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The older generation (or you could
say an earlier generation) used to play on them and on the beaches with
obstacles, old helmets, etc.
Bunkers were destroyed. For the war generation, the bunkers were a
personification of German occupation. For them, a very good reason for
getting rid of them. In those days (50's - 60's), governments actively
supported the destruction of bunkers.
In spite of their link with the past, the bunkers of the Atlantikwall
are in may ways the remains of an era. The end of the German occupation
of large parts of Europe and the building of a new Europe. Furthermore,
the Atlantikwall was one of the last large static defense lines of the
20th century.
Military developments made the necessity for static defense lines less
and less important. Also, what most people don't realise are the
immense proportions of the Atlantikwall. The amount of (raw)material,
equipment and human resources used were tremendous.
There is also the controversy regarding its construction. It was mostly
done by volunteers, forced laborers, prisoners, etc. Because of the
strong standardization of the bunkers throughout the Atlantikwall ,
building could be done by any construction firm (under German
supervision of course). This way of working made it , that a large
number of people, made a lot of money in constructing the Atlantikwall.
Why the Atlantikwall?
After the German invasion of Poland
in September 1939, the United Kingdom and France declared war on
Germany.
Poland's occupation was followed by that of Denmark and Norway. In
1940, the low countries (Belgium, Luxemburg, Netherlands) and France
were also occupied.
In September 1940 Germany tried to conquer and invade England. This
goal failed and Hitler turned east to a new enemy: Russia.
Whilst the whole German army fought on the eastern front, German high
command thought the defense of Western Europe was very poor. On
December 14th, 1941, orders were given to construct the Neue
Westwall ("New Westwall").
The highest priority was given to the defence of the harbors. They were
considered the most important in case of an Allied invasion. This meant
that harbor cities, such as Vlissingen, got defended from the sea (Seefront),
land (Landfront) and air. The constructions at that
time , were relatively light. It was an interim solution for things to
come.
In the summer of 1942, the definitive defence plans for the defense of
western Europe were released. Propaganda became an important part of
the new plans. The name Neue Westwall, changed to Atlantikwall. The
light construction from the previous period, were replaced or
reinforced by heavy Ständige bunkers.
According to the plans, the whole Atlantikwall coast from the North
cape to the Spanish border, were to be to be filled with resistance
nests (Widerstandsnester). These resistance nests
formed pearls, like pearls in a pearl chain. This way Germans created a
Perlenschnur aus Stahlbeton.
("pearl neckless in reinforced concrete")
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