Hanstholm fortress

Hanstholm fortress (German: "Festung Hanstholm", Danish: "Hanstholm batteri") was a large sea fortress, constructed by Germany at Hanstholm in north-western Denmark during WWII. The fortress was part of the "Atlantic Wall" and its main purpose was to seal off the entrance to Skagerrak together with the Vara fortress in Kristiansand, southern Norway, as well as with the extensive minefields in Skagerrak. The fortress had a wide range of artillery, ranging from medium-sized 17 cm guns up to four massive 38 cm S.K.C/34 guns, weighing 110 tonnes each (the whole gun position weighing 650 tonnes). The guns were protected by 3.5 m of reinforced concrete and many anti-aircraft guns. The 38 cm guns were similar to the ones fitted to the Bismarck class battleships and had been intended for "Gneisenau". However, after "Gneisenau" was damaged in a bomb raid, a decision was made not to fit the guns to the ship, but to use them instead in stationary fortresses. The guns could fire a 495 kg projectile 55 km, or a 800 kg shell 42 km. The rate of fire was 1 shot per 1.5 minutes. It was manned by the German Naval Artillery Battalion 118. The 38 cm guns were scrapped in 1951-52. Today, the remains of the fortress functions as a museum.

German units at Hanstholm fortress

ee also

* [http://www.museumscenterhanstholm.dk/oplev_museet/friluftsmuseum_hanstholm_i/?&setlanguage=2 Museum webpage in English]