Batterie Pommern

Batterie Pommern, also known as Lange Max, was the world's biggest gun in 1917, during World War I. The German gun was of type 38 cm SK L/45 "Max" and had a modified design by Krupp compared to earlier German 38 cm gun types. The modification allowed the gun to shoot from Koekelare to Dunkirk, which is about 50 km away.

38-cm „Lange Max“ of Koekelare (Leugenboom), biggest gun of the world in 1917.

Location

Batterie Pommern is located in Koekelare in the neighborhood called Leugenboom. It is part of Site Lange Max, next to the Lange Max Museum. Today, the immense artillery platform can still be visited.

Construction

The 15inch (38 cm) long range gun, protected by armour, was mounted on a steel bridge having a pivot in front. The rear part of the gun travelled along a circular rail-track in a concrete pit of about 70 feet in diameter. The gun was manoeuvred by means of electric motors. On either side were large shelters in reinforced concrete. In front of and below the platform there was an electric generator group. A large shelter of reinforced concrete on the right was probably the Post of Commandment. There was a dummy gun emplacement further on.

History

On 27 June 1917 the gun fired for the first time. Its target was Dunkirk where the first shot was a direct hit. Dunkirk and Ypres were the main targets of the gun. During the Battle of Passchendaele it played a significant role for the Germans.[1]

During the Interbellum the Pommern battery was one of the most successful attractions in the battlefield tourism in Belgium. It was featured in the Michelin Guide "L'Yser et la côte belge". Famous visitors to the Site Lange Max over time include:

  • 'Long Max' in Koekelare biggest gun of the world in 1917.
  • Long Max (also known as Leugenboom gun) in Koekelare.
  • Picture of Battery Pommern (= 'Long Max' gun) in Koekelare

References
  1. Temporary exhibition at the Lange Max Museum "III. Flandernschlacht in onze regio"
  2. "THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918". Imperial War Museums.
  3. "THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918". Imperial War Museums.
  4. Battlefield tourism on the coast after WWI - VLIZ
  5. "Westhoek". www.facebook.com.
  6. "Koninklijke Thaise ambassade bezoekt het Lange Max Museum | WOI". www.wo1.be.
  • Raf Seys, Commeine L.: Lange Max : het groot kanon van Leugenboom, Devriendt, Koekelare, 192 p.

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