Northumbrian Gunner: IJmuiden

On the 23rd March 1942 Hitler issued Fuhrer Directive 42 ordering the creation of the Atlantic Wall, coastal defences which would stretch 1,500 miles from northern Norway to the coast of Spain. The aim was to protect ports and prevent Allied invasion of Europe.

The defences consisted of over 15,000 strong points including coastal batteries, emplacements and concrete pill boxes supplemented by obstacles, minefields and barbed wire. The defences were organised into eight commands, Wehrmacht Netherlands Command controlling the defences in Holland.

Atlantic Wall in the Netherlands

The port of IJmuiden not only served as the port and entrance for Amsterdam, it was also a fast torpedo boat base. To protect the port, coast batteries, air defence batteries, as well as infantry positions were built together with a series of command centres.

FESTUNG IJMUIDEN

In the middle of the harbour at IJmuiden on a small island the Kernwerk Fort is located. The casemates housed 2 x 15cm, 1 x 9.4 cm guns, an airdefence gun, as well as machine gun emplacements.

Kernwerk Fort Eiland