ABSTRACT

In previous articles different German radar bases have been considered. The preservation states of their components and their organization have been analyzed. This article further deepens the theme of the German radar surveillance during the WW II on the Atlantic Wall by taking into consideration the German radar camp of Saint-Pabu (Finistère-FR) and its defence Stützpunkte Re 03, Re 04. Its history, the preservation state of its components, its organization and how said components have been integrated in a modern urban contest are described.

Keywords:

Saint-Pabu, German, Radar, Surveillance, Atlantic Wall, Finistère, France

1. Introduction

In previous articles the German radar bases Mandrill at Monterfil near Rennes (Ille et Vilaine-FR) (Dupont et al. 2007) , Made at Les Mees (Sarthe-FR) (Tomezzoli & Pottier 2015) , at Keringar Vihan, Kervingam-Kerdené and Vougo- Kerizoc (Finistère-FR) (Tomezzoli 2017) , provided with radars Freya and Würzburg, have been considered. The preservation states of their components and their organization have been analyzed. The Saint-Pabu radar camp (Finistère-FR), because of its leading radar surveillance role, should now be considered.

2. History of the Saint-Pabu German Radar Camp

Soon after the invasion of France on June 1940, after the departure of the German invasion forces, the 251. Infanterie-Division of the Heer (Army) occupied the district of Saint-Pabu. It remained quartered on the district up to April 1941. After it, the 10. Kompanie of the 471. Infanterie-Regiment (Feldpost 32334C? Field Post nr. 32334C) quartered in the Saint-Pabu village. However, soon both Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe realized the strategic importance as surveillance position of the plateau, 50 m high, near the village and in front of the sea. Therefore, a camp was erected there for hosting a Kriegsmarine radar station equipped with two radars operated by a detachment of the 1. Kompanie of the 3. Marine- Funk-Meβ-Abteilung (3^rd Navy Radio Measurement Unit) (Feldpost 01512F) and a Luftwaffe radar station equipped with two radars operated by a detachment of the 25. Kompanie of the 112. Luftgau-Nachrichten-Regiment (112^th Air Sector Transmission Regiment) (Feldpost L42432). The Luftwaffe radar station received identification code Stützpunkt Re 510 (support point Renan 510) and cover name Pinguin. In April 1943 the 112. Regiment was re-organized by changing its name and preserving its Field Post number. The 10. Flugmelde- Leit-Kompanie 54 (Air Reconnaissance Command Company 54 of the 10^th Regiment) was then in charge of the operation at the Re 510. The camp air defense was ensured by the 4. Kompanie of the 3. Batterie (3^rd Battery) of the Leichte Flak Abteilung 752 (Light Flak Unit 752) (Feldpost L32999) and after by the V. Abteilung 5./497 Flak Batterie. A section of the Landesschützen Kompanie 13/XIII (13^th Territorial Surveillance Company of the 13^th Regiment) (Feldpost L00421) formed by 35 soldiers and the Kompanie 369/VI (Feldpost L39026) were charged of the security of the camp. The security of the camp was ensured from June 1942 to Mai 1943 by the Landshützen-Zug 47/III. Five Stützpunkte (support points) coded respectively Re 01?Re 05 defended the camp, the entrance of the Aber-Benoit and the Kervigorn beach (Floch 2012) .

At the beginning the camp was provided with 2 × FuSE 65 Würzburg Riese, 1 × FMG 41 G (fB) Freiburg I and 2 × FuSE 80 Freya and after with 1 × FuMG 401 Freya MZ, 1 × FuMG 450 Freya, 1 × FuSE 62D (Lippmann 2016) .

The camp extended East?West for about 1 km and North?South for about 700 m. It comprised four radars, four observation places, eight bunkers, a relevant numbers of anti-aircraft guns, three tobrucks for 40 C.A., twelve barracks, a kitchen, light cisterns, one motor-pump, lavabos and one pool. Foreseen for 1200 soldiers, it actually hosted at maximum about 500?600 ones (Pinczon de Sel 1947-1948) .

The Oberfeldwebel (Sargent 1^st Class) Fritz W., the Obergefreiter (Corporal Major) Weber H. and the Obergefreiter Behrendt G. dead on 8^th August 1944 in Saint-Pabu during the Liberation combats. The last 287 soldiers of the camp garrison surrendered on 12^th August 1944 at 21:00 (Floch 2012) .

