German Coastal Gun Batteries
Pas de Calais, France
"Wacht am Kanal"
Pas de Calais, France
"Wacht am Kanal"
Casemate Four (Turm IV) of Batterie Todt. Derelict and abandoned to the elements yet still majestic.
With the shortest distance between Dover and Calais, on opposing sides of the English Channel, being just twenty miles it is not surprising that the German occupying forces in France sited some 24 individual Naval guns on the stretch of coast between Boulogne and Calais, with the main centre of activity focusing on a line between Wimereux and Calais. Where Cap Gris Nez in particular, rising some 450feet above sea level, afforded a high vantage point over the English Channel providing the perfect look out and ranging location in making sure that anything moving through that narrow straight could be engaged at once.
Construction began early in the war and by September 1940 the batteries at Calais, Sangatte, Wissant, Cap Gris Nez and Haringzelles had all been established.
But late in 1941 Hitler ordered the strengthening of the entire Atlantic Wall defences, stretching from Scandinavia through France to the Spanish border, and this work was duly done by the highly skilled and competent Organisation Todt, named after their charismatic leader Dr Fritz Todt.
Responsibility for the manning of these batteries fell to Admiral Rieve of Channel Coast Command, who oversaw the men of 240, 242 and 244 Coast Battalion. The five main batteries all within reach of each other were Batterie Oldenberg at Calais. Batterie Lindemann at Sangatte. Batterie Grosser Kurfurst at Framzelle. Batterie Todt at Haringzelles and Batterie Friedrich August at La Tresorerie.
Construction began early in the war and by September 1940 the batteries at Calais, Sangatte, Wissant, Cap Gris Nez and Haringzelles had all been established.
But late in 1941 Hitler ordered the strengthening of the entire Atlantic Wall defences, stretching from Scandinavia through France to the Spanish border, and this work was duly done by the highly skilled and competent Organisation Todt, named after their charismatic leader Dr Fritz Todt.
Responsibility for the manning of these batteries fell to Admiral Rieve of Channel Coast Command, who oversaw the men of 240, 242 and 244 Coast Battalion. The five main batteries all within reach of each other were Batterie Oldenberg at Calais. Batterie Lindemann at Sangatte. Batterie Grosser Kurfurst at Framzelle. Batterie Todt at Haringzelles and Batterie Friedrich August at La Tresorerie.
A newly completed casemate as it looked in 1942. Probably Batterie Todt.
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Batterie Lindemann inauguration ceremony February 1942
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All five batteries were kept busy during the first 15 weeks of operation as the firing record for this period shows:
Total rounds fired: 2,450.
1242 were aimed directly at channel shipping.
186 were aimed at the Dover heavy coastal guns.
235 were aimed at Dover town.
194 were aimed at various other targets or were strays.
593 were aimed at the Dover harbour area of which many also hit the town.
Total rounds fired: 2,450.
1242 were aimed directly at channel shipping.
186 were aimed at the Dover heavy coastal guns.
235 were aimed at Dover town.
194 were aimed at various other targets or were strays.
593 were aimed at the Dover harbour area of which many also hit the town.
Dover from the French coast showing smoke from recent shelling on the right of the picture. The chain high radar station is clearly visible.
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German propaganda made the most of the heavy batteries.
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The British answer to these powerful German batteries were four large calibre guns emplaced on the top of the Dover cliffs near St. Margaret’s Bay and it is tempting to suppose that regular long range cross channel dueling took place, however this wasn’t the case. The British sought to deny German shipping free access to the channel and the German gunner’s job was to prevent this by shelling the Dover coast and the deliberate “deterrent” shelling of both Dover and Folkestone towns. However, records do suggest that the British guns did on more than one occasion send a few retaliatory shots in the direction of Batterie Lindemann at Sangatte.
A wartime map of France showing the full extent of the Atlantic Wall defences. They were not fully completed by the time of the D-Day Landings.
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A scale model showing how the German heavy gun casemates would have looked during service.
