Posted on 01/24/2006 1:34:29 AM PST by Stoat
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By TOM NEWTON DUNN A WARTIME bunker used by Nazis to bombard Allied troops during the D-Day landings has been unearthed untouched after 60 years. British treasure hunter Gary Sterne found the base exactly as it was when German troops fled after the Normandy invasion in June 1944. Gary, 41, said: Its truly incredible. Apart from damage to the radio room, the whole place seemed to escape bombing unscathed.
The encampment contains 40 buildings including a field hospital. Some of the offices contain army papers as well as radio equipment.
The dad of two, from Manchester, kept it secret for three years so he could buy the land near the village of Grandcamp-Maisy. He now plans to open it as a tourist attraction this year. |
Having traveled extensively throughout Europe over the course of decades, I’m well aware of the historical nature of the cities. When I referred to what would surely be Hemingway’s disgust at modern Paris, which is commonly remarked upon by modern Europeans as being remarkably filthy even for a city of it’s age I was meaning to take into account the entire ambiance of Paris which is worlds away from the way it was in Hemingway’s time.
Possibly if you meant Hemingway would be repulsed by the Islamic suburban areas, though he might have liked the exotic nature of them. I too have been to many old European cities and then recently read some about his time in Paris. Central heat would have been a luxury to him. Cold water limted heat flats did in fact exist in large cities even in the US at least through WWII. So I still say be careful about projecting modern views back to the early 20th century. Life was much rougher then with only the rich having central heat etc.
No need for such a warning, as I have never done this. You appear to be reading considerably more into my words than what I actually stated.
WOW! I appreciate the update, thanks very much. That must have been quite an experience, both the personal tour as well as finding shell casings....
It is indeed quite a perplexing question. A facility with 40 buildings including a hospital, presumably occupied by hundreds of Nazi soldiers that just ‘goes off the map’ in that way, particularly in the twentieth century, is quite strange. I’m guessing that the doors being cut off and the dumped garbage could be attributed to nearby locals, but it seems to have ‘disappeared’ as far as those outside the immidiate area are concerned. I hope that Gary will one day be able to figure out exactly what happened.
Thanks again for your post :-)
Basically it was an open air artillery battery with approximately 4 round concrete pads for the large artillery carriages. These were all supported by the many bunkers for fire support, ammo, mess hospital etc. There were several small pill box lookouts along the road leading west away from the compound. Also along the road there were 2-3 fixed and concrete encased gun batteries. The guns were long since scraped but very interesting to walk into.
Todd
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