Gi321 Soulac Fosse Antichar
To the south side of the peninsular, an anti-tank ditch was dug from coast to coast. This form of defence was used by the defending German army all over Europe. I read a lot of books about the war and very few American or British war books, talk about the anti-tank ditches or discuss them. There were several ditches on the D-day beaches, and none were a real obstacle. Recently reading the attack on Cherbourg, the ditch was mentioned but not that it would be a problem, another in the battle of Brest. The Americans came upon a ditch opposite Fort Monebary. All the American engineers said about the battle was that they needed to blow both banks and the bulldoze a roadway through. That was it, no problems. So as a defence, the Allies thought very little of them. The attack here, a lot of bombers were used and you will see as you read on that the bombing leveled out the ditch and allowed easy access. This also you will see.
Fort Monebary.
Gi321 Soulac Fosse Antichar
Gi321 Soulac Fosse Antichar
The anti-tank ditch completely crossed the peninsular, on the eastern side the sea entered it and it became tidal, in the mid area, rivers, canals were used to help fill it with water. On the west side the ditch went through sand and tree trunks were used to hold back the sand.
Sandy ditch.
The wet ditch today.
Gi321 Soulac Fosse Antichar
On the southern end of the Pointe De Grave defences, a small Wn just behind the anti-tank ditch. No hard defences here except the anti-tank ditch, they may have used the Chateau as a small head quarters and the stables for these soldiers to be quartered.
Gi321 Soulac Fosse Antichar
Details that I have found about the Fosse Antichar.
Gi321 Soulac Fosse Antichar
The attack north into the peninsular, with French Army, FFI and American troops. French naval forces were used to shell the defences and the French Air Force with Marauders were also used..
B26 Marauders of the French Air Force.
French Forces of the Interior.
FFI.
Gi321 Soulac Fosse Antichar
This is a good postcard photo of the ditch in the western side and the use of wood tree trunks to hold back the sand.
Gi321 Soulac Fosse Antichar
This is the ditch today where the road crosses it. The round waterlogged hole is probably a bomb crater.
Gi321 Soulac Fosse Antichar
This is an Allied air photo of the area we are talking about and you can see the intense bombing of the area.
Spitfire PRU taking off from RAF Benson.
Checking the photos.
Gi321 Soulac Fosse Antichar
A close up of Gi321 that looks as though it was also well bombed. There were
Gi321 Soulac Fosse Antichar
Air 34/116 the bombing.
Gi321 Soulac Fosse Antichar
As it is today.
Gi321 Soulac Fosse Antichar
Chateau de Neryan
© 2013 Richard Drew