While the province did not host a major fortress (Festung), it featured a network of Verteidigungsbereiche (defense sectors), Stützpunkte (strongpoints), and Widerstandsnester (resistance nests) to protect the Ems estuary, Delfzijl harbor, and surrounding coastal and polder areas. German forces built coastal batteries, bunkers, anti-tank obstacles, and observation posts, forming a defensive line adapted to the flat and open landscape of Groningen.The route highlights key bunkers, fortifications, and museums that reveal Groningen’s wartime history. Highlights include the Bunkermuseum Delfzijl, the Casemate at Eemshaven, and several preserved coastal strongpoints along the Wadden Sea and Dollard estuary. These sites illustrate the defensive strategies employed in a province where the wide, open landscape made coastal observation and early warning particularly important.This route invites you to hike or cycle through the historic landscapes of Groningen, discovering the remnants of the Atlantikwall and the stories behind them.

The Netherlands

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A German bunker near Delfzijl, Groningen.

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Groningen coastal Atlantikwall route

Récupéré à l'origine en 1924, le Carel Coenraadpolder a été militarisé en 1942. Un camp de travailleurs a été converti en une batterie militaire contenant quatre canons d'artillerie de 10,5 cm. Cette batterie était l'une des seize qui protégeaient la ville portuaire allemande d'Emden, quatre autres étant situées dans les Pays-Bas occupés. La Batterie Dollart Süd avait pour tâche principale de se défendre contre les raids aériens et de surveiller la navigation alliée dans la région d'Ems-Dollard.Environ 150 artilleurs de la Kriegsmarine travaillaient dans la batterie et vivaient dans des baraquements en bois près de la digue. Leur vie quotidienne est marquée par la monotonie, l'isolement et un état d'alerte permanent. N'ayant que peu d'interactions avec la population locale, les soldats occupent leur temps en lisant, en écoutant de la musique et en bricolant. Bien que des projecteurs et des tirs de DCA aient été utilisés contre les avions alliés, la batterie n'a eu qu'un nombre limité de morts confirmées - peut-être un à trois avions au cours de la guerre.Lorsque les forces alliées avancent dans le nord des Pays-Bas en avril 1945, l'emplacement stratégique de la batterie en fait le dernier point d'appui des Allemands. Le 25 avril, le Regina Rifle Regiment de la 3e Division d'infanterie canadienne a lancé un assaut audacieux pour éliminer le point d'appui, qui contenait encore plusieurs canons d'artillerie actifs.À 1 h 00, la compagnie A, dirigée par le capitaine John Ivan Nicholson, commença l'attaque sous le couvert de l'obscurité. La section de tête est rapidement bloquée par des tirs nourris de mitrailleuses et de fusils. Lorsque son commandant est tué, Nicholson avance seul sous des tirs à bout portant, réorganise les troupes désorientées et les mène en avant. Avec des grenades et un courage exceptionnel, Nicholson réduit personnellement au silence les équipes de tir allemandes, redonne de l'énergie à sa compagnie et mène l'assaut. Résultat : plus de 130 prisonniers, quatre canons de 105 mm capturés et la batterie éliminée avec un minimum de pertes canadiennes. Pour sa bravoure et son leadership, Nicholson reçut la Croix militaire.Après la bataille, les baraquements en bois furent incendiés et la batterie cessa de fonctionner. Le site a ensuite été réaffecté aux besoins de l'après-guerre. Entre 1953 et 1961, il a brièvement servi de camp pour les familles ambonaises, d'anciens soldats coloniaux des Indes néerlandaises, et le Ambonezenbosje ("bois ambonien") y a été planté.Aujourd'hui, il ne reste plus aucune structure importante. Seules des traces subtiles, telles que des cratères de bombes et des vestiges de bâtiments, évoquent le passé de guerre de la batterie. Quelques chalets situés à proximité portent encore le nom de "Dollart Süd", mais la plupart des visiteurs ignorent l'importance du site.

