Civil engineering

Scaramooch · 02-04-2008, 01:27 PM

Good afternoon,
Something I have always wanted to chat about was the structures that had been erected during WW2. I do understand that it was done under the worst of manners, slave labour and all the things that went with it. But can we not look back and agree that some of the buildings etc was an engineering marval for the time.
What would be the one that sticks to your mind? Lets see what we can gather out there.
Please do not get me wrong, I do not for one instance agree with the mistreatment of humans, but as a person who loves old structures and the engineering behind it, all I can do is wonder. I suppose my dream would be to tour those artifacts throughout Europe one day.

Regards

Peter

Owen · 02-04-2008, 02:17 PM

I suppose the Bunkers at Calais stick in my mind as I was able to get up really slose.
See this thread.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/ww2-bat...ck-1990-a.html

Scaramooch · 02-04-2008, 07:17 PM

Hi Owen D,
Thank you, it was great to follow the links. It boggels the mind that it was mostly hand built. I managed to find another link that blew my mind:

Third Reich in Ruins

Give it a shot.

Regards
Peter

PS. Around two years ago there was a storm around our coast and a MG bunker was washed open on the Durban beach. I wonder if there is somebody out there that has some info on bunkers built around South Africa.

Owen · 02-04-2008, 09:20 PM

Cheers Peter, I've looked at that site many times.
I want to go to Nürnberg as that is where the Norisring is and watch the DTM* so I can mix motor-sport & military history. (*German Touring Cars)

Scaramooch · 03-04-2008, 09:30 AM

Hi Owen D,
Man I wish I was there with you guys. I can only think what will consume my weekends. To plan something here from SA, well lets just say it will always be on my wish list. I usually sit and take up as much info as I can from our satelite dish. As the other night they had a documentry running on the mosquito plane, damnthat was very interessting. Anyway, enjoy the trip to Nurnberg.

Regards
Peter

Gotthard Heinrici · 03-04-2008, 09:50 AM

You want Civil Engineering? Look no further than the Kriegsmarine Bases in France and Germany. Ruddy great structures too.

uboat.net - Boats - Flotillas - Bases - Hamburg, Germany
uboat.net - Boats - Flotillas - Bases - La Rochelle, France

uboat.net - Boats - Flotillas - Bases - St. Nazaire, France

uboat.net - Boats - Flotillas - Bases - Brest, France

Scaramooch · 03-04-2008, 01:58 PM

Afternoon Gotthard,
Yes you are so right, "Ruddy great structures too". Boggels your mind does it not. A story that comes to mind was the AA towers around Berlin. The Russians tried to destroy the one at the zoo. I recall they had just managed to collapse one floor. It is now burried under tons of rubble which was once buildings in Berlin. I had seen a documentry on the bunkers around Berlin. Very impressive.

Peter

Gotthard Heinrici · 03-04-2008, 02:01 PM

My Brother just came back from a visit to Berlin yesterday and visited the Humbothein towers. Said they were very impressive. Will be taking this structure in on my next visit to Berlin.

chipmunk wallah · 03-04-2008, 02:47 PM

What about the "good" civil engineering? Lets raise a glass to those wonders of British ingenuity,the Mulberry Harbours

von Poop · 03-04-2008, 02:59 PM

Most surprising thing for me regarding the Mullberys was how they managed to keep so much manufacturing industry secret, or perhaps more accurately, how thousands of locals, who must have known, said nothing.

The Channel Islands used a disproportionate amount of 'West-wall concrete'. Well worth a shufti for some properly intact structures that never endured an assault. Those Artillery observation towers are seriously impressive in the flesh, might have to consider staying in that one that's now a holiday let.

Also the posts that are grafted onto Gorey Castle's towers are an excellent & discreetly executed job that blends in so well they're hard to spot unless actively looking for 'em. For me, they enhance the history of the place, bringing it firmly into the 20th century as a military building.

02-04-2008, 01:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Scaramooch Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 26	Civil engineering Good afternoon, Something I have always wanted to chat about was the structures that had been erected during WW2. I do understand that it was done under the worst of manners, slave labour and all the things that went with it. But can we not look back and agree that some of the buildings etc was an engineering marval for the time. What would be the one that sticks to your mind? Lets see what we can gather out there. Please do not get me wrong, I do not for one instance agree with the mistreatment of humans, but as a person who loves old structures and the engineering behind it, all I can do is wonder. I suppose my dream would be to tour those artifacts throughout Europe one day. Regards Peter

