Fort Hanstholm, Northern Denmark Region, Denmark

Fort Hanstholm, Northern Denmark Region, Denmark 

Fort Hanstholm was built in the Second World War by the German occupiers as part of the Atlantikwall and it was with the completion in 1940 one of the first reinforcements that were completed in that context. The main objective was to cover the Skagerrak , together with Fort Vara in Kristiansand in Norway , in order to close the Kattegat.

For this purpose a coastal battery was installed in Fort Hanstholm , including four 38cm guns with a range of up to 55 kilometers, built by Rheinmetall . The guns were originally intended for the battleship the Gneisenau , but after it was bombed, the eight guns were divided between the two forts on either side of the Skagerrak.

Furthermore, the fort had four guns with a caliber of 17 centimeters, several pieces of anti-aircraft guns and radar installations . The guns were protected by, among other things, 3.5 meters of reinforced concrete and many bunkers, racks and barriers.

Epic Denmark Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound