Nazis' secret base found (Omaha Beach battery contains 40 buildings "untouched" since D-Day)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | January 24, 2006 | TOM NEWTON DUNN

[Stoat]

Nazis' secret base found

Revealed ... the Nazis’ untouched secret bunker
 

By TOM NEWTON DUNN

Defence Editor 

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: “It’s truly incredible. Apart from damage to the radio room, the whole place seemed to escape bombing unscathed.”

 

Treasure hunter ... Gary with RAF medals
 

The bunker sprawls over 20 acres and is thought to be the hidden German battery that decimated US soldiers at Omaha Beach, seven miles away.

The encampment contains 40 buildings — including a field hospital.

Some of the offices contain army papers — as well as radio equipment.

Amateur historian Gary found it in dense undergrowth after buying a German army map at a French car boot sale.

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.

[Stoat]

A strange twist of history, that in France there is found the untouched remains from an era when the French appreciated and honored the sacrifices of the United States....and it's found during the present times when such sentiment appear to be virtually unknown.

I'm wondering if the French would now have preferred that we hadn't rid them and the rest of the world of the threat of Nazism?

Please say a prayer for the soldiers who risked and oftentimes gave their lives so that the world could be a much better place....despite what the French may now think.

 

[Cap Huff]

This is just too interesting to miss.

[Bender2]

Bump...

[jecIIny]

Wow. Thats an impressive find.

[sure_fine]

saving

[Pro-Bush]

Did he grab those metals off skeletons?

[naturalman1975]

So a 20 acre military facility can go, apparently undetected, for 60 years in peacetime France... yet, some people are absolutely certain that there's nothing left to find in rather more trying conditions in Iraq...

[WestVirginiaRebel]

"All your base now belong to us..."

[dyed_in_the_wool]

So a 20 acre military facility can go, apparently undetected, for 60 years in peacetime France... yet, some people are absolutely certain that there's nothing left to find in rather more trying conditions in Iraq...

Absolutely brilliant analysis. Worth repeating (and I shall do so.)

[Banjoguy]

Although I appreciate you sentiments, the reasons we went to war against the Nazi onslaught had very little to do with specifically, liberating France. That was just one of the positive consequences.

[Light Speed]

[leadhead]

liberating France. That was just one of the positive consequences.

Come again?

[FreedomPoster]

A minor correction:

That was just one of the positive consequences.

There, that's better.

[Banjoguy]

Re: A minor correction

Good one, LOL!

[Stoat]

Although I appreciate you sentiments, the reasons we went to war against the Nazi onslaught had very little to do with specifically, liberating France. That was just one of the positive consequences.

It was never my intent to imply such a thing.  I merely said:

I'm wondering if the French would now have preferred that we hadn't rid them and the rest of the world of the threat of Nazism?

This question refers to the effect, not the cause of our involvement.

[pandemoniumreigns]

"The dad of two, from Manchester, kept it secret for three years so he could buy the land near the village of Grandcamp-Maisy."

Gary was quoted as saying "All your base belong to ME!"

[Banjoguy]

It was never my intent to imply such a thing.

I'll read more carefully next time. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Stoat]

I'll read more carefully next time. Thanks for clearing that up.

You're quite welcome, no worries   :-)

Note:  although the brand / brewer of this beer is not stated, all readers should be advised that this image is NOT intended to represent any form of French beer or any derivative thereof   :-)

[PaulJ]

What are these pictures of?

[Miss Marple]

Those are pictures of American troops digging up an Iraqi fighter jet that Saddam had buried in the desert.