Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:00,300 --> 00:00:01,000
*
2
00:00:02,033 --> 00:00:04,067
Narrator:
A destroyed village pockmarked
3
00:00:04,067 --> 00:00:08,567
And scarred that
Remembers its dead.
4
00:00:08,567 --> 00:00:11,833
Meigs: you see a war zone kind
Of frozen in amber.
5
00:00:11,833 --> 00:00:14,800
*
6
00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:16,767
Narrator:
A ghostly fleet of ships
7
00:00:16,767 --> 00:00:21,133
Lost in the wilderness
Heading towards destruction.
8
00:00:21,133 --> 00:00:25,333
Bell: there's something really
Quite spooky about it.
9
00:00:25,333 --> 00:00:27,533
Narrator:
And a bridge to nowhere
10
00:00:27,533 --> 00:00:30,000
Hidden in the forest
That met a grizzly end.
11
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:31,000
Hidden in the forest
That met a grizzly end.
12
00:00:31,133 --> 00:00:34,133
Agrawal:
It has this otherworldly
Quality to it
13
00:00:34,133 --> 00:00:37,400
And it doesn't really feel
Like it should be in our world.
14
00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:42,333
*
15
00:00:42,333 --> 00:00:45,167
Narrator: once, they were some
Of the most advanced structures
16
00:00:45,167 --> 00:00:48,167
And facilities on the planet,
17
00:00:48,167 --> 00:00:51,900
At the cutting edge of design
And construction.
18
00:00:51,900 --> 00:00:55,600
Today, they stand abandoned,
Contaminated,
19
00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,767
And sometimes deadly,
But who built them
20
00:00:58,767 --> 00:01:00,000
And how,
And why were they abandoned?
21
00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:01,000
And how,
And why were they abandoned?
22
00:01:01,867 --> 00:01:08,867
*
23
00:01:08,867 --> 00:01:15,667
*
24
00:01:15,667 --> 00:01:18,800
-- captions by vitac --
Www.Vitac.Com
25
00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,233
Captions paid for by
Discovery communications
26
00:01:22,233 --> 00:01:24,900
Among the arid plains
Of northern spain,
27
00:01:24,900 --> 00:01:30,000
165 miles from its capital,
Madrid, lies a ghost town.
28
00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:30,433
165 miles from its capital,
Madrid, lies a ghost town.
29
00:01:30,433 --> 00:01:31,000
*
30
00:01:36,733 --> 00:01:40,700
The town has a strange,
Savage beauty.
31
00:01:40,700 --> 00:01:44,267
Everywhere are the ruins
Of hollowed-out buildings
32
00:01:44,267 --> 00:01:48,800
With rubble piled up
In the empty streets.
33
00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,633
The story goes that if
You listen hard enough
34
00:01:51,633 --> 00:01:55,667
You can hear voices
From the past.
35
00:01:55,667 --> 00:02:00,000
You see the ruins of a
City that clearly suffered
36
00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:00,067
You see the ruins of a
City that clearly suffered
37
00:02:00,067 --> 00:02:01,000
Some kind of a disaster,
Was it an earthquake?
38
00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,867
You know what it some
Kind of rushed evacuation?
39
00:02:07,867 --> 00:02:10,300
What knocked down
These buildings
40
00:02:10,300 --> 00:02:13,167
And why were they never rebuilt?
41
00:02:13,167 --> 00:02:15,767
Its name is belchite.
42
00:02:15,767 --> 00:02:18,933
What's even stranger is
That there's another town
43
00:02:18,933 --> 00:02:23,833
With the same name
Right next to it.
44
00:02:23,833 --> 00:02:27,200
Why are these two
Towns side by side?
45
00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,400
And what has happened
To cause such
46
00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:30,000
Devastation to one of them?
47
00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:31,000
Devastation to one of them?
48
00:02:32,433 --> 00:02:35,133
Meigs: and then you look closer
And you see something odd
49
00:02:35,133 --> 00:02:37,833
About some of these ruins --
They're not just eroded
50
00:02:37,833 --> 00:02:42,067
By weather and gravity,
They're chipped away.
51
00:02:42,067 --> 00:02:44,667
Look closer and you
Can see bullet holes,
52
00:02:44,667 --> 00:02:47,100
Damage from mortar fire.
53
00:02:47,100 --> 00:02:49,067
This is a unique form
Of erosion.
54
00:02:49,067 --> 00:02:52,100
This is the erosion of war.
