Valentin submarine pens, Submarine factory bunker in Rekum, Bremen, Germany
The Valentin submarine factory is a 426-metre-long concrete bunker on the Weser in Rekum, built 1943–1945. Its roof of reinforced concrete arches is up to 7 metres thick, with two box-like structures above assembly bays 9 and 10. A low red-brick annex with small windows and a brick chimney runs along the base.
Construction began in 1943 and was carried out by thousands of forced laborers under terrible conditions. The structure never progressed beyond its raw state, as Allied bombing raids and the war's end prevented completion.
The name refers to a wartime project for mass production of submarines. Today the site serves as a learning center where visitors can trace the fates of forced laborers through documents and testimonies.
Guided tours run regularly and last around two hours, so visitors should bring weatherproof clothing for any conditions. The grounds are mostly accessible, though some areas remain difficult to reach and are recommended only for mobile visitors.
The roof was designed to withstand direct bomb hits, which explains why concrete layers reach up to seven meters thick in some spots. Despite the enormous construction effort, not a single submarine was ever completed here.
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