Stp Karpfen is a small batterie site but one packed with concrete defensive structures. It was constructed to provide defence to the western port area of Dunkirk and started life as four open emplacements for 7.62cm field guns.
As the German occupation of the area continued the site began to evolve to help protect the guns here and two R669 casemates were constructed out of four planned for the strongpoint.
While most R669s are clearly recognisable and have that classic, rounded casemate shape, the two at Stp Karpfen were designed to look like houses or farm buildings with squared off sides and apex roofs.
One of the R669s also has the addition of an open emplacement on its roof, where a 2cm anti-aircraft gun was positioned.
Also at the site are the remains of around a dozen Wellblech personnel shelters, several small ‘Unterstand’ storage or personnel buildings, and a small Vf Kommandostand bunker with a dome-like structure on its roof, perhaps for observation.
This is a difficult site to access safely and is not only heavily overgrown during the summer month but marsh-like too in the wetter weather so be careful if visiting.