Dieppe, a coastal town in the Seine-Maritime department of France, is built along a cliff that overlooks the English Channel. The cliff keeps one of the most impressive remains of the so called « Atlantic wall » - a defense line of fortresses and bunkers constructed by the Germans during WWII. At Dieppe, German workers have dug 700 metres of galleries into the cliff…
The site is not open to the public, but in April 2011, I got the chance to visit and photograph this extraordinary piece of German war architecture on French territory.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
The chalk cliff and some bunkers on the beach.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
The entrance to the undergrounds.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
Inside, the galleries start with pointed arch.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
In the galleries.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
400 steps lead up and down the cliff.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
Electric cables are still fixed to the walls.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
Italian forced workers have carved their names into the wall.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
The figure of a woman carved into the wall.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
The Germans have constructed numerous loopholes to keep enemies at bay.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
Another double loophole.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
Inside, the frame of the loophole is in wood to absorb rebounding bullets.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
One of the bunkers that can been accessed from the galleries.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
In the moist microclimate of the bunker, dry root fungus grow on the wooden pieces.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
In the galleries, space that was designed for living (1).
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
In the galleries, space that was designed for living (2).
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
A stone carving indicating that the II/935 battalion has been staying here.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
One of two dormitories. 30 soldiers were sleeping here.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
The water tank of 70 qm3.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
On the way to a 19th century chalk quarry.
Dieppe WWII undergrounds -
The « gob » is a impressive 19th century chalk quarry in the cliff.
