Longues-sur-Mer in Calvados, Normandy, France — Western Europe
Une batterie allemande de défense côtière
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A German coastal defence battery
Photographed by James Hulse, June 4, 2025
1. Une batterie allemande de défense côtière / A German coastal defence battery Marker
Nom de code Wn. 48
Entre Cherbourg et le Havre, la baie de Seine compte en juin 1944 une vingtaine de batteries de défense côtière (1). Au sommet d'une falaise, la batterie de Longues-sur-Mer est conçue pour couvrir d'Ouest en Est le secteur situé entre la batterie de la Pointe du Hoc et celle de Ver-sur-Mer. Sa construction est tardive et commence au début de l'année 1944 après la nomination du maréchal Rommel inspecteur général des fortifications côtières (2).
Rommel croit en l'efficacité du Mur de l'Atlantique. Il mène des travaux d'envergure. Les fortifications construites par l'Organisation Todt sont un redoutable système défensif et la batterie de Longues-sur-Mer menace directement les deux secteurs du Débarquement d'Omaha Beach et de Gold Beach.
Construite sur l'emplacement codé Wn. 48
Batterie côtière de la marine sous commandement opérationnel de l'armée de terre, ce point d'appui à la défense des côtes est désigné sous l'appellation M.K.B. (Marine-Küsten-Batterie) Longues-sur-Mer.
La standardisation des ouvrages et la réquisition de la population
this page online
La batterie se compose de quatre pièces d'artillerie sous casemate de type Regelbau M 272 et d'un poste de commandement de type Regelbau M 262 équipé d'un système électrique de communication et de direction des tirs. Des Tobruk, des canons de DCA, deux projecteurs anti-aériens, des abris pour la garnison, des soutes à munitions, un réseau de tranchées, des barbelés avec des champs de mines complètent le site. C'est un système défensif global (4).
En avril 1944, les canons sont mis en place. Le 9 mai, Rommel effectue une visite d'inspection. La batterie produit une excellente impression.
© doc.(1) et doc.(4), Alain Chazette - © doc.(2) et doc.(3), D.R. © doc. Focus, D.R.
Une gestion différenciée
Arrêtez-vous un petit moment et observez le paysage autour de vous ! Aujourd'hui, l'atmosphère y est sereine mais la batterie nous rappelle que cette zone a connu de violents combats lors du dernier conflit mondial. Le Département du Calvados avec l'aide du Conservatoire du littoral, propriétaire du site, gère cet espace de façon la plus naturelle et accueillante possible. Le Département met en place une gestion différenciée : cela revient à limiter le nombre de fauches des espaces enherbés, en vue de diversifier les espèces floristiques
Photographed by James Hulse, June 4, 2025
2. A German coastal defence battery Marker
As you walk from the visitor center, Casemate No. 4 is the first of four 120 mm gun casemates on the trail.
Légendes
(Photo #1) Les batteries d'artillerie côtières du Mur de l'Atlantique sur le littoral normand.
(Photo #2) Le maréchal Rommel à Longues-sur-Mer en tournée d'inspection du Mur de l'Atlantique.
(Photo #3) Un chantier qui réquisitionne de la main-d'œuvre locale.
(Photo #4) Plan des installations militaires de la batterie de Longues-sur-Mer.
Code name Wn. 48
In June 1944 there were about twenty coastal defence batteries around the Seine Bay between Cherbourg and Le Havre (1). Located on a clifftop, the Longues-sur-Mer battery was designed to cover, from west to east, the sector between the batteries of Pointe du Hoc and Ver-sur-Mer. It was built quite late, with construction beginning at the start of 1944 after Field Marshal Rommel was appointed inspector general of coastal fortifications (2).
Rommel believed in the effectiveness of the Atlantic Wall, and had major work carried out. The fortifications built by the Todt Organisation were a formidable defensive system and the battery of Longues-sur-Mer was a direct threat to the two D-Day sectors of Omaha Beach and Gold Beach.
Built on the site code-named Wn. 48
This strong-point of the coastal defence system, a
Photographed by James Hulse, June 4, 2025
3. A German coastal defence battery Marker
The view of the marker with the visitors center in the background.
Standardised construction and requisitioning of the local male population as workers meant the site was almost complete within four months (3).
The battery comprises four Regelbau M272 casemates housing large calibre guns and a Regelbau M262 command post with an electrical communications and fire direction system. Tobruks (small concrete defensive bunkers), anti-aircraft guns, two anti-aircraft searchlights, garrison shelters, ammunition bunkers, a network of trenches, barbed wire and minefields completed the site's comprehensive defensive system (4).
The guns were installed in April 1944. Rommel came and inspected them on 9 May. He found the battery highly satisfactory.
© doc.(1) and doc.(4), Alain Chazette-© doc.(2) and doc.(3) D.R. © doc. Focus, D.R
Differentiated management
Stop for a moment and observe the landscape around you. The atmosphere today is peaceful, but the battery reminds us that this area was the scene of fierce fighting during the last world war. The Calvados Département, with the help of the Coastal Conservancy which owns the site, manages this space to make it as natural and welcoming as possible. The Département has implemented differentiated
Photographed by James Hulse, June 4, 2025
4. A German coastal defence battery Marker
A closeup view of Casement No. 4
Captions
(Photo #1) Atlantic Wall coastal artillery batteries on the Normandy coast.
(Photo #2) Field Marshal Rommel at Longues-sur-Mer on a tour of inspection of the Atlantic Wall.
(Photo #3) A worksite that has requisitioned local labour.
(Photo #4) Plan of the Longues-sur-Mer battery's military installations.
Erected by Longues-sur-Mer Battery. (Marker Number 2.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1944.
Location. 49° 20.607′ N, 0° 41.585′ W. Marker is in Longues-sur-Mer, Normandie (Normandy), in Calvados. It is on Rue de la Mer just north of Rue des Batteries. The marker is located on the grounds of the Longues-sur-Mer Battery Historical Monument Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 39 Rue de la Mer, Longues-sur-Mer, Normandie 14400, France. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Un site d'exception / An exceptional site (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Aérodrome B-11 de Longues-sur-Mer / B-11 airfield at Longues-sur-Mer (about 120 meters away); La piste d'aviation B-11 / The B-11 airfield (about 120 meters away); La prise de la batterie / Capturing the battery (about 150 meters away); Canon russe Putilov / Putilov Russian cannon (about 150 meters away); Les casemates / The casemates (about 150 meters away); Le poste de commandement de tir / The fire command post (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Un rédoutable système défensif / A formidable defensive system (approx. 0.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Longues-sur-Mer.
Also see . . . Longues-sur-Mer battery. Wikipedia
The Longues-sur-Mer battery (German: Marineküstenbatterie (MKB) Longues-sur-Mer; also designated Widerstandsnest (Wn) 48) is a World War II German coastal artillery battery approximately 1 km (0.62 mi) north of the village of Longues-sur-Mer in Normandy, France. The battery is sited on a 60 m (200 ft) cliff overlooking the Baie de Seine and formed a part of Germany's Atlantic Wall coastal fortifications, between the Allied landing sectors of Gold Beach and Omaha Beach.(Submitted on December 21, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 116 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 21, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
