In Defence of the Reich: Hitler's Atlantic Wall
World Wars
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22m
In 1942, Hitler ordered the construction of an extensive system of coastal defences and fortifications along the coast of continental Europe and Scandinavia as a defence against an anticipated Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe from the United Kingdom during the Second World War. The Atlantic Wall covered 1,670 miles and stretched all the way from Norway, along the Belgium and French coastline to the Spanish border.
In this documentary, James Rogers vists Esbjerg harbour on west coast of Denmark, where around 300 bunkers, concrete roads, canons, railroads, anti-armoured vehicle trenches, personnel buildings and mines were established. He is joined by Danish World War Two historian Rune Edberg who shows him around some of these impressive fortifications and explains the history behind their construction.
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