"German Bunkers - Camouflaged???" Topic

Working on a German Bunker and was not sure if they ever painted them in camouflage or just left them plain concrete? If painted any idea of colors used?

Thanks,

Terry

Definitely painted.

You can tell from even the old WWII black and white photos, at least for those along the Atlantic Wall.

Lots would also have netting, and/or branches, etc., to provide concealment as well.

Very small bunkers and MG positions would be especially well concealed, in many cases.

Probably natural concrete color, gray, and oliv grun.

Yes, they were camouflaged in a variety of ways – usually with the usual three-colour camo (which can still be seen on a few unweathered parts of various bunkers across Normandy), but also other colours.

Many were also painted and had bits added to resemble the house that was demolished to make way for the bunker in question. This would include black-painted 'windows' with white 'window frames' and even floral-patterned 'curtains'.

At least one director tower (in Ouistreham) was built immediately behind a house, so that its observation embrasure peeped over the roof of the house in front.

Others were stuccoed with plaster made from the local rock, or clad with pebbles.

The concrete itself could also have zig-zags and holes moulded into its surface, in order to break up the shape and reduce shine. This is also commonly seen on the back-walls of gun bunker interiors (to reduce the reflection of flash off the back wall).

Thank you gentlemen!

Terry