Dear dave2rtr,
The headquarters for the U-Boat flotillas stationed in Kiel has always
been located in the Tirpitzhafen naval base in Kiel-Wik, a suburb of
Kiel on the western shore of the Kieler Förde fjord, about 5
kilometers north of the city center. Also located in the Tirpitzhafen
navy harbor were the unprotected mooring areas for U-Boats.
Sheltered docks to protect the U-Boats from damage inflicted by air
raids were built during the war. Construcion of the U-Boat shelter
"Kilian" began in late 1941, and in 1943 construction a second
protected U-Boat base started, "Konrad".
The "Kilian" shelter was built at the entrance to Kiel harbor, next to
the area of the Kieler Howaldtswerke shipyard in the suburb of
Dietrichsdorf on the eastern shore of the Kieler Förde fjord. This is
about 4 kilometers north-east of the city center. "Kilian" was
intended to protect new U-Boats during the final stage of equipping as
well as training and front boats during repairs and maintenance. The
"Kilian" base was demolished after the war; the remains were finally
blown up in 2000 and buried under sand since the are was needed for
the extension of a cargo harbor.
The "Konrad" shelter was erected on the site of a drydock of the
Deutsche Werke shipyard in Kiel harbor, on the eastern shore of the
Kieler Förde fjord, east of the city center. Its purpose was to
shelter boats during small repairs and maintenance work. "Konrad" was
blown up in 1946, the remains were removed in 1961/62.
See also:
Uboat.net: U-Boat Bases - Kiel, Germany
http://uboat.net/flotillas/bases/kiel_bunkers.htm
Lostplaces.de: Die Geschichte des U-Bootbunkers "Kilian" in Kiel (in German)
http://www.lostplaces.de/kilian/index.html
Hope this answers your question!
Regards,
Scriptor |