elwood. Note that Elwood wore a US Army Airborne uniform the day of our tour.
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