Major Werner Pluskat

[GMC72]

I am interested in the history of WN59 situated in Normandy, St.-Honorine-des-Pertes.
WN59 was the one and only artillery observation post of Major Werner Pluskat.

This man seems to be a bit of a mistery. The movie "The Longest Day" portraits him as being the first German officer to observe the Allied landing fleet but it seems in reality that nobody could find him at the moment of the landing. Nobody knew where he was. Some publications say that he was escorting some ladies to Paris, others suggest that he ran away from the battle field.
When reading "WN62" by Hein Severloh, you read that his leutnant could not find Major Pluskat and he had to direct the fire of the battery's.

It seems that Pluskat shows up again in the Remagen area at the moment of the crossing of the Rhine and I know he did survive the war.

But what is thrue ?? Does anyone know his history? Are there any reliable publications about this man? The fact that he was portraited in "The Longest Day" means that he was rather well known, or not?
Can someone help?

Tx

[Delta Tank]

GMC72,

I have no written material to share with you, but I have heard from others that he is a fraud. Not only is he in the book the "Longest Day", but if I recall correctly he is also in the book the "Last Battle". Both books are by Cornelius Ryan. Now when I say fraud, I mean that he tells tall tales. But, I have no written proof, just rumors!

Mike

[Lt.-Colonel]

This is on Werner's role during the D-Day. I cannot tell if it is truth or not, but that is what I have gathered in the Ryan's Longest day:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... er+pluskat

[Lodieu Didier]

Pluskat commanded the I./Art.Rgt. 352. During the night from the 5 to the 6 juni, he sleeps in a castle 3 km behind the 4 batteries. But about midnight he took his dog Harras with him to go to the Gefechsdtand, 500 meters before the sea. After he goes in ein Bunker where he writes that ain't nothing on the sea. This is only near 3h 30 - 4 h that he see the boats and call Oberstleutnant Ocker to inform him what he see. After the destructions of a part of his batteries, he escaped and continue the fighting. If my memory is good, he pass through or near Dreux about 15 Aug. 44 and take the direction of Paris. I think to remember that he died in 1996 or 97. Like you tell it's difficult to take all Pluskat told after the war. But one thing is sure, the 352. ID was a famous Inf.Div. which didn't fight only on the beach but during all the battle of Normandy. When I wrote my book Combat sur la Seine and make naturelly a lot research (during more than 30 years) I was impressed to discover that a Kgp. from this Div., about 400 men, make several actions in the area of Le Mans - Dreux - near Vernon and Mantes. Sincerely yours

[GMC72]

Hello to and tx to all that replied. Bonjour Didier,
I see that you have made quite some research about the battles in and around Normandy. Do you know anything special about WN 59 at St.-Honorine-des-Pertes, the Widerstandsnest where Pluskat saw the invasion fleet first?
Il semble que presque personne ne savait plus rien de ce WN59. J'ai eu l'occasion de le découvrir en Septembre dernier mais je ne trouve rien sur son utilisation pendant la guerre et le Jour-J. On m'a dit que les occupants se sont rendus sans résistance aux Américains mais j'en sais rien de plus.
Erwin

[Lodieu Didier]

I believe that the Kdr of the 7. Batterie was the man who continued to fight. But we speak always from Pluskat. I think that you must take contakt with Alain Chazette who knows a lot thing about the Atlantik wall. histoire et fortifications. - Paris. See his site; I am not specialize about the 6 Juni and the defense near the plage. My domain is Aug. 44. THe Retreat. My new book just come to be print : Combats sur la Seine. Editions Ysec. GOOD LUCK FOR YOUR RESEARCH. (if you want the name of the batterie chef denn 7. Batterie/Art.Rgt. 352. Tell it me because I need some times to find it.

[Heimatschuss]

Hello,

I think to remember that he died in 1996 or 97.

just a small correction. Major a.D. Werner Pluskat died in Heilbronn in June 2002 at the age of 90.

Source:
N.N.
Als erster Deutscher sah er die Invasion.
Heilbronner Stimme (local daily) of June 12th, 2002, p.23
http://www.stimme.de/storage/med/pdf/ar ... t-Land.pdf

Best regards
Torsten

[Jan-Hendrik]

Überführung zu den aktiven Offizieren mit Wirkung vom 1.10.1942:

Document

Jan-Hendrik

[Jan-Hendrik]

*push*

Jan-Hendrik

[askropp]

Pluskat crossed the Elbe at Magdeburg on 25 April 1945 with GL Kurt Dittmar and surrendered to US forces.
He can be seen in this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9QONDPqu-A

[Minotauros]

Hello,


Major Werner PLUSKAT, born on 28.06.1911, deceased on 11.06.2002 in Heilbronn.

Regards,