Veines, Kongsfjord
Posted: 14 Jun 2013 19:15
During a wonderful cycle trip across northern Norway in 2011, I visited the ruins of the German fortress on the Veines Peninsular, near Kongsfjord. I was fascinated by all that I saw and took many photographs. (The attached photograph is of the tank that maintains its lonely vigil at the site.)
I would be very grateful if anyone could pass on some more information about the fortress. I would particularly welcome responses to the questions below. Any answers to these questions will help me in the completion of an essay that I am writing about the experience of visiting this site.
When was the fortress constructed, and how long did it take to complete the site?
What was the purpose of the fortress, and when was it evacuated by the Germans?
How many men were based at this location?
How many other fortresses of this sort were built along the Finnmark coastline?
What were the types and numbers of weapons employed at the fortress? And what was the range of the artillery located at this site?
Were Soviet Prisoners of Wars (and other POWs) used in the construction and maintenance of the site?
When the German troops abandoned the site, did they take guns and ammunition away with them, or did they destroy weapons? (It seems that the Veines fortress was not systematically destroyed by the departing Germans.)
Am I correct in thinking that scrap metal (including large amounts of barbed wire) was collected from the fortress after the War?
Many thanks for any help that can be provided.
Martin in Wales
I would be very grateful if anyone could pass on some more information about the fortress. I would particularly welcome responses to the questions below. Any answers to these questions will help me in the completion of an essay that I am writing about the experience of visiting this site.
When was the fortress constructed, and how long did it take to complete the site?
What was the purpose of the fortress, and when was it evacuated by the Germans?
How many men were based at this location?
How many other fortresses of this sort were built along the Finnmark coastline?
What were the types and numbers of weapons employed at the fortress? And what was the range of the artillery located at this site?
Were Soviet Prisoners of Wars (and other POWs) used in the construction and maintenance of the site?
When the German troops abandoned the site, did they take guns and ammunition away with them, or did they destroy weapons? (It seems that the Veines fortress was not systematically destroyed by the departing Germans.)
Am I correct in thinking that scrap metal (including large amounts of barbed wire) was collected from the fortress after the War?
Many thanks for any help that can be provided.
Martin in Wales