Ranville, the British Cemetery
Ouistreham, Atlantic Wall Museum
The Grand bunker Captured on June 9th
Located behind the beach and next to the Ferry terminal, the Atlantic Wall Museum was a German headquarters which was in charge of the batteries covering the entrance of the river Orne and the canal.
The 52ft high concrete tower has been fully restored to make it look how it was on the 6th of June 1944.
You will discover six floors with all its inner rooms, which have been recreated down to the last detail: generator room, gas filters room, casemate with machine gun protecting the entrance, dormitory, medical store, sick bay, armoury, ammunition store, radio transmission room, telephone switchboard, observation post equipped with a powerful range-finder and on the top floor a 360° view over Sword Beach.
Many photographs and documents concerning the construction of the Atlantic wall, the artillery, the beach defences, observation, etc. are displayed. Souvenir of the assault and shock troops specially trained for Overlord Operation to attack the Atlantic Wall, and the everyday life of the German Army.
The capture of the Grand Bunker On June 9, lead by the actions of lieutenant Bob Orrell of Royal Engineers, 91Field Company R.E., 3rd Beach Group, 3rd Canadian Div., 2nd British Army, is an amazing story.
He was given orders to clear the large Bunker. Accompanied by three men, he placed two explosive charges one after the other to blow up the armour front door. It took them four hours to break it open! Two officers and fifty men then surrendered and the complete liberation of Ouistreham was achieved.