Longues-sur-Mer, Normandy, German artillery battery

The German battery at Longues-sur-Mer in Normandy is located about 2 miles west of the Mulberry Harbour at Arromanches and 6 miles east of Omaha Beach. In other words, it was perfectly placed to attack the British and American landing forces during the invasion of Europe in June 1944.

This video, part commentary/part walkthrough, starts at the ranging post overlooking the English Channel (and featured in the Ken Annakin film 'The Longest Day')with Omaha Beach clearly visable in the disatnce. It continues 400m behind the cliff edge at the four reinforced concrete artillery encasements. Some general views lead into some walkthroughs, taking the viwer inside the encasements. The guns are the original pieces.

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The idea behind Video History Today is to give schools the raw material to make mini-documentaries and video essays on historical subjects.

Initial packages focus on World War I (Somme and Ieper areas), The Holocaust, the American Civil War and D-Day & Normandy 1944.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• longues
• sur
• mer
• german
• battery
• batterie
• artillery
• normandy
• d-day
• omaha

[EggheadOfTheFuture]

Great. I also heard somewhere that French farmers present day have utilised the old V1 launching site for storage purposes if you can believe that?! Thanks for the advice, and I know where to come in the future.

[VideoHistoryToday]

@EggheadOfTheFuture Check out my World War II playlist I have been to a few of these as well. If you want to find their location, do a Google search on 'v1 sites France'. And search 'atlantic wall belgium boulogne': the first site looks good.

[EggheadOfTheFuture]

Just want to say how big a fan I am of your work covering the Normandy beaches. Within the next 12 months I hope to visit myself, after reading many books on D-day and watching countless archives. How long do you recommend attending, and when is the best time of year in your opinion? Thanks.

[VideoHistoryToday]

@EggheadOfTheFuture Thks. I spent 6 days in Normandy filming the locations seen in the channel.  I didn't look in the towns too much (Bayeux, Caen St Lo, Carentan etc) or go to the museums in great depth. I concentrated on the beaches and main sites of D-Day itself (not Battle of Normandy). I travelled using my own car (essential I think), based in a B&B in Bayeux. If you want more info I could PM you. Just say.

[EggheadOfTheFuture]

@VideoHistoryToday Are there any strongholds remaining on Omaha? Like in the longest day/SPR?

[VideoHistoryToday]

@EggheadOfTheFuture Not really. Having said that, there are loads of underground bunkers, gun emplacements and odd concrete structures (odd in that they seem randomly located) all over the beach areas. If you intend to go, I highly recommend the Holts Guide to Normandy (plus essential map). Buy this well in advance and really study it for what interests you most. Some towns have incorporated beach structures into memorials, shops etc & farmers have even used them for storage. Get the Holts.

[sheba187]

or should i say a 6" shell from ajax

[sheba187]

The americans didnt blow it up a 5" shell hit the emplacement from the hms ajax as they were loading a 155mm shell into the breach causing the gun to explode and also the ammuntion which threw chunk of of concrete about. From stephen e ambrose's novel D-Day

[VideoHistoryToday]

@Svan0s84 The only info I have, and this was from a brief Google search states: the site had four "20 tonne ex-Czechoslovakian naval guns of circa 1911 manufacture were each housed in a reinforced 2500 tonne concrete casemate and could easily concentrate fire onto Omaha and Gold Beaches. Each gun could fire a 100lb shell distance of nearly 13 miles at a maximum rate of six rounds per minute." Hope that helps.

[Svan0s84]

At 2:38 what type of gun is that, exactly??

Ive been there at Omaha beach, but i can't remember the exact name of that gun.. Please Help me?!

Thanx

Svanos