Batterie Dollart Süd : Une batterie allemande oubliée sur le Dollard, 1942-1945 

Alors que les Canadiens avancent vers Delfzijl, le Westminster Regiment lance un assaut sur Woldendorp le 24 avril 1945. Progressant depuis Oostwold à travers le polder de Finsterwolde, ils essuyèrent un feu nourri de la batterie allemande Fiemel. Malgré cela, ils s'emparent rapidement de Woldendorp, soutenus par des chars et de l'artillerie. Les forces allemandes n'opposent que peu de résistance.Après la prise de Woldendorp, les forces canadiennes sont confrontées à de graves pénuries d'approvisionnement. Les vivres et les munitions s'amenuisent et le réapprovisionnement de jour est presque impossible sous le feu constant des Allemands. Ce soir-là, les troupes allemandes lancent une contre-attaque et encerclent les troupes canadiennes. Un feu nourri s'ensuit, mais il est repoussé avec l'aide de l'artillerie et des chars canadiens. Des renforts arrivent plus tard dans la nuit pour fortifier la position.Le 28 avril, sous une pluie battante, les forces canadiennes débarrassent Woldendorp des dernières troupes allemandes. Cependant, l'artillerie de la batterie Fiemel continue de dévaster le village, le laissant en grande partie en ruines.Les troupes canadiennes s'attaquent ensuite à Termunten et Termuntenzijl. Les forces allemandes, croyant que le port de Termuntenzijl offrirait une voie d'évacuation vers Emden, s'y sont concentrées. Le 29 avril, les forces canadiennes, appuyées par quatre chars, entrent dans les deux villages. Malgré les tirs d'artillerie continus de Fiemel, environ 500 soldats allemands se rendent avec une résistance minimale.Les patrouilles canadiennes avancent de Termuntenzijl vers Dallingeweer, à proximité des bunkers lourdement fortifiés de la batterie Fiemel. De leur position, les troupes canadiennes peuvent voir des soldats allemands opérer les canons, apparemment inconscients de leur proximité. Un assaut direct est exclu en raison des champs de mines, des barbelés et du terrain inondé. Au lieu de cela, les forces canadiennes tirent sur la batterie avec des chars Sherman et un obusier de 7,2 pouces, semant le chaos et la panique parmi les artilleurs allemands.La position des troupes canadiennes à Dallingeweer est exposée à des tirs d'artillerie potentiels, ce qui les oblige à se replier vers un endroit plus le long du Dallingeweersterdijk. Au cours de la nuit, les troupes allemandes lancent un bombardement féroce, mais à 03h00, la zone se tait.Le lendemain matin, le 1er mai 1945, un travailleur forcé russe révèle que les troupes allemandes ont détruit leur artillerie et se sont enfuies en traversant la rivière Ems. Une patrouille canadienne confirme que la batterie a été abandonnée et que tout l'équipement a été détruit.Pendant ce temps, d'intenses combats se poursuivent près de Weiwerd, retardant la libération de Farmsum jusqu'au 2 mai 1945. La dernière zone contestée des Pays-Bas est ainsi libérée.Une semaine plus tard, les habitants évacués retournent à Woldendorp et Termunten. Ce qui les attendait, c'était les ruines de leurs villages, un rappel brutal des batailles féroces menées pour assurer leur liberté.

L'enfer de Woldendorp 

Les expositions du musée mettent l'accent sur les expériences diverses et souvent tragiques des personnes touchées par la guerre, ce qui en fait un espace de réflexion et de compréhension. Le cadre - un véritable bunker de guerre - confère une authenticité viscérale à l'expérience du visiteur, soulignant les horreurs de la guerre tout en fournissant un contexte historique essentiel.Emden, une ville qui a subi d'immenses destructions pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, a connu l'un de ses jours les plus sombres le 6 septembre 1944, lorsque plus de 78 % de ses bâtiments ont été détruits, y compris la destruction complète de son centre historique. Malgré cela, les pertes humaines sont restées relativement faibles, grâce aux nombreux bunkers qui ont servi de refuge. Cet aspect unique de l'histoire d'Emden a inspiré la création du Bunkermuseum, afin que les générations futures comprennent le rôle vital que ces structures ont joué pour sauver des vies.Fondé en mars 1994 par l'association à but non lucratif Bunkermuseum e.V., le musée ne se contente pas de relater des événements historiques. Il vise à documenter et à faciliter les discussions sur la montée du national-socialisme, la dévastation de la Seconde Guerre mondiale et la résilience des habitants d'Emden. En explorant ces thèmes, le musée encourage les visiteurs à réfléchir aux conséquences de la guerre et à engager un dialogue constructif sur son héritage.Le Bunkermuseum n'est pas seulement un mémorial pour ceux qui ont vécu ces temps difficiles, mais aussi un espace d'apprentissage et d'engagement critique. Ses expositions fournissent des informations de base inestimables, reliant le passé au présent et favorisant une meilleure compréhension des événements qui ont façonné la région.

