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Origin and history

The shelter of Octeville-sur-Mer is a Regelbau 634 casemate, integrated into the German defensive system of the Atlantic Wall during the Second World War. Built at the end of 1943 or early 1944 in the hamlet of Dondeneville (Community of Octeville-sur-Mer, Seine-Maritime), it was part of a series of fortifications designed to protect the fortress of Le Havre. This bunker is distinguished by its reinforced concrete and steel structure, as well as its armored observation bell (type MG 20P7), still intact today. It was equipped with an MG 34 machine gun cap and a circular room giving access to the bell, designed to house soldiers and observe enemy movements.

The building was listed as a historic monument on June 3, 1994, due to its exceptional state of conservation among similar works in the area. Unlike other field cases (such as the Regelbau 621, 622 or 677), this bunker retains some of its interior equipment and its bell almost completely buried. The plateau de Dondeneville, where it is located, was taken over by the British on 11 September 1944, marking the end of German occupation in this strategic area. Today, the shelter is forbidden to visit, but its architecture bears witness to Nazi fortification techniques during the war.

The fortifications in Dondeneville included several types of works: tobrouks (niches for a soldier), battle bunkers (Regelbau 677/680), and observation posts. These structures were distributed over three distinct positions near the hamlet, forming a coherent defensive network. Casemate Regelbau 634, located at Wn Ha K 006, played a key role in coastal defence, combining shelter, combat and surveillance functions. Its inscription in the title of historical monuments underscores its heritage importance as a unique vestige in the fortress of Le Havre.

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