This pair of excellent photographs shows the ceremony where Hans-Rudolf Rösing (far right) is awarding the Deutsches Kreuz im Gold to Gerhard Wolf (centre in left hand photo)on 16 September 1943 at Angers. Photos courtesy of M.S.Laarman
Angers
FdU Headquarters
The Chateau de Pignerolles in the small community of Saint Barthelemy d'Anjou, a suburb of Angers, was first occupied by foreign personnel when the Polish Government in exile arrived during September 1939. It wasn't until 1943 that Hans-Rudolf Roesing arrived to take control of the chateau in his role of FdU West. Immediately the Organisation Todt erected ten concrete bunkers and numerour wooden barracks for the operational staff and associated guard units. The eleventh bunker, the so-called command bunker, was built behind the chateau's Orangerie, and housed the FdU situatio room within its massive 56 metres by 34 metres. It was also connected to the main chateau with its officers' residences by two underground tunnels running from the wine cellars.
|
|
|
This pair of excellent photographs shows the ceremony where Hans-Rudolf Rösing (far right) is awarding the Deutsches Kreuz im Gold to Gerhard Wolf (centre in left hand photo)on 16 September 1943 at Angers. Photos courtesy of M.S.Laarman |
Today, the chateau houses a communication museum, but the remnants of its German ocupation remain. The colour photos were taken in June 2003.
The main chateau building
Back
The Orangerie, behind which lies the command bunker
Back
Main entrance to the Command Bunker
Back
Inner Gates photographed in 1943
Back
Outer Gates
Back