55
00:02:52,100 --> 00:02:54,067
Narrator:
Which army was responsible
56
00:02:54,067 --> 00:02:59,700
For pulverizing this town
And why was it never rebuilt?
57
00:02:59,700 --> 00:03:00,000
*
58
00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,000
*
59
00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:03,967
[ mortar blasts ]
60
00:03:03,967 --> 00:03:06,600
The answer lies
In a bloody civil war
61
00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:11,133
That ripped spain apart
In the last century.
62
00:03:11,133 --> 00:03:15,333
In 1936, spain was
A deeply divided country
63
00:03:15,333 --> 00:03:19,967
That was politically torn
Between extreme right and left,
64
00:03:19,967 --> 00:03:25,267
The fascists and anti-fascists.
65
00:03:25,267 --> 00:03:28,600
Meigs: the spanish civil war
Started as a conflict
66
00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:30,000
Within spain itself, you had
A very left-wing government
67
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:31,000
Within spain itself, you had
A very left-wing government
68
00:03:32,067 --> 00:03:35,300
And then right-wing forces
In the military basically
69
00:03:35,300 --> 00:03:39,467
Staged a coup against their
Own elected government.
70
00:03:39,467 --> 00:03:42,733
Bell: by the following year,
These right-wing nationalist
71
00:03:42,733 --> 00:03:44,867
Forces under general franco were
72
00:03:44,867 --> 00:03:49,067
Controlling a large
Part of spain.
73
00:03:49,067 --> 00:03:51,800
Narrator:
In an attempt to slow down
Their advance
74
00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,700
Anti-fascists forces decided
To attack zaragoza
75
00:03:55,700 --> 00:03:59,333
In august, 1937.
76
00:03:59,333 --> 00:04:00,000
The city was the
Regional capital
77
00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:01,000
The city was the
Regional capital
78
00:04:01,567 --> 00:04:06,167
And communication center
For the aragon front.
79
00:04:06,167 --> 00:04:10,367
Zaragoza itself isn't so
Strategically important,
80
00:04:10,367 --> 00:04:13,233
But it was an
Important enough city
81
00:04:13,233 --> 00:04:17,500
That it would have been a real
Blow to nationalist morale.
82
00:04:17,500 --> 00:04:22,600
Narrator: on the way to
Zaragoza was belchite.
83
00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:26,433
The original plan was
To bypass the village,
84
00:04:26,433 --> 00:04:29,567
But that wasn't what happened.
85
00:04:29,567 --> 00:04:30,000
Instead, the anti-fascist
Forces attacked.
86
00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:31,000
Instead, the anti-fascist
Forces attacked.
87
00:04:34,467 --> 00:04:37,767
Corum: so here you have belchite
With a few thousand
88
00:04:37,767 --> 00:04:41,400
Not elite spanish
Nationalist troops
89
00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,367
But they're supplied well
Enough, armed well enough
90
00:04:44,367 --> 00:04:48,067
That they turn the town
Into a small fortress.
91
00:04:48,067 --> 00:04:50,433
Instead of going
Straight for zaragoza,
92
00:04:50,433 --> 00:04:53,600
Which they could have
Taken, they get bogged down
93
00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:59,167
In this village of 3800 people.
94
00:04:59,167 --> 00:05:00,000
Narrator: who were the men who
Fought to take belchite?
95
00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:01,000
Narrator: who were the men who
Fought to take belchite?
96
00:05:03,067 --> 00:05:04,467
And what was their connection to
97
00:05:04,467 --> 00:05:08,467
A fighting unit
From the united states?
98
00:05:08,467 --> 00:05:12,067
When the world learned
That franco and his fascist
99
00:05:12,067 --> 00:05:15,667
Compatriots were trying to
Overthrow the elected government
100
00:05:15,667 --> 00:05:18,500
Of spain, there was
Really a lot of outrage,
101
00:05:18,500 --> 00:05:19,967
And a lot people wanted to come
102
00:05:19,967 --> 00:05:22,067
And help this beleaguered
Government.
103
00:05:22,067 --> 00:05:26,300
And so a lot
Of people from the west came
104
00:05:26,300 --> 00:05:29,800
To volunteer and assist.
105
00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:30,000
Narrator: around 3000
Of those anti-fascist volunteers
106
00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:31,000
Narrator: around 3000
Of those anti-fascist volunteers
107
00:05:33,367 --> 00:05:35,800
Were from the u.S.
