INFORMATION: Bunkers!

[Erik E]

To try to explain the "jungle" of different bunkers, I have made this little explanation:

After 1935,German engineers once again started making plans for a strong forticication
line to strenghten their eastern and western frontiers.
In order to speed up and economize the construction there were made a handfull of standard designs,
called "Regelbauten".
The engineers soon found that most of these designs were unfit for spesific locations.
During the construction of the "West-wall", over 200 sub-types were designed.
The designs changed so fast that when the construction of the "Atlantic-wal" was startedin 1942,
all the original regelbauten were not even considered.

Bunkers for the Heer:

The first really standardised system came with the introduction of the 100 series in 1939.
Their designs were divided in two strenghts, Baustärke A & B (2 & 3,5M concrete)
The 100 series were designed for machineguns, armoured cupolas and the Czechoslovak 4,7 cm Festungspak.
During the construction of the "Atlantik-wall", the 100 series were divided into 2 new series calle 400 and 500.
(These are the most common in France, Belgium, netherlands, Denmark & Norway)

Late 1942 The 600 series were launched.
This was used for housing heavy fortress artillery and coastal artillery guns.
The 600 series were the last R-series ever to be planned......

Bunkers of the Navy:

The first standardised navy bunkers were built in the countries which were invaded in 1939-40.
They had several own bunkers which was given the main designation "M" instead of "R".
Most of the "M" bunkers are compareable to the Heer versions.
The "M" bunkers has a lot of their shape taken from warships, and most of them are built over several floors.
Many of them are infact a direct reflection of a warships interior!
The "M" system were also divided into 4 classes, M, Fl, S, and V
-M & S: Function within medium or heavy coastal artillery
-Fl: Function within air defence (only for Marine-Flak abteilungen)
-V: Hq`s, dressing stations and radar`s

Bunkers of the Luftwaffe:

The first Luftwaffe bunkers were built in a paralell line to the Westwall, called "Luftverteidungszone West"
In the beginning they used the old 100 series, but it was quicly realized that they needed their own designs.
This lead to a series of ca 100 variations and got the designation "L". All "L" have underground ammo and
personell shelters, with gun emlacements on the roof.

On top of this massive labyrint of designs, even more were added.

Again to lower the construction time and costs, it was decided that bunkers not lying exposed to direct fire,
could be built as a light version (Verstärkt feldmässig, or VF)
The VF bunkers are found within all designs of the entire Wehrmacht.
The OT and Bau-pioneers which were actually building the bunkers, often made their own designs called
"Sonderkonstruktion or SK. SK bunkers were usually built for huge naval-turrets and captured weapons.

[Erik E]

Some more:

[Aufklarung]

Thank you Eric. I have saved your "explanation" for further reference. Good Job. My god, is Norway beautiful or what!!

Regards
A

[gabriel pagliarani]

Really a good job! How many photos in your collection? Nothing about RADAR installations?

[Erik E]

I have not the exact number of photos, but I guess somewhere between 2-3000, most of them from Norway. As for Radar installations, I could try to make something similar and post it later tonight......

EE

[Erik E]

Just to show some differences, I posted this R-636 fire control post,from a "Heeres küstenartillerie batterie".
If you compare it to the M-263 navy version i posted above, it is clearly visible that the heer used round shapes, while the navy used the squared "ship look"

[Snorre]

Hi Erik,

Great work og great photos. You never seize to impress me

Regards,

Snorre 8)

[Marcus]

Erik,

Thanks for sharing the photos and info.

/Marcus

[paddywhack]

do you have a website that shows your best pictures? if you dont then you should make one cos id well intrested in looking at all those pictures!!!

[Erich]

Erik my friend, please post some pics of radar installations........would love to see them. Excellent examples that you have shared so far !

E

[Erik E]

I have finished a small kriegsmarine Radar-bunker article, and I`m currently working on the Luftwaffe..... All the Radar equipment is gone, but the bunkers are still there....

I have no idea of how to make web-pages, so the only way I can display photos is trough this forum.........
If you are looking for anything particular, just ask and I`ll see what I can find!

[kobold]

I have finished a small kriegsmarine Radar-bunker article, and I`m currently working on the Luftwaffe..... All the Radar equipment is gone, but the bunkers are still there....

I have no idea of how to make web-pages, so the only way I can display photos is trough this forum.........
If you are looking for anything particular, just ask and I`ll see what I can find!

HI Erik.

You can make a simple quick web page to show pictures, using a program like Irfan View - a free program from http://www.irfanview.com/


I use it a lot for making such pages as it is simple and quick.

Copy your pictures to a directory, and then tell the program where the pictures are, and it generates the html page for you!

Then all you need to do is upload the page and the pictures to your website - simple!


I find it useful for making index pictures too, of the various ww2 picture collections I have.


As an example check this out -

http://www.walkerboyz.pwp.blueyonder.co ... fvart.html


Hope this helps,

Dave

[Erik E]

Well that sounds like something for me! Thanks Kobold!
I am "on the move" for the moment so I will have to wait until I get into my new house!

EE

[Erich]

Erik :

Can you post some of the Luftwaffe radar installation pics....... ? would be most interested in seeing these. Dugouts only ?

E

[Erik E]

Here are a few: