A Walking Tour of Møvik Fort and Battery Vara Preview

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Cannon II et introduction à l'histoire du fort Møvik et de la batterie Vara.

Cannon II est l’une des 50 armes d’artillerie navale SK / 34 de 38 cm (15 pouces) qui ont été produites à Essen, en Allemagne, par la Krupp Steelworks. Les canons ont été numérotés de 50 à 100 et il s’agit du numéro 79. Il s’agit de l’un des plus grands canons à terre jamais construit. Seuls les canons de 40 cm installés à Harstad, en Norvège, sont plus gros.Le numéro 79 est l’une des rares pièces d’artillerie navale de la deuxième guerre mondiale entièrement fonctionnelles : le système d’alimentation des obus, les générateurs diesel et la plupart des installations et accessoires montés à côté du bunker de service sont toujours intacts. Le canon peut être élevé et tourné de son propre chef. Il ne peut cependant pas être utilisé.Le musée du canon de Kristiansand est situé dans le bunker sous ce canon. Si vous êtes intéressé, vous pouvez acheter un billet qui vous permettra de voir les machines et l'équipement dans le bunker et de visiter l'intérieur de la tourelle.Nous espérons que vous apprécierez votre visite de cette installation historique et technologiquement importante. Nous aurons plus à dire sur chacun des 32 points du tour. À mesure que vous approchez des autres points de la visite, votre téléphone portable devrait commencer à afficher des informations sur ce point. Si ce n'est pas le cas, appuyez simplement sur l'icône correspondant à ce point et les informations apparaîtront.Prenez quelques minutes pour écouter une introduction à l'histoire des événements du 9 avril 1940, à la planification et à la construction du fort Møvik et de la batterie de Vara, ainsi que l'histoire de cet énorme canon. "Appuyer sur Audio" bouton ci-dessus.L'introduction audio dure environ 6 minutes. Trouvez donc un endroit confortable pour vous asseoir afin d'en apprendre davantage sur cet ouvrage historique et d'une grande technologie.

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2

La rose des vents

Cette rose des vents en pierre a probablement été sculptée entre 1530 et 1570.Si vous souhaitez avoir plus d'informations sur ce lieu, cliquez sur le bouton "Play Audio" ci-dessus.

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3

Poste de commandement de réserve

PLAY VIDEOPour que le fort de Møvik soit opérationnel quelles que soient les conditions, ce poste de commandement de réserve a été construit juste à l'extérieur de Cannon II. Le principal poste de commandement, doté d'un centre de conduite de tir et d'un télémètre stéréoscopique, était situé à Høyfjellet sur Flekkerøya.

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Emplacement du canon anti-aérien de 40 mm

Cet emplacement contenait un canon antiaérien de 40 mm. Il s’agissait probablement d’un canon revolver Flak de 3,7 cm, une série de canons anti-aériens fabriqués en Allemagne et largement utilisés au cours de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Le canon revolver était entièrement automatique et efficace contre les aéronefs volant à 4 200 m d’altitude.

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Cannon I

Cannon I was never delivered. If you would like to hear the story of how that came to be, and how this huge bunker was built, please listen to the audio file for this point.

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6

Forge and Metal Workshop

The smithy was important to the construction process on the fortifications. Drilling equipment was picked up in the morning and handed back in at night. The blacksmith then made sure the drills were honed again during the night.

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Communications Bunker

This bunker is divided into two parts. The eastern half housed equipment that provided internal telephonic communications between the weapons systems, command and control systems, and base perimeter security. There were also secure radio connections with the outside world. The western half of the building housed an extra diesel generator that powered the communications equipment as well as being a backup supply for the cannon emplacements. One generator could provide power for two cannons.

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Barracks

Not much is to be seen of this barracks building. The foundation wall remains, as do the remains of the foundation walls of the bathhouse next door. On the opposite side of the road there were the toilets. This building had a central corridor with rooms on either side.

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Barracks with Basement Bunker

Originally a barracks for the crew. The basement bunker has been bricked up.

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Bunker and Ammunition Depot

This building was used as an ammunition depot for the anti-aircraft guns during the war, and as a depot for rifles after the war. Ammunition needed to operate the guns, was an explosion hazard, so it needed to be very well protected against enemy attacks.

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Barracks

There are only remnants of the foundation walls remaining from this barracks building. On the opposite side of the road was the canteen, which also served as a R&R building for the German soldiers. The Germans had a very good welfare and recreation program for their troops. It featured entertainment such as: motion pictures, and travelling troupes of musicians, singers and actors. The observation of religious feast days and holidays was important, and the large camps had special “matrons” who would help make life as much like ‘home’ as possible for the German soldiers.

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Sports Fields

PLAY VIDEOThese sports fields were a beehive of activity during the war. They were also used for assemblies and roll-call. Just south of the sports fields, we find Russemyr, a wetland covering around 2,47 acres of bogs and ponds. Russemyr is a major ‘barren’ type of bog. It is almost completely covered with reeds, and with some tufts of cotton sedge. In the pond there are ordinary shore weeds, water lilies, and cattail. The area is important as a habitat for several species of amphibia, and an interesting site for wetland birds. For a time, Russemyr belonged to Møvik Farm.Click the "Play Video" button above if you would like to see a short video about the German soldier's daily life, sports, and unit formations from Battery Vara during the War.

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Barracks

This is one of the few remaining wooden buildings left in the area. Troops stationed here during the war lived in this building. After the war it became the residence of the caretaker of Møvik Fort.

