Birkenhof
A group of German telecommunications experts, led by the young engineer Kurt E. Vetterlein, received a secret assignment from the German high command at the beginning of the war to intercept telephone conversations, primarily those from England to America. In 1941, this secret team established itself on the Dutch North Sea coast at Noordwijk Radio in the Langeveld dune area, where the listening station was named ‘Forschungsstelle Langeveld.’
In 1942, the team moved to Villa Valkenhorst near Valkenswaard due to increasing Allied air raids. Shortly thereafter, in 1943, the Germans constructed a special bunker for the Forschungsstelle, disguised as a country estate with thick concrete walls 3 meters thick. The complex was named ‘Birkenhof.’ On the grounds, the Germans installed 14 large radio antennas, leading the local population to suspect that it was a German command post or radio station.
By the end of 1943, the bunker complex was fully operational. Soon, there were espionage reports sent to England about the bunker. The resistance provided information about the dimensions and everything they observed around the building. They also reported that Valkenhorst was still being set up as a reserve station. The bunker was manned by a small group of Germans who all spoke fluent English. Their technology was very effective for the time. It was even reported that phone conversations between American President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Churchill were intercepted from the bunker.
By the end of summer 1944, the Germans abandoned the bunker due to the Allied advance from France. After the war, the bunker in Valkenswaard was used for various purposes, including as a gendarmerie barracks and a fire brigade training facility. In common parlance, the complex is simply known as “De Bunker.”
Pictures:
- Floor plan of the ground floor of the complex.
- Floor plan of the first floor of the complex.
- Floor plan of the basement of the complex.
- Espionage Report on the Complex at ”de Dijk” from Waalre to Valkenswaard.