Exploring WW2 bunkers in Normandy, France.

[Sylvain]

Except that it was ineffective in the end (and not a significant delay either). Mark for mark it could have been money spent better elsewhere. Franc for franc it would have been better for the French to spend it elsewhere also as it proved entirely ineffective. Even if Germany respected the border of other countries Dora and Ferdinand would have defeated the Maginot Line.

I was not talking about the Maginot Line but the Atlantic Wall.

 

[Sylvain]

 

[Sylvain]

Escape tunnel in the crew room.
Probably less than 3 feet tall.

 

[Thor]

I was not talking about the Maginot Line but the Atlantic Wall.

Pick your static defense...that was defeated. If you have not got a superior number of defenders with equal or better weapons you are done. If the attackers (Patton) decide your defense is silly and will just find a weak spot and drive around you are irrelevant.

This is just another monument to the past of irrelevant military strategy. It...didn't...work...and it never would have. The money would have been better spent on more armor and ammo.

 

[armyvet209]

these pictures are incredible, thanks for sharing them. keep up the great work!

 

[Leadeye]

Great pics as always Frenchman.

 

[Brad69]

Wow thanks French dude!

 

[Sylvain]

Glad you like the pictures guys.
There are at least 3 other buildings nearby but they are all covered by thick vegetation and very difficult to access.
You can't even see most of them.

That's a view from the outside.The opening from the observation room (you can see the round shape on the floor plan).

 

[Sylvain]

 

[Sylvain]

Picture from 1942 taken from the same location.

 

[CZ evo3]

I took a catamaran from calais to dover back in 2000. While driving along the French coast, I saw a LOT of these. Unfortunately, it wasnt until i was in England that i found out what they were. Only seeing them from the road, they looked new! I had no idea that i was looking structures that were wasting away for the last 60 years.

 

[Sylvain]

I took a catamaran from calais to dover back in 2000. While driving along the French coast, I saw a LOT of these. Unfortunately, it wasnt until i was in England that i found out what they were. Only seeing them from the road, they looked new! I had no idea that i was looking structures that were wasting away for the last 60 years.

Those things are built tough for sure.
Some have been bombed during the war, fell off cliffs, then left abandoned for over 70 years.And they are still standing.

They are sometimes demolished and it's a tough job.

 

[Sylvain]

I spotted this guy on a satellite picture.
On the edge of a cliif, overlooking a nearby beach.

Bunker with a defilade wall.Probably others in the area.

 

[Leadeye]

Curious if any of the old U Boat bunkers are still around.

 

[Sylvain]

Curious if any of the old U Boat bunkers are still around.

Yes.
Still in use by the French Navy.

 

[Leadeye]

They did build them to last.

 

[Sylvain]

They did build them to last.

For sure.
They have a double roof.One is like 25 feet thick I think.
The allied tried to bomb them several times but it did very little damage to the bunkers.
As the result they decided to bomb the entire city around to destroy the U boat supply chain.
The entire city was destroyed but not the U boats.

It's that base that was used in Indiana Jones Raiders of the lost ark for the U boat scene.
I don't think they are supposed to be in France in the movie, I don't remember.

 

[Sylvain]

Some bombs made it thru the first roof.
You can see the thickness of the concrete.

 

[Sylvain]

Some more exploring today.

I already showed pictures of this one a few years ago.
It's on top of a cliff above what it's now a parking lot.Half of the bunker fell down the cliffs years ago.
It's interesting because you can really see the thickness of the ceiling and walls.

There's no way to visit the inside, not without using ropes and ladders.
I don't know if there is another entrance somewhere on the top of the cliff.
Not sure how many rooms remain either.

 

[Sylvain]

There are a few more bunkers on the top of that cliff.
After climbing a few hundred steps to reach the top of the cliff you can see the corner of a partially buried bunker.
That' a corner of the roof, not one of the side walls.The rooms inside are fully underground.

Only one of the two entrances is barely visible behind some trees.

The four other sides of the bunker (including the roof) are covered by grass.

A view of the roof ...