The Todt Battery. Audinhen France 07/07/2007

[Rob]

On a recent visit to France. I had some time to kill while waiting for the ferry home. So I decided to have a look at a gun emplacement I had passed on a previous visit.

I found a previous report on the place here:
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=316&highlight=todt

First of all this is a large site. It is situated in an area called Harringzelles near to the village of Audinghen about 10 miles west of Calais. The four casemates (turm's) were spread over a rough crescent of 750 meters. They were numbered 1 to 4 counting from the northernmost turm now a museum. also within the battery area there were originaly 14 air-raid shelters 4 temporary billets a ring of 15 Tobruks (concrete machine gun nest) 3 anti-tank guns facing south 9 flak cannons a water pumping station shelters for gun crews a first aid station and even their own farm.

So as you can see this was a bit more than a gun emplacement. So there was a lot to explore.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1267/819983326_0ea0a0bb46.jpg

[Rob]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1250/805809303_cf41a6613f.jpg

First stop was the museum in casemate (Turm) 1.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1105/805825541_fa14b85131.jpg

The Germans often called these large casemates "Turm" which means Tower. And was first used to describe the gun turret on German warships.

I was slightly disapointed at the museum as it had very little to do with the battery itself and just appeared to be a collection of WWII bit's and bob's.

Pictures from inside the museum.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1268/805789011_f7b1a0a08c.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1397/806681012_149d922b31.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1133/806682824_f92b6d95e3.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1183/805801753_fce086a826.jpg

The guide book however was a mine of information 6 euro's well invested. I have based this report on information from within this book. ("The Battery Todt" Historical Construction and History. by Yannick Delefosse and David Davies).

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1349/805807311_5c7246cc6d.jpg

Outside the museum were a collection of vehicles and guns.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1128/805804013_06134e6424.jpg

Including this impressive Rail Gun.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1101/806689922_be44461675.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1392/806705248_c8f6bdac60.jpg

[Rob]

Next stop was Turm 2 This was hidden in a mature wood as you can see in the picture below.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1092/755598547_ed7fd22d73.jpg

This casemate had been sealed up a recent fence has been constructed across the amphitheatre or gun pit and the main entrance has been concreted up but no explanation why.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1147/756443630_8fa77d574c.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1281/756448356_0024e597a5.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1331/755591919_b5fa51e84e.jpg

Near to Turm 2 I found this concrete bunker possibly an air-raid shelter.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/756432476_53ddb46156.jpg

Sadly the entrance had been sealed.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1317/756434892_38bc54d4f6.jpg

[Rob]

Following on in chronological order. on to Turm 3 the guide book states that it has been demolished. But these are solid structures and much remains of it. From the map I knew it's location but there was no obvious path to it. I had walked all the way around it before I spotted a path I followed it only to be thwarted by a large coil of barbed wire in the undergrowth. I nearly gave up when I noticed some Gorse piled up concealing another path which i swiftly followed (through chest high nettles) Turm 3 was surrounded by a large metal fence the same type as the one at Turm 2. But this time there was a gate in it. And would you believe it it wasn't locked.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1090/756462378_c8e17845fb.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1041/756467930_2df6b2d217.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1147/756459312_509e7d02b6.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1056/756464996_ae4bf78ded.jpg

It appeared that the turm had been Blown up Leaving the remaining stucture in a very dangerous condition (hence the security) So no internal exploration here.

[Rob]

Finaly down the path to Turm 4.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1123/755616213_b281e6bfe9.jpg

This was a gem to explore it contained some historical treasures although "Le chav's" had left their mark.

