Show wilhelmshaven Wilhelm sha shaven ven Is nazi outlet to north sea early war reports indicated bombing by british freire prepared dby by national geographic society washington a a h agton D C service early reports from the first days of the european war indicated that the british had bombed wilhelmshaven Wilhelm shaven chief naval station of the reich on the north sea situated on the western shore ot of jade bay due south of 0 the island of helgeland Hel goland german sentinel ot of the north sea scan engana r R n 4 F once GATEWAYS CA TEWA YS TO THE WEST VEST map hap shows the location of wil helm shaven and cuxhaven Cux haven ger banys naval stations on the north sea these important seaports are the nazi navys chief gateways to the west on the shores of the north sea north sea wilhelmshaven Wilhelm shaven is about miles by airline from london or less than two hours flight by modern modem military aircraft wilhelmshaven Wilhelm shaven was planned d a as a naval station in 1853 when its r site it was purchased by prussia from the grand duke oil of oldenburg th the e city is new as german cities go it was built in 1855 and its harbor was waa not opened to commercial shipping until 14 years later its inhabitants today are employed largely in the naval station in the handling adling ot of shipping and in shipbuilding wilhelmshaven Wilhelm shaven was the scene ot of the mutiny among seamen that spread over the german fleet in 1918 there are several large and small basins with shipyards and dry docks docka tor for the construction and repair ol 01 ships each of the three entrances entrance to the basins has locks necessitated edby by the tidal range which c h are guarded by strong fortifications 0 ns cuxhaven Cux haven havin another german naval base where it it is reported 5 ot of 12 rit attacking tacking british britch military planes were brought down is miles by air from the british capital the city lies on the west bank of the elbe river ilver only a few miles from the point at which the stream flows into the north sea it is about 40 miles northeast of wil helm shaven hamburg one of ger banys leading ports is 64 miles up the elbe from aroi this city |