Blockhouse of Éperlecques

The Blockhaus of Éperlecques is concrete a mountain emerging from the Forêt of Éperlecques. This Blockhaus belonging to the Atlantic Wall was designed to launch the rockets V2 intended to shave London.

Geography

It seemed at first sight that the most favorable area was to be between Saint-Omer and Boulogne-sur-Mer. The relatively broken relief of this sector was to make it possible to find old careers where it would be possible to build such a building. In addition, there was a certain number of criteria important to satisfy: one needed a relatively easy accessibility by railway and possibly by inland waterway because of the considerable material contribution which was going to require the construction of a Blockhaus of this size.

After having examined a certain number of sites on the side of Zouafques close to Nordausques in particular, it is the village of Éperlecques which is selected. Indeed, there were a double railway which joined together Saint-Omer in Calais, a navigable channel (Aa (river) for barges with large gauge, a situation in a forest and with contrepente compared to England, a very favorable electricity supply with lines of high voltage which passed in this sector, and finally a very satisfactory highway network in all the area.

The site was ideal.

History

It is with the end of the year 1942 qu' Hitler] orders construction in the north of France of a bunker intended for the launching of the bombs V2. The site was to be used as liquid manufacturing plant of oxygen. It was to also be used as a basis of launching and to ensure the storage of 108 bombs, is three days of intensive shooting.

Construction is entrusted to the Organization Todt in March 1943 which was to deliver it in operational state in November of the same year. It is largest Blockhaus north of France, witness of the occupation Nazi in the area. It is a weight of concrete of 130000 tons, long 200 meters, broad 90 and high of 22. A 5 meters thickness flagstone protects the unit from the allied bombs.

The site bore code name KNW (Northern Kraftwerk West): powerplant of the North-West.

August 27th, 1943, including/understanding the width of this machine of war, the Alliés send 200 flying fortresses B-17 to release there more than 300 bombs. The Blockhaus is however not destroyed but he nevertheless is uncovered. Construction begins again but the project of assembly and launching of the rockets is transferred to the Coupole from Helfaut.

August 1st

See too

External bonds

the blockhouse of Eperlecques (official site)
Images of files

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