Germany

Musée du bunker d'Emden 

Malgré les objections du major Anthony Compton-Lundie, qui reconnaissait les dangers, l'attaque sur Wagenborgen fut ordonnée.À 2h10, la compagnie D avança vers Wagenborgen, se heurtant presque immédiatement à une forte résistance. Les tirs d'artillerie et de mitrailleuses clouèrent la compagnie au sol, et les tentatives d'avancer à travers les fossés et en bordure des champs s'avérèrent vaines. Les forces allemandes, soutenues par l'artillerie côtière, infligent de lourdes pertes. Une section dirigée par le sergent Dodd réussit à atteindre les abords du village, mais elle est stoppée et forcée de se rendre. En milieu d'après-midi, la compagnie D ne compte plus que huit soldats prêts au combat et de nombreux blessés restent sur place.Le quartier général tactique et un poste médical sont établis dans la ferme de Geert Smit, mais cet endroit devient une cible pour l'artillerie allemande. Vers 19 heures, la ferme est frappée par de multiples obus qui font s'effondrer le bâtiment et y mettent le feu. Onze soldats canadiens enfermés à l'intérieur, dont beaucoup étaient déjà blessés, périrent dans l'incendie. Le major Compton-Lundie, le lieutenant Huscroft et le capitaine Innes figurent parmi les victimes. Le sergent suppléant George Hugh Jackson fit preuve d'une bravoure extraordinaire, sauvant plusieurs blessés sous un feu nourri avant que toute autre tentative ne devienne impossible. Pour ses actions, il reçut plus tard la Médaille militaire.Les pertes sont dévastatrices : 15 soldats tués, 21 blessés et 15 prisonniers, presque tous de la compagnie D. La compagnie est temporairement dissoute et ce qu'il en reste est envoyé sur une nouvelle position. Pendant ce temps, les renforts des compagnies A, B et C reçoivent l'ordre de renforcer le front de Wagenborgen, et les patrouilles s'intensifient dans les jours qui suivent. Après trois jours de combats acharnés, la ville de Wagenborgen est libérée le 23 avril 1945. Les événements de Wagenborgen rappellent le coût élevé des dernières batailles de la guerre.

Un désastre à Wagenborgen

Supported by four tanks, the Canadians of the Westminster Regiment entered the area around both villages. Many Germans thought that the harbor of Termuntenzijl would offer a last escape to Emden in Germany, so many soldiers had gathered here.This was also the case when the Canadians entered the fishing village on April 30. However, the boat to Emden left too late for about 500 Germans. They could be captured before a shot was fired! What the Canadians found here was unbelievable: vehicles of all kinds, equipment, various types of weapons and ammunition, magazine stores, steam engines, boats and even complete hospital equipment.On Monday afternoon April 30 at noon, Termunten and Termuntenzijl were completely cleared and finally liberated. The area was not yet safe. The Batterie Termunten continued to fire at the Canadians with its heavy shells all day long. The Woldendorp and Termunten road was also under heavy fire, so that normal traffic was not possible. Later, a house in the area was hit and everything lit up. As a result, a Canadian truck with ammunition and rations was better visible as and was eventually hit by a grenade from the Batterie.The artillery of the nearby Battery Termunten would ravage the area until May 1, 1945. After this the battery was evacuated by the Germans and the guns disabled.

