Selected Book
Arctic Convoy PQ8
The Story of Capt Robert Brundle and the SS Harmatris
Michael Wadsworth
Allied Warships
Check out our new extensive section on all the Allied Warships during WWII in all theatres of the war.Over 21,000 ships
U-boat bases
The Bases in Norway
Trondheim
Trondheim, in central Norway, was one of the most important portal cities in Norway during the war. Today she is the 3rd largest city in Norway. From there the 13th Flotilla operated from June 1940 until its surrender in May 1945 sending its 55 U-boats out to combat the Allies.
Dora 1 and Dora 2 bunkers.
It is no problem to move around the bunker complex. It might be hard to get into Dora 2, for safety reasons, since it is used by a shipyard. Dora 1 is used as an archive for the local county.
Dora 1 is the bunker with the blue buildings on the top. Dora 2 is situated a little further to the west. It's the walls that look's like a disaster area.
History
The bunker was constructed since it was needed more repair facilities outside of Germany and the facility had to be well protected. The bunker at Trondheim, while under construction, came under the jurisdiction of the Todt organization.
Dora 1 today. The top two floors were built post war. Notice how the bunker (used as a warehouse and an archive) is still called "Dora 1")
Work on Dora 1 started in in the spring of 1941. It was handed over to the Kriegsmarine on 20 June 1943. The second bunker, Dora 2, was started in 1942. This bunker was never completed. The second bunker was a little more than half complete by the time the war ended.
| Name | Length | Width | Pens | U-boats | Start | Completed |
| Dora 1 | 153 | 105 | 5 | 7 | 1941 | 1943 |
| Dora 2 | 168 | 102 | 4 | 6 | 1941 | Not completed |
Dora 2 bunker today. It was never completed and is used by a shipyard.
Special thanks to Jon Moe for parts of the text and photos