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Abandoned World War II Places still stand as powerful reminders of one of the darkest periods in modern history. Today, bunkers, military towers, fortified islands, ruined villages and old defence sites are still scattered throughout the territories of Europe, America and the Pacific.
In some locations, nothing was done, and in some others, they began to be abandoned after the military function was no longer needed. These abandoned locations are poignant reminders of wars, loss, survival and wartime defense, fascinating today with their tragic ruins of Oradour-sur-Glane in France and large flak towers in Vienna.
Haunting reminders of war
World War II stands as the deadliest and most all-encompassing war in history. The war itself unfolded primarily between two "armed blocks": the Allies, which comprised France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union joined later by America and Chinaand the Axis Powers, which included Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Countless other countries also entered the war, either voluntarily or under compulsion. Although the conflict ceased more than 80 years ago, evidence of it remains, and people can discover its traces everywhere in the world.
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Oradour-sur-Glane, Haute-Vienne, France
These are the ruins of Oradour-sur-Glane; the martyr village. On 10 June 1944, members of the 2nd SS Panzer Division "Das Reich" occupied the village, wrongly believing that its residents supported the French resistance, and they murdered 642 villagers including 240 women and 205 children.
Only 7 survivors remained after this horrific massacre. President Charles De Gaulle ordered that they leave the village exactly as it was to honor the memory of the victims.
Observation tower, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, USA
Nowadays, people can find these rather menacing looking concrete towers on the beaches of Delaware. Army observers initially occupied them from their completion in 1939-1942, staying alert for enemy boats attempting to enter the Delaware River on a course towards sites of military and strategic interest further up the river such as the Philadelphia Shipyard or the chemical plants at Wilmington.
Eleven towers, each occupied by eight men, were spaced over forty miles of Atlantic shoreline. Today, they have opened Tower 7 (and only Tower 7) to the public for tours of the tower in its role during the war years.
Japanese headquarters, Peleliu Island, Palau
At 11000, by the time they got around to occupying it on 15th July 1944, Japanese soldiers had created one of the most heavily fortified defenses on Peleliu to repel an American invasion; American troops had dug networks of bunkers, caves, and trenches deeply into the coral.
The Americans considered Peleliu of vital strategic value because it held an airfield that they desperately needed when launching their attacks against the Philippines. However, the fierce Battle of Peleliu continued for two grueling months once American troops landed in 1944. Incredibly, some Japanese soldiers managed to hide out on the island until 1947.
Bunker, Totleben Island, Gulf of Finland
An example of a fortified island on the Gulf of Finland, Fort Totleben played a role in WWII as part of the entire defense system of Kronstadt, which was designed for guarding Leningrad, now known as St Petersburg. The Gulf of Finland, a sea that borders to the north with Finland and to the east with Russia, was a key point that naval forces needed to defend.
Although, during the Siege of Leningrad from 1941 to 1944, Fort Totleben did not stand out prominently, a group of fortifications that surrounded the town of Kronstadt helped to seal the maritime access so that German forces could not attack the town from the sea.
Causeway to Cramond Island, Scotland, UK
West of Edinburgh's Leith Docks, the strategic post of Cramond Island significantly contributed to defenses in WW2 by blocking the entrance to the Forth Bridge and Royal Dockyard at Rosyth. Now abandoned, the island's gun emplacements and other military buildings litter the area, now accessible at low tide by the causeway that runs along from the shore and features 'teeth' of concrete, which the war built to form an obstacle against incoming U-boats or small vessels at high tide.
Bunker, Hurtgen Forest, Germany
Located some distance from the Belgian frontier, Hurtgen Forest raged fiercely from September to December 1944, marking the longest land battle of the Second World War that was fought on German soil.
Within Hurtgen Forest, the Germans established one of the most strongly fortified parts of the Siegfried Line and vigorously defended it with booby traps, wire obstacles, and extensive minefields, in addition to reinforced concrete bunkers similar to the one shown.
With the added benefit of incredibly dense forests, these conditions made life nearly impossible for American troops, who suffered an astounding 33,000 casualties during their challenging campaign.
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Flak tower, Vienna, Austria
This large concrete building, an anti-aircraft station that Nazi Germany built (known as a Flakturmd in German), also served as civilian shelters and hospital shelters during bombing attacks. "It's a bit like a medieval castle keep," as its walls are tremendously thick; the building contains its own reservoir of water and stocked up on supplies to be ready for long air raid attacks.
Indeed, after the war, demolition crews found it incredibly difficult to destroy such a massive building, and some structures have been preserved so far. Now, standing proudly in Vienna's Augarten, this impressive tower, at 180 feet (55 m), is recognized as the highest Flakturmd ever constructed.
FAQs
1. What are some abandoned World War II places?
Some notable examples include Oradour-sur-Glane in France, wartime observation towers in Delaware, Japanese military sites on Peleliu Island, Fort Totleben, Cramond Island, and bunkers in Germany.
2. Why was Oradour-sur-Glane left in ruins?
The village was preserved as a memorial after the 1944 massacre in which 642 people were killed by members of the Waffen-SS.
3. Are World War II bunkers still standing today?
Yes. Many bunkers and fortifications remain in Europe and other former battle zones, although access varies by location.
4. Why were the Delaware observation towers built?
They were built to help spot enemy vessels approaching the Delaware River and protect important military and industrial sites during World War II.
5. Can people visit abandoned World War II sites?
Some sites are open to visitors, while others are protected, restricted, dangerous, or accessible only with official permission.