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Hillman Fortress
The Hillman Fortress (French: Site fortifié Hillman, German: Widerstandsnest 17) was a German bunker complex and command post built during the Second World War and located near Colleville-Montgomery in Normandy, France. The bunker complex, designated as Hill 61 and codenamed Hillman by the British, was attacked on 6 June 1944 by the Suffolk Regiment and the fortress finally surrendered the following morning. The delay in taking the bunker complex has been cited as a reason for the Allies not completing their major D-Day objective of taking Caen.
The bunkers are now open as a museum and run by local volunteers.
In 1942, towards the southern part of Colleville-Sur-Orne (renamed Colleville-Montgomery after the war), the Organisation Todt built a 24-hectare bunker complex consisting of 18 bunkers including two H608 command post bunkers (with armoured observation cupolas) and a H605 bunker for artillery guns. It was designated at Widerstandsnest 17 (resistance nest (strongpoint) WN17) by the Germans and served as headquarters of the 736th Grenadier Regiment. The complex was situated on high ground behind Ouistreham on the Périers Ridge, overlooking what was to become the D-Day landing beach Sword. As Hillman had no artillery it controlled the firing of the artillery at Widerstandsnest 16 (WN16), codenamed Morris by the Allies. The bunker complex was codenamed Hillman (other nearby bunkers were named Morris, Daimler and Humber after various makes of British car) by the British during the Normandy landings in June 1944.
Hillman was the regimental headquarters and command post for the coastal defence in the area and commanded by Colonel Ludwig Krug. The bunkers housed approximately 150 officers and men of 736 Grenadier Regiment (part of the 716th Static Infantry Division). A number of observation bunkers featured armoured cupolas with a thickness of approximately 20 in (51 cm) to 30 in (76 cm). The bunkers were well equipped, with mechanical ventilation systems, medical facilities, ammunition and food storage.
Between bunkers ran a network of trenches linking the different underground positions, consisting of the headquarters, signal centre, radio room, mess rooms and bathrooms. Every position was connected with each other through a network of telephone lines buried 2 m (6.6 ft) or 3 m (9.8 ft) underground. The entire complex was also surrounded by Tobruk pits (for machine guns), barbed wire and mine fields.
Built at 61 m (200 ft) above sea level, the complex offered direct views of the landing beaches, as well as the mouth of the Orne river. The field of fire or killing zone extended for approximately 600 m (2,000 ft).
On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the bunker were assaulted by the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Richard E. Goodwin, part of the 8th Infantry Brigade of the British 3rd Infantry Division. The Suffolks had landed on Sword Beach at around 08:30 that morning and began heading inland to clear their objectives.
Supporting the Suffolks were tanks from A Squadron, Staffordshire Yeomanry and C Squadron of the 13th/18th Royal Hussars, two batteries from 33rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery and 76th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers of the 246th Field Company and a machine-gun platoon from 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment.
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Hillman Fortress
The Hillman Fortress (French: Site fortifié Hillman, German: Widerstandsnest 17) was a German bunker complex and command post built during the Second World War and located near Colleville-Montgomery in Normandy, France. The bunker complex, designated as Hill 61 and codenamed Hillman by the British, was attacked on 6 June 1944 by the Suffolk Regiment and the fortress finally surrendered the following morning. The delay in taking the bunker complex has been cited as a reason for the Allies not completing their major D-Day objective of taking Caen.
The bunkers are now open as a museum and run by local volunteers.
In 1942, towards the southern part of Colleville-Sur-Orne (renamed Colleville-Montgomery after the war), the Organisation Todt built a 24-hectare bunker complex consisting of 18 bunkers including two H608 command post bunkers (with armoured observation cupolas) and a H605 bunker for artillery guns. It was designated at Widerstandsnest 17 (resistance nest (strongpoint) WN17) by the Germans and served as headquarters of the 736th Grenadier Regiment. The complex was situated on high ground behind Ouistreham on the Périers Ridge, overlooking what was to become the D-Day landing beach Sword. As Hillman had no artillery it controlled the firing of the artillery at Widerstandsnest 16 (WN16), codenamed Morris by the Allies. The bunker complex was codenamed Hillman (other nearby bunkers were named Morris, Daimler and Humber after various makes of British car) by the British during the Normandy landings in June 1944.
Hillman was the regimental headquarters and command post for the coastal defence in the area and commanded by Colonel Ludwig Krug. The bunkers housed approximately 150 officers and men of 736 Grenadier Regiment (part of the 716th Static Infantry Division). A number of observation bunkers featured armoured cupolas with a thickness of approximately 20 in (51 cm) to 30 in (76 cm). The bunkers were well equipped, with mechanical ventilation systems, medical facilities, ammunition and food storage.
Between bunkers ran a network of trenches linking the different underground positions, consisting of the headquarters, signal centre, radio room, mess rooms and bathrooms. Every position was connected with each other through a network of telephone lines buried 2 m (6.6 ft) or 3 m (9.8 ft) underground. The entire complex was also surrounded by Tobruk pits (for machine guns), barbed wire and mine fields.
Built at 61 m (200 ft) above sea level, the complex offered direct views of the landing beaches, as well as the mouth of the Orne river. The field of fire or killing zone extended for approximately 600 m (2,000 ft).
On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the bunker were assaulted by the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Richard E. Goodwin, part of the 8th Infantry Brigade of the British 3rd Infantry Division. The Suffolks had landed on Sword Beach at around 08:30 that morning and began heading inland to clear their objectives.
Supporting the Suffolks were tanks from A Squadron, Staffordshire Yeomanry and C Squadron of the 13th/18th Royal Hussars, two batteries from 33rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery and 76th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers of the 246th Field Company and a machine-gun platoon from 2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment.