Stützpunkt 18 MKB Oldenburg - 612 Schartenstand

This Stützpunkt (Marine Küstenbatterie) was part of the German Atlantic Wall (Atlantikwall).

The full name of this type was: 612 Schartenstand für Lande- und Sturmabwehrgeschütze ohne Nebenräume.

East of Calais you will find the site of Marine Küstenbatterie (MKB) "Oldenburg", also known as Stützpunkt (Stp) 18. The most remarkable constructions are the two three stories high gun-casemates. These are positioned at approximately two hundred yards distance from each other.

In order to enlarge the shooting angle of the guns the casemates were built tapering from wide outside to smaller inwards.

The main armament of the battery was installed here. It consisted out of a 24 cm gun of the type 24 cm SK L/40 of the Krupp AG company from Essen.

The access, like with all constructions, was enabled from the land side. Three staircases lead towards the lower floors with their toilets, machine rooms and preparation rooms. Numerous machine gun nests and mortar positions as well as anti-tank guards surrounded the complex. Also a large hospital bunker was established here. For anti aircraft protection various French 7,5 cm Flak, English 4 cm Flak and 2 cm guns could be employed.

The guns did however not reach the English main land, but could indeed very well spread fire over the ships’ entrance of the narrow strait. English transport convoys and destroyers have been attacked from here several times.

In spite of the gigantic measurements of the gun-casemates (35 meters wide and 15 meters deep [approx. 115 ft by 50 ft]) they were very well integrated into the landscape.

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Source

• Text: The German 15th Army at the Atlantikwall & Bertrand Nollet
• Photos: Bertrand Nollet