The Graf Spee Bunker

During World War I the German Navy built a gun battery on the island Wangerooge at the entrance to Wilhelmshaven. The gun battery was named Graf Spee and was equipped with four 280 mm. (11-inch) naval guns.

After the German conquest of France in 1940, these guns were moved to Brittany to defend the entrance to the port of Brest. Brest was one of the few harbors deep enough to receive the German battleships Tirpitz and Bismarck. Brest was also an important base for the German U-boats and was therefore naturally protected.

Three of the guns were set in open ring positions, while the last was built into a pillbox.

During the Allied siege of Brest, the three guns that were not fixed into position were turned around to fire on advancing American troops. The same farm where we shop is visible on the right of this World War II picture.

 

To manage and direct fire from the four guns a large four-storied fire control bunker was built 1000 meter closer to the coast.

Today CJ is off to tour that bunker, now turned into an incredibly well done and compact museum packed with stories, artifacts and a great view of the coast. It is located less than two miles from Didier's home and very close to Pointe Saint Mathieu.

 

There are dozens of vignettes such as this one, each presented in French, German and English that tell the story of all aspects of war life from the stories of German, French and American soldiers to those of civilians, Resistance fighters and concentration camp survivors.

Within the rooms of the bunker are built display cases where the vignettes and artifacts tell the story of life around Brest during the occupation.

 

 

In this picture taken of the entrance to Le Conquet from the bunker, one can view more reinforced bunkers of the Atlantic Wall.