Also known as Batterie de Vaudival, the Ozeville batterie was initially controlled by the German 2nd Artillery Regiment of the 320th Infantry Division, hence the 2/320 code.
The site was constructed in the summer of 1942 to accommodate two Czech-built 10cm artillery guns in open platforms with surrounding ammunition niches.
Supporting the emplacements were three Vf2a personnel shelters, a Vf7a ammunition storage bunker, and two Bf58c type Tobruks for defence.
It was reassigned to a mobile artillery division who brought four horse-drawn 15cm artillery guns to the site before moving on, leaving the batterie to be kept in reserve.
In January 1943, the site was listed as abandoned, however this area still formed part of battleship USS Nevada’s fire missions on the afternoon of June 6, 1944.
In Nevada’s after action report the site was listed as target No.14, an unidentified batterie. There is some confusion here though as it was reported that ‘firing was observed from a site located close to a batterie listed as unoccupied’.
Between 5pm and 5.12pm, following reports of gun flashes at the location, the ship fired 12 shells in a wide fire pattern to cover the area. Although the target was not visible, they noted the batterie ceased firing but also concluded their results were ‘undetermined’.
Sadly, this batterie is on working farmland and despite its fascinating history it cannot be visited for safety reasons.
It can be viewed from the Rue de l’Eglise where the most obvious building is the wrecked Vf2a shelter which stands at a disturbing angle following and massive explosion – either from the Nevada’s shells or as a result of the German’s destroying the building as they retreated.