Valentin submarine pens

caption = 2006 remains of Valentin submarine pen
type = blockhouse
code=
built = February 1943 (unfinished)
builder =
materials = Ferrous concrete
height =
used =
demolished =
condition =
ownership=
open_to_public =
controlledby=
garrison =
current_commander=
commanders=
occupants=
battles =
events=The Valentin submarine pens are in Farge, a small port on the Weser River in Bremen. The pens were built in World War II from 1943 to March 1945, and they were not finished before the end of the war.

Bombing by the RAF and the USAAF dramatically reduced production of U-boats by the German shipyards, so a bomb proof shelter was built under the codename "Valentin" at Farge in Bremen.

It was planned that they would be used for assembly of the submarines of the type XXI.

The pens were attacked by the RAF on 27 March 1945. Their ferrous concrete roof was up to 7 metres (23 feet) thick. Two Grand Slam bombs penetrated a section with a 4.5 m roof. [ [http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/grandslam.html RAF: Bomber Command: Grand Slams] ]

The "Valentin" U-boat pens were the largest fortified pens in Germany, and were second only to those built at Brest in France.

ee also

* Bombing of Bremen in World War II

Further reading

* Christel Grube [http://www.lostplaces.de/cms/content/view/41/33/ Uboot-Bunker Valentin, Bremen-Farge] (German) 28 February 2006

References