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Batterie Todt, of 242 Coast Battalion at Haringzelles, featured here; was fitted out with four Siegfried Krupp 380mm /15 inch Naval guns each emplaced in a massive cemented casemate containing 14,400 cubic metres of concrete and completed in around ten weeks; They were inaugurated on the 10th February 1942.
Each gun featured a clever inner barrel lining sleeve that could be replaced from the muzzle end thus eliminating the time consuming job of a complete barrel change after the required number of rounds had been fired. Frequent barrel changes were essential if accuracy was to be maintained throughout the life of each gun.
Each 64 foot barrel weighed 103 tons and could fire a 1,764 pound shell 33 miles giving ample range for hitting the English coast. The accuracy was quite superb with the impact area being measured at that range of 667yds in length and 71yds in width. At a muzzle velocity of 2,690 fps it took the huge shell just 42 seconds to reach Dover across the channel straight. Each shell measured 15 inches in diameter and 5ft 5ins long with the brass cartridge case alone measuring 3ft in length.
Batterie Todt was finally put out of action and captured on September 29th 1944 by the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade along with the other batteries also capitulating around this date. Strangely, the batteries at Sangatte, Framzelle and La Tresorerie suffered the worst of the allies softening up aerial bombing campaign but Batterie Todt appears not to have been targeted at all and this probably explains why it has survived relatively intact to this day.
Each gun featured a clever inner barrel lining sleeve that could be replaced from the muzzle end thus eliminating the time consuming job of a complete barrel change after the required number of rounds had been fired. Frequent barrel changes were essential if accuracy was to be maintained throughout the life of each gun.
Each 64 foot barrel weighed 103 tons and could fire a 1,764 pound shell 33 miles giving ample range for hitting the English coast. The accuracy was quite superb with the impact area being measured at that range of 667yds in length and 71yds in width. At a muzzle velocity of 2,690 fps it took the huge shell just 42 seconds to reach Dover across the channel straight. Each shell measured 15 inches in diameter and 5ft 5ins long with the brass cartridge case alone measuring 3ft in length.
Batterie Todt was finally put out of action and captured on September 29th 1944 by the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade along with the other batteries also capitulating around this date. Strangely, the batteries at Sangatte, Framzelle and La Tresorerie suffered the worst of the allies softening up aerial bombing campaign but Batterie Todt appears not to have been targeted at all and this probably explains why it has survived relatively intact to this day.
The large empty gun pit of Turm IV with the graffiti of a different generation.
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Some of the original German graffiti on the internal walls of Turm IV.
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Batterie Todt Today:
The site is fascinating to explore and well worth a visit as the contrast between the restored museum casemate and the other derelict casemates makes an interesting comparison possible.
Turm IV Is left derelict and largely as it was in 1945 as our photographs show. Anti English graffiti can still be found on the inner walls of the two magazine rooms just as they were left by the Germans when they surrendered. The sheer scale of this desolate casemate is breathtaking.
Turm III Was the scene of a reckless exploration by two French road workers in 1944 who while exploring the dark inner rooms lit a cordite stick to light their way. A stray spark fell among the cartridges still remaining in the magazine and all detonated blowing the casemate to pieces. Both Frenchmen were needless to say, killed instantly.
It is still accessible but very overgrown and dangerous to enter. Live ammunition probably still remains.
Turm II Was accessible for many years though very overgrown. It was sealed up to protect the interior from vandals and taggers but presently the land it sits on is under an ownership dispute and access has been forbidden to visitors.
Turm I Is privately owned and is now the very interesting “Museum of the Atlantic Wall” and can be visited safely.
The site is fascinating to explore and well worth a visit as the contrast between the restored museum casemate and the other derelict casemates makes an interesting comparison possible.
Turm IV Is left derelict and largely as it was in 1945 as our photographs show. Anti English graffiti can still be found on the inner walls of the two magazine rooms just as they were left by the Germans when they surrendered. The sheer scale of this desolate casemate is breathtaking.
Turm III Was the scene of a reckless exploration by two French road workers in 1944 who while exploring the dark inner rooms lit a cordite stick to light their way. A stray spark fell among the cartridges still remaining in the magazine and all detonated blowing the casemate to pieces. Both Frenchmen were needless to say, killed instantly.
