Situated on the bay—opposite the coastal battery atop the cliff—is an observation and close-defense position on the eastern side.
This unique site is not easily accessible; it was carved directly into the cliff and was historically reached via a short network of tunnels. Known as Stützpunkt Yport Ost (Eng. East), this coastal defense installation represents a departure from the standard bunker designs typically employed by the Germans during the war.
The position is in poor condition; ten years ago, it was still a well-preserved observation post. Today, the concrete is crumbling, and the structure has fallen into a state of severe disrepair.
Several smaller positions were established above the cliff during the war, including two FH HWB bunker positions. The term FA HWB Unterstand refers to a specific type of World War II bunker or shelter built as part of the German defensive line, the Atlantic Wall.
The abbreviations in this German military designation stand for the following: FA (Feldmäßige Anlage): This indicates a field fortification. Unlike heavy, solid concrete bunkers (such as the well-known Regelbau bunkers), FA structures are of lighter construction and were built more quickly (in the field).
HWB (Hohlwandbauelemente / Hohlwendebauweise): This refers to the construction method. It involved the use of prefabricated elements or hollow building blocks filled with concrete or lightweight aggregate concrete on-site, or specifically so-called *HWB-Deckenplatten* (ceiling slabs) to rapidly construct a splinter-proof roof.
Unterstand: This is the German word for a troop shelter or dugout. It offered soldiers protection against shrapnel (splinter-proof) and enemy fire. Bunkers of this type can still be found today at various locations along the European coast, including in Belgium (such as in Ostend) and France.
Visit
While the beach area is open to the public, the observation and close-defense position cannot be viewed from the inside. The entrance is located in the garden of a private home and has been sealed off over the years. The bunker is in very poor condition, and entering it is strongly discouraged. The condition of the defensive positions atop the cliff at Stützpunkt Ost is unknown to us.
