The "special constructions"
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The major projects

In 1943, the Todt Organisation, responsible for major works for the Nazi state, received the order to build "special constructions" (Sonderbauten) in France. These were protected installations for the deployment of the new German weapons, and nine enormous projects were undertaken, five in the Pas-de-Calais and four in the Cotentin.

None of these "special constructions" became operational. Bombarded for months by the Allied bombers, they were abandoned in the summer of 1944, a few weeks before their theoretical start of operations.

Despite the vast tonnages of bombs discharged (5,000 tonnes in Siracourt, 4,000 in Mimoyecques, more than 3,000 in Éperlecques and LA COUPOLE), the massive concrete structures of these installations (the protective walls are 5 metres thick) remained intact and can still be seen today.

Les constructions spéciales, Roland HAUTEFEUILLE. Paris, 1995