It is still accessible but very overgrown and dangerous to enter. Live ammunition probably still remains.
Turm II Was accessible for many years though very overgrown. It was sealed up to protect the interior from vandals and taggers but presently the land it sits on is under an ownership dispute and access has been forbidden to visitors.
Turm I Is privately owned and is now the very interesting “Museum of the Atlantic Wall” and can be visited safely.
And the other four heavy batteries ?
Batterie Oldenberg, formally called “Le Moulin Rouge”, of 244 Coast Battalion; at Calais Dunes, Fort Vert.
Both casemates survive in excellent condition. They are surrounded by ammunition and personnel bunkers and there is a command post bunker and sick bay just to the west. Behind the two casemates are the remains of the once active Organisation Todt barracks. Both casemates are accessible and extremely interesting to explore and feature many remaining examples of graffiti left by their wartime crews.
Both casemates survive in excellent condition. They are surrounded by ammunition and personnel bunkers and there is a command post bunker and sick bay just to the west. Behind the two casemates are the remains of the once active Organisation Todt barracks. Both casemates are accessible and extremely interesting to explore and feature many remaining examples of graffiti left by their wartime crews.
The eastern casemate of Oldenburg
The western casemate of Oldenburg
An RAF PRU photograph circa 1941 showing the dunes area around Calais. Batterie Oldenburg is ringed.
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An RAF PRU enlargement of the photograph at left. Batterie Oldenburg is clearly visible within the highlighted area.
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Batterie Lindemann, of 244 Coast Battalion; at Sangatte.
Is now buried under millions of tons of spoil from the channel tunnel excavation, though the site of it is still easily recognisable by the hundreds of bomb craters that still lie around the general area. Closer inspection reveals a number of personnel bunkers some partly buried; the BCP is still evident in thick undergrowth. Two reserve ammunition bunkers still remain next to the D243. The batteries exact location is today marked by a large lake visible from atop Mont D' Hubert.
Is now buried under millions of tons of spoil from the channel tunnel excavation, though the site of it is still easily recognisable by the hundreds of bomb craters that still lie around the general area. Closer inspection reveals a number of personnel bunkers some partly buried; the BCP is still evident in thick undergrowth. Two reserve ammunition bunkers still remain next to the D243. The batteries exact location is today marked by a large lake visible from atop Mont D' Hubert.
An RAF PRU photograph showing Batterie Lindemann at Sangatte.
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A more detailed close up photograph of the three casemates of Batterie Lindemann.
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The burial of the Lindemann Casemates in the late 1980's as the landscape was being transformed forever.
The Panorama above taken from Cap Blanc Nez shows the site of Batterie Lindemann under the lake of the centre photograph. On the right is Mont D'Hubert and along the crest circling the lake are many remaining smaller bunkers.
Batterie Grosser Kurfurst, of 242 Coast Battalion; at Framzelle.
Is still accessible but all four casemates were totally destroyed at the end of the war and the ruins are now just heaps of smashed concrete and very over grown. The whole site is accessible with “Tobruk” style MG posts still in situ on the two approach roads along with numerous personnel bunkers. There are also two large above ground ammunition bunkers, now used by the local farmers for storage and nearer the coast two observation and radar bunkers.
Is still accessible but all four casemates were totally destroyed at the end of the war and the ruins are now just heaps of smashed concrete and very over grown. The whole site is accessible with “Tobruk” style MG posts still in situ on the two approach roads along with numerous personnel bunkers. There are also two large above ground ammunition bunkers, now used by the local farmers for storage and nearer the coast two observation and radar bunkers.
An aerial photograph of Framzelle showing the location of the four casemates as they are today.
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An RAF PRU photograph of the Framzelle Batterie circa 1942. We have added the feature annotations.
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The magazine bunker and anti aircraft position with on the right of the photograph, the remains of casemate 2 in the trees. The bunker is now home to this cow!
Batterie Friedrich August, of 240 Coast Battalion; at La Tresorerie.
