The assault of a fortress : Europe

The WEHRMACHT underwent a heavy defeat on the russian front, that is why from spring 1943. In 1944, ROMMEL decided to fortify the coast and the beaches facing ENGLAND. On the german position W5 situated at SAINTE MARIE DU MONT, lieutenant JAHNKE had under his command about 75 Bielorussians who's average age was about 50 years old.

The german stronghold W5 was made of around 20 bunkers connected to each by trenches. W5 was 800 meters long (half a mile) and 300 meters wide (quater of a mile).

This german position was protected by mined fields and a large flooded area. The whole installation was surrounded by barbed wire.

The whole beach was inundated with anti-landing obstacles with the view to ripping open the landing boats.
At the beginning of 1943, the ennemy built an anti-tank wall, 1m80 high, going from the Grand Vey to Morsalines, around about 25 kms of coastlines. The purpose of this wall was to stop tanks from penetrating german's military positions.