Valentin submarine pens

Valentin submarine factory
Part of Third Reich
Rekum [de; nds] port (Weser River, Bremen)
Aerial view of Valentin (2012),
with modern solar panels at right
Coordinates53°13′01″N 8°30′23″E / 53.216992°N 8.506275°E / 53.216992; 8.506275 (Submarine Bunker Valentin Memorial)
Typeblockhouse
Site information
Open to
the public
Free entrance, self guided walking tours, electronic audio guide available
Site history
BuiltFebruary 1943 to March 1945 (unfinished)
MaterialsFerrous concrete

The Valentin submarine factory is a protective shelter on the Weser River at the Bremen suburb of Rekum [de; nds], built to protect German U-boats during World War II. The factory was under construction from 1943 to March 1945 using forced labour, but was damaged by air-raids and unfinished by the end of the war. The Valentin factory was the largest fortified U-boat facility in Germany, and was second only to those built at Brest in France.

As a manufacturing facility, it differed from conventional U-boat pens, which were designed to house and service operational U-boats.