Naval Gun Battery Plouharnel

Gun Battery Plouharnel is located on the Quiberon peninsula in southern Brittany. Plouharnel battery, as part of Festung Lorient, would have protected the waters south of the port. The battery Consisted of three 340 mm. railway guns and were placed in open terrain protected by reinforced concrete walls.

In addition to the three guns, Battery Plouharnel included bunkers for munitions, crew, air defense, close combat and a 14-meter high fire command bunker.

Erwin Rommel was responsible for the German defense in the west and went on an inspection tour along the Atlantic wall. In April 1944 Rommel visited battery Plouharnel.

After the Allied landings and the advance through Bretagne, battery Plouharnel’s guns along with the rest of Lorient were besieged by the Allies. It was not until March 1945, that the guns at Plouharnel were captured after a prolonged bombardment by Allied artillery. The rest of Lorient remained in German hands until 10 May 1945.

After the War, the area became a French army, testing ground for a number of years. The site is now open to the public.