8,8 cm static Flak battery in Normandy – Summer 1944

[Manuferey]

Here is a picture of a 8,8 cm Flak gun taken in Normandy and dated 17.7.44. The caption reads: „Das Geschütz einer Flak-Batterie des RAD (Reichsarbeitsdiensts) bekämpft Bodenziele während der Kämpfe gegen alliierte Truppen in der Normandie“.

Note the concrete octogonal pad onto which the gun is bolted. This pad and the mention of a RAD origin indicates a static Luftwaffe battery.
In Normandy, I know of such static batteries near Cherbourg and Le Havre but I don’t know of any static batteries around St-Lô or Caen (the Luftwaffe batteries in the Caen sector were mobile under III. Flak-Korps). But on July 17, 1944, Cherbourg had been captured for two weeks and Le Havre would not be attacked until September 1944.

It is then possible that the indicated date of 17.7.44 is just the date the picture was developped and that the battery was actually somewhere near Cherbourg. The landscape would work.

Finally, the somewhat "nonchalance" of the soldiers and their high number around the gun makes me think of an exercise and not actual fighting.


http://www.sz-photo.de/?166077240991006 ... R=00323458

Emmanuel

[jopaerya]

Hello Emmanuel

AFAIK there were no RAD-Flak in the Festung Le Havre and Cherbourg , the only RAD-Flak unit I know in the A.W. was at La Rochelle .

Regards Jos

[RichTO90]

Hello Emmanuel

AFAIK there were no RAD-Flak in the Festung Le Havre and Cherbourg , the only RAD-Flak unit I know in the A.W. was at La Rochelle .

Regards Jos

Jos, I show the following in France:

13. Flak-Division
Gefechtsstand – Rennes
Stab/Flak-Regiment 15 (v)
Gefechtsstand – Rennes
gem.Flak-Abtl. 441 (o) (RAD)
gem.Flak-Abtl. 596 (o) (RAD)

Flak-Brigade 12.
Stab/Flak-Regiment 45 (v)
Gefechtsstand – Bordeaux
gem.Flak-Abtl.195 (o) (RAD)

Flak-Brigade 5.
Gefechtsstand – Orange
Stab/Flak-Regiment 18 (mot)
Gefechtsstand – Toulon
gem.Flak-Abtl.355 (o) (RAD)

(o) = Ortsfest

[jopaerya]

Thanks Rich

Personel I think Rennes, Bordeaux and Orange, Toulon had nothing to do with A.W. Atlantikwall.

Regards Jos

[RichTO90]

Thanks Rich

Personel I think Rennes, Bordeaux and Orange, Toulon had nothing to do with A.W. Atlantikwall.

Regards Jos

Then it is likely one of the first three RAD Abteilungen: 195., 441., or 596.?

[jopaerya]

Possible Rich

Also many photo captions on the P.K. photos are incorrect.

Regards Jos

[RichTO90]

Possible Rich

Also many photo captions on the P.K. photos are incorrect.

Regards Jos

No! Please say that isn't so! That would mean that captions on U.S. Army Signal Corps photos may be wrong as well.

So let's say its "possible" it "might" be the photo of one of those.

Cheers!

[jpz4]

BTW, Emmanuel is referring to RAD batteries, not battalions. Sort of changes the equation.
(Especially when you also include batteries that were only mostly crewed by RAD)

[RichTO90]

BTW, Emmanuel is referring to RAD batteries, not battalions. Sort of changes the equation.
(Especially when you also include batteries that were only mostly crewed by RAD)

Aaargh! You have to complicate things!

I think if we are going to come up with even a very tentative identification we have to work with the known RAD units in France. I have yet to find a list of mostly RAD-crewed batteries? However, I do have one of RAD-crewed Ortsfest Abteilungen. It may not be perfect, but it seems better than no list at all?

[jpz4]

Aaargh! You have to complicate things!

What I live for

However, I do have one of RAD-crewed Ortsfest Abteilungen. It may not be perfect, but it seems better than no list at all?

Seems perfectly appropriate for Emmanuel's question. At least for a start.
When combing through http://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak.html you do find some RAD batteries in units that saw action in Normandy, but there certainly is no master list.

[Manuferey]

Thanks, Niels !

Yes, many static Luftwaffe batteries in France were originally RAD-batteries. In addition, many RAD Flakhelfer were transferred to LW batteries in France.

We also have to remember that this is a propaganda picture and the propaganda machine could spin the caption anyway it pleased including stretching the truth if the battery was formerly a RAD-battery but had received a regular number recently.

Here are examples: gem.Flak.Abt 152 was stationed around Cherbourg in June 44. According to http://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak/abt/gem152.html, several of its batteries were based on RAD Flak batteries:
"1./gem.152 was known as RAD 3./280,
2. as RAD 5./280
3. as RAD 6./288
5. [or 4.?] as RAD 5./280(?)"

So, I think we need to concentrate on the fact that it is a static battery, not that it was still or not a RAD Flak battery in June-July 1944..

Separately, the location as in Normandy could also be a propaganda spin but the landscape matches the Cotentin area with its rolling hills and "bocage".

Emmanuel