108
00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,567
They formed the
Abraham lincoln brigade
109
00:05:38,567 --> 00:05:41,767
And made their way to belchite.
110
00:05:41,767 --> 00:05:44,067
Corum: by belchite, the abraham
Lincoln battalion
111
00:05:44,067 --> 00:05:48,167
Has been through a couple
Of major campaigns.
112
00:05:48,167 --> 00:05:50,767
They are really veterans.
113
00:05:50,767 --> 00:05:53,467
They're first rate
Troops at this time.
114
00:05:53,467 --> 00:05:55,200
They weren't when they started,
115
00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:59,333
But at this point they
Have learned on the job,
116
00:05:59,333 --> 00:06:00,000
And they're pretty
Effective soldiers.
117
00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:01,000
And they're pretty
Effective soldiers.
118
00:06:04,233 --> 00:06:06,933
Narrator: but if they were such
Effective soldiers,
119
00:06:06,933 --> 00:06:11,467
Why is there so little
Left of the town?
120
00:06:11,467 --> 00:06:14,767
Juan simon, a tour guide
In the old town,
121
00:06:14,767 --> 00:06:18,600
Explains how the american
And other anti-fascist troops
122
00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,467
Attacked the town.
123
00:06:33,433 --> 00:06:36,367
[ mortars blast ]
124
00:06:36,367 --> 00:06:39,500
The civilians who
Were unable to escape
125
00:06:39,500 --> 00:06:43,933
Hid in the cellars
As the battle raged above them.
126
00:06:43,933 --> 00:06:47,767
The town was
Essentially under siege.
127
00:06:47,767 --> 00:06:51,067
They were cut off
From the outside, food, water,
128
00:06:51,067 --> 00:06:55,067
It was really quite a
Brutal way to take a city
129
00:06:55,067 --> 00:06:57,200
Without much concern
For the lives
130
00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,000
Or the welfare of the civilians
Who were trapped inside.
131
00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:01,000
Or the welfare of the civilians
Who were trapped inside.
132
00:07:02,367 --> 00:07:08,267
Narrator: but the fascist forces
Had a strategic advantage.
133
00:07:08,267 --> 00:07:12,333
From the top of this tower,
Now battered by shellfire,
134
00:07:12,333 --> 00:07:14,100
They had a clear line of fire
135
00:07:14,100 --> 00:07:17,267
On to the anti-fascist
Troops below.
136
00:07:46,167 --> 00:07:48,700
Once the anti-fascist
Troops had taken
137
00:07:48,700 --> 00:07:51,233
Out the machine gun,
The abraham lincoln
138
00:07:51,233 --> 00:07:53,333
Battalion was able
To force its way
139
00:07:53,333 --> 00:07:56,400
In through the church
Of st. Augustine.
140
00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,300
*
141
00:08:13,100 --> 00:08:16,700
The anti-fascist forces may have
Entered belchite,
142
00:08:16,700 --> 00:08:19,533
But would they succeed
In taking over the town?
143
00:08:19,533 --> 00:08:21,600
*
144
00:08:22,867 --> 00:08:23,000
*
145
00:08:28,500 --> 00:08:32,400
Narrator:
In 1937, during the spanish
Civil war,
146
00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:37,300
Anti-fascist forces have broken
Through into belchite.
147
00:09:00,667 --> 00:09:06,267
These are really the
Worst kinds of battles.
148
00:09:06,267 --> 00:09:09,367
It's up close and it's personal.
149
00:09:09,367 --> 00:09:14,100
The noise, the explosions,
You're going building
150
00:09:14,100 --> 00:09:16,733
To building, and that means
Throwing hand grenades,
151
00:09:16,733 --> 00:09:19,067
That means demolishing things,
152
00:09:19,067 --> 00:09:21,133
That means setting
Fire to buildings,
153
00:09:21,133 --> 00:09:22,468
To actually,
Literally burn your enemy out.
154
00:09:22,468 --> 00:09:23,000
To actually,
Literally burn your enemy out.
155
00:09:26,233 --> 00:09:30,267
It's a high-casualty
Form of warfare.
156
00:09:30,267 --> 00:09:33,233
*
157
00:09:33,233 --> 00:09:35,200
Narrator:
After two weeks of intense
158
00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:38,067
And bloody conflict,
The american
159
00:09:38,067 --> 00:09:44,067
And other anti-fascist forces
Took control of the town.
