The Normandy port city of Le Havre – on the mouth of the River Seine – was classified as a ‘Festung’ or fortress city due to the level of defences created by German forces following its occupation.
As well as fortifying existing French forts and defensive sites, dozens of new German sites were created along the clifftop coastline, surrounding the port, and in the city itself.
Many of these have disappeared under the expansion of the city but there are a still a few remnants to be found around the port, although not all are accessible any more.
On the cliffs north of the port you can find the Kriegsmarine batterie of MKB Le Havre which once boasted a massive S446 observation bunker for the heavy gun batterie behind where two 38cm naval guns were due to be positioned in huge S536 type emplacements. Neither of the guns were ever installed before the site was abandoned.
Today the concrete emplacements, and the observation post, are covered by vegetation and junk and are difficult to access. Three large shelter buildings can also been seen but not accessed as they also stand in off-limits areas including a car scrapyard and recycling site.
Le Havre was subject to Allied bombing raids throughout the war, but it was the full spectrum assault of Operation Astonia where air, sea, and land-based attacks of September 10, 11, and 12 which finally saw the city and its vital port liberated by British and Canadian forces.
Around 11,300 German troops are reported to have been captured on September 12, but it would take until October 9 for the port facility to be cleared for Allied use in landing men and materiel for the liberation of Europe.