1. Introduction
The map Flughafenbereich Morlaix-Flugplätze und Ln Anlagen (Figure 1) (Henoff, 2023) shows the position of some WWII German military bases in the south Finistère studied in past publications: the German radar stations Renntier (QU 300, QU 500) and QU 13 respectively at the Pointe Du Raz and Men Tan (Tomezzoli, 2021), the Y-Peiler Atlantik II near Penmarc’h (Tomezzoli, 2024), the UKW-Jäger-Sprechstelle Grille near Locronan (Tomezzoli, 2025). In addition, it shows the position of the German radio navigation station Elektra/Sonne E6/S6 provided with three antenna masts about 100 m high located respectively on the territories of the municipalities of Lanlean, Ploeven, Plonevez-Porzay, dealt by various authors.
In addition, the map shows the FuSK (Funksende Kompanie)—FMa22 (Flak Marine Abteilung 22) at Kerastrobel near Tal ar Groas (Bret.: In front the Cross) and 46T on the Aber Island (Bret.: Estuary Island) both on the peninsula of Crozon on which no author has paid attention.
2. Historical Context
Many Wehrmacht unities took turn in the sector of Crozon during the WWII.
The 11. Schützen-Brigade, at the order of the Oberst Von Angern (1893-1943) was the first to arrive in the sector on 19th June 1940 around noon. On 21st June 1940 it left the sector for the Morbihan.
On 17th December 1940 at Tal ar Groas, the 2. Flugabwehrbatterie of the motorized 49. Flak-Regiment/I. Abteilung was violently attacked by RAF fighter bombers. Three bombs touched the Batterie destroying two guns, killing six gunners and seriously injured two others (Floch, 2012).
The Munition-Ausgabestelle der Luftwaffe 21/XII (Unity L49 510) was quartered at Tal-ar Groas from September 1940 to April 1944 (Floch, 2009).
The competence area limit between the 265. Division and the 343. Division was set down at the Aber Island. Elements of the 11. Kompanie of the 894. Infanterie-Regiment (Unity 57 864D) quartered at the nearby Saint-Nic, controlled the island defensive components and those of Trez Bellec en Telgruc Island. On 27th September 1943 the Catholic chaplain of the 265. Division, the Kriegspfarrer Lang, celebrated mass at 9:30 a.m. at the Aber Island and at 11:00 a.m. at Trez Bellec. On 16th January 1944 the 11. Kompanie left the sector for Plogonnec relieved by the 285. Ost-Bataillon.
The 9. Batterie of the 49. Luftwaffe Flak Abteilung was on the road to Lanveoc at Tal ar Groas.
On 6th September 1943 the headquarters of the III. Infanterie-Bataillon of the 898. Regiment (Unity 59 285A) settled down at Tal ar Groas. Its 11. Kompanie (Unity 59 285D) was quartered at Morgat and its 12. Kompanie at Tal ar Groas at the place called Kerbastum. On 23rd June 1944 the Bataillon left the sector for Normandy relieved by the I. Bataillon of the same 898. Regiment. At Tal ar Groas was quartered since August 1943 the 13. Kompanie of assault guns of the Regiment.
For the lodgment of workers of the Organization Todt (O.T.), at Tal ar Groas was built a barrack camp named Lager Tirpiz. On 1944 the Lagerführer has name Elsen.
The 4. Staffel (Unity 41 230E) of the 285. Ost Radfahr-Abteilung, formed by Russian volunteers, was quartered at Tal ar Groas from 12th December 1943 at 1st March 1944, then the Abteilung moved to the sector of Plounevez-Lochrist (Floch, 2012).
Crozon was liberated on 17th September 1944, Brest was liberated on 18th September 1944 and on 19th September 1944 the German General H. Ramcke, head of Crozon Peninsula defense surrendered at Roscanvel on the Pointe des Capucins (Le Grand & Thomas, 1980; Le Grand & Thomas, 1981).
In Figure 1 the FMa22 position is indicated by a blue rectangle and the 46T position by a red dot.
Figure 1. Sector of Brest—on the bottom left FMa22 and 46T.