The US Army instituted a camp for German prisoners of war (POW) near the camp. Probably, it was this camp that received, after the war, French suspected as collaborationists, black market operators, clandestine slaughters, before their transfer to the camps of Saint Charles near Quimper and Pont-le-Buis (Floch 2012) .

3. The Saint-Pabu Radar Camp

The camp components (Figure 1) were spread on the municipality of Saint- Pabu, on the two adjacent localities of Le Bous and Teven ar Reut. The visits

took place on 05/01/2017 and on 11/05/2017.

The identified camp components were the followings (Figure 1).

A 1^st Vf2a (48˚33'59.01''N, 4˚37'19.07''W) (Figure 2, Figure 3) about 8 × 8 m, emerging about 1.5 m from the ground. Its emerging concrete structure was in a good preservation state without damages due to combats. The presence on the coverage of a chimney conduit for a Festungsofen WT80 (fortress gas-secured oven), covered by a stone, suggested that it was heated if necessary and therefore intended for hosting one or two groups of soldiers. The proprietor explained that, an inclined trace on the external concrete structure, near the entrance indicated a disappeared stair. It was in connection with an entrance stair, now clumsy, for permitting to the soldiers exiting the Vf2a interior a rapid access to the coverage which probably hosted a single or double 2cm Flak gun. A protection wall on one side flanked the entrance stair which gave access to an interior corridor provided, on one side, with the entrance to a single room. The room preserved a wall and ceiling white painting and was cluttered by materials. On the walls, no traces of a thermal insulation system. A wall preserved the emergency exit and another adjacent one hole indicating a connection with the chimney conduit on the coverage. All the original room furniture and electrical

connections and devices disappeared.

A L410A (48˚33'59.16''N, 4˚37'18.32''W) (Figure 2, Figures 4-6), about 5 m far from the 1^st Vf2a, partially buried in the ground. Its emerging concrete structure was in a good preservation state without damages due to combats. A stairs descending under the terrain level gave access to two entrances defended by a close combat room. The proprietor explained that the rectangular slabs at the base of the entrances covered the still operating bunker drainage system and that a 40 × 50 cm niche on one side of one of the entrances hosted a radio post. An original, rusted, armored door was at its place at the entrance of each respective gasloch. Another original, rusted, armored door was at its place at the exit of the each respective gasloch. Each gasloch gave access to a crew room preserving on the walls the traces of the supports for tilting beds. A single door allowed communication between the two crew rooms. One crew room gave access to the non-commissioned officer room and the ventilation room which preserved conduits of the original ventilation system. An original, rusted, armored door was at its place at the entrance of the close combat room. All the rooms were empty, deprived of all their original furniture and electrical connections and devices. The rooms preserved their rusted metallic ceiling and on the walls, no traces of a thermal insulation system and electrical connections. The octagonal gun emplacement on the L410A coverage, hosted an entrance on one side and ammunitions niches on each other internal sides. At its centre, well preserved, a circular, concrete base for the Flak gun. The kind of Flak gun placed on the base is unknown, but probably it was a single or double, 2 or 3 cm Flak gun. The pebbles of the Ero Vili (Tomezzoli & Marzin 2015) were clearly visible on the base. The proprietor explained that the niche provided with a 30 cm high wall, functioned as water cistern for cooling the barrel of the gun. He also declared that during the bunker restoration many Flak gun ammunitions were found near the entrances.

A 1^st Freya radar emplacement (48˚33'56.31''N, 4˚37'19.72''W) (Figure 6) about 10 × 10 × 3 m, identified thanks to the indications of the proprietor. It was unrecognizably integrated in a modern house, of which it formed the lower portion, under the roof. Its concrete structure was in a good preservation state without damages due to combats. The external walls presented a slight inclination of few degrees towards the interior and a thickness of about 1 m. The emplacement appeared to conform to a Type 5 square splitter wall for radar Freya, lacking labyrinth entrances. It was built with local stone bricks covered by a concrete layer. The proprietor declared that, at the interior, nothing remained of the original emplacement. A small shed on one side was built with the same brick stones as the emplacement and its interior penetrated in the corresponding emplacement side without entering the emplacement. After the war, a shed was added on one other adjacent emplacement side.

A 1^st pool (48˚33'55.74''N, 4˚37'20.74''W) (Figure 6(h)) about 9 × 15 m, in the garden, near the 1^st Freya radar emplacement. Its sides were formed by concrete and its interior was invaded by the vegetation. At a side of the pool, about 6 m

far, a difference in the grass betrayed an area on which a barrack laid.

