Visual decline
Unfortunately for our field of interest, I often have to write about demolition and decay. The process is unstoppable and we have to live with it. However, raising concerns can never be bad.
Last week I made a visit to Stützpunktgruppe Voorne, in Holland. It was like seeing old friends. It was six years ago since I last saw the impressive Klein-Heidelbergstellung or Stützpunkt XXIV ML. This place is a text book example of a Luftwaffe big radar site, with a huge L 480 radar bunker, originally designed for a Wassermann radar, surrounded by anti-aircraft bunkers and supporting buildings.
The bunkers on Voorne have an extremely high building and finishing quality. Most corners are rounded and the inside walls are lined with isolating and fire resistent Heraklith which kept the bunkers extremely dry. There’s wall decoration, a black strip on the bottom and a yellow line high on the wall. It’s really a pleasent place to stay, if you had a choice during World War Two.
There are some great frescos and texts to be found in this complex with the highlight being the kitchen building with its walls decorated with huge slogans, a Luftwaffe eagle, the painted shield of the Luftwaffe Nachtjagd and more smaller drawings. Fortunately these are now behind closed doors which will hopefully prevent further fading in this wet bunker.
The drawings I found most interesting were three subtle silhouettes drawn on the wall in the L 409A/10203, L 410/10205 and the 622/10201. They represented respectively the Brandenburger Tor, the Kölner cathedral and the city hall of Breslau/Wrocław. Already in 2002, the Brandenburger Tor silhouette was damaged; people think the heraklith can be cut out in one piece. Ofcourse it crumbles to pieces after so many years. In 2004 both the Brandenburger Tor and the Breslau silhouette had disappeared. The cathedral was damaged. In january 2011 it was gone too.
So now the same question I always ask myself comes up again. What on earth would you do with a crumbled drawing which should be in the bunker where it was drawn in. What do people do with this stuff? It’s the same with ventilators, stoves, electrical boxes and wiring, telephone equipment etc etc. Money? Collecting? It’s stealing and above all destroying heritage. The only excuse these people usually have is: “If I don’t take it, somebody else will”. That’s so simple, and not an excuse at all. I hope this behaviour will change but I’m afraid it will get worse.
See the update on Bunkersite.com via this post.
In: Articles, Demolition/Disappearing, News · Tagged with: 409a, 410, 622, atlantikwall, bunkers, destroyed, frescos, heritage, regelbau, voorne, warning, wassermann
on January 31, 2011 at 6:40 pm
Permalink
Yes Arthur, very sad, indeed.
RV
on October 13, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Permalink
We have the same problems with idiots in Poland – they can destroy all bunkers, because they can… There is anything from metal inside or outside the bunkers: doors, wires, ANY metals… But we have (the society) one untouched german shelter from the second war, lot of items inside on th eprivate property.
on January 19, 2013 at 10:40 pm
Permalink
If you ask yourself about what people do with “ventilators, stoves, electrical boxes and wiring, telephone equipment” its collecting (for me however). Yes it’s stealing for some, for us its rescuing. (its the same for metaldetecting however) We can’t deny this, but the goverments dont care (but i have the feeling this is slowly turning). But when you’re talking about illegal activity’s in our hobby, then notice that entering every bunker without permission is a crime! even when they are open. This is called sneaking and they are threatened the same as a break in.
But about breaking out fresco’s and drawnings, please count me in by those who don’t understand the reasons!
Keep up the good work with youre website,
Regards,
The one and only Bunkerfreak 😉
on January 24, 2013 at 11:56 am
Permalink
I don’t think it’s the same as metal detecting because I think the founds in the ground are not really attached to that ground. Of course the governments don’t care, of course ‘somebody else will take it’ if you don’t, but all this talking about ‘it ends up in a museum’. Where are all those items then, that were taken all these years? You could fill up 100s of museums.. I see every bunker as an open air museum, unfortunately less and less original fittings remain. Thanks for your compliments!