#Story
Festung le Havre
Festung Le Havre or Fortress Le Havre, as it became known in 1944 was the last location in Normandy region to be liberated. The British forces advanced onto the encircled city and German forces, finally liberating the city on 12 September 1944.
The German forces had long created the defences around the city of Le Havre, these formed part of the ‘Atlantic Wall’ defences. New defensive positions were installed along the coastline and port area. Old French fort defensive positions had been fortified and used as well, this included the Dollemard battery located north west of the city.
The German forces knew that the Allies would look to capture deep-water ports and use them once an invasion had taken place. Le Havre was one of the most important and busiest ports in France, the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) had also used it extensively. The Allied Navy had tried to prevent the use of the port by laying minefield belts in the area of the bay of the Seine and the English Channel.
The Germans looked to fortify the port, not only by the expansion of the Atlantic Wall. The Germans deployed over 110 artillery and naval guns in the area. These would look out to see and land approaches to the city. The German forces that had garrisoned there were around 8,000 men of the 226th and 245th Infantry Divisions. Some Kreigsmarine personnel remained at the time of the battle for the city. The Germans had also created a large number of anti-tank ditches in an effort to protect it from attacks from the east. These ran from Montivillers to Octeville-sur-Mer.
The port itself sat at the mouth of the estuary of the Seine River and gave direct access to the river and to the Bay of the Seine. The western side of the river Seine had been liberated and in allied hands since to conclusion of Operation Paddle in late August. The British and Canadian forces had then moved south and crossed the Seine in Elbuf before then heading north once again.
The Germans, by early September, were in full withdrawal eastwards across France. Some of the major ports remained garrisoned by German forces. They eventually destroyed and skuttle ports beyond use by the allies.
Those who remained in the area of Le Havre were quickly encircled by the British 49th Infantry Division and the 51st Highland Division. They were left to fall back to the defences in and around Le Havre. On 10 September, the British units advanced to liberate the city.
The population of the city was originally 50,000 inhabitants. By the time of 10 September, 15,000 remained and needed shelter as the battle began.