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BEER AND CROISSANTS

Home > Destinations > Europe > Belgium > Atlantic Wall: Hitler’s crazy strategy

Atlantic Wall: Hitler’s crazy strategy

Published February 12, 2016 Updated May 16, 2019 - This post may contain affiliate links. Read the disclosure.

CONTENTS

  • The Atlantic Wall
  • “Build it” said Hitler
  • Walking the wall
  • The Aachen Battery
  • Atlantic Wall essentials
    •  

Atlantic Wall BelgiumThe Atlantic Wall

A machine gun was pointing in our direction.  Partially hidden by the sand dunes, but there was no mistake, it was definitely a gun.  Another couple of metres along the highway that leads out of Ostende, a cannon protrudes from a concrete bunker. 

This is the Atlantic Wall (or Atlantikwall as it was known by the Germans) and we are driving right alongside it.

“Build it” said Hitler

As World War II raged, Adolf Hitler believed that the Allies would try an attack from the ocean, across the English Channel.  And so, in his continuing quest for world domination, he ordered the construction of a series of structures and fortifications along the European coastline.

His plan was to fortify the entire Atlantic coastline from Norway to the Pyrenees, on the border of France and Spain. That’s a seriously large wall!  This wall comprised of guns, cannons, forts, trenches, observation bunkers and traps, all with the strategic goal of keeping the Allies out.

Walking the wall

As I walk through the sand dunes and into the trenches, I can’t help but think of all the people who were forced to build such a fortification.  Or those that would spend their days underground in concrete observation bunkers, peering out towards the sea through tiny viewing windows.  Or those soldiers who called through to the gunners when an Allied plane was spotted coming towards the mainland.

If I close my eyes, I can hear the sound of the machine guns with their bullets hailing down onto the Germans.  And in return, the Germans loading up their own artillery and returning fire.

And if that doesn’t stir up your imagination, then the reproductions of the lives of the soldiers that lived and worked here,  certainly will.  From the bunks to the medical rooms, to the storerooms, where cases of bullets were kept, and gas masks stored, ever at the ready.  To the communications rooms, the officers’ mess, and all of the memorabilia on display.

Much of the entire wall has been demolished now.  The French, many of whom were drafted into working on this wall, were quick to eradicate most of it, following the end of the war.  It was too painful to have such reminders around.  Thankfully, however, it was realised that this wall was an important part of history that needed to be preserved.  The part of the Atlantic Wall near Ostende now stands as an important, but nonetheless a stark reminder of World War I and II.

So join me as I take you on a photo tour of two world wars.    It’s certainly not exhaustive as there are so many displays and artifacts that I simply can’t put them all in here.  Hopefully, this will give you a good snapshot of what a fantastic place this is to come to and learn more about the impact of the world wars on this area and its people.

The Aachen Battery

A battery, in military terms, is an area where forts, guns, rockets, other artillery and their crews are grouped in order to facilitate better control.

The Aachen Battery is the only remaining coastal World War I battery which has been preserved well enough to offer a true insight into the events of the world wars.

The steel posts on the artillery platform below were used to keep the four-tonne guns in place.  The ammunition was stored below and hoisted up via cables to the guns.

Artillery platform Atlantic Wall Ostende

Artillery platform

Atlantic Wall gun and bunker

Gun on the top of a sand dune, facing the North Sea

 

Atlantic WallQF 3 pounder Hotchkiss naval gun

QF 3 pounder Hotchkiss naval gun

 

Atlantic Wall Magnetic ground mine

Magnetic ground mine

 

Atlantic Wall Ashell proof reinforced concrete shelter

A shell proof reinforced concrete shelter

 

Atlantic Wall German bunker in the sand dunes facing the North Sea

German bunker in the sand dunes facing the North Sea

 

Atlantic Wall Observation deck

So peaceful now but once an observation deck for the German soldiers

 

Hidden bunker Atlantic Wall Ostende

Hidden bunker

Messages were passed from the operator of the long rangefinder to those below in the observation bunker via a tube.  Silhouette drawings in the bunker helped the Germans to identify their enemies aircraft.

Range finder that would search for inbound Allied aircraft Atlantic Wall

Range finder that would search for inbound Allied aircraft

 

Phone for important communications Atlantic Wall Ostende

Phone for important communications

 

Observatory bunker Atlantic Wall Ostende

Observatory bunker – note the horizontal slit for viewing

Not satisfied with all the artillery they had, the Germans also made all manner of obstacles to embed in the sand or the ocean.  Wooden poles placed on an angle with land mines attached were set up to impact those arriving by water.  The gates were anti-tank mechanisms.  Dragon’s teeth, were concrete pyramids made to smash apart anything that hit them. And logs with saw tooth metal teeth on the top were placed underwater to inflict maximum damage to watercraft.

Atlantic Wall Obstacles on the beach and in the water to hurt the Allies

These were some of the obstacles used on the beach and in the water to hurt the Allies

Searchlight Atlantic Wall

Searchlight

Sentry box Atlantic Wall

The Sentry box. Must have been very small soldiers.

Building near the Sentry box Atlantic Wall Ostende

Building near the Sentry box

 

These anti aircraft guns were fast but didn’t have the capability to shoot long distances.  As a result, the bombers just flew higher to keep out of range.  They were used when Allied bombers attacked the nearby airport or when they were heading home after a raid on German soil.

Anti aircraft gun Atlantic Wall

Anti aircraft gun

Anti tank gun Atlantic Wall

Anti tank gun

 

German soldiers used the planning room for  planning the design and construction of bunkers, forts and other buildings.