160
00:09:44,067 --> 00:09:47,167
Meigs: it was very bloody,
Very devastating
161
00:09:47,167 --> 00:09:50,733
To the local population.
162
00:09:50,733 --> 00:09:52,468
When ernest hemingway,
Who was covering
163
00:09:52,468 --> 00:09:53,000
When ernest hemingway,
Who was covering
164
00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:56,067
The spanish civil war
For american newspapers,
165
00:09:56,067 --> 00:09:58,133
When he arrived
In belchite, he said
166
00:09:58,133 --> 00:10:03,700
The city was less a town
Than a bad smell.
167
00:10:03,700 --> 00:10:06,667
Narrator: bodies from both sides
Piled up in the streets
168
00:10:06,667 --> 00:10:09,833
And decayed in the
Blistering summer sun.
169
00:10:09,833 --> 00:10:16,067
In total, 3,000 people died,
But was it worth the bloodshed?
170
00:10:16,067 --> 00:10:18,900
Corum: abraham lincoln
Battalion talked of this
171
00:10:18,900 --> 00:10:22,468
As one of their toughest fights
In the war,
172
00:10:22,468 --> 00:10:23,000
As one of their toughest fights
In the war,
173
00:10:23,567 --> 00:10:29,200
And they aren't sure
Why their elite brigade
174
00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,933
Was diverted to
A house to house battle.
175
00:10:32,933 --> 00:10:36,433
But somehow it happened.
176
00:10:36,433 --> 00:10:40,100
It was really one of the
Big screw ups of the war,
177
00:10:40,100 --> 00:10:43,400
Is the offensive, they
Gained a little territory
178
00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:48,867
And literally accomplished
No strategic effect at all.
179
00:10:48,867 --> 00:10:51,700
Narrator: six months later,
The tables were turned
180
00:10:51,700 --> 00:10:52,468
When the fascist forces
Took back belchite.
181
00:10:52,468 --> 00:10:53,000
When the fascist forces
Took back belchite.
182
00:10:56,333 --> 00:11:01,433
But why was it never rebuilt?
183
00:11:01,433 --> 00:11:04,533
Meigs: franco didn't want
Belchite to be restored
184
00:11:04,533 --> 00:11:07,233
Because he knew it
Had propaganda value.
185
00:11:07,233 --> 00:11:10,600
This was of the great battles
That the nationalists lost.
186
00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:11,933
You would think
That you would want
187
00:11:11,933 --> 00:11:13,767
To celebrate your victories,
But no.
188
00:11:13,767 --> 00:11:16,300
If you're a dictator,
And you can point
189
00:11:16,300 --> 00:11:20,833
To a horrific disaster where
Many civilians lost their lives,
190
00:11:20,833 --> 00:11:22,433
Then you can stand up and stay,
191
00:11:22,433 --> 00:11:22,468
If it weren't for me,
This would keep happening.
192
00:11:22,468 --> 00:11:23,000
If it weren't for me,
This would keep happening.
193
00:11:25,333 --> 00:11:27,933
*
194
00:11:27,933 --> 00:11:32,500
Franco wouldn't let the local
Population rebuild the city,
195
00:11:32,500 --> 00:11:34,067
But eventually they
Decided that they
196
00:11:34,067 --> 00:11:39,233
Just needed to build
A new town next door.
197
00:11:39,233 --> 00:11:42,633
*
198
00:11:42,633 --> 00:11:45,533
Narrator: today, the town stands
As a memorial
199
00:11:45,533 --> 00:11:48,167
To the thousands who lost
Their lives here,
200
00:11:48,167 --> 00:11:51,933
And a stark reminder
Of the particular brutality
201
00:11:51,933 --> 00:11:52,468
Of civil war.
202
00:11:52,468 --> 00:11:53,000
Of civil war.
203
00:11:53,633 --> 00:11:55,733
*
204
00:11:55,733 --> 00:11:58,800
When you see belchite today,
You see a war zone,
205
00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,500
Kind of frozen in amber.
206
00:12:01,500 --> 00:12:03,867
You see the effects,
You see the bullet holes,
207
00:12:03,867 --> 00:12:06,700
You see where
The mortar shells fell,
208
00:12:06,700 --> 00:12:12,467
And you see the tragedy
Of war, and how so often,
209
00:12:12,467 --> 00:12:14,400
Wars aren't just fought
Between armies,
210
00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:16,833
They're often fought
Between armies
211
00:12:16,833 --> 00:12:19,200
With civilians
Caught in the middle,
212
00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:20,400
And that's what happened here.
