History of the WW2 Bunkers of
St Catherine
In the early hours of the 1st of July 1940, German Luftwaffe Recconasance Group 123 dropped surrender ultimatum letters in pouches at the airport and St Helier. The order stated that a large white cross was to be shown from 7 am on the 2nd of July at the Centre of the Airport in the East of the Island. On the highest point of the fortifications of the port. On the square to the North of the Inner Basin of the Harbour. At midday, German pilot Lt Richard Kern Observed white crosses and landed at Jersey Airport unopposed. Kern approached the airport building with the crew of his Aircraft following his steps with their machine guns. Charles Roche, the Civilian in charge of the airport, met kern. Charles Roche confirmed there were no defences, and Jersey was undefended. Lt Kern returned to his Aircraft and headed back to France. German transport aircraft began arriving at the airport, and at 3pm Bailiff Alexander Coutanche and Duret Aubin were summoned to meet German officers. It was arranged that at 6 pm they would meet Major Lanz who was travelling from Guernsey to accept their official surrender. Jersey was under Nazi Germany Occupation.
The first documentation from the Germans is dated September 1940, and the build-up of bunkers, troops, and supplies grew each year until the end of the war in 1945. Below is a small timeline of World War Two history.
The above, dated September 1940, indicates the presence of F.W. Ib at St Catherines, FW = Field Watch.
The above, dated April 1941, indicates the presence of an Artillery gun. F.W.G at St Catherine's and barbwire barriers.
The above, dated October 1941, indicates the added presence of minefields, with 64 listed St Catherines.
By May 1942, construction had increased significantly, with several troops, munitions, and supplies bunkers. A 105mm Artillery gun was also on site and placed at the start of the breakwater. The fire plan below from 1942 shows just how much was in place.
July 1943, A plan and progress report by the German engineers shows that St Catherines is referred to as StützpunktVerclut Point with addition of Ho. Verclut.
Ho = Hohlgangsanlagen, translated means Cave Passage Installation. The Grey shading is showing this as under construction.
1943-1944, construction work included the mining of a tunnel complex using the German Army Rock Drilling Company, which blasted out a 100-metre-long tunnel through the rock. On one side was the entrance and a machine gun bunker to protect it. On the other side, a Type 670 casemate for a 105mm K 331(f) coastal defence gun with a seven-mile range.
Above and below from the German records shows the strength of the resitance nest in St Catherine's known to the Germans as WN Mole Verclut.
In August 1944 and with the American lines 15 miles away, Batterie Haesler (14./ HKAR 1265) was formed, This was the last of the batteries to be set up on Jersey. It was able to strike the French coast and sat above the high ground above the bay. The Searchlight for this battery and its supplies were housed at St Catherine's. The batterie was heavily used on the 8/9th of March during the raid on Granville Harbour by the Germans.
The breakwater itself was heavily mined with 190 of the anti-tank Tellermine 35 (T.Mi.35) and a further 618 of the wooden improvised mines. A standard reinforced concrete sentry box was also placed at the end of the breakwater. Anti-tank/vehicle obstacles, consisting of a double row of Belgian Tetrahedra, were placed at the landward end of the breakwater, and this was repeated on the breakwater slip where two triple sets of Tetrahedra were placed. The Bay had The Czech hedgehog anti-landing obstacles.
At 7.15am on 9 May, on the quarter deck of HMS Bulldog, Second-in-Command for Guernsey General Siegfried Heine signed the ‘Instrument of Surrender’ in Guernsey. At midday, Bailiff Coutanche met with the German commanders from Jersey on HMS Beagle in St Aubin’s Bay and the surrender for Jersey was signed. The Channel Islands were officially liberated. The first troops from Force 135 were sent to secure control of St. Helier and officially announce the liberation. This was the end of the Occupation.