Too late for the boat to Emden

In June 1940, the first group of soldiers came to build the lookout post on the Middendijk. They made an eight-meter-high tower and a crew quarter that were partly sunk into the dike. The seven men and a non-commissioned officer were somewhat older: not suitable for the front, but for quiet, but important tasks. In April 1941 the group was relieved by another unit.The Fluwa van Warffum offered a clear view all around and the crew could see everything that flew from the west (England) in the direction of the German cities of Emden, Wilhelmshaven, Bremen, Hamburg and Kiel. The crew's shifts lasted twelve hours; the four of them worked at a time while the other four rested. The Germans of the Fluwa tried to maintain good relations with the local population. They regularly went to the cafe in Warffum, did their shopping and undertook small tourist trips. They also went into the polders to hunt or swim. The lookout post was not forbidden territory for the Warffumer youth: children from the polder who went to school in the village were allowed to walk across the site for a shorter route to the village.In March 1942, the Fluwa Warffum, like other Flugwaches in the Netherlands, was ordered to prepare for possible defense of the site. In France, a similar post had been raided and valuable information had fallen into the hands of the Allies. Fluwa Warffum had to be equipped with barbed wire barriers, a machine gun nest and a bunker. The crew also had to be able to withstand an encirclement and therefore have supplies and their own drinking water supply. The implementation of the plans was delayed until the summer of 1943.Barbed wire was placed around the bunker and a sign was placed near the road: 'Civilians who stay near these positions without evidence will be shot live.' However, the schoolchildren were still allowed to walk by. The Fluwa Warffum remained in use until October 1944. Then the modern radar station Gazelle near Veendam took over a large part of the tasks. The Fluwabunker at Warffum probably got another function as a defensible position. An aerial photograph from 1945 shows four gun emplacements next to the bunker, which the Germans could use against the Allies. However, the position was never fully completed and armed.When the Germans retreated towards Delfzijl during the fighting for the city of Groningen, they tried to destroy the Fluwa Warffum. They threw hand grenades into the bunker, but it was only slightly damaged. In their haste they made no second attempt. After the liberation, Canadian soldiers in Warffum regularly used the bunker to 'celebrate' their freedom with Dutch girls. In 1955 the bunker was demolished. At the same time, an Air Watchtower appeared near the location of the Fluwa, which was supposed to observe Russian aircraft during the Cold War. The location of the Fluwa was therefore extremely favorable.Source: Ties Groenewold, Flugwache Warffum, over een onbekende stelling in de Noordpolder

Flugwache Warffum, an unknown position in the Noordpolder

Contrary to what the location would suggest, the artillery along the Ems and Dollard coast was not intended to prevent an attack from the sea. The Wadden Sea was too shallow for an invasion fleet. The artillery in and around Delfzijl had to fight enemy fighters and bombers. This was mainly to defend the port city of Emden, on the other side of the Ems, less than 20 kilometers away.During the Second World War, Delfzijl was an important German fortification. Shortly after the Dutch capitulation, the installation of an anti-aircraft battery on the Eems coast was started: the Batterie Delfzijl. A few years later, German artillery was also placed at Nansum, Fiemel (near Termunten) and in the Carel Coenraadpolder. The batteries at Nansum and Fiemel were the heaviest on Dutch territory.Following the Allied landings in Normandy, the German occupier started in the summer of 1944 with the construction of bunkers for artillery emplacements on the Eems and Dollard coasts. Likewise, in Nansum. The concrete shelters had to provide protection for soldiers and ammunition during air raids. It is clear that an attack over land was expected, because the entrances to the bunkers were on the side of the dike.That attack came in the spring of 1945. After the liberation of the city of Groningen on April 16, the Canadians advanced to the 'Delfzijl Pocket'. That's what the Canadians called the area around Delfzijl, where the German soldiers were trapped. There was heavy fighting for two weeks, but on May 2, 1945, the last shots of the war took place in Farmsum. The remaining bunkers along the Eems and Dollard coast, such as in Nansum, are reminders of this heavy battle.

Battery Nansum 

As daylight approached, enemy defenses were clearly stronger than expected. The German strong point and coastal guns were positioned on the top of a dyke 30 feet high, and its guns covered all approaches across the flat open ground. Some of the German infantry were firing from concrete pillboxes at the foot of the dyke. Sergeant Mac Donald had fought its way into the center of the German position and had cleared and occupied a trench within 50 yards of the gun positions. The German soldiers were then firing at his platoon from all sides, with every weapon that could be brought to bear on the trench.Sergeant MacDonald, with five of his comrades, disregarding the intense German fire dashed forward a further 25 yards and occupied another German trench. Here they were subjected to the direct fire of a German bazooka and two machineguns fifty yards away. The Germans on the top of the dyke threw grenades down into the trench. Two of Sergeant Mac Donald’s comrades in the trench were killed and a third was mortally wounded. In the confusion of the exploding grenades and machinegun fire two Germans crept unnoticed and reaching the edge of the trench demanded surrender. Sergeant MacDonald and his two remaining comrades with their ammunition exhausted and covered by the German weapons appeared to have no alternative but to surrender. As they climbed out of the trench Sergeant MacDonald said to his comrades “While the rest of the Company is still fighting, we won’t give up, make a break for it”, upon which Sergeant MacDonald knocked down the nearest German soldier with his fist seized his rifle and killed the second German.As a result of this act the Germans in the pillboxes again opened fire and Sergeant MacDonald fell, seriously wounded in both legs. With great fortitude he crawled back to the trench in which his two comrades had already taken up positions and stayed with them for seven hours. Sergeant MacDonald’s daring attack, unarmed, on his armed captor allowed his comrades to reach safety. His supreme courage and cheerfulness during the long hours when he lay wounded in the trench encourage his comrades to hold their well unsustainable position until they were relieved seven hours later. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his action.

We won’t give up, make a break for it! 

During the Second World War, the port of Delfzijl was an important German fortification. Shortly after the Dutch capitulation, a start was made on setting up an anti-aircraft battery on the Eems coast, approximately where the Eemshotel now stands. This Battery Delfzijl was operational from May 29, 1940. It consisted of four cannons on the dike and a barracks camp at the foot of the dike for the men of the Küstenartillerie. German artillery was also placed at Nansum, Fiemel (Termunten) and in the Carel Coenraadpolder.The artillery on the Ems and Dollard coasts was not intended to prevent an attack from the sea. The shallow Wadden were unsuitable for a large invasion fleet. The German guns were able to fire on the shipping traffic at the mouth of the Ems. The Battery Delfzijl mainly served to defend the German city of Emden, on the other side of the Ems, less than 20 kilometers away. During the war, that German port had to endure 95 British and American air raids.From August 1944, the Germans built bunkers at the Battery Delfzijl and at the other artillery positions on the Ems and Dollard coasts. The reason for this was the Allied landing in Normandy on 6 June 1944 (D-Day). The concrete shelters primarily provided protection for soldiers and ammunition during air raids. It is clear that a land attack was expected. The entrances to the bunkers were on the side of the dike.Around Delfzijl there was also a whole system of trenches, barbed wire barriers and minefields. This 'Festung Emden-Delfzijl' had to be defended to the last man during an Allied attack. That attack came in the spring of 1945. A heavy battle for the 'Delfzijl Pocket' ensued for two weeks. The guns of the Battery were constantly firing at the approaching Canadians, who could barely find cover in the flat land. On May 1, the Germans in Delfzijl surrendered. A day later, the last shots of the war in Groningen sounded in neighboring Farmsum.

Cannons on the dike: the German Battery Delfzijl

During the Second World War, the German occupiers built bunkers near Fiemel. These bunkers were part of The Atlantic Wall, not an actual wall but a series of strategically located defences to prevent an Allied invasion. This defensive line of more than 5,000 km consisted of bunkers, flak guns and minefields, but was never fully completed. Construction of the line was a huge undertaking, with hundreds of thousand people working on it voluntarily—and non-voluntarily. The bunkers at Fiemel served to defend the German city of Emden, located on the Ems estuary. On 15 April 1945, the residents thought that liberation was imminent because several discouraged German units had left. Large parts of the Netherlands had already been liberated. But their happiness soon gave way to disappointment when new and more fanatical occupiers arrived. The new occupiers built defence lines in the polders between Termunten and Woldendorp. The Canadians made their advance but had to withdraw after a violent confrontation with the Germans. Nieuwolda was bombed by the artillery near Fiemel and in the Carel Coenraad polder. The damage was immense, and many civilians and soldiers lost their lives. The landscape and the lives of the locals were in ruins. The Canadians were more successful in a second attempt, which again had a huge impact on the surroundings. They opened fire on the position near Fiemel and attacked the Germans with tanks. Fear and uncertainty arose among the Germans, who decided to take a boat across the Ems to their homeland in the early morning of 30 April. On 2 May 1945, the province of Groningen was liberated, Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland were soon to follow Visit the Dollard Visitor Center in Termunten <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.groningerlandschap.nl/natuur/bezoekerscentra/bezoekerscentrum-dollard/">https://www.groningerlandschap.nl/natuur/bezoekerscentra/bezoekerscentrum-dollard/</a>&nbsp;