213
00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:22,468
That's what makes
It so heartbreaking.
214
00:12:22,468 --> 00:12:22,500
That's what makes
It so heartbreaking.
215
00:12:22,500 --> 00:12:23,000
*
216
00:12:27,933 --> 00:12:30,067
Narrator:
On the western coast of canada,
217
00:12:30,067 --> 00:12:34,733
In powell river, a small
Town a 105 miles from vancouver
218
00:12:34,733 --> 00:12:37,167
Is an astonishing site.
219
00:12:37,167 --> 00:12:41,167
*
220
00:12:41,167 --> 00:12:44,800
Ships that stretch across
The water, one connected
221
00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,733
To the other, listing gently
Towards the shore.
222
00:12:48,733 --> 00:12:51,867
*
223
00:12:51,867 --> 00:12:52,468
Bell: it looks like a
Decaying ghost fleet
224
00:12:52,468 --> 00:12:53,000
Bell: it looks like a
Decaying ghost fleet
225
00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:59,067
With their crews
Mysteriously missing.
226
00:12:59,067 --> 00:13:04,333
There's something really
Quite spooky about it.
227
00:13:04,333 --> 00:13:07,567
Selwood:
They're covered in barnacles,
And moss, and seaweed,
228
00:13:07,567 --> 00:13:12,300
It almost as if nature is
Claiming them back again.
229
00:13:12,300 --> 00:13:16,400
Narrator: heavy rusted chains
Extend across their decks,
230
00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:20,567
Their crews long since vanished,
But still they hint
231
00:13:20,567 --> 00:13:22,468
At secrets yet to be revealed.
232
00:13:22,468 --> 00:13:23,000
At secrets yet to be revealed.
233
00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,600
Dennston:
People think there's still
Treasure somewhere deep inside
234
00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:29,633
And if they can just get in
There and see what's there,
235
00:13:29,633 --> 00:13:33,800
Maybe they'll find something
Really interesting.
236
00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:36,567
Narrator:
It's hard to tell how old
These ships are
237
00:13:36,567 --> 00:13:38,400
Or where they're from,
238
00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:42,467
But there's one thing
They all have in common.
239
00:13:42,467 --> 00:13:45,800
Selwood: the really unusual
Thing about these boats
240
00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:49,500
Is that unlike most
They're not made of steel.
241
00:13:49,500 --> 00:13:52,468
These ones are made of concrete.
242
00:13:52,468 --> 00:13:53,000
These ones are made of concrete.
243
00:13:53,233 --> 00:13:57,467
Dennston:
They've definitely inspired a
Sense of mystery growing up.
244
00:13:57,467 --> 00:14:01,067
You start to wonder,
Like, what are these things?
245
00:14:01,067 --> 00:14:03,233
Where did they come from?
246
00:14:03,233 --> 00:14:05,833
What is their story?
247
00:14:05,833 --> 00:14:07,367
Narrator:
And how are they connected
248
00:14:07,367 --> 00:14:10,333
To one of the
Deadliest weapons ever?
249
00:14:10,333 --> 00:14:16,567
*
250
00:14:16,567 --> 00:14:19,167
The answer lies in
The desperate days
251
00:14:19,167 --> 00:14:22,433
Towards the end of
The first world war.
252
00:14:22,433 --> 00:14:22,468
The u.S. Navy urgently
Needed to expand its fleet
253
00:14:22,468 --> 00:14:23,000
The u.S. Navy urgently
Needed to expand its fleet
254
00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,833
But was running out
Of raw materials
255
00:14:28,833 --> 00:14:33,433
And had to find
Another solution.
256
00:14:33,433 --> 00:14:37,433
They come up with the idea,
Let's try concrete.
257
00:14:37,433 --> 00:14:42,933
Well the problem with most
Concretes is they're too heavy.
258
00:14:42,933 --> 00:14:46,100
Now, they had to develop,
And they succeeded
259
00:14:46,100 --> 00:14:48,633
In developing a new
Type of concrete
260
00:14:48,633 --> 00:14:52,468
That was light but still very,
Very strong.
261
00:14:52,468 --> 00:14:53,000
That was light but still very,
Very strong.
