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Lanzarote and World War 2

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LeeDH | 04:49 Tue 30th Aug 2005 | History
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During a holiday in Lanzarote last year we visited a place called 'Mirador Del Rio' which was high up on a cliff next to the sea. Next to this, and out of public reach, was a pillbox built into the cliff and large flat area cut out into the rocks. On enquiring some people said that this was a German look-out and AA battery used during WWII and that there were many more scattered across the island. Kowing that 'Operation Felix' never took off, how can this be true (although there were rumours of a secret U-boat facility in Fuerteventura). Anyone any ideas?
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It appears there was advanced communcation between the spanish governement and the axis powers iabout the possibility of spain entering the war on the axis side in exchange for French morrocco, but terms could not be agreed.
The following website http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/policy/1940/400808a.html
contains details of documents which talk about fortifications on the Canary Islands to stop a surprise attack by the british.
So it is likely the fortifications were put in place by the spanish government. Indeed one letter from Serrano Su�er, spanish minsiter of foreign affairs, to Ribentrop, german minister of foreirgn affairs, states
"We have in the Canary Islands four batteries, an important group of pursuit planes and machine-gun nests, all of which dispose of the possibility of an English or American landing. One of the bravest generals of our army departed yesterday to take command of the Grand Canary."
Just to confuse matters Hitler in a letter to Franco writes "we have already made batteries available for the Canary Islands" so the batteries may have indeed come form Germany.
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Many thanks Fibonacci. Excellent answer and the web link was brilliant reading. Thanks again !

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