The Azeville battery is one of the first constructions of the Atlantic Wall in France. Equipped with four powerful casemates equipped with 105 "Schneider" guns, it covered the Manchese coastline from inland.
Azeville, Crisbecq (St-Marcouf) and Varreville were the German batteries charged with defending the entire sector.
From the night of June 5 to 6, 1944, the battery of Azeville is taken to task by a group of paratroopers fallen there by mistake, then, very early in the morning, it enters into action against the American landing of Utah Beach.
It then considerably delays the allied forces that end up bypassing it. Finally, the position fell on June 9 after intense fighting and many twists: shots on the battery of Crisbecq in order to free the American soldiers ready to take control of it, three assaults and numerous skirmishes, bombardment by the battleship USS Nevada of which a 356 mm shell crosses a casemate from side to side without exploding, leaving behind it an impressive footprint always visible...
The battery is camouflaged!
During the occupation, the Germans had the idea of camouflaging their casemates so that they could see from the sky the appearance of a ruined Norman house. False stone walls, a door, windows, trees. Every detail was carefully studied...
Come and discover the four hidden casemates and the 350 meters of underground accessible during the visit!
Guided tour at 9:45 am on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 September. €1 per person. Booking recommended. Audio guided tour from 10 am to 7 pm. Free.