262
00:14:54,500 --> 00:14:57,133
Selwood: during world war I,
They were a go-to option
263
00:14:57,133 --> 00:15:00,500
Because they didn't take up
The important raw materials
264
00:15:00,500 --> 00:15:02,867
Like steel that were
Needed for the war effort
265
00:15:02,867 --> 00:15:04,700
And they could be made cheaply
266
00:15:04,700 --> 00:15:06,667
And much more functionally
Out of concrete,
267
00:15:06,667 --> 00:15:08,667
And concrete, of course,
Does float.
268
00:15:08,667 --> 00:15:12,700
*
269
00:15:12,700 --> 00:15:15,300
These ships so impressed
The u.S. Government
270
00:15:15,300 --> 00:15:17,733
That they ordered 24 of them.
271
00:15:17,733 --> 00:15:20,267
*
272
00:15:20,267 --> 00:15:22,468
Corum: and they're completed
Just as the war ends.
273
00:15:22,468 --> 00:15:23,000
Corum: and they're completed
Just as the war ends.
274
00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:24,767
But they're put into service and
275
00:15:24,767 --> 00:15:28,700
They actually
Worked pretty well.
276
00:15:28,700 --> 00:15:31,133
Once you've made
A concrete ship,
277
00:15:31,133 --> 00:15:37,067
It is actually quite
A long-lasting thing.
278
00:15:37,067 --> 00:15:42,133
Concrete, unlike steel,
Doesn't get metal fatigue,
279
00:15:42,133 --> 00:15:44,767
Doesn't wear out,
It doesn't rust.
280
00:15:44,767 --> 00:15:49,500
So, potentially, you have a very
Easy-to-maintain kind of ship.
281
00:15:49,500 --> 00:15:52,468
*
282
00:15:52,468 --> 00:15:52,567
*
283
00:15:52,567 --> 00:15:53,000
Narrator: in fact, these ships
Were so effective
284
00:15:56,433 --> 00:15:58,600
That when there was a shortage
Of steel during
285
00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:01,567
The second world war,
Naval architects,
286
00:16:01,567 --> 00:16:04,800
Once again, turned to concrete.
287
00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:07,667
All of them had a very similar
Purpose which was mainly
288
00:16:07,667 --> 00:16:10,300
To access freight ships
And for storage
289
00:16:10,300 --> 00:16:12,700
Because they're very good
At holding large amounts
290
00:16:12,700 --> 00:16:15,200
Of material and keeping it dry.
291
00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:19,067
*
292
00:16:19,067 --> 00:16:20,900
Narrator:
But what are 10 cargo ships
293
00:16:20,900 --> 00:16:22,468
From two world wars doing
Here in british columbia?
294
00:16:22,468 --> 00:16:23,000
From two world wars doing
Here in british columbia?
295
00:16:25,767 --> 00:16:33,333
This ghostly fleet that
The local's call the hulks.
296
00:16:33,333 --> 00:16:36,667
Around the beginning of the
Last century, paper mills sprung
297
00:16:36,667 --> 00:16:43,600
Up all along the coast,
Including here at powell river.
298
00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,733
Bell: the logs used to make the
Paper were transported
299
00:16:46,733 --> 00:16:50,800
To the mill by water and then
Unloaded into a log pond.
300
00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:52,468
It had to be big enough
To store the logs
301
00:16:52,468 --> 00:16:53,000
It had to be big enough
To store the logs
302
00:16:53,567 --> 00:16:55,567
And be protected
From the elements
303
00:16:55,567 --> 00:16:57,733
To keep it safe for the workers.
304
00:16:57,733 --> 00:17:00,167
The only problem
Here is it's exposed
305
00:17:00,167 --> 00:17:03,633
To severe winds from both
The north and the south
306
00:17:03,633 --> 00:17:09,600
And they needed to find a way
To shelter the log pond.
307
00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:11,233
Narrator:
So the mill owners decided
308
00:17:11,233 --> 00:17:15,567
To build a breakwater,
A barrier built into the sea
309
00:17:15,567 --> 00:17:19,133
To protect the log pond
From the force of the waves,
310
00:17:19,133 --> 00:17:22,468
As mechanical engineer,
Matthew denniston, explains.
311
00:17:22,468 --> 00:17:23,000
As mechanical engineer,
Matthew denniston, explains.
312
00:17:24,467 --> 00:17:26,933
Dennston:
So typically a breakwater
Structure would be made
313
00:17:26,933 --> 00:17:29,800
Of large rocks
Dumped in big piles,
314
00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:31,367
And they would build
Up from the sea floor
315
00:17:31,367 --> 00:17:33,933
To make that protection,
Where in our case,
316
00:17:33,933 --> 00:17:36,567
It's far too deep to make
This type of breakwater.
