Sechsschartenturm, Heavy MG bunker, La Mare Mill, World War II defense turret in Saint Ouen, Jersey

The Sechsschartenturm is a low, mound-shaped concrete and stone structure set in grass, with two dark rectangular openings facing forward. The left opening holds a black circular metal plate or wheel in a recessed frame; the right is a plain recess. The steel turret above has four loopholes, two sealed because they faced the cliff.

German occupation forces built this defensive installation between 1941 and 1945 as part of Atlantic Wall fortifications. The structure was designed to protect the island against seaborne and aerial attacks.

The Channel Islands Occupation Society runs the turret and bunker as a museum. Inside the turret, six painted and numbered sectors let one MG34 be aimed by colour and the other by number, an Atlantic Wall standard. The wooden wall cladding, probably for sound damping, is a detail to look for.

The entrance lies down a rock-cut alley that gives no cover, and the bunker interior is reached through a series of gas doors. The rooms are small and the passage narrow, so a torch helps and sturdy shoes are sensible. The turret stands about 10 metres above the road, halfway up the headland.

The interior walls display colored markings in different hues that helped crews quickly shift between firing positions. These practical orientation guides remain visible today and offer insight into daily operations.