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Grauerort has a 250-m Elbe pier which was used to load ships with naval mines. After WW II, a popular restaurant, ''Klein Helgoland'' ("Little [[Heligoland]]"), was located on the pier. Its popularity was due to the fact that until 1955, Heligoland was off-limits to passenger ships, therefore people from Hamburg visited ''Klein Helgoland'' instead on their day trips.<ref>http://www.grauerort.de/verein/berichte/elbbr.htm</ref>
Grauerort has a 250-m Elbe pier which was used to load ships with naval mines. After WW II, a popular restaurant, ''Klein Helgoland'' ("Little [[Heligoland]]"), was located on the pier. Its popularity was due to the fact that until 1955, Heligoland was off-limits to passenger ships, therefore people from Hamburg visited ''Klein Helgoland'' instead on their day trips.<ref>http://www.grauerort.de/verein/berichte/elbbr.htm</ref>


Between 1959 and 1985, decommissioning of ammunition took place in Grauerort. A 1995 chemical analysis of the [[soil]] revealed significant concentrations of, among others, [[trinitrotoluene|TNT]], [[RDX]], and [[cadmium]] up to a depth of 3 m, raising the concern that hazardous substances could leach into the local [[groundwater]] supply.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Haas |first=Rainer| last2=Passarge|first2=Bern|title=Rüstungsaltlast "Grauerort" bei Stade |journal=Umweltwissenschaften und Schadstoff-Forschung|volume=7|issue=1 |year=1995 |month=March |page=2|doi=10.1007/BF02938732|url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/e1064ng42u138q87/|issn=0934-3504|language=German|accessdate=2010-06-10}}</ref>
Between 1959 and 1985, decommissioning of ammunition took place in Grauerort. 1992 and 1995 chemical analyses of the [[soil]] at Grauerort revealed significant concentrations of, among others, [[Polychlorinated naphthalene|PCN]]s<ref>{{cite journal |last=Haas |first=Rainer|title=Polychlorierte Naphthaline bei Rüstungsaltlasten: Vorkommen, Nachweis, toxikologische Bedeutung | trans_title = Polychlorinated Naphthalenes in Ammunition Scrap. Detection and Toxicology |journal=Umweltwissenschaften und Schadstoff-Forschung|volume=4|issue=6 |year=1992 |month=December |page=350-351|doi=10.1007/BF02939274|url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/0308418t25622462/|issn=0934-3504|language=German|accessdate=2010-06-10}}</ref>, [[trinitrotoluene|TNT]], [[RDX]], and [[cadmium]] up to a depth of 3 m, raising the concern that hazardous substances could leach into the local [[groundwater]] supply.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Haas |first=Rainer| last2=Passarge|first2=Bern|title=Rüstungsaltlast „Grauerort” bei Stade |journal=Umweltwissenschaften und Schadstoff-Forschung|volume=7|issue=1 |year=1995 |month=March |page=2|doi=10.1007/BF02938732|url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/e1064ng42u138q87/|issn=0934-3504|language=German|accessdate=2010-06-10}}</ref>


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Revision as of 09:49, 10 June 2010

Grauerort fortress
near Stade, Germany
View from entrance tunnel towards casemates
Grauerort fortress is located in Lower Saxony
Grauerort fortress
Grauerort fortress
TypeArtillery fort; naval mine arsenal from WW I to WW II
Site information
Controlled byGermany
UK (1945–1958)
Site history
Built1869–1879
In use1870/71–1895 artillery fort
1914–1945 naval mine arsenal
1945–1958 refugee shelter
1959–1985 decommissioning plant for guns and ammunition
1998– museum
MaterialsCement and brick
Battles/warsnone

Grauerort fortress is a German artillery fort on Elbe river about 9 km (5.6 mi) north of Stade which was built between 1869 and 1879 to defend Hamburg harbor. Its shape is hexagonal, taking advantage of the topography of the area and the location of the previously-existing levee. The main armament of the fort were probably 10 21-cm breech-loading guns (as opposed to the initially planned 4 28-cm and 6 21-cm guns)[1], but they are no longer in place. There were also 4 12-cm and 6 9-cm guns.[2] Construction materials were cement and brick; concrete was only used from 1885 onward.[2]

While the fortress was in service during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870/71, it was never involved in any battles.[3] After World War I, Grauerort was converted to a naval mine arsenal. Unused since 1985, it has has been mostly restored to its original 19th-century state since 1997, and now serves as a museum and cultural venue.[2]

Grauerort has a 250-m Elbe pier which was used to load ships with naval mines. After WW II, a popular restaurant, Klein Helgoland ("Little Heligoland"), was located on the pier. Its popularity was due to the fact that until 1955, Heligoland was off-limits to passenger ships, therefore people from Hamburg visited Klein Helgoland instead on their day trips.[4]

Between 1959 and 1985, decommissioning of ammunition took place in Grauerort. 1992 and 1995 chemical analyses of the soil at Grauerort revealed significant concentrations of, among others, PCNs[5], TNT, RDX, and cadmium up to a depth of 3 m, raising the concern that hazardous substances could leach into the local groundwater supply.[6]

  • Construction plan, with the river Elbe at the top of the map. The vertical profile at the bottom shows the wall towards the Elbe and the casemates.
    Construction plan, with the river Elbe at the top of the map. The vertical profile at the bottom shows the wall towards the Elbe and the casemates.
  • Entrance with bridge. It was initially a wooden drawbridge and was later redone using concrete.
    Entrance with bridge. It was initially a wooden drawbridge and was later redone using concrete.
  • Facade with newly-restored windows
    Facade with newly-restored windows
  • Casemate. The walls were formerly lined with peat and gypsum plaster for thermal insulation.
    Casemate. The walls were formerly lined with peat and gypsum plaster for thermal insulation.
  • Main bunker entrance with original 19-century iron staircases to the left and right
    Main bunker entrance with original 19-century iron staircases to the left and right
  • 20th-century gun in the fortress yard
    20th-century gun in the fortress yard
  • Narrow gauge train; previously used to transport naval mines
    Narrow gauge train; previously used to transport naval mines

References

  1. ^ http://www.schiffahrtsgeschichte.de/fix/files/603/docs/Grauer%20Ort%20.pdf citing Braun/Gosch, Die Festung, Heft 7, 1996, S. 22
  2. ^ a b c http://www.rag-festunggrauerort.de/index.php?page=79
  3. ^ http://www.grauerort.de/verein/berichte/artfort.htm
  4. ^ http://www.grauerort.de/verein/berichte/elbbr.htm
  5. ^ Haas, Rainer (1992). "Polychlorierte Naphthaline bei Rüstungsaltlasten: Vorkommen, Nachweis, toxikologische Bedeutung". Umweltwissenschaften und Schadstoff-Forschung (in German). 4 (6): 350-351. doi:10.1007/BF02939274. ISSN 0934-3504. Retrieved 2010-06-10. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Haas, Rainer; Passarge, Bern (1995). "Rüstungsaltlast „Grauerort" bei Stade". Umweltwissenschaften und Schadstoff-Forschung (in German). 7 (1): 2. doi:10.1007/BF02938732. ISSN 0934-3504. Retrieved 2010-06-10. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Festung Grauerort: Führung durch die Festung mit Hans-Herrmann Ott, 2009, 40 min (DVD)

External links

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