Germans planning room Atlantic Wall Ostende

Germans planning room

Storeroom Atlantic Wall Ostende

Storeroom

Atlantic Wall Ostende Belgium

Hard to imagine these rolling hills were part of Hitler’s defence strategy

 

With over 60 different types of bunkers, observation posts, artillery, displays, views, and 2km of open or underground trenches, corridors and paths, this is one of the most interesting, interactive and well preserved historical destinations I’ve ever seen.

Atlantic Wall essentials

  • Raversyde can only be accessed from the non ocean side.
  • Open: School holidays, weekends and public holiday 10.30am – 6pm.
  • Open: Weekdays 10.30am – 5pm.
  • Tickets €8 / reduced price €6.  Combined tickets to see the Atlantic Wall and Anno (a 15th century fishing village) is €10 / reduced €8.
  • Allow at least two hours for the Atlantic Wall.
  • The Atlantic Wall is contained within a nature reserve and can only be visited on foot.  As it is hilly, in sand dunes, steps, trenches etc, it is not wheelchair friendly and could be difficult for those with mobility issues.
  • Take a bottle of water with you as there is nothing available once you are in the dunes.  There are also no toilets out there, so be sure to visit the ones at the entrance.
  • An excellent audio tour is provided as part of the entrance ticket.
  • Free and plentiful carparking is available on site.
  • Musuem and restaurant also on site.
  • Excellent displays and commentary.

 

Entrance to Raversyde Ostende Belgium

Entrance to Raversyde

Entrance tickets to Atlantic Wall Ostende

Entrance tickets to Atlantic Wall

 

 

Atlantic Wall Ostende

Previous Post: « Why Ostende is the strangest seaside town in Belgium
Next Post: Things to do in Ypres and the incredible Last Post ceremony »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alayne

    February 13 2016 at 8:13 am

    Reading this hits home how lucky we are and how horrendous it must have been for those soldiers.

  2. Beer and Croissants

    February 13 2016 at 8:59 am

    Certainly does Alayne.

  3. David

    February 13 2016 at 12:29 pm

    Your pictures help tell your story so well! As a young kid, I loved exploring old concrete bunkers Hitler built on the Norwegian coast…they are now mostly filled with broken beer bottles.

  4. Beer and Croissants

    February 14 2016 at 3:43 pm

    That would have been incredible David. I guess that’s the problem with some of the historical stuff we see today. It wasn’t always thought to be important or having value. Such a shame, but how amazing that you got to see it.

  5. annette charlton

    February 15 2016 at 2:29 pm

    It never ceases to amaze me, no matter how much more we learn of Hitler, his regime and WWII, just how encompassing his plans were and how early he started his campaign planning. Unfortunately, so few knew of the true enormity of it all or what his true vision really was.
    Your great post covers an area we have not visited, so thank you.

  6. Beer and Croissants

    February 15 2016 at 2:39 pm

    I know Annette. Each time I visit somewhere that has a connection to WWII I think the same thing. So much of his planning happened pre 1936 and of course 1936 was his big year for spreading all his propaganda via the Munich Olympics. We have sop much to be thankful for, that he was able to be stopped. I just wish the world would continue to learn from all of this. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. Greatly appreciated.

  7. Marge Gavan

    February 17 2016 at 4:29 pm

    Oh my god, the lengths the Nazi did just to further their evil ends, so scary. It’s a good thing that they are able to preserve those relics though, it really makes for an interesting trip down the history.

  8. Beer and Croissants

    February 17 2016 at 8:55 pm

    Yes I agree Marge. It was absolutely despicable what the Germans did to so many, but by being able to see these relics of the war, we can continue to learn, and hopefully not repeat it all again.

  9. Nina

    February 20 2016 at 8:15 pm

    Such an interesting post! I was born and raised in Canada to German parents. Both of my grandfathers were active in the war (one as a tank driver-he was a civic engineer- and the other a communications officer). Now living in Germany for the past few years, it seems so unbelievable the horror that the war inflicted on everyone, just 70 years ago. It is frightening how one person can gain so much power and lead others to such incomprehensible acts…but it continues to happen around the world. These memorials are so important, so that maybe we (the big collective, global ‘we’) will learn that war brings nothing good. Thanks for this post!

  10. Beer and Croissants

    February 21 2016 at 10:46 am

    I couldn’t agree more Nina. I think the “age” of the war is something that always amazes us. In real terms, it really wasn’t that long ago at all. And I also wish and hope that everyone would learn from these wars and realise that no one wins. Thank you so much for your comments and for stopping by my blog.

  11. Castaway with Crystal

    March 11 2016 at 9:24 pm

    Oh man, how creepy! Really interesting looking place, I’ll be checking that out when I’m in the area!

    Crystal recently posted… How to Kill a Man with Your Bare Hands

  12. Paul

    March 21 2016 at 12:58 am

    Great post which tells some fascinating history of the lengths Hitler would go to. Those bunkers look really well preserved still to this day, I would love to have a tour around them.

  13. Beer and Croissants

    March 21 2016 at 10:08 am

    If you ever get the chance Paul you definitely should. It’s a self guided tour, but a really great one.

  14. Tom

    April 8 2016 at 7:23 pm

    Very interesting, if I’m in this part of the world I will definitely visit. Thanks for sharing!!

  15. Tara

    April 9 2016 at 3:12 am

    That’s some serious fortification, with an air of creepiness about it. The beautiful landscape does temper it a bit, but I can certainly see why most of this has been eradicated. The war is still very fresh for many. Thanks for sharing this cool bit of history – living in America, we have little to remind of us of the Word Wars.

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