Hitler's Atlantic Wall (2 Viewers)

[ucla1967]

My wife and I recently returned from a vacation to Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg. One of the optional excursions we took was to Hitler's Altlantic Wall open air museum near Ostend, Belgium. This is more than a museum, per se; it is in reality a preserved section of the Altantic Wall with all its bunkers, gun emplacements, tunnels, supply rooms, sleeping quarters, etc. Amazingly, none of the objects in this museum are reproductions and look absolutely pristine, especially the German supplies in their paper packaging. It is hard to believe that they are 70 years old.

Ostend is really not that an attractive beach resort to my minds eye, with a lot of post-war apartment buildings built right next to the beach. When they built them, they destroyed whatever Atlantic Wall fortifications were located there. However, this section of the Atlantic Wall was preserved because the land belonged to the Belgian Royal family and it was not developed. Some of the photos were shot through floor to ceiling protective plexiglass, so there maybe some glaring from reflections or the flash.

Captured Belgian 120mm gun; note the camouflage paint on the concrete. Five inch naval gun similar to those found on their U-Bootes. Empty 360 degree gun emplacement.

 

[ucla1967]

I am not 100% sure what these metal containers are for, but I believe they are containers for the ammunition for the 5 inch naval guns. Rather basic sleeping quarters, but much better than being assigned to the Russian Front. Radio room. Note the Kriegsmarine officers.

 

[ucla1967]

Observation bunker vision slits. Telephones. Menu for the day. Generator.

 

[uksubs]

Great photos

 

[wayne556517]

Thanks for posting they are great.

 

[Sentaapua]

Thanks for posting this great pics! I was totally unaware of this museum in Belgium, containing such an untouched bunker section of the Atlantic Wall. Its certainly a place I`ll include in my destinations when I have a chance of visiting Belgium again.

 

[ucla1967]

You're welcome uksubs, wayne556517, and sentaapau. I am glad you like them. Here are some more photos including an example of the brick tunnel system that connected the bunkers, gun positions, living quarters, and supply rooms. I have no idea what is in the metal containers in the second photo. Note the 20mm ammunition with a yellow tracer round every third round. Food stores.

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Thanks for sharing these pics. A nice piece of preserved history. :salute::

 

[desk11desk12]

I am not 100% sure what these metal containers are for, but I believe they are containers for the ammunition for the 5 inch naval guns. Rather basic sleeping quarters, but much better than being assigned to the Russian Front. Radio room. Note the Kriegsmarine officers.

Thanks Michael for taking the time. It looks like great fun sightseeing.

Carlos

 

[wayne556517]

Mike again thanks for posting that last one is great,anymore ??

 

[ucla1967]

You are welcome PanzerAce1944, Carlos, and wayne556517. I am glad you like them.

More food storage. A PAK 36 37mm anti-tank gun, with a hollow charge round, facing land approaches. NB: The blond with her back to the camera is my wife, Jean. A 1700 litter drinking water tank. Captured Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft guns.

 

[wayne556517]

Great pic mate.

 

[Obee]

There is another part of the Atlantic Wall that on the tourist trail, this time just 30 minutes from the ferry terminal in Calais, France

The Todt Battery (Batterie Todt, in French) is a battery of coastal artillery built by the Germans in World War II, located in the hamlet of Haringzelle, Audinghen, near Cape Gris Nez, Pas de Calais, France.

It was one of the most important coastal fortifications of the Atlantic Wall, and consisted of four 380 mm calibre guns with a range up to 55.7 km, capable of reaching the British coast, and each protected by a bunker of reinforced concrete.

One of the four casemates now houses a museum about World War II, Musée du Mur de l'Atlantique. The exhibits include military hardware, including, outside, one of two surviving Krupp K5 artillery rail-mounted cannon. (range 64 km)

Here are some of my pictures from 2008 where we visited that part of the world.







You can see more pics on the museum website (in French) http://www.batterietodt.com/photos.html

Its well worth a visit and other sites in the Calais region include a V1 lauch site and the German Command Bunker in the city park.

John

 

[uksubs]

There is another part of the Atlantic Wall that on the tourist trail, this time just 30 minutes from the ferry terminal in Calais, France

The Todt Battery (Batterie Todt, in French) is a battery of coastal artillery built by the Germans in World War II, located in the hamlet of Haringzelle, Audinghen, near Cape Gris Nez, Pas de Calais, France.

It was one of the most important coastal fortifications of the Atlantic Wall, and consisted of four 380 mm calibre guns with a range up to 55.7 km, capable of reaching the British coast, and each protected by a bunker of reinforced concrete.

One of the four casemates now houses a museum about World War II, Musée du Mur de l'Atlantique. The exhibits include military hardware, including, outside, one of two surviving Krupp K5 artillery rail-mounted cannon. (range 64 km)

Here are some of my pictures from 2008 where we visited that part of the world.

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You can see more pics on the museum website (in French) http://www.batterietodt.com/photos.html

Its well worth a visit and other sites in the Calais region include a V1 lauch site and the German Command Bunker in the city park.

John

Great photos John , I'm lucky to have been to Todt battery and the V1,V2 and V3 bunkers in France ,the command bunker is very cool as well

 

[ucla1967]

Thanks John for your photos of the Todt battery museum. Really interesting equipment displays, especially the K5 railway gun. It is too bad that the chain link fence is blocking the views of the displays.

 

[ucla1967]

This display shows the 3rd Canadian Division, who liberated this area, looking over the interior of a room in the complex.

 

[Obee]

Thanks John for your photos of the Todt battery museum. Really interesting equipment displays, especially the K5 railway gun. It is too bad that the chain link fence is blocking the views of the displays.

The chain fence was there to keep the equipment safe from thieves .... I took those photos from the parking lot, but inside you have free access to all the items.

Check it out on GOOGLE StreetView too

John

 

[ucla1967]

The chain fence was there to keep the equipment safe from thieves .... I took those photos from the parking lot, but inside you have free access to all the items.

Check it out on GOOGLE StreetView too

John

Oh, that explains it. I will check it out. Thanks.

Mike

 

[Louis Badolato]

Great photos Michael and John!^&cool^&cool Would love to get there myself one day.:smile2:

 

[uksubs]

Think when I went there they had a Mg34 for sell{eek3}