THE BUNKER AT EPERLEQUES

the bunker at EPERLEQUES is one of Hitler's secret weapons. this site is well worth a visit and takes about half a day. this description I have given is brief and does not give you a true picture of the sites size, it is massive, and is one of those places that you need to visit to have an idea of the scale of the place. 

on the 22 dec 1942 Hitler ordered two bunkers to be built in the pas de Calais to launch V2 rockets. the first bunker was chosen to be built at EPERLEQUES. it was an ideal site, close to England and in a good position logistically with rail lines, roads and canals nearby. it was also on the reverse slope of a forest.

in late march 3000 labourers started to build the site which was due to be finished in October of the same year. word leaked out of the top secret installation and the raf flew a reconnaissance mission and later on the 27th of august the 8th USAAF dropped 366 2,000lb bombs and devastated the site. unfortunately many of the forced labour where killed or injured. there is a memorial at the site to commemorate this.

through august and the beginning of September more raids took place as the northern part of the site took the most damage in the first raids. it was decided to make an oxygen making plant in the southern section. an ingenious technique was used to build this new section. ht e roof was raised in sections with hydraulic jacks, whilst the outside walls were constructed. in Jan 1944 the work on the oxygen plant was completed. between february and august 20 new raids took place this time using the RAF's devastating 12,000lbs Tallboy bombs. the damage done by these bombs is still in evidence, and it is a miracle anybody survived these raids, or the structure for that matter. the truth is that the main damage happened to the parts already damaged and the machinery (oxygen compressors) inside and not the structure itself which is surprising when you look at the damage done to some of the structure on the outside. the site was made redundant by the Germans in July.  with the increasing raids they moved the compressors to a safer place.

the site was finally liberated by Canadian troops in sept 1944. luckily for the allies, no V2 were fired from here. after the first devastating raids it was decided that the site would make oxygen for mobile V2's and the V2 site La COUPOLE. La Coupole had been chosen to launch the V2,s after the august  raids in 1943.

outside view from north and west.

Eperleques was made a listed building in 1986 and in 1988 the giant blast doors were made operational again. these doors are very impressive and are about 4 feet thick. you can work them yourself at the touch of a button. inside the bunker there is a cinema and all round the site there are speakers to tell you about the site, with translations in about five different languages. there are also some pieces of military hardware including a V1 launching ramp, and some wreckage from a V1 found in the forest.

top V1 launcher. bottom white half track of the type with howitzer mounting.

they even have some beach obstacles on display.

if you want to find out more about v2 rockets click here

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