Westwallmuseum

The armored structure "Katzenkopf," built between 1937 and 1939, is situated on a hill overlooking the Nimstal near Irrel. It is a fortification of the former West Wall, which the Nazi government had constructed in preparation for the war, spanning almost 630 kilometers along the western border of the German Reich, and it is one of the few military buildings that can be visited.

History: The Infantry Regiment 39 from Düsseldorf served as the garrison of the so-called "B-Werks" until after the campaign against France in 1940. From December 1944 until the arrival of the American troops in February 1945, the bunker was occupied again by a few soldiers and members of the Hitler Youth. In 1947, parts of the facility were blown up by French occupation troops, and the entrances were filled in. The voluntary fire department of Irrel began to clear the bunker from 1976, and since 1979, the West Wall Museum has been established in three accessible floors. A purely military historical exhibition can be visited in the underground corridors and rooms. 

Memorial for Peace: A memorial for the fallen and missing of Regiment 39 has been erected on the concrete ruins of the armored structure.

Note: The temperature in the bunker is 10 °C. So: Don't forget to bring a sweater even in the summer!

Further information can also be found at www.westwallmuseum-irrel.de

Opening times

Opening hours:

From Easter Sunday until October 3rd, always on Sundays and public holidays from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Group tours are also available at other times upon request.

The Westwall Museum is closed during the winter months.