Batterie Vara endangered
One of the most important bunker sites in Norway, Batterie Vara (Møvik fort, Kroodden), is in danger. There are plans to build a new neighborhood on a part of the battery’s terrain. Besides the historical value of the site it is also a beautiful recreational place.
Looking at the plans, two 38cm gun emplacements will be surrounded by houses. All the bunkers on the north side of the complex are in danger too. Closest to the bunker will be a new school with sport fields. Some new houses will be twelve stories high.
Batterie Vara was built from 1942 to secure the Skaggerak together with Batterie Hanstholm II in Denmark. It’s one of the few places in the Atlantikwall where the gun is left in the emplacement. The 38cm S.K. C/34 was used by the Norwegian army after the war until the nineties. It’s a huge bunker complex with four emplacements (of which one is ‘Verschartet’, it got a roof) and supporting bunkers (ammo, machinery, personnel). It was protect against infantery attacks by several MG/Pak bunkers and endless trenches with Tobruks. Today the gun with bunker is a museum.
For more info check Kystfort forum and Axis History. There is also a facebook page.
The 38cm gun of Bt Vara. (Photo: Arthur van Beveren)
It’s an outrage that history has to make way for living and leisure. Many slave labours, grandpas and uncles have worked here. Blood, sweat, tears, they’ve undergone torturing, and that will be demolished, that’s outrageous! The Atlantic wall is already more and more endangered in its bigger existence.
Unfortunately it’s all about money, not history.
Het is een schande dat de geschiedenis moet wijken voor wonen en plezier, vele slaven arbeiders, opa’s en ooms, hebben hier aan gewerkt, bloed zweet tranen en martelingen hebben ze moeten ondergaan, en dan moet zo iets worden gesloopt, het zou een schande zijn. Er blijft al steeds minder over van de Atlantic Wall.
Helaas draad alles om de Dollars, en niet om de history.
mvg Joost Hoogvliet
Historical sites like that must be protected. They serves a firm reminder of our colorful history.
Pretty ridicolous if you ask me that they are actually thinking about taking that away. It looks brilliant and it’s a historic monument. I still wonder why it ain’t on a special list like UNESCO. It indeed should be protected and besides it’s a recreational spot aswell so I”m sure it will rake some dollars in the end anyway by visitors and tourists. They should look at the big picture instead of plotting stupid decisions.
The hole area of the old German Battery is now protected by the law.
Thanks Martin for your message. Do you have a source?