Topographical location of the plant and its role in the overall defence

The fort was located a good kilometer northwest of the port of Cuxhaven on the promontory of the large Elbe. It controlled the shipping lanes of the Elbe from the river mouth northwards to the mud flats opposite the plant and upstream. Its further task was to provide artillery support for Fort Kugelbake.

Design

The Grimmershörn fortress was built from 1877 to 1879 in the form of a redoubt (half-open field rampart), the main front of which ran parallel to the dyke. In 1895 and from 1907 to 1908 it was redesigned again. This meant that the old guns on the right front of the head were replaced by four new cannons of 10 cm caliber. After this redesign, the newly armed front was given the name "Grimmershörn shore battery". Its access was an open cut in the valley wall with a full and lattice gate. The dimensions of the complex were 175 m long along the front, 82 m deep along the left flank and 60 m deep along the right flank. The left flank and the left part of the front were designed for medium-caliber guns in ship casemates during construction. The hollow shoulder defenses serve as projectile and cartridge rooms and to accommodate the ammunition conveyors. Open platoon commander's positions were located between two casemates, and two further splinter-proof commander's positions in the middle of the battery on the hollow shoulder defenses. The fort's embankment was constructed to protect against attacks for infantry defense. In the rampart there were corresponding hollow spaces under the main wall and at the left shoulder point. There were three guard and standby rooms, four projectile and cartridge rooms, an engine room and an accumulator room. The telephone exchange was located in the left gate casemate, and the telegraph room and switching center for the battery were in the right gate casemate. Until the end of the First World War the armament consisted of four 15 cm rapid-fire cannons and four further 10.5 cm guns.

The plan of "Fort Grimmershörn" from 1927 over an aerial photograph from 202.