Høytorp Fort

This fort was built from 1912 to 1918 and was armed with four gun turrets (two 120mm guns and two 75mm guns) and four 120mm howitzers, eight Krupp field guns and one 75mm AA gun. It has a 1,1km long tunnel system, which includes underground chambers and stairs. The garrison consisted of 800 men in the mobilisation period.

The fort saw heavy combat from 13 and 14 April 1940, when German forces laid siege on Høytorp. Lieutenant Colonel Lauritz Rodwit (the commander of the fort) surrenderd to the Germans on 14 April 1940, when it was clear that the fort had fired al its ammunition. In the fighting, one Norwegian soldier and ten German soldiers were killed.

During the German occupation of Norway (1940-1945), the fort's armament were removed and placed on modern forts along the west coast.

The fort today:
It serves currently as war museum with a permanent exhibition about the Second World War. Its also possible to attend tours through the fort.

For current visiting hours, please visit the website of the museum.

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Source

• Text: Kaj Metz
• Photos: Tommy Gildseth