Extensive system of coastal fortifications built by Nazi Germany
For the film, see Atlantic Wall (film).
Atlantic Wall
Part of Nazi Germany
Western coast of Continental Europe and Scandinavia
Type
Coastal defence and fortifications
Length
1670 miles (2687 km)
Site information
Controlled by
Nazi Germany
Condition
Partially demolished; mostly intact
Site history
Built
1942–1944
Built by
Forced labourers
In use
1942–1945
Materials
Concrete
Wood
Steel
Battles/wars
World War II
Events
St Nazaire Raid Dieppe Raid Operation Overlord Operation Undergo Battle of the Scheldt
Garrison information
Past commanders
Erwin Rommel (1943–1944)
Occupants
Wehrmacht
The Atlantic Wall (German: Atlantikwall) was an extensive system of coastal defences and fortifications built by Nazi Germany between 1942 and 1944 along the coast of continental Europe and Scandinavia as a defence against an anticipated Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe from the United Kingdom, during World War II. The manning and operation of the Atlantic Wall was administratively overseen by the German Army, with some support from Luftwaffe ground forces. The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) maintained a separate coastal defence network, organised into a number of sea defence zones.[1]
Hitler ordered the construction of the fortifications in 1942 through his Führer Directive No. 40. More than half a million French workers were drafted to build it. The wall was frequently mentioned in Nazi propaganda, where its size and strength were usually exaggerated. The fortifications included colossal coastal guns, batteries, mortars, and artillery, and thousands of German troops were stationed in its defences.[a] Today, ruins of the wall exist in all of the nations where it was built, although many structures have fallen into the ocean or have been demolished over the years.
^Lohmann W. & Hildebrand H., Die Deutsche Kriegsmarine, Verlag Hans-Henning Podzun, Bad Nauheim (1956)
^J.E Kaufmann,The Atlantic Wall: History and Guide, 2012
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The AtlanticWall (German: Atlantikwall) was an extensive system of coastal defences and fortifications built by Nazi Germany between 1942 and 1944 along...
in command of German forces and developing fortifications along the AtlanticWall in anticipation of an invasion. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt...
in charge of developing fortifications all along Hitler's proclaimed AtlanticWall in anticipation of landings in France. The Allies failed to accomplish...
resulted in a quicker end to the war. Considered an essential part of the AtlanticWall in anticipation of an Allied invasion, the fortifications in Norway...
of China, Walls of Benin, Hadrian's Wall, Anastasian Wall, and the AtlanticWall, which extended far beyond the borders of a city and were used to enclose...
some defensive positions established and gun emplacements made, the AtlanticWall was a token defensive line. Rundstedt had confided to Rommel that it...
dune landscape around Wijk aan Zee some bunkers still remain of the AtlanticWall, built by the German occupying forces between 1940 and 1944. These coastal...
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. A 20-km-wide zone interdite along the coast behind the Atlanticwall was restricted to non-resident civilians at certain point during the...
the AtlanticWall to be fortresses (Festungen), to be held until the last man or the last round, calling them Atlantikfestungen (lit. "Atlantic strongholds")...
the Western Allies during much of the Second World War against the AtlanticWall. The raids were conducted by the armed forces of Britain, the Commonwealth...
AtlanticWall was dedicated to the fortification of the Channel Islands. Hitler had decreed that 10% of the steel and concrete used in the Atlantic Wall...
bombardment. Nazi Germany fortified its conquered territories with the AtlanticWall. Organization Todt built a string of reinforced concrete pillboxes and...
ISBN 978-0-671-67334-5. Anderson, Richard C. (2009). Cracking Hitler's AtlanticWall: The 1st Assault Brigade Royal Engineers on D-Day. Stackpole Books....
Field Marshals Erwin Rommel and Gerd von Rundstedt, the defences of the AtlanticWall – a line of coastal gun emplacements, machine-gun nests, minefields...
gun turrets on specially built defensive bunkers, particularly on the AtlanticWall. Production of the tank itself ceased by January 1944, but its chassis...
Lion's Mouth, Canadian troops constructed a replica of a section of the AtlanticWall. It is constructed from reinforced concrete and was used as a major...
engineering projects such as the Westwall (Siegfried Line) and the AtlanticWall. In 1940, he was appointed Reich Minister of Armaments and War Production...
Global Information
Nazi Germany