The Round Tablette

The Round Tablette

April 2008

Volume 16 Number 8

Published by WW II History Roundtable

Edited by Jim Gerber

www.mn-ww2roundtable.org

Welcome to the April meeting of the Dr. Harold C. Deutsch World War Two History Roundtable. Tonight’s program is on the development of fortifications in Europe. Our speaker tonight is author and historian, J.E. Kaufmann. We have a number of his books for sale tonight at the usual book counter.

Inside the Bunkers

The following is an excerpt from the book, Fortress Third Reich; German Fortifications and Defense Systems in World War II, by J.E. Kaufmann and H.W. Kaufmann.

German bunkers maintained some features that became standard in most Atlantic Wall positions. The entrances were “T” or “L” shaped so that fire could not be directed into the bunker from the outside. After making the turn there was usually a gas lock. In many cases there was a firing crenel on the corridor to protect the entrance and sometimes a flanking position on the exterior wall covering the entrance. Armored doors were used to close the gas locks.

The interior of the bunkers, like earlier ones, had instructions stenciled on the walls. Heating was available in large bunkers and a ventilation system was standard in most positions. Smaller bunkers used a solid fuel stove. Normally only large bunkers had electric lighting and this was with lights of 220 volts which first appeared in 1936. In 1938 some of these larger bunkers received small generators to provide power. Other types of lighting were used, such as kerosene lamps, and many bunkers had a niche to

place them.

When possible, bunkers were linked by telephone lines to the group’s command bunker. Several types of phones were used. As early as 1935 bunkers included a wall-mounted fortress telephone model FS 35. It was largely replaced in 1938 with FS 38. Many large bunkers built between 1934 and 1938 used voice tubes not much different from those used in the forts at the turn of the century.

Ventilators were used for protection against gas. These were hand operated, although some had their own electric motor. It included a dual filter system which had to be replaced often. One of the filters simply removed dust from the air and was for normal use. The other filter was designed to protect against poison gas and was usually stored in a position where it could be quickly emplaced. The number of these units varied by the size of the bunker. There was normally at least one to cover the interior rooms and one per firing chamber. In addition to the filter system for gas protection, the larger bunkers were equipped with pumps that maintained an over pressure to prevent the infiltration of poison gas.

Latrine facilities were rather limited, but were found in certain bunker. Some even had a urinal and a shower; metal and porcelain were used for these. Many bunkers only had a plain sink and the equivalent of a latrine bucket. A chemical portable toilet was also developed and found in many bunkers of the West Wall and the Atlantic Wall although some facilities did include regular flush toilets. Some type of water access was necessary for use in bunkers for decontamination. Larger bunkers had running water with wash troughs or basins for the troops. In some cases large bunkers

had their own well and in other instances a group of bunkers would have a large water bunker to serve them.

The rooms of bunkers were rather Spartan with few conveniences. Those bunkers with crew quarters included double and triple bunks for the troops. After 1936 many bunkers were equipped with metal attachments to which beds were attached suspended by chains that could be pulled up against the wall when not is use. Furniture included wooden cabinets and closets in the mid-1930’s that were replaced later by metal ones, in which the troops put their personal gear. Weapons racks were attached to the walls and simple tables and stools were provided for the troops. Of course, the larger the bunker the more it included; as was the case with many B- and A-types which sometimes included kitchens, latrines and many other features to make operations independent for extended periods.

When constructing bunkers the engineers had to be aware of the watertable as that determined whether it could be built into the ground or be more heavily exposed above the ground. The quality of the concrete also tended to vary late in the war as bringing in supplies became more difficult, and sometimes local aggregates had to be used which were below the standards required for proper strength.

When completed all bunkers had to receive the proper camouflage. A number of those built in Norway and parts of Brittany were actually constructed in the rock and had natural camouflage, but this was not true for most bunkers. A good quality paint with subdued colors in brown, green, etc. were used and in some cases designs were included. During the war the Germans found that by attaching paper wads to the form boards as the concrete dried allowed for the creation of an irregular pock marked concrete surface which helped camouflage the position. Special camouflage nets were also used where needed. In those cases where the bunker was totally exposed it would be disguised as a building with painted

windows, simulated wooden roof, etc. Nets would be used to conceal gun embrasures and were attached to rollers so the net could quickly be pulled upward for firing the gun. Each bunker was equipped with a tool kit for the crew. This included a spade, saws, hammers, wire cutters, and other items needed to maintain the site and adjacent field works. This was considered standard on the West Wall and probably most of the Atlantic Wall bunkers.