generator
A 26 ton diesel generator / alternator,installed in 'Bauvorhaben 21' (now 'La Coupole') by the Germans in 1944 to make the site indipendent from the grid. The generator is displayed in what is most likely not its original place.
The site, nown as ‘La Coupole’ today carried several code names by the Germans. It was know as Bauvorhaben 21 (building project 21), Schotterwerk Nordwest (Northwest Gravel Works) or Wizernes.
After the succeful bombing raids on the ‘Watten’ bunker near the French village of Eperleques, the Germans had were forced to look for an alternative site for V2 rocket preparation and launch.
In october 1943 they started Construction of the dome with the intention to create a site that could store and prepare about 500 V2 rockets that would then be launched at a rate of up to 50 / day. The site was chosen because of its accessability by rail, far enough from the coast to reduce the risk of Brittish commando raids, and still within the 320 km range of London for the V2 /A4 rocket.
Construction was started on a concrete dome, 71 meters in diameter and 5 meter thick, in october 1943 but between the 11th March 1944 and the 20/21 July 1944 , the site was repeatedly bombed by the allied air forces.
On 3 July 1944 the German high command finaly gave permission to stop construction on the heavely damaged site. On 18 july 1944 Hitler authorised the downsizing of the site into a liquid oxygen (LOX) production facility. However shortly thereafter, the area was liberated by the Canadian army.
generator
A 26 ton diesel generator / alternator,installed in 'Bauvorhaben 21' (now 'La Coupole') by the Germans in 1944 to make the site indipendent from the grid. The generator is displayed in what is most likely not its original place.
The site, nown as ‘La Coupole’ today carried several code names by the Germans. It was know as Bauvorhaben 21 (building project 21), Schotterwerk Nordwest (Northwest Gravel Works) or Wizernes.
After the succeful bombing raids on the ‘Watten’ bunker near the French village of Eperleques, the Germans had were forced to look for an alternative site for V2 rocket preparation and launch.
In october 1943 they started Construction of the dome with the intention to create a site that could store and prepare about 500 V2 rockets that would then be launched at a rate of up to 50 / day. The site was chosen because of its accessability by rail, far enough from the coast to reduce the risk of Brittish commando raids, and still within the 320 km range of London for the V2 /A4 rocket.
Construction was started on a concrete dome, 71 meters in diameter and 5 meter thick, in october 1943 but between the 11th March 1944 and the 20/21 July 1944 , the site was repeatedly bombed by the allied air forces.
On 3 July 1944 the German high command finaly gave permission to stop construction on the heavely damaged site. On 18 july 1944 Hitler authorised the downsizing of the site into a liquid oxygen (LOX) production facility. However shortly thereafter, the area was liberated by the Canadian army.