Nestled in the extensive dunes system to the south of Equihen-Plage, Stp Waldrand was one of a series of powerful sites which protected the long beach area on Boulogne-sur-Mer’s southern flank.
Many of the buildings are still there to be visited via due tracks but shifting sands, scrap metal collection, and 80 years of erosion has taken its toll on some of the structures.
Waldrand stands less than 100m inland of the beachfront complex of Stp Obelisk where there were a series of machine gun Tobruks, a R502 personnel shelter, and three gun positions. One was for a 5cm KwK anti-tank gun inside an open emplacement while a Skoda 4.7cm Fortress gun was protected by a special construction, early design bunker.
A large, R612 casemate – facing north - would be able to cover the beach in a crossfire with Stp Kornblume’s R612 near Equihen-Plage. Both the R502 and R612 casemate were originally higher up in the dunes but now rest at alarming angles on the beach.
Inland, at Waldrand, there were two R612 casemates and both featured 7.5cm artillery guns. Now almost completely buried, access isn’t possible inside either of them.
These two casemates almost face each other, but we designed to fire along the beaches at longer ranges that the weapons at Obelisk. The southern casemate fired to the north west and the northern R612 covered the sands to the south west.
Surrounding the casemates are an outer ring of defensive Vf58c type Tobruks – six in total – with two of them also featuring small personnel shelters attached. One of the Tobruks, located between the two casemates has been subjected to a large explosion at some point and lies in ruins. Others are now standing at unusual angles after movement of the dune sand.
Also ruined are two Wellblech personnel shelters which are located to the rear of the casemates. Near to the shelters you can find lots of evidence of material from the era, including rusty lengths of barbed wire and metal from their arched steel roofs.
A seventh Tobruk is also present at the site, and this is of a different design in order for it to accommodate a tank turret for added 360 degree firepower from the rear of the complex.