Even before the two world wars, the city of Cuxhaven, with its exposed location at the mouth of the Elbe, had a very strong military presence. These facilities were significantly reinforced and expanded during the Third Reich in particular. This was mainly due to the 214th Marine Flak Division and its batteries, as well as the 4th Marine Artillery Division. But other units were also stationed here and should be mentioned. Today, however, apart from Fort Kugelbake and a few smaller flak towers from this period, almost nothing of it can be seen. The aim of this page is to show these military buildings and facilities from Cuxhaven's era once again. Furthermore, relevant events and contemporary witness reports on the topic should also be reproduced here. The aim here is to remind people of this part of Cuxhaven's history.

On our own behalf

This site is operated on a completely non-commercial basis and is solely intended to explain and present the things of that time in a neutral manner. In order to be able to fill the homepage with more life, I am of course happy to receive any kind of photos, maps, documents and eyewitness reports or similar. We are also happy to share guest reports with the appropriate reference. All documents from that time that are still slumbering in drawers, cupboards and archives can help to complete this site.

Cuxhaven Garrison 1935 - 1945

As early as 1935, Cuxhaven was declared a garrison town again. As before and during the First World War, the city was subsequently heavily fortified militarily and the number of personnel increased significantly. The various units listed below were not permanently tied to this location. Some were stationed in Cuxhaven and then relocated to other locations depending on the situation.

Cuxhaven location

  • Fort Kugelbake
  • Grimmershörnkaserne
  • Kaserne Große Wettern
  • Kaserne Kleine Wettern
  • Grimmershörnkaserne
  • Kiautschou-Kaserne
    Marine Signal Station - CuxhavenM.SS - Neuwerk IslandM.SS - Altenbruch

Front Troop Parts

    Marine Fortress Battalion 359Marine Fortress Battalion 360Alarm Battalion CuxhavenMarine Training Battalion 313Marine Artillery Equipment Office CuxhavenMarine Anti-Aircraft Division 214 with five batteriesLight Anti-Aircraft Neuwerk4th Marine Motor Vehicle DivisionMarine Fortress Pioneer Battalion 31412th/Air Raid Protection and Fog Division of the Kriegsmarine in Cuxhaven (from 11/1944)2nd/Marine Air Reporting Division11th/Air Intelligence Regiment 232Position "Kuckuck" Berensch4th/Light Anti-Aircraft Training Company Duhnen, LuftwaffeArtl.Training Center at the BSN, CuxhavenMarine Air Raid Protection School Duhnen (from 1943)Anti-Aircraft and Interdiction Weapons School / Listening and Searchlight Training Duhner Heide

Replacement troops

    4./Marine Replacement Regiment (from 11/1944)12./Marine Replacement Division4./Marine Artillery Division4./Marine Artillery Replacement Division8./Marine Artillery Replacement Division2./Marine Motor Vehicle Training Division

Flottillen

    2./ Escort Flotilla2./ Mine Sweeper Flotilla4./ Harbour Protection Flotilla7./ Minesweeper Flotilla27./ Minesweeper Flotilla8./ Outpost FlotillaNet Barrier Flotilla North Sea

Command authorities / departments

    Coastal Commander German Bayfrom 03/1941Leader of the Minesweepers (FdM)Sea Commander Elbe-Weser5./Security Division "German Bay"Establishment Command CuxhavenNaval Base Command CuxhavenBase AdministrationMilitary Registration Office (WW X, Military District Stade. Responsible for the urban district of Cuxhaven and the district of Land Hadeln.)Wehrmacht Welfare OfficerFortress Commander Cuxhaven (from 11/1944)Naval Fortress Pioneer Staff 2Commander of the Elbe-Weser Sea Defense in Otterndorf (from 11/1944)

Einrichtungen

    Naval arsenal CuxhavenMinesweeper portMilitary bathhouseMunitions depot (MUNA) Fort ThomsenAltenwalde shooting rangeGörne Foundation-Duhnen (hospital and gas protection school)Sea hospital (hospital)E-technology school (Kirchenpauerstr.)

Reich Labor Service RAD

    Department 1/173 "Simon von Utrecht", SahlenburgDepartment 2/173 "Captain König", StickenbüttelDepartment 3/173 "Berend Jakobsen Karpfanger", Neuwerk Island

Air raid service

    Cuxhaven Clearance Squad - Firefighting Group 2 (1939 - 1945)

CONTACT


If you have any comments, information, suggestions or other things regarding this site, please use this contact option.