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All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

  2. Patrimoine
  3. Normandie
  4. Manche
  5. 50840 Fermanville

  6. Hamburg coastal artillery battery

Hamburg coastal artillery battery à Fermanville dans la Manche

Manche

Hamburg coastal artillery battery

    61 Chasse des Marettes
    50840 Fermanville
Photo de Hamburg coastal artillery battery
Crédit photo : André Levaufre - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1900
2000
1944
Role in Liberation
22 octobre 2024
Historical Monument
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
2e quart XXe siècle
Battery construction

Heritage classified

The elements of the site of the Hamburg coastal artillery battery, remains of the Second World War, located at the place called Les Marette and the land plates where they are preserved, including archaeological remains buried or in known or to be discovered, namely: encument and blockhouses adjoining plots Nos. 294 and 1066; the remains of an outdoor theatre on Parcel No. 232; Encuments and blockhouses on parcels 356 and 359; the close combat post present on Parcel No. 352, shown in cadastre section B 01, as represented on the plan annexed to the decree: inscription by order of 22 October 2024

Key figures

Général Collins - American Commander Directed the take of Cherbourg.

Origin and history

The Hamburg coastal artillery battery, located in Fermanville, North Cotentin, is an integral part of the Atlantic Wall. Built during the 2nd quarter of the 20th century, it was equipped with three casemates housing 240 mm guns, designed to monitor and protect the Cherbourg harbour. This military work, known as the Marette battery, was the region's most powerful artillery installation, playing a major strategic role during the Second World War.

During the Liberation, this battery had a decisive impact when the American troops led by General Collins took over the port of Cherbourg. Its location and armament made it a key point of resistance for German forces, delaying the allied advance and influencing the conduct of military operations in the region.

The remains of the battery, now protected under the Historic Monuments, include encumbrances, blockhouses, as well as an outdoor theatre, bearing witness to the lives of the soldiers stationed there. The By-law of 22 October 2024 covers not only visible structures, but also buried archaeological remains, highlighting the heritage and memorial importance of this Second World War site.

The precise location of the site, at the place called Les Marettes, is documented in the cadastral archives and the Merimée base, although the current cartographic accuracy is considered poor (level 5 of 10). This ranking preserves an essential part of Norman military history, while providing a place of memory accessible to the public, although practical information on visits remains limited in available sources.

The protected elements extend over several parcels, including combat posts and related infrastructure, illustrating the magnitude and complexity of this defensive device. The Hamburg battery thus embodies both an architectural testimony of the conflict and a symbol of the strategic stakes that marked Normandy during the occupation.

Finally, the battery is associated with photographic credits under Creative Commons license, such as those of André Levaufre, who help document and disseminate the image of this historical heritage, often unknown despite its crucial role in the events of 1944.

External links

Page Monumentum