Sechsschartenturm, Heavy MG bunker, La Mare Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 4-S WaKoFest, Wn La Mare Mill |
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| Part of Atlantic Wall | |
| La Mare Mill, St. Ouen's Bay, Jersey | |
The well camouflaged turret
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Flag of German occupying forces
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| Coordinates | 49°12′47″N 2°12′43″W / 49.212989°N 2.212072°W |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Restored, retains turret |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1941–1945 |
| Built by | Organisation Todt |
| In use | 1941–1945 |
| Materials | Concrete, steel |
| Events | Occupation of the Channel Islands |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | Heer |
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Imagine stepping back in time to World War II! On the island of Jersey, you can explore a special kind of fort. It's called the Sechsschartenturm, heavy MG bunker, La Mare Mill. People also know it as 4-S WaKoFest, Wn La Mare Mill.
This fort has two main parts. There's a strong steel turret and a concrete bunker. A group called the Organisation Todt built it. They were a German construction team during the war. They made it part of the Atlantic Wall. This was a huge line of defenses along the coast. The fort was built in a great spot near La Mare Mill. It helped protect Jersey during the German occupation.
These "sechsschartenturm" turrets were common along the Atlantic Wall. Nine were built in Jersey. But today, only this one and another at Mont Mathieu still exist. The Channel Islands Occupation Society now runs this fort. It's a museum where you can learn all about it.
Contents
Exploring a World War II Bunker in Jersey
What is the Sechsschartenturm?
A sechsschartenturm is a special kind of turret. It's made of thick steel, up to 12 inches (30 cm) thick! This turret doesn't spin around. It has six openings, called loopholes. These loopholes let soldiers fire their weapons.
Each turret usually held two MG34 machine guns. These guns were on special rotating mounts. This particular turret only has four loopholes. The other two were sealed up. They faced a cliff, so they weren't useful for defense.
Inside the Turret: Machine Guns and More
The inside of the turret was painted brightly. It had six different colored sections. Each section matched a loophole. One machine gun's fire was aimed using the colors. The other gun used numbers. This was a standard way to operate them.
When not in use, a thick steel door closed each loophole. These doors had a special seal. It was made of asbestos to keep out gas. The MG34 machine guns had hinged mounts. This made them easy to use. A gunner could quickly move a gun from one loophole to another. This was the only time the crew might be seen from outside.
The gun mounts also had telescopic sights. These helped the gunners aim. The turret also had a periscope and a searchlight. These could be operated from inside. Each MG34 fired fast, over 1000 rounds per minute! The bullets could travel about 1500 yards (1370 meters). Gunners could change the barrel of the gun quickly. This was important during long firing periods. A chute collected the empty bullet casings into bags below.
The Bunker's Secrets
The bunker is an early version of a Type 632 design. You can only find this type in the Channel Islands. It has several rooms. These rooms are inside a triangular concrete structure. The first big room was the command room. Soldiers also slept here.
Next to the command room was a smaller room. This was the magazine. All the bunker's ammunition was stored here. The last room was round. It held the bags of empty bullet casings. The turret sat right above this room.
Protecting the Entrance
The bunker's entrance was down a narrow, rock-cut alley. This alley offered no cover for attackers. It also gave them no room to move. This made the entrance defense very strong. One MG34 or MG42 machine gun guarded it. It fired through a small opening called an embrasure.
The entrance defense was the most exposed part. Its loophole couldn't be sealed as well as the turret's. So, engineers added gas doors. These doors separated the entrance from the rest of the bunker.
Fresh Air and Escape Routes
When the bunker was in use, it was pressurized. This meant air was pumped in. The pressure kept out poison gas if the Allies used it. It also pushed out smoke when the guns fired. This helped the crew breathe and see clearly. The pressurized air also meant empty bullet casings had less gas. They could be safely dropped into bags.
Like most bunkers, this one had an escape shaft. To escape, soldiers had to remove a metal door. Then they would find steel bars. After clearing the bars, they had to dig through soil. Finally, they would break through a brick wall. It wasn't easy to use. But with thick concrete walls and good air, it probably wasn't needed often.
The inside of the bunker was simple. It had wooden panels on the walls. These panels helped to reduce noise. We don't know if this was planned or just a happy accident.
On top of the bunker was a "tobruk." This was a concrete foxhole. Defenders could place another MG34 machine gun here. Later in the war, a railway embankment was built nearby. This blocked some of the bunker's view. It might have been temporary during construction.
Where is This Bunker Located?
The turret sits about 10 meters (33 feet) above the road. It's halfway up a headland, which is a piece of land sticking out into the sea. From this spot, it could watch over the flat land below. It also guarded two roads leading into the island.
Why Was This Spot Important?
Several bunkers like this lined the headland of St. Ouen's Bay. They overlooked the low areas below. Their positions allowed them to create "interlocking fields of fire." This meant their guns could cover each other. Anti-tank ditches, barbed wire, and mines also protected the area. Everything was well camouflaged. This made it a very strong defensive position.
If the Allies had tried to land here, it would have been very difficult. Landing craft would face artillery fire from the cliffs. Then, troops would have to climb an anti-tank wall. They would also deal with more bunkers and anti-tank positions. After the beach, they would face minefields and barbed wire. All this while still under fire from the big guns and the sechsschartentürme.
However, the Allied High Command decided not to invade the Channel Islands. Instead, they chose Normandy for their main landing. So, these strong defenses were never used in a real battle.
Images for kids
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The ceiling of the turret was divided into painted and numbered sectors.
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An MG34 machine gun in its special mount.
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These are the steel, gas-sealed doors that closed the loopholes.
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This is the command room inside the bunker.
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The main entrance, showing how it was defended.
Learn More
- Coastal fortifications of Jersey
- Battery Moltke
- Battery Lothringen
