A major German radar station in Douvres-la-Délivrande
Douvres-la-Délivrande was a crucial site for the Germans, who established a major airborne radar station there as early as 1943.
Strategically located inland, near Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer (Sector Nan on Juno Beach), this installation was indeed heavily fortified and divided into two zones by the road leading to Bény-sur-Mer. Numerous bunkers, armed with machine guns and surrounded by minefields, defended the area.
The northern section of the road housed a formidable long-range Siemens Wassermann radar, while the other section accommodated two intermediate-range Freya radars and two short-range Wurzburg Riese radars. These radars were complemented by fortified command posts, infirmaries, and artillery positions, manned by 230 personnel from the Luftwaffe.
It was vital for the Allies to neutralise these radars before D-Day. Therefore, on June 5th, at 11:00 PM, they jammed radar frequencies between Cherbourg and Le Havre, thus paralysing the German radar network.
Then, in the early hours of June 6th, Allied naval artillery bombarded the antennas at Douvres-la-Délivrande, disrupting German communications.
Despite Allied efforts, the Germans put up fierce resistance against the Canadian troops who landed on Juno Beach, holding out for twelve days.
It was only on June 17th that the British 41st Commando of the Royal Marines, supported by Allied artillery and the mine-clearing and bunker-buster tanks of the 79th Armoured Division, managed to capture Douvres-la-Délivrande.
Memorials in Douvres-la-Délivrande
1- German Radar Station has been transformed into a museum. Two original bunkers have been preserved to exhibit a Würzburg radar antenna, one of the few survivors from that era, to allow visitors to understand the evolution and importance of radar technology during the Second World War.
2-German Command Post WN23: A commemorative plaque pays tribute to the bravery of the North Shore Canadian Regiment and the 10th Cavalry Regiment Fort Garry Horse, who captured the German command post WN23 on the evening of D-Day.
Directions: 14 rue de Saint-Aubin – Lat 49.306055 – Long -0.408870
3-Château de Tailleville – German Headquarters: The Tailleville Castle served as the headquarters of the 2nd Battalion of the German 736th Infantry Regiment. After intense fighting, the men of the Royal North Shore Regiment, supported by 13 tanks of the 10th Armoured Fort Garry Horse Regiment, liberated the château at 8:30 p.m, on D-Day.
Location: 13, Route de Saint-Aubin – Lat. 49.306829 – Long. -0.408544
4-Place du Royal North Shore Regiment: This square pays tribute to the men of the Royal North Shore Regiment, who landed on Juno Beach, in the Saint-Aubin sector, on D-Day and liberated the Château de Tailleville, which now belongs to the municipality of Douvres-la-Délivrande.
Coordinates: Lat 49.304199 – Long -0.410912
5-Douvres-la-Délivrande British War Cemetery holds the remains of 1,123 soldiers, including 927 British, 11 Canadians, 3 Australians, 1 Pole, 1 Unknown Soldier, and 180 Germans.
War Memorials in:
Juno Beach: Bernières-sur-mer – Corseulles-sur-mer – Graye-sur-mer
Gold Beach: Arromanches – Ver-sur-mer
Sword Beach: Ouistreham
The other Normandy Landing Beaches: Sword, Gold, Omaha, Utah
Department of Calvados – Douvres-la-Delivrande
Coordinates Route Caen: Lat 49.290271 – Long -0.377657
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Header and Photo1 War Office Second World War Official Collection Public domain – Wurzburg antenna by Kaiser 16 CC BY-SA 3.0
