Diemel Dam Helminghausen

The dam's construction occurred in two phases: 1912–1914, paused due to World War I, and 1919–1923, culminating in its commissioning in 1924. Renovated in the 1990s to meet DIN 19700 safety standards, upgrades included a sealing barrier and control passage. Completed in 1998, its maintenance is managed by the Waterways and Shipping Authority's Schirrhof on Lake Diemel. The dam is listed as a Marsberg historical monument.

Second World War
On the night of 16 on 17 May 1943, during operation Chastise, a bombing raid of the RAF on German dams. With so called bouncing bombs, Guy Gibson and his squadron succeeded in breaking through two of these dams; the Möhne- and Eder dam. The Möhne-, Eder- and Sorpedam were the main targets during Operation Chastise. However, there were also three secondary goals. These goals; Lister-, Ennepe- and Diemel were not destroyed.

The dam was unsuccessfully attacked by Allies in 1944–1945. Plans for Waffen-SS demolition were abandoned when US troops occupied the area in early 1945, later replaced by Belgian and British forces.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Willem Visser