3. The FMa22 Visit
The visit took place on 3rd May 2025. The FMa22 identified components (Figures 2-6) were the following, note that the component coordinates could be not very precise:
An airstrip 75.25 × 8.75 m (1) (48˚14'37.58"N, 4˚26'29.73"W, h. 84.54 m) oriented toward South-West, disappeared.
A L-shaped 3.5 × 1.75 m hangar (2) (48˚14'38.52"N, 4˚26'28.65"W, h. 83.56 m) disappeared.
A 3.5 m in diam. round tower (3) (48˚14'38.72"N, 4˚26'27.65"W, h. 86.5 m) completely covered by vegetation. Its inspection was not possible. Through the vegetation some stone was visible on the terrain.
A 7 × 3.75 m bunker (4) (48˚14'39.55"N, 4˚26'28.08"W, h. 85.56 m) on a private terrain, inaccessible. Its inspection was not possible.
A 21 m long East-West connecting trench (5) (48˚14'40.03"N, 4˚26'26.47"W, h. 86.65 m) disappeared.
A 6.125 × 7 m rectangular ditch (6) (48˚14'39.12"N, 4˚26'26.72"W, h. 86.41 m) disappeared. Inside a rectangular construction or cistern was leaning on the West side.
A 12.25 × 5.25 m rectangular ditch (7) (48˚14'40.71"N, 4˚26'24.87"W, h. 86.74 m) disappeared.
A 7 × 5.25 m rectangular ditch (8) (48˚14'38.68"N, 4˚26'25.06"W, h. 87.99 m) covered by vegetation and flooded by water.
A 3.5 m in diam. semicircular emplacement (9) (48˚14'37.16"N, 4˚26'25.14"W, h. 86.79 m) for machine gun, inaccessible. Its inspection was not possible.
A 7 × 7 m square bunker (10) (48˚14'38.55"N, 4˚26'22.63"W, h. 88.19) formed by two opposed walls 1 × 7 × 1 m each having a small, square leaning construction.
Figure 2. Kerastrobel—FMa22 components—1 airstrip; 2 L-shaped hangar; 3 round tower; 4 bunker; 5 connecting trench; 6 rectangular ditch; 7 rectangular ditch; 8 rectangular ditch; 9 semicircular emplacement; 10 square bunker; 11 trapezoidal ditch; 12 rectangular ditch; 13 rectangular bunker; 14 rectangular bunker; 15 rectangular bunker; 16 square bunker; 17 rectangular ditch; 18 meandering trench; 19 bunker.
IGNF_PVA_1-0__1951-07-27__C0417-0301_1951_CDP3760_0234
Covered by vegetation, its inspection was not possible.
A 10.5 × 5.25 m trapezoidal ditch (11) (48˚14'39.45"N, 4˚26'23.65"W, h. 87.27 m) covered by vegetation. Its inspection was not possible.
A 7.87 × 5.25 m rectangular ditch (12) (48˚14'38.97"N, 4˚26'22.51"W, h. 87.54 m), covered by vegetation and flooded by water. Inside was a rectangular construction or cistern leaning on the West side.
A 7.0 × 3.5 m rectangular bunker (13) (48˚14'39.76"N, 4˚26'21.64"W, h. 87.7 m) covered by vegetation. Its inspection was not possible. On the coverage, two walls on the South side each 2 m long and in-between a 2 × 2 m square emplacement. Similar to bunker (4).
A 6.125 × 3.5 m rectangular bunker (14) (48˚14'40.7"N, 4˚26'23.21"W, h. 86.82 m) disappeared. It was formed by two opposed walls 1.5 × 6 × 1.5 m each having at each corner a square leaning constructions 1 × 1 m.
A 7 × 5.25 m rectangular bunker (15) (48˚14'39.55"N, 4˚26'20.68"W, h. 88.31 m) covered by vegetation. Its inspection was not possible. A rectangular construction or cistern was leaning on the external West wall. On the coverage three possible square supports.
A 5.25 × 5.25 m square bunker (16) (48˚14'39.55"N, 4˚26'19.73"W, h. 86.83 m) covered by vegetation. Its inspection was not possible. It was formed by two opposed walls 1.5 × 5.25 × 1.5 m each probably having two small, square leaning constructions.
Figure 3. FMa22 component details.
