The Forteresse de Mimoyecques - France
Article about: As an underground launch site, the Forteresse de Mimoyecques is one of the most impressive edifices imagined by Hitler. Located a few kilometres from Cap Gris-Nez, in Landrethun-le-Nord, at
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The Forteresse de Mimoyecques - France
As an underground launch site, the Forteresse de Mimoyecques is one of the most impressive edifices imagined by Hitler. Located a few kilometres from Cap Gris-Nez, in Landrethun-le-Nord, at locality of "Mimoyecques", this secret base was expected to be used for the installation of the giant underground V3 super gun. Like other V-weapons (Vergelstungwaffe), the V3 was foreseen to bomb England, especially London. The site wes shelled by the Royal Air Force, on July 6th 1944 with Tallboy bombs, which put an end to the grave threat for Londoners.
More than half a century ago, thousands of slave labourers were camped on the windswept hills near Marquise, toiling round the clock to dig out five long tunnels in the chalk. These were intended to contain 25 enormous gun barrels, 130 meters long, and with a caliber of 150mm. They would have been the biggest guns in the world. Between them, they could have fired a barrage of rocket-assisted projectiles capable of reaching London, one every 12 seconds.
Like the V2, this was one of Hitler's “secret weapons” - a last-ditch attempt to reverse the impending defeat of Nazi Germany in 1943-44. The base was never completed: it was bombed by the allies on 6 July 1944, using the powerful “Tallboy” bomb to penetrate the rocks.
Soon after, the site was captured by the advancing troops liberating northern France after D-Day. It is now a memorial to peace.
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Re: The Forteresse de Mimoyecques - France
Hi, you have visited some fabulous places.
What an impressive site that.
Fantastic photos.
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers.
Nuno
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Re: The Forteresse de Mimoyecques - France
Hello, I know this place, in the 60's the Bundeswehr tried to go in the bunker, it was impossible.
In the 70's, I met one old collector from Calais, he was around the bunke during the famous bombing. He told me some Polish people were killed in the bunker.
In this time it was a "lunar" place...
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Re: The Forteresse de Mimoyecques - France
Great pics. I especially like the shot of a tunnel with shadowy figueres in the distance.
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Re: The Forteresse de Mimoyecques - France
Love the photos, brought a lot of imagery in mind if it was completed.
All the best,
Stefan
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Re: The Forteresse de Mimoyecques - France
50 guns of 127 meters long in dirction of London : 600 shots per hour, one every 6 seconds.
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Re: The Forteresse de Mimoyecques - France
It is a good thing that it was never completed.
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Re: The Forteresse de Mimoyecques - France
impresive photos.thanks for posting them
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Re: The Forteresse de Mimoyecques - France
Many people drowned during the famous air bombardment.
They went to the lower level for safety, but water flooded the level when the explosion has created a breach in the walls.
The bunker became their graves ...
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Re: The Forteresse de Mimoyecques - France
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