Author Topic: Looking for picture of collapsed U-boat pen (Read 535 times)

Raubvogel · « **on:** May 01, 2004, 02:47:36 PM »

I remember seeing a picture of a collapsed U-boat pen that had been discovered a few years back with 2 U-boats still inside it. Anyone know where I can find that picture?

DiabloTX · « **Reply #1 on:** May 01, 2004, 10:22:51 PM »

PUNT - This sounds too interesting to let fall into obscurity.

-tronski- · « **Reply #2 on:** May 01, 2004, 10:34:40 PM »

U-Boat bases

I vaguely remember seeing something similar...buggered if I know where though, try this anyhow...some interesting recent pics of U-boat bases

Tronsky

Dnil · « **Reply #3 on:** May 01, 2004, 11:29:10 PM »

didnt they end up closing it off permanently? I thought they filled it full of concrete or something like that.

Cant really remember though.

straffo · « **Reply #4 on:** May 02, 2004, 02:25:33 AM »

Having visited the St Nazaire U-Boot pen I find hard to believe one collapsed

SKurj · « **Reply #5 on:** May 02, 2004, 09:04:28 AM »

I've seen the pic...

Several subs were inside as well, I think the landowner or gov't filled it in with gravel, burying the contents in the end...

Try Subsim.com

SKurj

Habu · « **Reply #6 on:** May 02, 2004, 12:14:19 PM »

Ebe II bunker in Hamburg

One of the few sites I read regularly on the Internet is Uboat.net. If you have any interest in all in the submarine war of WW2 you will find it a fascinating collect of information that is unrivaled on this subject.

The boats you ask about were ignored until 1985 when they were re discovered. Unfortunately they were scavenged over the years and are probably missing most anything that could be cut off and carried away. The collapsed bunker was filled with gravel as a safety precaution so now the boats are entombed forever.

Read all about it at the link posted above..

SKurj · « **Reply #7 on:** May 02, 2004, 01:21:03 PM »

The fact they buried the subs really P^%$$es me off!!

Sure it would have been a huge undertaking to get any of them out, but man what a loss...

SKurj

Duedel · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2004, 02:55:25 PM »

Yep SKurj same goes for me!!! Its a shame!

In my home town Bremen we have the biggest U-Boat bunker of WW2 its name is Valentin
482m length, 98m width, 30m height; built by 35.000 KZ detainees where many lost their lives. Very impressing!

Raubvogel · « **Reply #9 on:** May 02, 2004, 04:04:04 PM »

That's the one I was thinking of. I looked through uboat.net yesterday but didn't see that page. Thanks.

Very interesting story I think. It's a shame they filled it in.

Habu · « **Reply #10 on:** May 03, 2004, 06:30:25 AM »

You know looking at the picture posted by Duedel I have wonder how hard it was to drag the U-boats that last 50' into the bunker.

I can imagine the U-Boat commander returning from patrol and telling the crew to jump down and grab a line and pull the boat up over the road.

Makes you wonder why the silly Germans did not build the bunker with the door in the water.

gofaster · « **Reply #11 on:** May 03, 2004, 09:03:47 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SKurj
The fact they buried the subs really P^%$$es me off!!

Sure it would have been a huge undertaking to get any of them out, but man what a loss...

SKurj

I agree. However, you have to look at the current efforts to save/salvage/restore US WW2 subs to see that there really isn't much interest in old subs by the general public anymore. And that is the real tragedy.

I look at it this way; burying those 3 boats just might save them if they don't turn into rust stains. Eventually, someday, hopefully somebody will decide that its fiscally sound to do an archeological dig on the site and recove the 3 boats for a museum. As it was, the boats were being slowly cut up for scrap by thieves.

Duedel · « **Reply #12 on:** May 03, 2004, 02:44:16 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Habu
You know looking at the picture posted by Duedel I have wonder how hard it was to drag the U-boats that last 50' into the bunker.

I can imagine the U-Boat commander returning from patrol and telling the crew to jump down and grab a line and pull the boat up over the road.

Makes you wonder why the silly Germans did not build the bunker with the door in the water.

*LOL* Habu

A few more facts. Sure this bunker had very huge doors rigth to the river Weser. The bunker never was finished so they did not made the break through to the Weser.
The bunker was built to churn out U-Boats. A minimum of 4000 forced labors died during the construction period.
One of the most impressive things at the bunker is a memorial in front of it. Its a shame i cant find any pic on the internet. It describes in a very appalling kind the torure these workers suffered but shows at the same time that those workers wont be broken.