Batterie Pommern

Batterie Pommern, also known as Lange Max, was the world's biggest gun in 1917, during World War I. The German gun was of type 38 cm SK L/45 "Max" and had a modified design by Krupp compared to earlier German 38 cm gun types. The modification allowed the gun to shoot from Koekelare to Dunkirk, which is about 50 km away.

Location

Batterie Pommern is located in Koekelare in the neighborhood called Leugenboom. It is part of Site Lange Max, next to the Lange Max Museum. Today you can still visit the immense artillery platform.

Construction

The 15inch (38 cm) long range gun, protected by armour, was mounted on a steel bridge having a pivot in front. The rear part of the gun travelled along a circular rail-track in a concrete pit of about 70 feet in diameter. The gun was manoeuvred by means of electric motors. On either side were large shelters in reinforced concrete. In front of and below the platform there was an electric generator group. A large shelter of reinforced concrete on the right was probably the Post of Commandment. There was a dummy gun emplacement further on.

History

On June 27, 1917 the gun fired for the first time. Its target was Dunkirk where the first shot was a direct hit. Dunkirk and Ypres were the main targets of the gun. During the III. Flandernschlacht it played a huge role for the Germans.[1]

During the Interbellum the Pommern battery was one of the most successful attractions in the battlefield tourism in Belgium. It was featured in the Michelin Guide "L'Yser et la côte belge". Famous visitors to the Site Lange Max over time include:

References

  1. ↑ Temporary exhibition at the Lange Max Museum "III. Flandernschlacht in onze regio"
  2. ↑ THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918
  3. ↑ THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918
  4. ↑ THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918
  5. ↑ Battlefield tourism on the coast after WWI - VLIZ
  6. ↑ Battlefield tourism on the coast after WWI - VLIZ
  7. ↑ Eckart Cuntz, ambassadeur Duitsland bezoekt Lange Max
  8. ↑ Koninklijke Thaise ambassade bezoekt het Lange Max Museum - Koekelare - 17/01/2015

Coordinates: 51°07′01″N 2°58′56″E / 51.1169°N 2.9823°E / 51.1169; 2.9823

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