Stp Waldam – Oye Plage, Northern France – The Drehturm SK gun bunker which could rotate 360 degrees, Batterie Waldam, east of Calais.
 If you are viewing this section on a mobile device please turn your phone to the landscape or horizontal position for the best viewing experience. Regarded by many Atlantikwall experts the Waldam batterie has a crown jewel, the Drehturm SK gun bunker which could rotate 360 degrees and is the only one in existence. The Calais and Pas-de-Calais region was liberated by the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division and was part of Operation Undergo. The Canadians were in charge of taking all of the heavy gun batteries in the area including the battery here at Stp Waldam. Additional external links on the German Divisions in the area and the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division will be posted below at the bottom of the page.  Another unique attraction is the Fire Control tower or Leistand at the batterie. |  Batterie Waldam |
The directions to this location are very easy and I will guide you here via two directions, both have very easy parking though I prefer the second option as I will explain below. The first parking area takes you to the Batterie Oldenburg which has a public parking area for the nature reserve and viewing platform which has now been built on top of one of the Batteries casemates. First if you are coming from the motorway (highway) take the D119 which leads onto Route de Gravelines, continue a short distance and take a left on Chemin des Dunes, drive a short distance again and you will find Batterie Oldenburg you can just park here off the road and walk down the dirt path which is called Digue Taaf. This is a private road and cars are not allowed, only those that belong to the local bird watching conservancy, hunters and the Gendarme. It's about a 20 minute or so walk from the Oldenburg parking area to the Waldman bunkers if you decide on this route. If you decide to visit both the Oldenberg and Waldman batteries make it an all day event! There is much to see, it's really remarkable. On my preferred and suggested second set of directions there is free parking available and if you have time left over or before your visit to Batterie Waldam you can visit some superb remains of other German bunkers including WN Rheinhilde, WN Rosamunde, WN Ria and many smaller defensive remains such as anti tank obstacles and Peilstands, small machine gun bunkers. Take the road Rue Jean Bart then take the dirt road called Rampe Paul. Drive to the end of the road and you will find a dirt parking lot. From here you can start walking west on a dirt road called Digue Taaf. This is a nature reserve and is constantly occupied and monitored by a local nature preservation group. Do not drive down this road as they will ask you to turn around. The nature group including bird watchers drive on ATVs and are often seen driving up and down the same dirt road. So if you park in the dirt parking lot just walk west about 35 minutes and you will find Batterie Waldam. As you are walking west you will find WN Rosamunde and WN Ria. When returning to the parking lot or before you leave if you walk a short distance east you will find WN Rheinhilde. |  Directions 1  Directions 2 |
All photographs on this visit were taken in the summer months of 2018 and are subject to copyright. Please be respectful and do not copy them for your own personal or professional use. If you would like to contact the photographer and admin of this web site please e-mail admin@germanbunkers.com I used two cameras on this trip the Canon 18-55 mm T5 DSLR using a EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II lens and the Apple iPhone Six 6 Plus. Additional video recordings were taken using a GoPro Hero 3 model. |
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 This dirt road is called Digue Taaf, it leads from either west or east and takes you to the Waldam Batterie.  A view of the batterie as we approach from the dirt road.  A view across the reeds as we inch closer to the batterie.  In the distance two distinct structures, the Leistand and the SK Bunker.  Regarded by Atlantikwall experts as an absolute crown jewel, this is one of a kind and not to be found anywhere else.  One of two bunkers at the batterie that still have their names above the entrance way.  It's almost futuristic and in a sense it is, built late in the war this was state of the art and ahead of it's time!  The Drehturm SK gun bunker, absolutely breathtaking. Another unique attraction is the Fire Control tower or Leistand at the batterie.
Click to enlarge  The SK bunker rotated 360 degrees, shown here the gap between the foundation and the rotation portion.  A view to the right side of the SK bunker with brickwork shoring visible.  A sense of depth seen here between the foundation mounting and the top part of the bunker that rotated.  Unfortunately the basement area was flooded from a recent storm preventing us from photographing the inner mechanism of the rotation device.  Seen here the mounting bolts for the SK gun and the rebar from the concrete base where the gun was mounted.  And frozen in time right here is where she stands today, looking out towards the Canadian 3rd army as they approached in 1944.  Looking up at the absolute master craftsmanship of the nose or hood of the Drehturm SK gun bunker.  This is where the gun was mounted. Approach this bunker with extreme caution if you visit here, it is a dangerous place to loose your footing! so be careful please.  Down below into the basement on a normal day you could see the mounting mechanism. On this visit we did not bring our wellington boots! it was completely flooded. Will bring them next time...  A look back before we move on, the SK bunker and it's ammunition bunker to the right.  As we continue through the Waldam batterie we find one of two M270 Gun bunkers.  Looking at the business end of the M270 bunker.  A view looking outwards from the M270.  As we turn around we take a really nice look at the SK bunker from a different angle and the Leistand or fire control bunker. |
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