Join us for a presentation and book signing at the Fort Miles Museum. Local author Karl Wegener will discuss the history that inspired his award-winning novel, Grown Men Cry Out at Night, a historical spy novel set in Germany during the early years of the Cold War.
Mr. Wegener will share the history of the Valentin Bunker, a massive facility situated on the Weser River near Bremen, Germany. Under construction from 1943 to March 1945, the bunker was the largest submarine pen in Germany, but it had a sinister purpose. It was designed to assemble and launch submarines, including a new type of submarine the Nazis believed could change the outcome of the war.
With walls 15 feet thick and a roof measuring between 15 feet and 23 feet thick, the bunker was designed to withstand heavy air bombardment. Despite repeated bombing raids during the war, the bunker complex still stands. Today it serves as a memorial to those who died while building it.
With a space of more than 447,000 square feet, nearly 30 Fort Miles 519 bunkers could fit inside it. “The Bunker That Could Not Be Destroyed” reveals not only the details of a building that is an engineering marvel, but the tragic fate of the men who built it.
When: Saturday, April 12, 2025; 1:00 – 3:00 pm, Doors open at 12:30 p.m.
Where: Cape Henlopen State Park – Fort Miles, Bunker 519 Media Room
Cost: Free
Those attending are asked to consider a donation to support Fort Miles.
After the presentation, a book signing will be available for those who may be interested in purchasing his book.
About the Speaker:
Karl Wegener is an American author who served as a Russian linguist in the United States Army Security Agency and with the Intelligence & Security Command during the Cold War. He also served as a combat interrogator in the United States Air Force Intelligence Service Reserve. He currently resides in Milton, Delaware.
Those attending are asked to consider a donation to support Fort Miles.
Information: Email events@fortmilesha.org with questions.
