Fort Kugelbake

The fort was built from 1869-1879. It originally had strategic importance for securing the river mouth. Since it was not needed, parts were blown up after the war and it slowly fell into decay. After extensive restoration, it is now a museum, and the only remaining German naval artilleriefort.

Fort Kugelbake was built from 1869-1879 at the instigation of Prussia in Cuxhaven at an exposed location and equipped with heavy-caliber guns. The fort presents itself as a pentagonal structure with a rampart and throat, the shape of which corresponds roughly to that of the large forts of those days, as they sprouted from the ground in Germany after 1871 thanks to the French reparations billions.
Source: doese.de/fort-kugelbake
See also: tourismus.cuxhaven.de/staticsite/staticsite.php?menuid=290&topmenu=124

Fort Kugelbake is located in the Cuxhaven spa district of Döse.
This naval fortress is located near the Kugelbake, Cuxhaven's landmark, right on the last headland at the mouth of the Elbe.
Fort Kugelbake is the last surviving fortress on the German North Sea coast.
Fort Kugelbake is about the size of 5 football pitches.1869 - 1879 Fort Kugelbake was built on this strategically favorable position.
It was intended to block access to the Elbe for enemy (then: French) warships.In 1895 the Kiel Canal was opened.
This increased the strategic importance of the Elbe estuary.
By 1911, the fort was continually being reinforced.
The then most powerful searchlight in the world was installed so that unlit ships could be recognized.
He could shine 4.5 km far.Because no enemy ships approached during World War I, one of the strongest fortresses in the German Reich did not have to fire a shot.
After the defeat in World War I, the guns were dismantled.
However, the fortifications remained and continued to be used as an ammunition depot.Shortly before the Second World War, an anti-aircraft gun was placed in the fort.
This shot down a British plane on September 2, 1939.
After that, however, it remained insignificant.
Even during the Second World War, the fortress did not have to fire on enemy ships.After the war, the bunkers were used as emergency shelters.
Later they were also used as a youth hostel for a short time.
The facilities have been empty since 1969.
From 1992 to 1994 the fort was extensively restored.Today Fort Kugelbake can be visited.
In 2005, the music festival Deichbrand took place in Fort Kugelbake.
The Störtebeker open-air theater has been performed here every year since 2009.medienwerkstatt-online.de/lws_wissen/anleitung/showcard.php?id=25139&edit=0