03-04-2008, 09:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
Gotthard Heinrici Ostfront is where its at! Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,706	You want Civil Engineering? Look no further than the Kriegsmarine Bases in France and Germany. Ruddy great structures too. uboat.net - Boats - Flotillas - Bases - Hamburg, Germany uboat.net - Boats - Flotillas - Bases - La Rochelle, France uboat.net - Boats - Flotillas - Bases - St. Nazaire, France uboat.net - Boats - Flotillas - Bases - Brest, France __________________ *"The Eastern front is like a house of cards. If the front is broken through at one point all the rest will collapse."* - General Heinz Guderian "With amazement and disappointment, we discovered in late October and early November that the beaten Russians seemed quite unaware that as a military force they had almost ceased to exist." - General Blumentritt "In all my years as a soldier, I have never seen me fight so hard." Lieutenant General Wilhelm Bittrich - Commander of II SS Panzer Korps - (Commenting on the British Paratroopers at Arnhem) - September 1944 "Had Clark given more heed to Juin's views...the savage battles of Cassino would probably never have been fought and the venerable house of St Benedict would have been unscathed" Rudolf Böhmler - 1st Fallschirmjäger Division - 1944 (After the bombing of Monte Cassino)

03-04-2008, 02:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
Gotthard Heinrici Ostfront is where its at! Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,706	My Brother just came back from a visit to Berlin yesterday and visited the Humbothein towers. Said they were very impressive. Will be taking this structure in on my next visit to Berlin. __________________ *"The Eastern front is like a house of cards. If the front is broken through at one point all the rest will collapse."* - General Heinz Guderian "With amazement and disappointment, we discovered in late October and early November that the beaten Russians seemed quite unaware that as a military force they had almost ceased to exist." - General Blumentritt "In all my years as a soldier, I have never seen me fight so hard." Lieutenant General Wilhelm Bittrich - Commander of II SS Panzer Korps - (Commenting on the British Paratroopers at Arnhem) - September 1944 "Had Clark given more heed to Juin's views...the savage battles of Cassino would probably never have been fought and the venerable house of St Benedict would have been unscathed" Rudolf Böhmler - 1st Fallschirmjäger Division - 1944 (After the bombing of Monte Cassino)

03-04-2008, 02:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
chipmunk wallah Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: By the mighty Don,no,not the Russian one :) Posts: 175	What about the "good" civil engineering? Lets raise a glass to those wonders of British ingenuity,the Mulberry Harbours __________________ "I don't know a lot about anything - but I know a little about practically everything." Vincent Price in "Laura" 1944.(avatar,the gorgeous Miss Gene Tierney

03-04-2008, 02:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
von Poop I Like Tanks. Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Perfidious Albion. Posts: 8,099	Most surprising thing for me regarding the Mullberys was how they managed to keep so much manufacturing industry secret, or perhaps more accurately, how thousands of locals, who must have known, said nothing. The Channel Islands used a disproportionate amount of 'West-wall concrete'. Well worth a shufti for some properly intact structures that never endured an assault. Those Artillery observation towers are seriously impressive in the flesh, might have to consider staying in that one that's now a holiday let. Also the posts that are grafted onto Gorey Castle's towers are an excellent & discreetly executed job that blends in so well they're hard to spot unless actively looking for 'em. For me, they enhance the history of the place, bringing it firmly into the 20th century as a military building. __________________ It's only the Internet.

02-04-2008, 02:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,071	I suppose the Bunkers at Calais stick in my mind as I was able to get up really slose. See this thread. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/ww2-bat...ck-1990-a.html

02-04-2008, 07:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Scaramooch Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 26	Hi Owen D, Thank you, it was great to follow the links. It boggels the mind that it was mostly hand built. I managed to find another link that blew my mind: Third Reich in Ruins Give it a shot. Regards Peter PS. Around two years ago there was a storm around our coast and a MG bunker was washed open on the Durban beach. I wonder if there is somebody out there that has some info on bunkers built around South Africa.

02-04-2008, 09:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,071	Cheers Peter, I've looked at that site many times. I want to go to Nürnberg as that is where the Norisring is and watch the DTM* so I can mix motor-sport & military history. (*German Touring Cars)

03-04-2008, 09:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
Scaramooch Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 26	Hi Owen D, Man I wish I was there with you guys. I can only think what will consume my weekends. To plan something here from SA, well lets just say it will always be on my wish list. I usually sit and take up as much info as I can from our satelite dish. As the other night they had a documentry running on the mosquito plane, damnthat was very interessting. Anyway, enjoy the trip to Nurnberg. Regards Peter

03-04-2008, 01:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
Scaramooch Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 26	Afternoon Gotthard, Yes you are so right, "Ruddy great structures too". Boggels your mind does it not. A story that comes to mind was the AA towers around Berlin. The Russians tried to destroy the one at the zoo. I recall they had just managed to collapse one floor. It is now burried under tons of rubble which was once buildings in Berlin. I had seen a documentry on the bunkers around Berlin. Very impressive. Peter

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