A bunker (48˚33'55.58''N, 4˚37'21.64''W) (Figure 6(g)) about 7 × 4 m, in a garden adjacent to the 1^st Freya radar emplacement garden, about 10 m away from the 1^st pool. It emerged about 30 cm from the terrain and was provided with an about 5 × 1.5 m concrete, access ramp with protecting walls in stone bricks, extending in the direction of the 1^st pool.

An L479 Anton (48˚33''58.48''N, 4˚37'15.97''W) (Figure 7) for day and night fighter control buried in the terrain, of which only the concrete coverage

emerged. The coverage was in a good preservation state with a minor concrete structural damage on one side, not due to combats or bombardments. It hosted an external observation post cluttered by materials and a periscope conduit. The entrances were buried in the terrain, so that an inspection of the interior was not possible.

The position of a disappeared 1^st Würzburg-Riese radar emplacement (48˚33'58.25''N, 4˚37'23.69''W) (Figures 8(a), 18) about 100 m North - West from the 1^st Freya radar emplacement, on a private terrain. It was demolished after the war and only a difference in the grass betrayed its past presence.

A 14 × 6 m Vf surmounted by a modern house (48˚34'1.07''N, 4˚37'0.3''W) (Figure 8(b)). It was similar to the 1^st Vf2a and provided with a stair for rapid access to the coverage, now for accessing the house entrance, on which was probably placed a single or double, 2 or 3 cm Flak gun.

An area (48˚34'2.06''N, 4˚37'2.55''W) (Figure 9) about 26 × 30 m which hosted several camp components. An inclined access ramp (48˚34'2.06''N, 4˚37'2.55''W) about 6 × 2 m, provided with protection walls in bricks possible access to a tunnel or to one or more underground rooms. It was cluttered by materials and inaccessible. A possible 2^nd pool (48˚34'1.52''N, 4˚37'2.06''W) about 3 × 5 m, partially covered by the terrain and invaded by water. A possible small bunker or tobruck (48˚34'2.55''N, 4˚37'1.97''W) completely buried in the terrain.

A Vf (48˚34'4.49''N, 4˚36'58.44''W) (Figure 10(a)) covered by terrain. Its type and purpose are unknown. It is possible that on its coverage too was placed a single or double, 2 or 3 cm Flak gun.

A tobruck (48˚34'4.7''N, 4˚36'57.43''W) (Figure 10(b)) near the Vf. It was partially buried in the ground. The aperture of its combat room and its entrance were obstructed by terrain, so that the inspection of its entrance room and combat room was not possible.

A 2^nd Vf2a (48˚34'2.25''N, 4˚36'56.37''W) (Figure 11) about 8 × 8 m, buried in the terrain, having a square gun emplacement on its coverage, partially invaded by vegetation. Its entrances were buried in the terrain, so that an inspection of the interior was not possible. The gun emplacement, hosted a labyrinth entrance on one side and ammunitions niches on each other internal sides. At the centre, well preserved, a triangular, concrete base with a circular niche on two adjacent

vertexes for a single or double, 2 or 3 cm Flak gun support legs.

The position of the 2^nd Freya radar emplacement (48˚34'2.15''N, 4˚36'58.98''W) (Figure 12(a)), on the rue Avel Vor. It was occupied by a modern house. Nothing of the original 2^nd Freya emplacement remained visible.

The 2^nd Würzburg-Riese radar emplacement (48˚34'2.15''N, 4˚36'58.98''W) (Figure 12(b)), on the rue du stade. It was completely covered by vegetation and slightly visible.

The search on the terrain for possible remains of Flak reflectors emplacements, barracks and a metallic barrier that encircled the camp provided no result.

4. The Stp Re 03 and Stp Re 04

The components of the Stützpunkte (support points) Re 03 and Re 04 (Figure 13) were spread on the Corn ar Gazel beach (Re 03) and the Corn ar Gazel pointe (Re 04). The visit took place on 11/05/2017.

The Re 03 components identified on the Corn ar Gazel beach were the followings (Figure 13).

A Vf2d (48˚34'32.13''N, 4˚37'37.46''W) (Figure 14) about 8 × 10 m, the only Re 03 component identified on the Corn ar Gazel beach. It was partially covered by the terrain and its emerging concrete structure was in a good preservation state without damages due to combats. It is possible that a stair, buried in the terrain, allowed a rapid access to the coverage on which was probably placed a single or double, 2 or 3 cm Flak gun. The entrances were buried in the terrain, so that an inspection of the interior was not possible.

