Todt Battery

The Todt Battery is a fortified installation with four gun bunkers on the French coast near Cape Gris-Nez, 60 meters above sea level. Each bunker originally housed a heavy naval gun with a caliber of 380 millimeters.

The German military built this position between 1940 and 1942 as part of the Atlantic Wall fortifications. The construction was directed by Organisation Todt, which employed thousands of forced laborers for the work during the war.

The site takes its name from Fritz Todt, the German engineer who designed the defense system and whose organization supervised the construction work. Visitors today see the original bunkers with their thick concrete walls and narrow openings for the guns, making the military daily life tangible.

One preserved bunker is accessible and displays exhibits along with military equipment from the period. In the outdoor area stands a German K5 railway cannon with 280-millimeter caliber that can be viewed up close.

The guns could hit targets at a range of 55.7 kilometers, allowing fire across the English Channel to England. However, the bunkers had to be ventilated after each shot, as the explosion filled the entire interior space with smoke and powder fumes.

Location: Audinghen

Inception: August 1940

Official opening: March 15, 1942

Made from material: concrete

Part of: Atlantic Wall

GPS coordinates: 50.84435,1.59992

Latest update: December 4, 2025 21:36