La Coupole

La Coupole, located in Wizernes, near Saint-Omer in the Pas-de-Calais department (62) of northern France, is a significant historical and educational site. It was originally constructed by Nazi Germany during World War II as a massive underground bunker intended to serve as a launching base for the V-2 rockets, the first long-range guided ballistic missiles.

Today, La Coupole is a museum and historical center that explores the history of World War II, the German occupation of France, and the development of the V-weapons program.

La Coupole

Rue André Clabaux

62570 Wizernes

France

www.lacoupole-france.com

Opening Hours: Vary seasonally; it’s recommended to check the official website for up-to-date information.

Visitor Amenities: Includes a café, gift shop, and facilities for families.

Fieseler Fi 103R Reichenberg N° 126 Luftwaffe,
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N° 126

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Fieseler Fi 103 V-1

Fieseler Fi 103R Reichenberg

Mittelwerk V-2

Key Highlights of La Coupole:

  1. Historical Significance:
    • Built in 1943-1944, La Coupole was designed to house and launch V-2 rockets aimed at London and southern England.
    • It was never operational due to Allied bombing campaigns but remains a chilling testament to Nazi ambitions and wartime engineering.
  2. Interactive Museum:
    • The site now serves as a museum and offers interactive exhibits covering:
      • The history of the V-1 and V-2 rockets.
      • The role of forced labor in constructing La Coupole.
      • The broader history of World War II, focusing on northern France and the German occupation.
    • Features multimedia displays, archival footage, and personal testimonies.
  3. Planetarium and Space Exploration:
    • La Coupole also houses a modern 3D planetarium, where visitors can explore the history of space exploration.
    • This connects the V-2 rocket program to post-war advancements in space technology.
  4. Bunker Tour:
    • Visitors can explore the massive underground galleries and the dome structure.
    • The experience gives insight into the scale of the Nazi war effort and the engineering behind such a project.
  5. Educational Programs:
    • Offers programs and resources for schools and educational groups to learn about the history of the site and World War II.
  6. Commemorative Role:
    • Honors the memory of the thousands of forced laborers who worked and died during the construction of La Coupole.
    • Reflects on the war’s human cost and the dangers of unchecked technological advancements in warfare.

La Coupole, is one of the most impressive remnants of the Second World War in Europe. It is a symbolic place of the Nazi oppression, due to its overwhelming mass, the nature of its underground facilities and the suffering of the slave labourers who built it.

This huge bunker, built by the Todt Organisation in 1943-1944 had to be the base for launching the V2 rockets against London. Developed in the ultra-secret Peenemünde centre by Von Braun‘s team, these missiles, along with the American atomic bomb, were the most innovative devices developed during World War II. The V2s were mass-produced by deportees from the Dora concentration camp in the underground factory “Mittelwerk”, located at the heart of Germany.

Photo La Coupole