Before us stands the Centre Marine de Houilles Commandant Millé a place steeped in history. This unassuming site near Paris holds secrets from World War II. It was more than just a military base. It was a vital cog in the Nazi war machine.
Initially a quarry providing excellent stones for Paris’s iconic landmarks this area transitioned. In the mid-19th century mushroom cultivation thrived here. The famous Parisian mushrooms found their home here before the war changed everything.
In 1939 the French Air Ministry commandeered part of the quarries. They established an underground factory for Hispano-Suiza aircraft engines. The quiet hum of production was soon replaced by a different kind of industry.
Following France’s defeat the German Kriegsmarine took over. The vast underground complex became the largest torpedo storage facility in all of France. Imagine 3000 workers toiling 24/7 under the watchful eyes of 800 German soldiers. They transformed 175 224 square meters of subterranean space. They built bombproof ventilation shafts a reinforced lift and a mined no-man’s-land. They even connected everything with trenches. Anti-aircraft batteries and blockhouses completed the formidable defense. The base also served as a German communications hub.
Despite being known to the Allies the Centre Marine de Houilles Commandant Millé was never bombed. Its strategic importance was clear yet its location shielded it from Allied attacks. It was a marvel of hidden military infrastructure.
On August 25 1944 the Germans destroyed much of the underground installation. They blew up the lift and an entrance before abandoning the site. The remaining underground structures and torpedoes were photographed by the French Resistance. Their efforts helped us understand the scale of this secret base.
After the war the French Navy took over the Centre Marine de Houilles Commandant Millé. It expanded to 220 000 square meters. It served as a storage facility for naval construction maritime works and communication services. By 1960 it became the strategic command center of the French Navy housing the command of the Strategic Oceanic Force. The base was renamed Centre Commandant Millé in 1970. Today it stands as a testament to the resilience and hidden history of wartime France.