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 4. FMa22 today’s visions—(a) rectangular ditch (8); (b) rectangular ditch (12); (c) rectangular ditch (17).
1.5 × 1 m at the corner of each 5.25 side, as for the bunkers (10) (14).
An 8.75 × 6.125 m rectangular ditch (17) (48˚14'40.71"N, 4˚26'18.98"W, h. 86.56 m) covered by vegetation and flooded by water.
An 8.75 m long North-West meandering trench (18) (48˚14'42.65"N, 4˚26'22.3"W, h. 85.75 m) covered by vegetation. Its inspection was not possible.
A 7 × 5 m bunker (19) (48˚14'41.38"N, 4˚26'15.27"W, h. 86.09 m) covered by vegetation. Its inspection was not possible.
A 5.25 × 1.75 m rectangular ditch (20) (48˚14'40.38"N, 4˚26'21.84"W, h. 87.46 m) covered by vegetation. Its inspection was not possible. At the interior two possible supports.
A 5.25 × 5.25 m square bunker (21) (48˚14'41.97"N, 4˚26'20.56"W, h. 85.86 m) covered by vegetation. Its inspection was not possible. It was formed by two opposed walls 1.5 × 5.25 × 1.5 m each having two small, square leaning constructions at the corner of each 5.25 side, similar to bunkers (10) (14) (16).
Figure 3, Figure 4 give some more details of FMa22 components.
Figure 5, Figure 6 show the thirteen FMa22 ammunition depots. These depots were simple constructions having a 5 m long wall with a perpendicular 2 m wall at each corner, all made by local stones, and a 30 cm thick concrete coverage. Because of the rich vegetation on the site, only the three ammunition depots (f) (48˚14'40.57"N, 4˚26'18.83"W, h. 86.41 m), (k) (48˚14'44.83"N, 4˚26'30.68"W, h. 77.78 m) and (l) (48˚14'44.65"N, 4˚26'30.75"W, h. 78.02 m) were inspected. They were all in a good preservation state.
4. The 46T Visit
The visit took place on 3rd May 2025. The 46T identified components (Figures 7-10) were the following:
The Fort de l’Aber (1) (48˚13'30.41"N, 4˚26'13.62"W, h. 27.23 m) about 16 × 16 m, partially surrounded by a moat. The interior and the external walls were in a good preservation state, only some upper wall portions were on the ground.
A 400 m long access path (2) (48˚13'35.84"N, 4˚26'07.12"W, h. 17.55 m).
Figure 5. FMa22 ammunition depots.
IGNF_PVA_1-0__1951-07-27__C0417-0301_1951_CDP3760_0234
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
Figure 6. FMa22—(a) ammunition depot (f) integrated in a chicken coop; (b) ammunition depot (k) external view; (c) ammunition depot (k) internal view; (d) ammunition depot (l) external view.
A gun emplacement (3) (48˚13'30.67"N, 4˚26'14.65"W, h. 28.94 m) partially covered by vegetation, it preserved an ancient gun basement and a WWII four bolts gun basement both in a good preservation state.
A tobruck (4) (48˚13'27.62"N, 4˚26'09.68"W, h. 27.19 m) completely buried in the terrain. Its 1 m circular opening was visible but obstructed by a concrete layer that hosted an inscription no longer readable. Its interior inspection was not possible. In the concrete, the pebbles of the Ero Vili (Tomezzoli & Marzin, 2015) were clearly visible.
Figure 7. Île de l’Aber—46T components—1 Fort de l’Aber; 2 access path; 3 gun emplacement; 4 tobruck; 5 tobruck; 6 ammunition depot; 7 anti-landing obstacle; 8 gun emplacement.
IGNF_PVA_1-0__1952-05-23__C0319-0051_1952_F0418-0818_0343
A tobruck (5) (48˚13'28.35"N, 4˚26'9.53"W, h. 28.42 m) completely buried in the terrain. Its emerging 1 m circular opening was visible but covered by a concrete layer. Its interior inspection was not possible. In the concrete, the pebbles of the Ero Vili were clearly visible.
An ammunition depot (6) (48˚13'31.49"N, 4˚26'11.13"W, h. 25.59 m) completely covered by vegetation. Its inspection was not possible.
