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Biber One-Man German WWII Submarine – MuZEEum Vlissingen

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Places to see

Netherlands

Zeeland

Vlissingen

Biber One-Man German WWII Submarine – MuZEEum Vlissingen

Recommended by 36 hikers out of 37

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Location: Vlissingen, Zeeland, Netherlands

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Best Hikes to Biber One-Man German WWII Submarine – MuZEEum Vlissingen

4.6

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1. Boulevard de Ruyter Lighthouse – Boulevard of Vlissingen loop from Binnenstad

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Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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2. Prisoners Tower (Gevangentoren) Vlissingen – Boulevard of Vlissingen loop from Paauwenburg

12.9km

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4.9

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3. Vlissingen Marina – Breskens Ferry Terminal loop from Breskens

21.1km

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Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Tips

🇧🇪 Herwig Aertbeliën

June 9, 2023

In the last years of the Second World War, the Germans started using small Kamikaze-like one-man submarines. These were equipped with two torpedoes or one torpedo and one mine. The range was 200 miles and the speed approximately 4 miles. The diving depth was about 20 meters. Under water the boat had a sailing range of 8.5 nautical miles at 5.3 Kn. Anyone who sees the small cockpit can imagine the cramped conditions of the driver who was sent to sea all alone. After firing, the driver of the boat was doomed to leave his own ship.

A total of 324 of these submarines were built in the northern German city of Lubeck. The English had already experimented with such vessels before, but abandoned large-scale production. In November 1943, such a British submarine, a Welman W46, was captured by the Germans in Norway. The ship was adapted for German use at the Lubeck yard.

From August 1944, several groups of such ships were stationed along the Belgian and Dutch coast and took to the water from Hellevoetsluis and Poortershaven (Maassluis). They were given the task of defending the Dutch seaports and the port of Antwerp in the event of an Allied attack. After the Battle of the Scheldt, most of the Bibers were deployed along the Scandinavian coast.

This special vessel belonged to the so-called German Kleinkampfmittel (small combat equipment), which were used by the Germans at the end of the Second World War as a secret weapon against shipping traffic on the Western Scheldt. They were used to detract as much as possible from the Allied convoys to and from Antwerp. The port city of Antwerp had fallen into Allied hands on September 4 and it was the German Kriegsmarine's priority to prevent the reach of the port of Antwerp.

This Biber ran aground just off the coast of Walcheren and sank into the mud. In 1950 he was dredged up from the Western Scheldt and since 2007 had a temporary home in Fort Rammekens. The boat was recently beautifully restored by enthusiastic volunteers from the Friends of the Muzeem and the Municipal Archives and moved to Vlissingen in August 2014, where it has been given a permanent place in a glass container at the Memorial Area in Vlissingen.

Source: tracesofwar.nl/sights/1373/Biber-Bever-mini-eenmansonderzee%C3%ABr.htm

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 50 m

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Saturday 20 September

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Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

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Location: Vlissingen, Zeeland, Netherlands

Biber One-Man German WWII Submarine – MuZEEum Vlissingen

1. Boulevard de Ruyter Lighthouse – Boulevard of Vlissingen loop from Binnenstad

2. Prisoners Tower (Gevangentoren) Vlissingen – Boulevard of Vlissingen loop from Paauwenburg

3. Vlissingen Marina – Breskens Ferry Terminal loop from Breskens

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