Middelkerke - Stp Krokodille?

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myt1prod
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Middelkerke - Stp Krokodille?

#1

Post by myt1prod » 22 Oct 2014, 19:12

Amongst some photos I recently received I found this one:
Middelkerke nptsteenweg Krokodilesmall.jpg
the text below states that this nicely camouflaged bunker was standing in Middelkerke (BE) and was called 'Krokodille', named after a nearby café. The text doesn't clearly mention if it was the bunker or the stronghold which was called 'Krokodille'.
So I'm wondering.... was this then the Stp. Krokodille? (The only other Stp KrokoDIL I know is near Onglevert, France).
If not, what was the name of the stronghold, what more is there to tell/share on the subject??

Thanks ahead
Jean

pierrot
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Re: Middelkerke - Stp Krokodille?

#2

Post by pierrot » 23 Oct 2014, 12:45

Hello Jean,

I don't think the Germans ever called that position "Krocodille". The official name was WN Ziethen and before the renaming of end 1942, it appeared on the chart as WN Coburg. I think the name Crocodile has been given by the Resistance groups on their reports about the building of the coastal fortification. In addition of the 2 Skoda VF bunkers, 4 R621 have been built in this position.
The name Krokodil was only used afaik, for the minefield Nr46 on the east of Ostend to close the space between the canal and the railroad tracks.

Gr.

Pierrot
Krokodil.jpg
Krokodil.jpg (28.42 KiB) Viewed 491 times


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moonraker
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Re: Middelkerke - Stp Krokodille?

#3

Post by moonraker » 24 Oct 2014, 09:12

hi
this bunker much thicker than vf.You can tell this front niche.I would say between 1.5 to 2.0 m part front. 8O
the hopper of skoda,in the VF skoda is flush with the wall.

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myt1prod
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Re: Middelkerke - Stp Krokodille?

#4

Post by myt1prod » 24 Oct 2014, 19:14

Thanks Pierrot for location on the Photo!
Moonraker; yes indeed it looks like a very sturdy construction... perhaps someone can provide some plans?

In the meanwhile I know where this photo is originally from... the book "Belgie 44 - De bevrijding" (Belgium 44 - the liberation) by Peter Tahon (Lannoo)

Don't go rushing to the bookshop cus the book contains not more then a few photos in the introduction on the subject of German defences... Amongst which a photo of a emplacement with 418(f) 15,5cm Canon in Zeebrugge, a photo of trainartillery at Bredene, a photo of a 'firingpractice-tank' with Gerneral (or other high ranking person) at Adinkerke (which I all gladly upload upon demand)... and this photo, also at Middelkerke;
casino middelkerke pak40 7,5cmsmall.jpg
Greetz
Jean

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