Posted on 09/13/2011 7:10:36 AM PDT by decimon
Sections of Hitler's Atlantic Wall are being restored by French enthusiasts. But should the Nazi fortification be fully embraced as part of the country's heritage?
Along 800 miles (1,287km) of French coast lie some of the most substantial and evocative vestiges of war-time Europe.
The so-called Atlantic Wall - Hitler's defensive system against an expected Allied attack - stretched all the way from the Spanish border to Scandinavia.
Inevitably, it was in France that the most extensive building took place. Today there are still thousands of blockhouses, barracks and gun emplacements visible along the French shore.
But in France there has been no effort up until now to preserve this extraordinary historical landmark.
Elsewhere, World War II bunkers have been renovated as tourist attractions or for educational visits. The internet boasts Atlantic Wall fan sites in Germany and the Netherlands - and strong interest in the UK - but nothing in France.
It is as though the nation was relieved to see the German defences slide inexorably into the sands - and oblivion.
But now - quite suddenly - a new mood has emerged. Recently, several local associations dedicated to safeguarding portions of the Wall have been set up in France.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
ping
Preserve it. Its part of history.
As long as it doesn’t come out of my tax dollars and/or the US DOD budget.
Depending on which country, France or England, gets islamacized first, it may come in handy.
I'd say it's certainly up to the French to decide. As for my opinion: imagine if China, Russia, or some other nation invaded the US and built something of significance. During this period, they not only killed many of us but humiliated us as a nation. Created a "brand", so to speak, of a weak and inconsequential America.
I would hope we would take to demolishing any such monument to our disgrace the minute we drove them out.
It's not limited to Nazis. I've taken an interest in preserving CONUS Army Air Defence sites (AKA "Nike Sites"). One of the discouraging aspects of this is how thoroughly sites in liberal jurisdictions have been destroyed, even when there is no need. In most cases the land is repurposed as mere open space or obscure, ill-maintained parks. Sites in conservative areas have fared much better-some even have good restoration potential.
But even on the most devastated sites I've been able to recover the general plan and often operational details and distinctive features (including, on one site in Virginia, three hidden but otherwise pristine missile magazines). I'm leery of publishing my survey data lest I kick off another round of malicious digging and regrading.
You don’t save it to remember the nazis. You save it to remember the men who stormed into the teeth of it,,, and to remind the young of what can happen if you let your defenses become ineffective. Save it,,,
History happened. Effacing historical structures because they make us uncomfortable is IMHO akin to burning books
Exactly.
The old Coast Artillery sites are interesting. Many do not realize they even existed.
Pick a few good examples and preserve them (from an architectural viewpoint, some of the Atlantic Wall fortifications are remarkable!).
Sell the rest and let landowners decide what to do with them. I’ve seen Endicott Board fortifications converted into condos on Tybee Island, and WWII 16-inch gun emplacements converted into beach houses, and a post-Civil War magzine converted into living space / storm shelter on Sullivan Island.
wow... really? preserve that crap? tear down that wall. it’s history that can be left to the history books. you don’t leave monuments up to invaders, who were then beaten back and repelled. that wall is a monument, and monuments are for winners, not losers who killed 6 million Jews and Gypsies.
by the way Mr Bird, I agree with you , I meant to reply to someone else.
When the German army had to go on the defensive it built a version of the Maginot Line.
Exactly
Agree totally.
Hitler could build an 800 mile wall in a couple of years. And we can’t secure a 1900 mile Mexican border in decades.
Hitler used slave labor. We use union labor.
Those are very interesting. The Army ADA evolved out of the Army CDA, so there is alot of commonality in the structures. Fort Miles in DE-NJ is a great place to spend a weekend. There's even some guns still in place. Alas, the Army ADA sites get less attention. Maybe if there were still missles in place... ;-)
Unfortunately!the French should preserve portions of the Atlantic wall for posterity just to remind their citizens that evil could be just around the corner.
Besides the Atlantic wall is part of the History of France.Why discard it?
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