One of the thousand concrete tetrahedrons positioned, during the war, on the beach for counteracting allied landings, placed near the Vf2d during rehashing works of the beach.

The Re 04 components identified on the Corn ar Gazel pointe were the following.

A 1^st tobruck (48˚34'42’38''N, 4˚37'33.37''W) (Figure 15), probably for a mortar, partially emerging from the sandy ground. The circular aperture of its combat room was closed by wooden boards covered by a concrete layer. Its emerging concrete structure was in a good preservation state without damages due to combats. The unobstructed entrance allowed ascertaining that entrance room and combat room were in a good preservation state, although the first was partially invaded by sand and debris arrived through the entrance.

A 2^nd tobruck (48˚34'41.50''N, 4˚37'33.78''W) (Figure 16) partially emerging from the sandy ground. The circular aperture of its combat room was closed by wooden boards covered by a concrete layer. Its emerging concrete structure was in a good preservation state without damages due to combats. The unobstructed entrance allowed ascertaining that entrance room and combat room were in a good preservation state, although the first was partially invaded by sand and debris arrived through the entrance. In the combat room two steps protruded from the wall.

A 3^rd tobruck (48˚34'42.26''N, 4˚37'34.79''W) (Figure 17) partially emerging from the sandy ground. The circular aperture of its combat room was closed by wooden boards covered by a concrete layer. Its emerging concrete structure was in a good preservation state without damages due to combats. The unobstructed entrance allowed ascertaining that entrance room and combat room were in a good preservation state, although the first was partially invaded by sand and debris arrived through the entrance. In the combat room two steps protruded from the wall.

The place of a disappeared Vf2d (48˚34'32.13''N, 4˚37'37.46''W) near the 3^rd tobruck. Nothing remained visible of this bunker.

5. The Radar Camp and the Stp Re 03, Re 04

The components were largely distributed on the camp for reducing the probability to be hit in case of attacks or bombardments. The distance between the 1^st Freya radar emplacement and the 1^st Würzburg-Riese radar emplacement was about 100 m and the distance between the 2^nd Freya radar emplacement and the 2^nd Würzburg-Riese radar emplacement about 450 m. The 1^st Vf2a and L410A were at about 85 m from the 1^st Freya radar emplacement. The 2^nd Vf2a, the Vf covered by terrain and the Vf surmounted by a modern house, probably all provided with a small Flak gun on their coverage, encircled the 2^nd Freya radar emplacement. The reason of the close location of the 1^st Vf2a and L410A is unknown.

The locations of the 1^st Freya radar and the 1^st Würzburg-Riese radar emplacements on the camp East side and the 2^nd Freya radar and the 2^nd Würzburg-Riese radar emplacements on the camp West side of the camp indicated the actual subdivision between the Luftwaffe and the Kriegsmarine radar stations. The L410a and L479, both Luftwaffe bunkers, close to the 1^st Freya and the

1^st Würzburg-Riese emplacements suggested that all these components, including the 1^st Vf2a were components of the Luftwaffe radar station which occupied the West side of the camp. Consequently, the 2^nd Freya radar and the 2^nd Würzburg-Riese radar emplacements were components of the Kriegsmarine radar station which occupied the East side of the camp. The fact that only one commandment bunker L479 was constructed, suggested that the information coming from all these radars were centrally managed by its personnel. The radar Freya from firm GEMA provided information about the distance of foe aircrafts up to about 160 km, whereas the radar Würzburg-Riese from firm Telefunken provided information about distance and height up to about 80 Km. The L479, certainly provided with a Seeburg table, coordinated day and night air fighters, elaborating not only radar information coming from the radars of the camp but also from the above mentioned Finistère radar bases which all were not provided with a commandment bunker. Therefore, it is evident that the camp of Saint- Pabu, during the WW II, played leading radar surveillance and operation role.

The L410A hosted the commandment place of the Flak defense of the camp. The fire of the single or double, 2 or 3 cm Flak guns was coordinated through its radio post.