317
00:17:36,567 --> 00:17:38,700
So I think the light
Bulb just came on,
318
00:17:38,700 --> 00:17:43,100
Hey, why not
Use ships instead?
319
00:17:43,100 --> 00:17:45,700
Steel being in saltwater
In the ocean
320
00:17:45,700 --> 00:17:48,067
Deteriorates very quickly
If it's not protected
321
00:17:48,067 --> 00:17:51,400
And we found that, we would
Have a steel ship that would
322
00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:52,468
Come in and it would
Maybe last 20 years before
323
00:17:52,468 --> 00:17:53,000
Come in and it would
Maybe last 20 years before
324
00:17:54,367 --> 00:17:57,133
It had to be decommissioned,
Where these concrete ships
325
00:17:57,133 --> 00:17:59,733
Were already 40 years old
Coming in to replace them
326
00:17:59,733 --> 00:18:04,333
And have still lasted
Another 50-plus years.
327
00:18:04,333 --> 00:18:06,733
*
328
00:18:06,733 --> 00:18:10,667
Narrator: in 1948, the first
Concrete ships arrived
329
00:18:10,667 --> 00:18:12,767
In powell river.
330
00:18:12,767 --> 00:18:14,233
But how effective would they be
331
00:18:14,233 --> 00:18:19,600
At protecting from the elements?
332
00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:22,467
Bell: the ships were anchored
Down and chained together
333
00:18:22,467 --> 00:18:22,468
To form a sort
Of artificial reef.
334
00:18:22,468 --> 00:18:23,000
To form a sort
Of artificial reef.
335
00:18:27,067 --> 00:18:29,867
To help them withstand the
Elements, they were weighed down
336
00:18:29,867 --> 00:18:32,567
With gravel,
And they list to one side
337
00:18:32,567 --> 00:18:36,367
So their decks are angled
Towards the shore.
338
00:18:36,367 --> 00:18:38,367
Selwood: they're actually much
Heavier than ordinary ships.
339
00:18:38,367 --> 00:18:40,700
They're much more
Effective in keeping
340
00:18:40,700 --> 00:18:43,733
The water and the weather
At bay.
341
00:18:43,733 --> 00:18:46,533
*
342
00:18:46,533 --> 00:18:48,067
Narrator:
But if the concrete ships
343
00:18:48,067 --> 00:18:50,200
Make such an
Effective breakwater,
344
00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:52,468
Why are there now plans
To get rid of them?
345
00:18:52,468 --> 00:18:53,000
Why are there now plans
To get rid of them?
346
00:18:53,133 --> 00:18:54,767
*
347
00:18:56,300 --> 00:19:02,367
*
348
00:19:02,367 --> 00:19:05,200
Narrator:
Off the coast of british
Columbia is a fleet
349
00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:10,333
Of 10 concrete ships, chained
Together to form a breakwater.
350
00:19:10,333 --> 00:19:17,600
One of the ships is the quartz
And it has a hidden past.
351
00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:20,833
Dennston:
So one of the most unique
Things about this ship is that
352
00:19:20,833 --> 00:19:24,400
It was actually a part of some
Of the first nuclear testing
353
00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:25,801
That the u.S. Military did
On bikini atoll, and this
354
00:19:25,801 --> 00:19:26,000
That the u.S. Military did
On bikini atoll, and this
355
00:19:27,833 --> 00:19:32,600
Ship specifically was part
Of the nuclear test, baker.
356
00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:33,567
[ bomb explodes ]
357
00:19:33,567 --> 00:19:35,233
Narrator:
The bomb propelled a dome
358
00:19:35,233 --> 00:19:39,667
Of water about a mile
Wide into the sky.
359
00:19:39,667 --> 00:19:43,467
It created a wall of radioactive
Mist that contaminated many
360
00:19:43,467 --> 00:19:49,500
Of the surrounding ships,
Including the quartz.
361
00:19:49,500 --> 00:19:52,267
Corum: they were simply there
To see the effect
362
00:19:52,267 --> 00:19:54,367
Of the nuclear blast on ships.
