Historical information
It
was the first site selected by Hitler for the installation of a factory
to assemble
and a base to launch the V2 rockets.
Original launch
base for V2 rockets
You stand in the peaceful forest of Eperlecques near Watten, gazing up
at the enormous threatening concrete bunker that looms over you. It was
intended to shelter a factory for manufacturing liquid oxygen rocket
fuel, and for assembling, fuelling, and launching V2 rockets.
Why the site was chosen
In December 2, 1942 General Dornberger is called to a meeting in Berlin
with the Arms Minister, at which he receives the order to build up urgently
a blockhaus from which the attack upon England could begin. In early
1943 the Nazi Todt Organisation looked for somewhere with a good
electricity
supply
for
the oxygen compressors,
that could
be supplied
with materials by railway and canal barge.
The Blockhaus from the air
Picture from here
Giant construction site
Here was also hidden in the forest and away from the coast. Thousands
of slave labourers were drafted in to a gigantic building site.
The bunker has 22m high, 2,5 acres of concrete, it was built between
1943 and 1944.
3.000 deportees were used under forced labour, the work
was continued relentlessly day and night;
The Allied air forces made 25 raids on this fortress
in order to destroy it, there were many victims amongst both the civil
population and the deportees
inside the bunker, the people of the village have erected a memorial
in honor of the victims.
Retaliation
The V2 was Hitler's "retaliation weapon" - Vergeltungswaffen
- to be aimed first at Britain, and then later perhaps improved to
reach the USA.
It could have changed the course of the war, if Allied bombing raids
had not been targetted to put it out of action in September 1943 -
thanks also to intelligence tip-offs from the French Resistance.
Hitler's change of plan
Following bomb damage to the Blockhaus, more resources were poured
into another underground rocket launch base a few miles away. Now
known as "La
Coupole", this is also open to the public. Meanwhile the
roof of the damaged Blockhaus was strengthened, so it could still
be used
for
making vital liquid oxygen. The Allies tried to devise a special
bomb that could pierce 5 metres of concrete. As you can see, despite
raids
in June/July 1944, they had only limited success.
Visiting the bunker
Inside the Blockhaus bunker, you are given a guided tour. This includes
a projected video of photos from the Wehrmacht archives, showing the
history of German wartime rocket research. You can buy a CD-ROM copy
to bring home.
Today the bunker is an historic monument commemorating peace in a woodland
park.
Blockhaus and concentration camps nearby |
My "Artwork" attempt |
The official website
of the museum stands here.
You can contact the museum there.
Location information
The Bunker of Eperlecques
is located is in the "Nord Pas de Calais"
Blockhaus, 62910 EPERLECQUES
15 mn to St Omer
30 mn to Calais
40 mn to Dunkerque
1h to Lille
Take Exit 2 "Nordasusques/ Eperlecques" from A26 Calais-Paris
Autoroute, or follow D600 St-Omer - Bourbourg to Watten.
4km walk from Watten, 3km from Watten Station.
Personal note
Visiting the Eperlecques
forest will be appreciated by children too. bring
an unquestionable added-value
to this museum. The 45 metres long V1 ramp displayed was not originally
used on this site.
