Introduction
What should be done with a complex of such enormous proportions as the Atlantikwall (German Atlantic Wall) that stretches from the North Cape all the way to the Bay of Biscay? What meaning should be assigned to this cultural heritage? How should it be judged in the history book of the Second World War? What will be its role in commemoration and in our collective memories? In which way can and will the Atlantikwall affect spatial planning, both on a regional and national, and on an international level? And last but not least, are there opportunities for use in recreation and tourism?
An expert meeting with specialists from all over Europe, was convened in the Dutch cities of Amersfoort and Middelburg on September 2 and 3, 2010, in order to exchange knowledge and information about this monumental line of defense, the European equivalent of the Chinese wall. The event sparked lively discussions among historians, bunker aficionados, policy makers, (landscape)architects, museum directors, urban planners and social scientists. The goal was to arrive at a more comprehensive approach to the wall, rather than an objective, “hardware”-oriented approach focuses solely on bunkers, batteries and barracks. In addition to these military elements, discussions about the wall ranged from spatial planning concerns to socio-economic issues to historical aspects. The venue of this well-attended and successful two-day gathering was the brand new location of the Dutch Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed (RCE) [the National Cultural Heritage Service] in Amersfoort. An exhibition featuring Atlantikwall art and Atlantikwall architecture produced especially for the event, was setup in its spacious lobby. A sampling of some of the works on exhibit can be found under the “Expert Meeting” button of this site.
