Hillman Site
Hillman Site
4.5
About
Hillman was the Command Post for the coastal defence, commanded by Colonel Krug and Major Hoff, where infantry and artillery were stationed. In this complex of fortifications, about sixty soldiers from the 736 Grenadier Regiment lived and worked within the bunkers, buried under 3 meters (9 ft' 10ins) of concrete. Some of these bunkers consisted of armoured cupolas with a thickness of approximately 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches), used for observation and gun emplacements/tobruks, containing rotating machine guns to defend the site. The bunkers were well equipped, with mechanical ventilation systems and central heating. Outside, a complex network of trenches linked the different underground positions, consisting of the headquarters, signal center, radio room, mess rooms and bathrooms. Every position was connected with each other through a network of telephone lines buried 2 or 3m (6' - 10') deep in the ground. Built at 61m (200 feet) above sea level, the complex offered a strategic position, with direct views of the landing beaches, as well as the mouth of the river Orne. The field of fire or killing zone extended 600 m (2000 ft) and more in several directions. Hillman was therefore a fortress comparable with some parts of the Maginot Line.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.5
123 reviews
Excellent
80
Very good
42
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number1leadman
Lincoln, UK402 contributions
Jun 2022
This open field looks nothing like the formidable German fortification it is. There are numerous concrete pits and underground entrances which lead to vast hidden complex of tunnels and rooms. The only visible things are a couple of dome shaped cast iron structures that just sit on top of the fortifications. We were lucky to meet a local who lived in the area all his life and he explained the site to us and the labyrinth of passages. He said that in 1944 there was an unobstructed view from there right the way across the land to the sea, now blocked by an estate of modern houses. Well worth hunting out.
Written August 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PBJ1977
Walsall, UK98 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
A great site that has bunkers and trenches to explore. We went on a Sunday when the museum was closed but we were still able to enter the site and read the information boards as we went round. The reason I give 4 and not 5 is because there was some dog
mess on a few parts of the grassy areas.
mess on a few parts of the grassy areas.
Written August 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NigelJWHall
Sheffield, UK139 contributions
Aug 2014 • Solo
I was very impressed by the dedication of the volunteers who oversee this important piece of the D-Day story. There was no entrance fee, but I would recommend leaving a donation. A very knowledgeable Englishman who now lives in the area gave us a fascinating insight into how this German bunker strong point was used. The bunkers have been recently re-opened and fitted out with authentic original equipment etc that the Germans would have used. Well worth a visit.
Written September 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ignace B
Roeselare, Belgium845 contributions
Nov 2019
Out of season we went up to this site and could walk all around the site, except in the main building. Nice site with a few bunkers, look-outs.
Written December 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jake1642
South Wingfield, UK342 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
The wife thinks that the Atlantic Wall is just lumps of concrete sticking out of the ground. It isn't, much of it is under the ground as well. The Hillman bunker has been excavated over 20 years. When I first visited it there was little to see apart from the roof and the Tobruk, now it is much more interesting with the information about the Suffolks, etc.
Written November 3, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard 123
Hungerford, UK97 contributions
Apr 2015 • Friends
This fortification and battery overlooking the Normandy beaches is still totally intact. The underground rooms where the soldiers live have been maintained and restored and filled with artifacts, all of which are fascinating. There is an escorted tour by delightful and knowledgeable French volunteers. Do go, it's brilliant.
Written April 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GLPJ62
Gloucester, UK429 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
Very understated compared to a lot of the WW2 sites but so worth a visit. Run by the Suffolk regiment, tours happen on certain days & a small museum is open. We went on a day when it was unmanned but this did not matter. You can explore the site, go into the bunkers & read the info boards. The bunkers are very well preserved & fascinating to clamber down into (take a torch!) Wish we'd gone on a tour day as would love to have left a donation to help preserve such a wonderful site (note to the Suffolk volunteers! please put up a donation box we threw a few euros through the metal gate in the hope you'd see them & pick them up!!) This was one of our favourite WW2 sites as you get a real feeling of how the site connected with the bunkers/trenches.
Written August 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
perle369
Malaga, Spain1,831 contributions
Jun 2014 • Friends
This set of WW2 German bunkers are really interesting. The main one, where the HQ was has been restored and furnished with furniture and fittings retrieved from the Officer's families and confiscated German stock. There are bunks, desks, maps, electrical and radio equipment etc. There is also a kitchen Mess and another large biunker where probably some of the 80 strong troops lived. You acn also see the trenches and the water supply tanks. There is no charge to enter but donations are welcome and they are doing a grear job. There are other bunkers on the site which have been identified but until they get enough money they cannot begin to escavate. It is all being done by the volunteers of the Hillman Bunker Society. We visited 2 days after D Day, on the 70 anniversary, more or less, of when the site was overpowered by the Sussex Regiment. Luckily the German Officer in Charge was a gentleman and came out quietly!
It is quite frightening to think that the poor villagers, so close by, were well aware of the German bunkers as they must have taken lots of manpower and concrete supplies to dig out and install. Furthermore the troops would have descended on the village nearly every day for supplies of bread etc. The villagers must have felt very overpowered and threatened by the presence.
The place is well worth a visit if you are in the Pegasus Bridge area, since it is only about 19 minutes away. Wear confortable and sturdy shoes as lots of walking on the grass is involved and steep steps which may be slippery after rain.
It is quite frightening to think that the poor villagers, so close by, were well aware of the German bunkers as they must have taken lots of manpower and concrete supplies to dig out and install. Furthermore the troops would have descended on the village nearly every day for supplies of bread etc. The villagers must have felt very overpowered and threatened by the presence.
The place is well worth a visit if you are in the Pegasus Bridge area, since it is only about 19 minutes away. Wear confortable and sturdy shoes as lots of walking on the grass is involved and steep steps which may be slippery after rain.
Written July 26, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
brianjaguar
Stradbroke, UK471 contributions
Jun 2014 • Solo
Historic site overwhelmed by the Suffolk regiment on the first days of the invasion in June 1944. Free admission and lots of small exhibits to see with items for sale. Takes an hour to see most things and the amis de Suffolk very helpful
Written June 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cpmac
Bayeux, France3,786 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
These bunkers were coĺ Kruges hQ. The association has spent years renovating ht esite and is still doing so. Site allways accessible. Bunkers can be visited on saturdays i season or by groups on reservation.
Written March 15, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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