Of the three original casemates one was totally demolished after the war and one buried to make way for a new industrial park but the remaining one can still be seen though it is on private farmland. It can however be visited with prior permission. A new industrial estate now covers the whole site but one can still see the objective behind placing the Batterie on this site; superb commanding open views across the English Channel.
Of the three original casemates one was totally demolished after the war and one buried to make way for a new industrial park but the remaining one can still be seen though it is on private farmland. It can however be visited with prior permission. A new industrial estate now covers the whole site but one can still see the objective behind placing the Batterie on this site; superb commanding open views across the English Channel.
An RAF PRU photograph showing what could be the reserve magazines near Wimille.
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The sole remaining casemate here ringed in red next to the new industrial complex at La Tresorerie near Wimille.
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The last casemate still retains its impressive size sitting incongreously in its farmland surroundings and overlooked by massive new industrial buildings
The full list of German guns covering the Dover Straight. There were nearly seventy in this one sector alone.
Above: A superb Infra-Red photograph taken by the Germans of the Dover coast from France. A target so close and yet elusively beyond conquering. Top: A modern view taken from Battery Todt in 2017 showing Folkestone just twenty miles away.
In the years immediately after the war it was perhaps understandable that the French authorities were quick to bury, destroy and remove all remaining German military constructions built on their soil. Many fascinating fortifications were subsequently lost this way and continue to be lost today. However, with the war passing out of living memory the French authorities are beginning to think differently and are slowly realising the huge tourist potential that these structures have to a generation oozing with curiosity and fascination.
Perhaps we will eventually see the likes of Batterie Todt and Batterie Oldenberg and many similar sites fully preserved for future generations to marvel at mans ingenuity in time’s of war.
New Progress: we are pleased to see that a group of French enthusiasts have restored and opened to the public Fort De La Creche just north of Boulogne on the junction of the D96 and D940. Though of Napoleonic origins the fort was fitted out with three large coastal guns and a Flak battery during the war by the Germans. We visited the derelict site back in the 1980's exploring some of the casemates and finding a few exploded shell fragments in the ground; it is great that the Fort is accessible again and the German bunkers more easily accessed by visitors. We visited the site again in September 2017 and the guided tour was very interesting though the fort is only open sporadic times throughout the year and relies on volunteers to man it; non the less unrestricted access to the German gun batteries alone makes it all worthwhile.
Backward Steps: Turm IV of Batterie Todt has been mercilessly damaged by the incessant "taggers" who have destroyed all the original murals painted inside by the Germans. This action has caused the French authorities to seal up parts of it for safety thereby erasing the casemates unique identity. Even worse Turm 2 is not now accessible either. There is an ongoing dispute about the use of the forest where the casemate is located and this forbids all access to visitors until resolved, timescale unknown!
Perhaps we will eventually see the likes of Batterie Todt and Batterie Oldenberg and many similar sites fully preserved for future generations to marvel at mans ingenuity in time’s of war.
New Progress: we are pleased to see that a group of French enthusiasts have restored and opened to the public Fort De La Creche just north of Boulogne on the junction of the D96 and D940. Though of Napoleonic origins the fort was fitted out with three large coastal guns and a Flak battery during the war by the Germans. We visited the derelict site back in the 1980's exploring some of the casemates and finding a few exploded shell fragments in the ground; it is great that the Fort is accessible again and the German bunkers more easily accessed by visitors. We visited the site again in September 2017 and the guided tour was very interesting though the fort is only open sporadic times throughout the year and relies on volunteers to man it; non the less unrestricted access to the German gun batteries alone makes it all worthwhile.
Backward Steps: Turm IV of Batterie Todt has been mercilessly damaged by the incessant "taggers" who have destroyed all the original murals painted inside by the Germans. This action has caused the French authorities to seal up parts of it for safety thereby erasing the casemates unique identity. Even worse Turm 2 is not now accessible either. There is an ongoing dispute about the use of the forest where the casemate is located and this forbids all access to visitors until resolved, timescale unknown!
With Thanks to: NCAP aerial photo archive. Musee Atlantic Wall, France. The War Illustrated.
Copyright Steve Sullivan, January 2020
