tomwg00/Sandbox

Hohlgangsanlage 7/40

Hohlgangsanlage 7/40
Location	La Vassalerie, Guernsey, GY6 8XL
Coordinates	49°26′31″N 2°34′38″W / 49.44194°N 2.57722°W / 49.44194; -2.57722
Website	Official website

Hohlgangsanlage 7/40 (German: [ˈho:lgaŋzanla:gə], lit. "hollow passage system", also known as the German Underground Hospital) was an underground military hospital complex in La Vassalerie, Guernsey. The complex was built by occupying German forces during the German occupation of the Channel Islands during World War II. The complex covers an area of roughly 6,950 square metres (75,000 square feet), and is the largest remaining structure from the German occupation of the Channel Islands. Following the liberation of the Channel Islands, the site was converted into a museum detailing the history of the site and the occupation of the Channel Islands.

Work began at the site in late 1941, alongside other projects that were issued in the fortification plan by Adolf Hitler. Other projects worked on in parallel included artillery and anti-aircraft batteries, communication networks, and coastal defences.

In January and February 1942, aerial reconnaissance uncovered work being underway at the site, but an exact start date is unknown. Furthermore, the tunnel complex did not appear on the 1942 German construction maps, only appearing in early 1943, first being designated as a shelter for nearby German forces, but later being converted for use as a hospital.

Construction on the hospital was completed in March 1944, being reported in the local German forces paper.

The site is split into two sections, the hospital (Hohlgangsanlage:40), and the ammunition storage (Hohlgangsanlage:7). The hospital section contained wards with a capacity of 800 patients, an operating theatre, a morgue, and a dispensary. Other facilities for staff included a cinema, guard room, and kitchen. The complex was fitted with a ventilation system, as well as multiple escape shafts to be used if the main entrance was blocked.

Official website