Inside the main entrance. this door led to where the stairs to the basement area should have been but sadly that appeared to have been filled in or at least capped.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1281/755618023_4871088678.jpg

The second door led to a corridor which led to two rooms the high explosive store and the shell store. notice the cutout above the door an overhead rail ran through here for transporting shells. also the word "Licht" for the light switch.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1124/755619927_f57d618829.jpg

In this corridor I found this piece of original artwork chaved to death of coarse.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1261/755623205_6fcad9f90c.jpg

Inside the high explosive store. Notice the window at the far end this is where the explosive charges were transported to the main gun turret.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1428/755621947_28dedb9345.jpg

The shell transfer window in the shell store. Notice the inscription "WC-WIE LANGE NOCH?" Translated this reads: "Winston Churchill-How Much Longer?"
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1112/755631297_ae857865d5.jpg

Some other original wall paintings from these two rooms.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1257/756484522_8a8755d844.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1227/755626505_8c13f78cf7.jpg

Underneath this modern day scrawl is the shelling record for Turm 4.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1013/755628169_19f857e858.jpg

"Gegen Engeland" Is a kind of allegory showing aircraft, a u-boat, a factory, a schnellboot, and a coastal battery, formed up behind the war banner of the Reich, and tensed in battle against England. The second E in Engeland is not a spelling mistake but a reference to the lines thundered out in the famous Wehrmacht songs: "wir fahren gegen En! ge! Land! ("we march against England") or "bomben auf En! Ge! Land!" ("bombs on England").
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1180/755624843_017b3781d0.jpg

[Rob]

Still in Turm 4. The corridor to the gun pit.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1179/755633975_14e8c089aa.jpg

From the corridor looking out to the the outer chamber of the gun pit.http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1410/756489640_b88c86c1b8.jpg

The outer chamber looking towards the windows of the shell and explosive stores. around this crescent shaped chamber ran two sets of tracks one for transporting shells and explosive charges the other carried the lift two lift them up to the gun turret.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1316/756490992_d31e978555.jpg

The other end of the chamber.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1074/756492180_cdf0416f5c.jpg

The flooded gun pit.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1316/755640263_e0ddd6a236.jpg

Marking on the outside wall of Turm 4.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1159/756497454_8640505861.jpg

One level up from the entrance door I found another entrance. I am not sure what this room was for it seemed a bit high up for an air-raid shelter. it appeared to have a fire place at one end.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1399/755648597_0cbb6ade56.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1042/755645769_3ea0fe8fba.jpg

This balcony gave access to an anti-aircraft gun on the roof. Although I didn't see any access from inside the Turm.
http://http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1201/755650893_15e93529fd.jpg

The amphitheatre of Turm 4.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1379/756507892_66c4820f4b.jpg

[Rob]

View from the roof of Turm 1 (1942) Looking towards Turm 2 on the left and Turm 3 on the right The farm is in between.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1366/822336148_19490f1896.jpg

The Casemates.
Designed by the German Navy, they are 47 meters long 29 wide and 20 high with 10 above ground level. Built to the highest standards, They have a roof and walls 3.5 meters thick capable of resisting shells of 380lbs, bombs of 4000lbs or 2000lbs armour piercing. Each required 12000 cubic meters of cement, representing 800 tonnes of iron rods for reinforcement. Armour plating not of coarse included.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1151/822342000_de32eb92ab.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1094/821118905_c590d12ad7.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1275/821116597_08b2d7f2b1.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1437/821092203_10deea713d.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1365/822315212_6f1bfb25b5.jpg

Then & Now.

Shell store window.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1370/821452389_184bb52451.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1112/755631297_ae857865d5.jpg

Turm 1 front.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1007/822291992_c91718a1ab.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1349/805807311_5c7246cc6d.jpg

Turm 1 rear.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1287/821407757_1fec929820.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1105/805825541_fa14b85131.jpg

Gun turret in amphitheatre.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1287/821446031_b0f574a278.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1397/806681012_149d922b31.jpg

Damage caused to the battery by Canadian Tank fire in Sept 1944 This was the biggest hole(chip) I could find.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1292/805823377_d64af7064d.jpg

Still loads to explore in the area a return visit soon I hope.

Rob...