The ultimate fortification thread!

Discussions on the fortifications, artillery, & rockets used by the Axis forces.
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Weiss Wurst
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#61

Post by Weiss Wurst » 07 Aug 2003, 03:28

Those are some really nice photos, and the commentary dovetails nicely with the images.

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Marcus
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#62

Post by Marcus » 07 Aug 2003, 18:39

Erik,

Excellent photos as always.

I've got a few bunker questions for you that I hope have not been asked earlier in this thread.
Where the bunkers constructed in part from pre-fabrikated pieces of some sort or completly constructed on the site?
How long did it take for the engineers to build an "average" bunker? What types of equipment were used?
At which level in the hierarchy were the locations, type and weaponry of new bunkers decided?

/Marcus


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Erik E
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#63

Post by Erik E » 07 Aug 2003, 19:13

Hallo Marcus!

Seems like you manage to collect all the difficult questions in one post!

I will try my best....
Where the bunkers constructed in part from pre-fabrikated pieces of some sort or completly constructed on the site?
Atleast in Norway, everything was built completely on site. I have heard about bunkers in Germany(1944-45) which were made by placing elements in correct shape, and then fill between with concrete. This saver tremendous time on the construction. I have not had the pleasure of visiting such structures yet, but there are a few remaining in the Northern part of the westwall!
How long did it take for the engineers to build an "average" bunker?
This is allmost impossible to answer as there are so many different factors for the different places. If you say average, I would guess 3 months.
What types of equipment were used?
In most occations local contractors were hired. Later in the war, pow`s were used in huge scale. Allmost everything was done by hand, so when you see a gunposition up in the mountais, you can imagine how they got their artillery up there! I could scan csome photos of constructionsites if you want. I think they tell more tan 1000 words!

At which level in the hierarchy were the locations, type and weaponry of new bunkers decided?
Most decitions were made by "Festung Bau pioneer div`s". They choosed "where to place what" but I still haven`t figured out why they choosed specific bunkers for each battery....
There seems to be no system in the weaponry from battery to battery, exept that the navy batteries are allways located at harbour entrances.


Erik

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Dan Reinbold
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#64

Post by Dan Reinbold » 07 Aug 2003, 19:22

A closer look, shows that someone called "Bekker" wrote his name in the wet concrete in July 1944!


Erik...how easy (or difficult) would it be to see who this mysterious "Bekker" was? Are there records of German personnel involved in the construction of these fortifications? Was he a member of the construction crew...or someone who was part of the garrison assigned to the bunker? So many questions...

I just thought it might be interesting since people write their names on all kinds of things in the hopes that they will be remembered...perhaps this Bekker is still alive...he could provide some interesting anecodtes for your research perhaps?

Dan

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Erik E
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#65

Post by Erik E » 07 Aug 2003, 19:42

how easy (or difficult)
I have no idea who he might be! Since it is written in the concrete
(3 different places) I guess he mush have been there for a while.....
I would say one of the constructors. It is also interesting to see that the camouflage concrete was added allmost a year after it was operational.

It would surely be interesting to track down who he was, but I have no experience in tracing people.....
I have both the unitnumber for the battery and the constructors, so maybe it isn`t that difficult after all!

Erik

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Kal_El
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#66

Post by Kal_El » 07 Aug 2003, 22:40

Great pictures:)

I just wonderes after looking at all the pictures off the structures in its present state.
Do anyone have pictures off them in use?

regards

Morten

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stril
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Quiz?

#67

Post by stril » 09 Aug 2003, 11:10

A little quiz perhaps ?
What gun would have been mounted on this one ?

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Marcus
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#68

Post by Marcus » 09 Aug 2003, 11:15

Thanks for the info Erik.
Erik E wrote:
What types of equipment were used?
In most occations local contractors were hired. Later in the war, pow`s were used in huge scale. Allmost everything was done by hand, so when you see a gunposition up in the mountais, you can imagine how they got their artillery up there! I could scan csome photos of constructionsites if you want. I think they tell more tan 1000 words!
I'd appreciate some photos, thanks.

/Marcus

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Erik E
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#69

Post by Erik E » 09 Aug 2003, 11:46

What gun would have been mounted on this one ?
Probably a mortar?
A photo of the whole structure would be easier to identify!

Erik

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stril
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Quiz..

#70

Post by stril » 09 Aug 2003, 12:39

Ok, new picture but then im sure you get it.

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stril
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quiz

#71

Post by stril » 09 Aug 2003, 12:40

another one for the road

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stril
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quiz

#72

Post by stril » 09 Aug 2003, 12:41

another

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Erik E
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#73

Post by Erik E » 09 Aug 2003, 12:48

Navy Flak battery!
Is this outside Bergen?

Erik

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stril
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Quiz

#74

Post by stril » 09 Aug 2003, 13:10

Your right, Navy Flak, Bergen.
So, a question remain, to you manage to get the right gun ?
Have a nice day.

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Erik E
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#75

Post by Erik E » 09 Aug 2003, 13:50

I hate guessing on Flak!
The first thing which comes to mind, is a 2cm Flak30...Perhaps mounted on a MPL C/30 ?
Here`s some photos from "Olsvik batteri" ....Been there?
Attachments
Olsvik1.JPG
Olsvik1.JPG (133.99 KiB) Viewed 4718 times
Olsvik2.JPG
Olsvik2.JPG (59.8 KiB) Viewed 4717 times
Olsvik3.JPG
Olsvik3.JPG (70.66 KiB) Viewed 4717 times

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