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Alderney

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German Military Geology and Fortification of the British Channel Islands During World War II

Part of the book series: Advances in Military Geosciences ((AMG))

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Abstract

Geological support for the fortification of Alderney came principally from the German Army. During 1941 it came from Second Lieutenant Walther Klüpfel on Jersey, subsequently from the ‘Technical War Administration Officers’ (TKVRs) Walter Wetzel and Friedrich Röhrer in Paris. During 1942 it came first from Lance Corporal (later TKVR) Dieter Hoenes on assignment from the military geological team Wehrgeologenstelle 7, and for the rest of the year from TKVRs Dieter Hoenes and Bernard Beschoren whilst based on Guernsey leading Wehrgeologenstelle 4. Most reports focused on aspects of water supply, and the need to develop groundwater by means of shallow infiltration galleries rather than deep drilled boreholes. Geological studies were complemented by an earth resistivity survey carried out in March–April 1942 by a geophysics reconnaissance unit of the German Army’s military geological organization, led by TKVR Johann Kliemstein (seemingly assisted by TKV Inspektor Woerner): to help determine the depth to groundwater in weathered basement rocks and the extent of a likely freshwater lens above sea water in the coastal zone. Army geologists compiled thematic maps at the scale of 1:10,000, notably two military geological maps to guide extensive fortification in a way comparable with that on Jersey and Guernsey and a raw materials map and report to guide quarrying of bedrock and superficial sands/gravels to support the construction programme. They also compiled reports related to tunnelling for underground facilities, as on the other islands, although in a different geological setting. Additionally, Air Force construction teams at work on sites for anti-aircraft batteries and other facilities had access in 1942 and 1943 to the expertise of a geologist within the Luftwaffe’s field works office for the Channel Islands, based on Guernsey.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Oberfestungsbaustab beim Komm. Adm. Frankreich.

  2. 2.

    Wehrgeologische Beschreibung der Insel Alderney. Sachbearbeiter TKVR Prof. Wetzel. (Oberfestungsbaustab beim Komm. Adm. Frankreich. Wehrgeologenstelle 9.) 20 Oct 1941 [2 pp., eventually 3 maps at 1:10,000—Baustoff- und Minier-Karte, Wasserversorgungskarte, Wehrgeolog. Bodenkarte, with 2 cross sections—but text explains “Anlage: 1 geolog. Karte (Weiterer Karten werden nachgereicht)”]. [Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv file RH32v.3041, also v. 3043 and v.3082].

  3. 3.

    Untersuchung der Inseln Guernsey und Alderney, die Trinkwasser-versorgung der auf Landzungen vorgeschobenen Stellungen betreffend by KVR Röhrer, for Insp. Land. O. West.

  4. 4.

    Abschnittgruppe I/14.

  5. 5.

    Sachbearbeiter.

  6. 6.

    Gefreiter.

  7. 7.

    Technischer Kriegsverwaltungsrat: TKVR.

  8. 8.

    Die Besichtigungsreise zu den Kanalinseln vom 24.3 bis 2.4.42, of 4 April 1942: now preserved at the Budesarchiv-Militärarchiv in file RH32v.3041.

  9. 9.

    Founded in 1751, the ‘Theresian’ Military Academy—where officers are trained for the Austrian armed forces—is one of the oldest military academies in the world.

  10. 10.

    Reichsamt für Bodenforschung.

  11. 11.

    Wehrgeologengruppe SCHUH.

  12. 12.

    WG-Gruppe/Pi-Erkundungsstab für Belgien und Nordfrankreich.

  13. 13.

    General der Pioniere bei Oberbefehlshaber Ost; Militärbefehlshaber im Generalgouvernement (Polen).

  14. 14.

    E-Erktrp 2 beim Insp. d. Landesbef. West (Wehrgeologe).

  15. 15.

    Bericht über die erdelektrischen Erkundungsmessungen zur Ermittung der Grundwasserverhältnisse auf der Insel Alderney, by H. Kliemstein. (Erdelektrischer Erkundungstrupp 2 bei Kommandodienststelle Fest. Pi. Abschn. Gr. I/14.) 16 April 1942. [14 pp., 17 figs, 1 map.] Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv file RH32v.3924.

  16. 16.

    www.pgla.de/direkt.htm.

  17. 17.

    Auszug aus dem Bericht der 2. Pionier-Minier-Komp. Einsatz im Hohlgangsbau auf den Kanalinseln GUERNSEY– ALDERNEY, von 16.3–8.10.42. [7 pp.] Extract of a report stamped ‘secret’ (Geheim), and as received by the military geologist at the Inspectorate of Fortifications-West (Insp. d. L. West. Wehrgeologe) for filing as ‘Anlage zu Az 39, Geol 10, Nr 56/43 geh’. Currently filed in the archives of the Bundeswehr Geoinformation Centre, Euskirchen.

  18. 18.

    Entwurf.

  19. 19.

    Gezeichnet.

  20. 20.

    Gutachten 4.

  21. 21.

    Fest. Nachr. Stab I Alderney.

  22. 22.

    Gutachten 9.

  23. 23.

    Abschnitt Gruppe I/14.

  24. 24.

    Marinepeilstanden und Messstellen 3: MP3.

  25. 25.

    Batterie Höhe 145.

  26. 26.

    Geologischer Bericht Nr. 148. Bericht über Wasserversorgung der Insel Alderney. Berichterstatter: Reg. Baurat Prof. Dr. Schmidt. Luftgaukommando Westfrankreich. – Verwaltung—Az.: 63 c 26 A 92—Verw. 111/7. Br. B. Nr. 5651/42 geh. O.U., den 11.5.1942. [2 pp.] Filed in the archives of the Bundeswehr Geoinformation Centre, Euskirchen.

  27. 27.

    Feldbauamt Kanalinseln.

  28. 28.

    Bauleitung Alderney.

  29. 29.

    Bauleitung.

  30. 30.

    Feldbauamt.

  31. 31.

    Oberste Bergbehörde. Later re-named Oberste Montanbehörde, Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft und Forschung (BMWF) Minoritenplatz 5, A—1014 Wien, Austria.

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  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK

    Edward P. F. Rose

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  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK

    Edward P. F. Rose

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Rose, E.P.F. (2020). Alderney. In: Rose, E.P.F. (eds) German Military Geology and Fortification of the British Channel Islands During World War II. Advances in Military Geosciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22768-9_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22768-9_8

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