Brûly de Pesche, Hitler's HQ during the French campaign

I visited Brûly de Pesche yesterday, as I’m staying nearby for my job this week.

After the invasion of Belgium, Hitler was looking for a suitable place from which he would coordinate the further invasion of France. At the end of May 1940 the little village of Brûly de Pesche in the Belgian Ardennes was chosen to become the temporary HQ. The people who lived in Brûly de Pesche and 28 villages in the neighbourhood all had to leave their houses overnight. In two weeks time the Organisation Todt had made a bunker and three wooden chalets, one for Hitler and two for his staff. Hitler arrived at the Wolfsschlucht (wolves canyon, that was the name that Hitler had given to this temporary HQ) in early June, and he would stay here for 22 days. The chalets that can be seen today are replica’s, the bunker is genuine.



Areal view of the village of Brûly de Pesche, June 1940

 

Some of the trees have a white band painted on them. This was done so that Hitler would find his way back to his chalet when he went out for a walk at night.

 

The church tower was removed and transformed into a watertower, and the church itself was used as a cinema. The vicarage was used as a map room.

 

Thanks for sharing, very interesting. Nice photos.

 

The bunker is approximately 6 by 6 meter, but there is only one room inside. This was Hitler’s private bunker in case of an air raid. Apparently he never used this bunker. The room inside is approximately 2 by 3 meter.





Jan

 

Fantastic pictures. Could those possibly be the same white painted rings on that tree after 71 years?

That's good paint!

Dave

 

I expect that the forum's neo-Nazi lurkers will now be checking the RAL codes with a view to painting the trees in their gardens...