The small shed on a side of the 1^st Freya emplacement was probably a latrine

for the personnel in service at the emplacement and nearby 1^st Vf2a and L410A. The 1^st and the possible 2^nd pools provided water for the staff entertainment and for extinguishing possible fires in the camp. Similar pools or cisterns were at the German base at Mûrs Érigné (Maine et Loire-FR) (Tomezzoli 2015) and the headquarter of the German 343. Infanterie Division at Kerlezerien (Tomezzoli 2013) near Landerneau (Finistère-FR). The small bunker near the 1^st pool probably protected a water pump. Another similar small bunker on the North side of the camp protected a water motor-pump.

The number of radars in service at the camp is uncertain, they were either four (Pinczon du Sel 1947-1948) or 2 × FuSE 65 Würzburg-Riese, 1 × FG 41G (fB) Freiburg I and 2 × FuSE 80 Freya and after 1 × FuMG 401 Freya LZ, 1 × FuMG 450 Freya and 1 × FuSE 62D (Lippmann 2016) . The location of the radar FG 41G (fB) Freiburg I emplacement is unknown. It is possible that the two initial radar Freya and Freiburg I were after replaced by the ameliorated versions of them.

German radar camps similar to that of Saint-Pabu were the above mentioned Mandrill at Monterfil (Dupont et al., 2007) comprising two radar Freya and two radar Würzburg-Riese and Made (Sarthe-FR) (Tomezzoli & Pottier 2015) comprising one radar Freya and two radars Würzburg-Riese both operative at same time of the camp of Saint Pabu and both not provided with a commandment bunker.

Works for camp improvement were in progress towards the end of the Occupation period as witnessed by a terminated 1^st square excavation (48˚33'58.57''N, 4˚37'12.34''W) about 18 × 13 m, provided with a further central, rectangular excavation about 2 × 5 m, an elongated 2^nd excavation (48˚33'58.17''N, 4˚37'14.30''W) about 26 × 14 m, in advanced state of completion and a 3^rd excavation (48˚33'57.35''N, 4˚37'15.45''W) about 7 × 5 m provided with access ramp, all near the L479 on the opposed side of the actual rue Arvel Vor (Figure 18). The dimensions of the 1^st excavation did not fit with the dimensions 18.20 ×20.50 m of a bunker V143 for Mammut radar (Figure 19(a)), which ruled out the hypothesis of the foreseen construction of such a bunker. The 2^nd excavation, because of its shape and dimensions, appeared to conform well to a L486 bunker (Figure 19(b)) for a permanent radar station, which confirmed the hypothesis of the foreseen construction of such a bunker. Said L486 was probably foreseen for undertaking part of the operations performed at the L479. The 3^rd excavation would be suitable for the construction of a small bunker of unknown type or for hosting a partially buried barrack. The excavations were still visible in the years 70^th before to be filled by material and their area let free for modern houses construction.

A hospital and a fuel depot were on the camp but their location is unknown.

An Ortskommandantur for the lodgement and administrative services to German soldiers and in particular for the personnel of the camp existed in Saint-Pabu in the house at present rue de Beniguet 17.

The Stp Re 03 and Re 04, about 1 km from the camp, ensured the surveillance of a stretch of coast near Saint-Pabu and the defence of the camp in case of attacks coming from the sea. Their Vf2d lodged the personnel in service at said

Stp. Such Stp were common components of the Atlantic Wall. A similar Stp was located at the Dunes de Ker Emma/Kéréma (Tomezzoli 2006) .

The good preservation state of the bunkers of the camp and the Stp suggested that they were neither object of partisans and FFI (Forces Françaises de l’Interieur―French Home Forces) heavy attacks nor allied bombardments although their positions and activities were known to the allied.

6. Conclusion

The visits of the sites of the Saint-Pabu radar camp and of Re 03 and Re 04 have clarified many questions concerning their components and organization. However, as usual in this type of researches, some issues remain still open: the actual number of radars in service at the camp, the timing of their deployment and substitution, the purpose of the camp improvement. However, the information in this article may form the basis for further studies.

Acknowledgements

We want to thank the proprietor of the 1^st Vf22a, the L410A and the 1^st radar Freya emplacement for his information and his kind permission to visit them, and Mr Morvan J. and Mr. Morin E. for their valuable remarks concerning the arguments dealt with in the present article.

Cite this paper

Tomezzoli, G. T., & Colliou, S. (2017). The WW II Saint- Pabu German Radar Camp and the Stützpunkte Re 03, Re 04. Archaeological Discovery, 5, 142-162. https://doi.org/10.4236/ad.2017.53009

References