I visited the Grand Bunker museum on a cold and rainy 8 March 2012. The concrete bunker museum offers
visitors a view of the German Shooting Command and Management Station at
Ouistreham, Normandy, France near Sword Beach. The 17-metre (52 feet) high construction has five
levels and was part of Nazi Germany’s Atlantic Wall defense against the
expected allied invasion of France.
The bunker was built in 1943-1944. The bunker was disabled
by a direct hit from British battle cruiser, H.M.S. Frobisher on D-Day, 6 June
1944. It is located near the site of the Sword Beach landings. Troops led by Lt. Bob Orrell eventually
captured the bunker on 9 June and took 52-53 (sites vary in number) prisoners.
The rooms in the museum have been restored to their
functions at the time of D-Day. The museum opened in 1987. At the upper level, we
get a full view of the beaches where Operation Overlord took place.
At the lower levels, we glimpse life for the German soldiers
as they await the inevitable allied invasion.
Vehicles and war machines are on the grounds.
Rating: 4 of 5. It is a very good portrayal of a unique
aspect of WWII. On the web you will see most ratings are 4 or 5 out of 5. The
only significant negative is the glare, which interferes with viewing the contents of items
behind glass (a common problem of many museums).
Location: Avenue
du 6 Juin, 14150 Ouistreham, France.
Admission: There
is a modest charge to enter the museum. Check the website for current prices.
Hours: The museum
is open most days of the year, but there are some closures so check the website
for details. Opening times vary from 9:00 or 10:00 am and close at 6:00 or 7:00
pm, depending on the time of year.
Parking: Free
parking is available.
Tel: +33 231 971 869
Website: http://museegrandbunker.com/en/
For Related Posts See the list of D-Day and World War II
https://suttontravels.blogspot.com/2019/05/d-day-allies-invade-nazi-europe.html
