Could someone give a short history of what kind of battles the navy coastalbattery on this island was involved in after D-day?
The commander was awarded Both Kc and oakleaves within 3 weeks!
Erik
Ile de Cézembre
Hi Eric
The following comes from Jonathan Gawne "1944 Americans in Brittany-The Battle for Brest", published by Historie & Collections.
The fortifications on the island consisted of 6 French 194mm guns, plus 1 150mm gun and an Italian 75mm battery and light flak battery.
The island lay some 4000yds (3miles) off St Malo, which had been assaulted by the US 83rd Division, and for which Oberleutnant Richard Seuss had been awarded the Oakleaves for his Knights Cross, given the support they had given the defenders of ST Malo.
When St Malo fell the German garrison on the nearby Channel Islands recieved a radio message stating that they were low on food,water and ammo, and that there radio wa in poor shape and they needed a replacement. The island garrison had run out of 194mm shells but the 150mm could still be supplied from Jersey, given that it was an old naval gun. German ships from the Channel Islands visted Cezembre every night dropping off supplies and removing wounded.
Though kept supplied the major problem was morale given that a large portion of his men were either Russian or Italian, and they had no desire to die. 3 Italains managed to steal a boat and reached St Malo where they surrendered.
The island was regularly bombed from August 9th onwards. The CO of the US 83rd Division (Macon) sent a party across to the island to demand it's surrender. Seuss refused stating his orders, though the constant bombardment and the use of napalm had severly tested concrete & flesh alike.
With Seuss's refusal plans were laid for the 330th I.Regt to assault the island with tank support. Meanwhile a major airstrike on August 31st was ordered with the islands water tanks being the major target. Further strikes were ordered on Sept 1st, plus bombardment from HMS Warspites 15" guns-still Seuss refused to surrender. Seuss now contacted Jersey and informed them that he had some 277 wounded persons on the island and that they be evacuated. The hospital ship Bordeaux was sent, knowing full well it would be captured, which it was at first light on Sept 2nd. This forced Seuss's hand and the white flag appeared over the island, just as the 330th I.Regt were getting ready to assualt.
Landing craft were sent across and Seuss plus 320men, 12 German Female Nurses and 2 Italian officers were taken prisoner.
Andy H
The following comes from Jonathan Gawne "1944 Americans in Brittany-The Battle for Brest", published by Historie & Collections.
The fortifications on the island consisted of 6 French 194mm guns, plus 1 150mm gun and an Italian 75mm battery and light flak battery.
The island lay some 4000yds (3miles) off St Malo, which had been assaulted by the US 83rd Division, and for which Oberleutnant Richard Seuss had been awarded the Oakleaves for his Knights Cross, given the support they had given the defenders of ST Malo.
When St Malo fell the German garrison on the nearby Channel Islands recieved a radio message stating that they were low on food,water and ammo, and that there radio wa in poor shape and they needed a replacement. The island garrison had run out of 194mm shells but the 150mm could still be supplied from Jersey, given that it was an old naval gun. German ships from the Channel Islands visted Cezembre every night dropping off supplies and removing wounded.
Though kept supplied the major problem was morale given that a large portion of his men were either Russian or Italian, and they had no desire to die. 3 Italains managed to steal a boat and reached St Malo where they surrendered.
The island was regularly bombed from August 9th onwards. The CO of the US 83rd Division (Macon) sent a party across to the island to demand it's surrender. Seuss refused stating his orders, though the constant bombardment and the use of napalm had severly tested concrete & flesh alike.
With Seuss's refusal plans were laid for the 330th I.Regt to assault the island with tank support. Meanwhile a major airstrike on August 31st was ordered with the islands water tanks being the major target. Further strikes were ordered on Sept 1st, plus bombardment from HMS Warspites 15" guns-still Seuss refused to surrender. Seuss now contacted Jersey and informed them that he had some 277 wounded persons on the island and that they be evacuated. The hospital ship Bordeaux was sent, knowing full well it would be captured, which it was at first light on Sept 2nd. This forced Seuss's hand and the white flag appeared over the island, just as the 330th I.Regt were getting ready to assualt.
Landing craft were sent across and Seuss plus 320men, 12 German Female Nurses and 2 Italian officers were taken prisoner.
Andy H
31/08/44 Ile de Cezembre MZ879
The above refers to a Halifax lost on a raid against the island, not sure if it was due to the Italian AA or mechanical. Just answered this question by finding this website: http://www.rcaf.com/6group/Aug44/Aug3144.html
Mission 41: August 31, 1944
TARGET: 3 - 155 MM GUNS
LOCATED: ILE DE CEZEMBRE (ISLAND OF ST. MALO)
BOMB LOAD: 4 - 1000LB. ARMOR PIERCING
DAMAGE: NONE
FLAK: NONE
ESCORT: AREA COVER - P47
The Mission 41 link is http://www.geocities.com/b26carrozza/missionlog.html
A pic of the island, though no fortifications are visable
http://www.carphaz.com/Album_Ilots/pages/ilot_7.htm
Finally a site giving good details of the island fortifications
http://fesma.free.fr/rightfra.html
Enjoy Erik
Andy H
The above refers to a Halifax lost on a raid against the island, not sure if it was due to the Italian AA or mechanical. Just answered this question by finding this website: http://www.rcaf.com/6group/Aug44/Aug3144.html
Mission 41: August 31, 1944
TARGET: 3 - 155 MM GUNS
LOCATED: ILE DE CEZEMBRE (ISLAND OF ST. MALO)
BOMB LOAD: 4 - 1000LB. ARMOR PIERCING
DAMAGE: NONE
FLAK: NONE
ESCORT: AREA COVER - P47
The Mission 41 link is http://www.geocities.com/b26carrozza/missionlog.html
A pic of the island, though no fortifications are visable
http://www.carphaz.com/Album_Ilots/pages/ilot_7.htm
Finally a site giving good details of the island fortifications
http://fesma.free.fr/rightfra.html
Enjoy Erik
Andy H
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Cobrahistorian
- Member
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- Joined: 21 Jun 2013, 15:44
Re: Ile de Cézembre
I recently found out that there is a good chance that my grandfather, then-2Lt. Julius Goldman of F/330th Infantry was one of the negotiators for the surrender. His platoon, 2nd Platoon, F Company was to be the lead assault platoon on the morning of 2 September 1944, but the island surrendered just a short time before they were to begin the assault.
Considering he spoke Yiddish and understood German, it makes sense that he would be on the negotiating team. Plus, as the first Officer to set foot on the island, he would have been the most likely candidate to receive the surrender. I just wish I'd been able to talk to him more about this before he passed. He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service during this time, but his citation is very vague.
Considering he spoke Yiddish and understood German, it makes sense that he would be on the negotiating team. Plus, as the first Officer to set foot on the island, he would have been the most likely candidate to receive the surrender. I just wish I'd been able to talk to him more about this before he passed. He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service during this time, but his citation is very vague.