Recall the chilling echoes of wartime Hamburg. This is the U-Boot-Bunker Fink II. It stands as a stark reminder of a dark chapter in history.
The U-Boot-Bunker Fink II, camouflaged with the name Fink II, was not just any structure. It was a massive U-boat bunker. Construction spanned from 1941 to 1944. This colossal bunker had the capacity to house 15 U-boats. Types VII, IX, and XXI found shelter within its walls. It became the largest base in Germany. Only the unfinished Valentin bunker in Bremen-Farge would have surpassed it.
Imagine the sheer scale. The U-Boot-Bunker Fink II measured 151 meters long and 153 meters wide. Its roof was a staggering 3.6 meters thick. A total of 130,000 cubic meters of concrete was used. It weighed 263,000 tons.
Fink II was strategically built on existing land. After its completion, the Ruesch Canal was widened. This canal led directly to the basin. The bunker initially consisted of two wet boxes. Each could accommodate three U-boats. Soon after, two more boxes were added by order of the Naval High Command. A fifth box was added last. Construction was not complete until 1944.
The bunker was primarily a repair and assembly facility. New U-boats were built here. A total of 114 U-boats launched from this site. Most were Type VII C. The bunker also served as a shelter during air raids.
Picture the scene during an air raid on April 9th, 1945. Forty RAF aircraft attacked. They used Grand Slam and Tallboy bombs. These bombs punched six holes into the three-meter-thick roof. A direct hit caused a hoist inside the bunker to sink. Submarines U-677 and U-982 were on it. The U-Boot-Bunker Fink II took some damage. Fifteen civilians seeking shelter died.
On October 17th, 1945, the Royal Engineers blew up the U-Boot-Bunker Fink II. They used over 30 tons of explosives. The roof collapsed. The walls were partially cut off. Demolition work continued into the late 1940s. Complete removal began in October 1956.
Today, no remains of the base exist. The area was filled with sand from the Elbe River. However, in 2007, the incredibly intact U-Boot-Bunker Fink II was rediscovered. This happened during the extension of a runway for Airbus.
The U-Boot-Bunker Fink II now serves as a memorial. It stands as a reminder of the war. Black gravel stones mark the bunker’s dimensions. Information boards dot the area. The site offers a space for reflection. It honors the victims of National Socialism. The U-Boot-Bunker Fink II remains a silent witness to history.