Atlantikwall - Batterie Mont Canisy

On the hill Mont-Canisy, just behind Benerville-sur-Mer, the German Mont Canisy battery can be found.
From the hill they had excellent views over the bay of the Seine. The Germans built the battery (Widerstand Neste, Wn Vill 013) on the top of the hill, with six plateaus (each was provided with French 155 mm cannon).

In 1942, the battery was included in the Atlantic Wall as important link for the defense of the bay of the Seine and Le Havre.
The complex was provided with 250 meter tunnel system, that connected the 25 spaces with each other. As defense of the complex, tobruks were built for machine guns and mortars.

The allies were aware of the important function of the Mont-Canisy battery and therefore they started in 1943 with bombing the battery. These bombings had a major impact on the battery, because the cannons were placed in open positions. The Germans built from January 1944 big heavy bunkers on the complex.

Due to the fierce attacks by the allies on the battery, the battery had on June 6, 1944 just 4 cannons, of which only two of them convicted in the bunkers. The remaining bunkers were severely damaged or could never be completed.

During the allied invasion at Normandy on June 6, 1944, the HMS Ramillies, Roberst and HMS Warspite started with the fire on the battery from the sea. The battery responded with a volley of fire on the ships. The ships were in favor, due to the fact that their guns had a range of 30 km, against 20 km from the cannons of the Monte-Canisy battery.
After some time the allies finally succeeded to disable the cannons of the battery.

The Germans stayed until August 21 1944 present at the battery.

The complex is very worth sightseeing, especially the underground tunnels. A guided tour is recommended.

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Source

• Text: Ewoud van Eig
• Photos: Emile van Dun