An anti-landing obstacle (7) (48˚13'41.55"N, 4˚26'02.2"W, h. 2.19 m) severely damaged by the sea water. A major portion of a leg completely disappeared.
A gun emplacement (8) (48˚13'33.03"N, 4˚26'14.87"W, h. 29.66 m) completely buried in the terrain, its emerged 2 × 2 m square coverage was in good preservation state.
Figure 8. Fort de l’Aber (1), North-East view.
(a) (b)
Figure 9. Fort de l’Aber—(a) internal corridor, on the right access portal to the coverage ascending stair; (b) coverage ascending stair.
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
Figure 10. (a) anti-landing obstacle (7); (b) gun emplacement (3), on the left ancient gun basement, on the right WWII four bolts gun basement; (c) tobruck (4); (d) tobruck (5).
5. Discussion
According to Mr. Rolland, inhabitant of Kerastrobel, born at the end of the WWII:
1) The hypothesis of the airstrip (1) not very long, probably used by small planes as the Fieseler Fi 156 “Storch” (50 meters take off with 40 km/h headwind, 20 meters landing) is questionable because at its position the terrain is sloping, maybe it was a cultivated field;
2) The round tower (3) was an ancient mill built well before the WWII. Its upper part was demolished during the WWII and a coverage divided in 10 sectors was built and hosted a machine gun;
3) The ditches hosted Flak guns, but the gun types are unknown because he declared not having seen them;
4) The rectangular ditch (17) was a water pool for providing relax to the soldiers in service and providing water for extinguishing possible fires as seen in the German bases at Kerziou (Dupont & Tomezzoli, 2007), Murs Érigné (Tomezzoli, 2016) and at the Domaine de Pignerolle (Tomezzoli, 2019);
5) The ammunitions depots where displaced from the ditches for security reasons.
It is possible that the ammunition depots on the site of FMa22 were under the control of the Munition-Ausgabestelle der Luftwaffe 21/XII. The positioning of these depots on the site of FMa22 appears to have sense because they would have enjoyed the surveillance and protection of the FMa22 personnel.
The Fort de l’Aber and its adjacent gun battery were built on 1862 on pre-existing fortifications of 1694 of the royal military architect S. de Vauban (1633-1707), for the protection of the Telgruc and Morgat beaches. On 1940, because of its advanced position on the see it was occupied by the Wehrmacht. Because French reconnaissance images of 1948 do not show traces of barracks or encampments, it is possible that the 46T garrison was lodged in the Fort. It is possible that one or more light machine gun was installed on the Fort coverage.
The kind of gun mounted on the WWII four bolts gun basement is unknown.
According to Mr. Rolland FMa22 was located near Kerastrobel for intercepting, with its Flak guns, the allied bombers on the return path to Great Britain after their attacks on Brest and to the German air base of Lanveoc-Poulmic, moreover a camp for 50 - 100, evacuated at the Liberation, was in Kerastrobel. Maybe other similar camps existed in the Tal ar Groas sector.
It is possible that the O.T. workers of the Lager Tirpiz have built the components of FMa22 and 46T and other constructions on the Crozon sector. The Unterstellungsverältnis (subordination relationship—Figure 1) ensures that on 14.8.43, date of the map, FMa22 belonged to the 5.Fu.M.Abt. Marine.
6. Conclusion
The visit on the sites of FMa22 and 46T permitted to determine that many of their components are actually covered by vegetation and forgotten. Therefore, for the moment, their preservation is assured, but a more certain legal status and cultural recovery of the sites would be desirable.
As usual in such kind of archaeological researches, further issues remain to be investigated: the FMa22 intercepting actions accomplished, its supply in electrical power and water, its and 46T personnel in service and their vicissitudes during the WWII.
In addition, the map shows the presence of FMa20 near Guipavas, FMa21 at the Ouessant Island and FMa23 at Le Conquet possible subjects for further studies.
Acknowledgements
I express my gratitude to Mr. André Rolland for his explanations and aid during the visit on the site for identifying the FMa22 components and to Mr. Fréderic Henoff for having provided me with me the map Flughafenbereich Morlaix—Flugplätze und Ln Anlagen 4318-631.