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Officer's Mess and Canteen

There was a wide gap between officers and the rank and file. This was particularly pronounced in larger military installations. Officers had better accommodations than the enlisted soldiers. They enjoyed better located and higher quality canteen/recreational facilities than the common soldiers. These buildings were often called a Casino. The name indicates that the facility was used for many types of recreational activities. The building was later used as a barracks for officers. The foundation walls/basement remain. Along the road there are also remnants of the foundations of a smithy and workshop.

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40mm Anti-Aircraft Cannon Emplacement

This emplacement held a 40 mm anti-aircraft gun. It was probably a 3.7cm Flak cannon which was a series of anti-aircraft cannon produced in Germany that saw widespread service in the Second World War. The cannon was fully automatic and effective against aircraft flying at altitudes up to 4,200 meters.From the observation platform of the bunker there are splendid views over Randesund, Flekkerøy and the sea.

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Ammunition Storage Bunker

In order to minimise the threat of a catastrophic explosion, the ammunition for the guns was stored here, 800 meters away from the weapons. The German specifications for ammunition storage called for 1000 meters of separation between storage and the guns, however it was felt that the terrain here at Møvik was rough enough to wave this rule.This is the only building inside the fortress with a Grade I listed exterior. From here ammunition was transported to gun emplacements I and II by a narrow-gauge railroad .

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Ammunition Magazine

This building by built in 1950, by the Norwegian Military to house the extra 38cm ammunition left over from the war. The two primary ammunition storage bunkers were full, and there were almost 1500 extra loads and shells piled on the ground when war ended.

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Pig Pens

In this area the Germans kept pigs for their own food supply. The pigs were fed leftovers from the messes and canteens.

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Ammunition Bunker

This bunker served the ammunition for cannons III and IV. It is partially bricked up and is not in as good condition as the other large ammunition bunker.

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Firing Position with Bunker

In addition to the anti-aircraft guns installed to defend the site against attack from the air, there was a system of close range defensive positions with trenches and firing positions defending the fort from land attack.

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Scenic Viewpoint

PLAY VIDEOEnjoy this wonderful view to the south east where you can see Oksøy and Grønningen.If you would like to see a short video about daily life in the Norwegian Military here at Møvik Fort during the 1950's, click the "Play Video" button above.

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Commander's Quarters

The Commander of Battery Vara lived here in an elegant house. A house that befitted his powerful station. The first Commander of Batterie Vara was named Lindh. After the war, the house was used to accommodate Norwegian officers. Sadly, there are only a few bricks left here to show us where this lovely building once stood.

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Electrical Transformer

The Fort required a lot of electricity to build, to operate the guns, and to power the military camp in general. Møvik Fort had its own main transformer, which is no longer in use.

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Enlisted Mess and `Kitchens

PLAY VIDEOThis was the primary kitchen for Møvik Fort. The building was also used as a mess hall for enlisted soldiers. The kitchen/soldiers’ mess hall was a focal point of daily life at the camp. On special occasions German specialities were served for the troops. The building was later used as a district equipment issue depot for the Norwegian Home Guard unit: HV-07.If you would like to see a short video about daily life here at Battery Vara during World War Two, click the "Play Video" button above.

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Infirmary

All major military installations had their own infirmary, or sick bay, to care for the wounded and to provide sanitary services. With a large group of men living in close quarters, the risk of infection was high. Some of the camps also had isolation wards in case of epidemic disease. This building was later used as offices and as a mess hall for officers.

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Barracks

The building we see today, was erected in 1977 on the foundation of a German barracks. Just behind this building are the foundations of the original bathhouse and latrine.

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Cannon IV

PLAY VIDEOThis is the entrance to the Cannon IV emplacement and bunker. The gun installed here was the same type as Gun II. Following the Storting’s (Norwegian Parliament) decision to decommission Møvik Fort in 1959, the guns were sold as scrap iron. The bunker has been bricked up, but is still an interesting reminder of the military activities here. If you look to the right of the entrance, you will find a path up to the top of the bunker.If you are interested, click the video link here to watch a short Norwegian Military training film from 1947 which illustrates how the cannons were loaded, trained, and fired.

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Barracks

Only the foundations of this barracks building remain. Across the road are the remaining foundations of two more barracks.

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Barracks

Only the basement of these barracks remain. The soldiers who lived here would have manned the nearby 40mm flak gun.

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40mm Anti-Aircraft Cannon Emplacement

This emplacement held a 40 mm anti-aircraft gun. It was probably a 3.7cm Flak cannon which was a series of anti-aircraft cannon produced in Germany that saw widespread service in the Second World War. The cannon was fully automatic and effective against aircraft flying at altitudes up to 4,200 meters.The bunker housed personnel and ammunition for the gun. Later, the bunker was bricked up. From the bunker roof there is a view over Odderøya, Fredriksholm and Randesund.

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Kannon III

This was the entrance to the Cannon III bunker and emplacement. The gun installed was of the same type as Gun II, and suffered the same fate as Gun IV. The emplacement with the bunker is still impressive to behold.

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Water Reservoir

Water has always been an important consideration in warfare. At Møvik Fort, water was needed for the installation itself and the 600 people stationed here. Water was pumped from the municipal water mains up to the water reservoir, which in turn supplied most of the buildings of Møvik Fort. The estimated total volume of water stored here was 450 m3 (450,000 litres!).

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Water Reservoir

This reservoir also provided water for the installation. It contained a coal-fired boiler with coils through which water passed to prevent freezing in winter.This is the end of the Walking Tour of Møvik Fort and Battery Vara. However, if you would like to learn more about further sights to see and places to visit, please listen to the audio file available at this stop.We hope you have enjoyed your tour!

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