The Atlantic Wall
Pas-de-Calais: potential landing site.
During the Second World War, the German occupier had identified the coast of Pas de Calais as a potential landing site.
The geographical location of Calais has attracted them all... Romans, Napoleon, Nazi Germany... At very different times, armies have massed on the Opal Coast with the same ambition: to conquer Great Britain! During the Second World War, the German occupier had identified the beaches of Pas de Calais as a potential landing site.
Visible remains and sites that can be visited
Thus, the Calais was one of the key sectors of the Atlantic Wall, this system of coastal fortifications from Norway to the Franco-Spanish border. By traveling - and going a little inland - one can still discover many remains of concrete buildings, of all sizes: observation casemates, anti-aircraft defense, anti-tank, and coastal batteries etc. Many types of fortifications, of different sizes are still scattered around, some in good condition, others damaged or moved by the movement of the dunes. Among the powerful coastal batteries bordering Calais, the Lindemann battery, to the west, has disappeared while to the east at the site of the 2 seas, the Oldenburg battery gives an idea of what these concrete fortresses were.
The Second World War was particularly trying for the Calais region, which was badly affected by the destruction: 73% of Old Calais, now the Calais Nord district, was destroyed. In the Calais region, there are museums dedicated to this period. Most of them are housed in period buildings, including the Calais 1939-1945 Memory Museum.
Taken by force of arms by the German army after a fierce battle (May 22-26, 1940), Calais was part of the pockets of German resistance on the French coast four years later. It was on September 30, 1944 that the Canadian army liberated Calais.
Within a radius of less than 50 kilometres around Calais, museums and fortresses can be visited and recall the omnipresence of the Occupier in the region. In particular, you will find bases for the secret weapons V2 and V3, a reconstruction of V1 ramps but also remains of installations dedicated to these flying bombs. The Blockaus d'Eperlecques, the Forteresse de Mimoyecques, the Helfaut dome, the museums of Ambleteuse and Audinghen are among the must-see sites of remembrance in a Nord-Pas de Calais region that is full of them.
The Memory Museum, a Calais witness
The Calais Memorial Museum was the "Mako", the command bunker of the German Kriegsmarine in the sector. Through its 21 exhibition rooms, it is the place to go to understand and discover what the Second World War was like in Calais. One of them is dedicated to General de Gaulle, the man of June 18, 1940...but also the husband of the Calais native Yvonne Vendroux. From the museum, you can also extend your immersion in this dark era along the 1939-1945 walking trail.
1914-1918 under the threat of Zeppelin!
It is not in vain to recall the role of Calais during 1914-1918, that of an important inter-allied base with a major logistical function. From August 1914, Calais, its port facing the English ally, close to its attacked Belgian neighbor, was involved in the conflict. Tens of thousands of soldiers will stay there, transit there...forcing the German air force to bomb Calais, notably by Zeppelin airships.
Today, Commonwealth, Belgian, German and French military cemeteries and squares recall the impact of 1914-1918 on Calais.
The Calais 39/45 Memory Museum