Maisy Batterie – Normandy

One of the howitzers on display at the Maisey Batterie


This is one of the most remarkable stories of from the second world war and the efforts of one man to bring back to life a long since forgotten German gun batterie located at Grand Camp Maisy, Normandy.

Historian and military expert Gary Sterne from England bought a pair of U.S. Serviceman's trousers at a military memorabilia auction, in one of the pockets he found an old map from D-Day and upon further research he found a vast German gun batterie which was ordered to be dug over by the Americans after the war had ended.

Gary has spent a great deal of time and money uncovering the site and buying the land from a number of land owners and farmers. I had the pleasure of meeting with Gary's son in 2013 and he and his father have an amazing story to tell. Since 2013 Gary has written a book which is a must read and can be bought via Amazon.

An absolute must read by military historian Gary Sterne

But before continuing further and to see the photographs I took in 2013 you need to read this first, it's vital you understand exactly what Gary has uncovered and what the ramifications of his find mean historically.

Read this article first "Does Point du Hoc still matter".

Here is a newspaper article on-line detailing Gary's find:
Daily Telegraph article - January 4th, 2008.

Here is the link to buy Gary's book Cover up at Omaha Beach

Address:


Maisy Batterie
7 Route des Perruques
14450 Grandcamp-Maisy
Coordinates:
49.376637
-1.061366



If you are coming from Omaha Beach or have just visited the bunker ruins at Point du Hoc then the Maisy Batterie is easy to find and this is a "must" visit on your itinerary.

Take the D514 until you reach the small town of Maisey, shortly after passing through the town you will come across a road called des Perruques. Take this turning and continue driving a short distance, the batterie parking is on your left. I have posted a photo of the entrance to your right.

This is a sprawling complex, make sure you bring plenty of water to drink if visiting during the summer months as it can get hot here. The site is beautifully preserved and deserves the appreciation of what Gary Sterne did to bring this back to life let alone tell the story about what really happened here on D-Day and the U.S. Army Rangers that fought to take it.

I took my time at this site and you should do the same, I was able to take several hundred photographs that day but will only publish some of them on this site. Again when you visit Normandy the Maisy Baterrie should be on your list.

Click to enlarge map



The entrance sign to the batterie



The office to buy your tickets which also has a small gift shop. I was lucky enough to speak to Gary's son on my visit in 2013, he is a wealth of information and will answer any questions you have. If you pre-book a guided tour I believe you will speak to Gary himself.

A previously unseen map from the U.S. National Archives details the U.S. Army Rangers drive from Point-du-Hoc towards the Maisy Batterie.

Click to enlarge map.



A 1950 survey map shows an interesting look at the 7 personnel huts to the left of the three large gun casemates, according to Gary Sterne a fourth was being built. The huts have long since been demolished but the three casemates remain intact. These are at some point soon to be part of the main museum attraction.

Click to enlarge map.

The NCAP archives now offer a fascinating glimpse back in time to view aerial reconnaissance photographs from WWII. Pictured to your right is one from the Maisy batterie.
The prior bombing run missed the target!

Click to enlarge map.

All photographs on this visit were taken on Friday, August 16th & Saturday, August 17th, 2013 and are subject to copyright. Please be respectful and do not copy them for your own personal or professional use. If you would like to contact the photographer and admin of this web site please e-mail admin@germanbunkers.com

I used two different cameras on the 2013 visit. The Nikon Coolpix 35mm and the Apple iPad mini.

Click on each thumbnail image to enlarge.

The R622 personnel bunker with tobruk.

A close up of the R622 bunker.

Stepping down into the bunker, machine gun embrasure position dead ahead.

A look inside this beautifully preserved bunker.

The metal plate and red paint still visible on the MG42 firing position.

The original heating stove to the left and I am not sure what that is on the right side. Any ideas? let me know please.

The original bed frame for one of the soldiers housed in this personnel bunker.

Mind the step - On the way out of the bunker.

This view is looking out of the tobruk emplacement.

A nice look down the stairs to this rather cramped tobruk emplacement.

The inside of the tobruk. Here the German soldier would have had a swivel mounted MG42 machine gun. The two pipes you see would have housed a communications radio to the bunker.

A look out from the tobruk position, giving you a commanding view of the trenches and surrounding complex.

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