363
00:19:54,367 --> 00:19:55,801
So, you know they had ships
Of every type and description
364
00:19:55,801 --> 00:19:56,000
So, you know they had ships
Of every type and description
365
00:19:58,567 --> 00:20:00,833
At bikini atoll and they wanted
366
00:20:00,833 --> 00:20:02,900
To get radioactivity readings,
367
00:20:02,900 --> 00:20:07,233
They also wanted to see the
Blast effect that different
368
00:20:07,233 --> 00:20:09,833
Nuclear weapons would
Have at different ranges.
369
00:20:09,833 --> 00:20:12,067
*
370
00:20:12,067 --> 00:20:16,467
Narrator: 10 years later and
Radiation-free, she arrived
371
00:20:16,467 --> 00:20:22,600
At powell river to join
The other concrete ships.
372
00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:25,801
Dennston: the service life was
Supposed to be only 15 years
373
00:20:25,801 --> 00:20:26,000
Dennston: the service life was
Supposed to be only 15 years
374
00:20:26,167 --> 00:20:30,133
When in reality here
We are 75 years later
375
00:20:30,133 --> 00:20:32,467
And they're still
Holding strong.
376
00:20:32,467 --> 00:20:35,700
*
377
00:20:35,700 --> 00:20:39,600
Narrator: so why are there
Now plans to sink some of them?
378
00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:43,233
*
379
00:20:43,233 --> 00:20:49,367
Today the paper mill no longer
Needs such a large log pond.
380
00:20:49,367 --> 00:20:52,867
Selwood:
The plans now are to sink
Some or most of the ships
381
00:20:52,867 --> 00:20:55,233
And allow them to become
A natural reef, bringing
382
00:20:55,233 --> 00:20:55,801
To life again the underwater
Maritime colony and community.
383
00:20:55,801 --> 00:20:56,000
To life again the underwater
Maritime colony and community.
384
00:21:00,867 --> 00:21:03,800
The ships are an extraordinary
Story of creation
385
00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:07,200
And technology.
386
00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:09,100
They were borne out
Of desperation,
387
00:21:09,100 --> 00:21:12,767
Out of a need to find a way to
Build ships with new materials,
388
00:21:12,767 --> 00:21:17,367
And yet when that need was gone,
They found another use here
389
00:21:17,367 --> 00:21:21,200
Acting as a breakwater, and when
Even that role is completed,
390
00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:22,933
They're now gonna
Find another one
391
00:21:22,933 --> 00:21:25,600
Down on the sea bed as reefs.
392
00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:25,801
They really are a testimony
To the creativity and creation
393
00:21:25,801 --> 00:21:26,000
They really are a testimony
To the creativity and creation
394
00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,600
Of what could be done
With new materials.
395
00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:38,533
*
396
00:21:38,533 --> 00:21:40,467
Narrator:
Hidden deep within woodland
397
00:21:40,467 --> 00:21:45,833
In southeast germany, 376
Miles from its capital, berlin,
398
00:21:45,833 --> 00:21:48,600
Is a strange and
Unexpected site...
399
00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:54,467
*
400
00:21:54,467 --> 00:21:55,801
A cold and bleak landscape
Disfigured by charred rock.
401
00:21:55,801 --> 00:21:56,000
A cold and bleak landscape
Disfigured by charred rock.
402
00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:02,767
Bell: there's a real
Air of foreboding.
403
00:22:02,767 --> 00:22:07,067
You can tell that
Something bad happened.
404
00:22:07,067 --> 00:22:09,533
Narrator:
It looks entirely natural
405
00:22:09,533 --> 00:22:14,067
Until you see metal spikes
Puncturing the stone.
406
00:22:14,067 --> 00:22:15,300
Agrawal: you're walking along,
407
00:22:15,300 --> 00:22:18,300
And suddenly the floor turns
To concrete
408
00:22:18,300 --> 00:22:21,167
And then you see
An embedded footprint there
409
00:22:21,167 --> 00:22:23,233
And you keep walking,
And then further along
410
00:22:23,233 --> 00:22:25,801
There's another footprint.
411
00:22:25,801 --> 00:22:26,000
There's another footprint.
412
00:22:26,633 --> 00:22:30,067
And immediately you think,
Just what went on here?
413
00:22:30,067 --> 00:22:32,067
Who made these footprints?
414
00:22:32,067 --> 00:22:33,633
And what happened to them?
415
00:22:33,633 --> 00:22:37,100
*
416
00:22:37,100 --> 00:22:41,300
Narrator: the mystery deepens
The further you go.
417
00:22:41,300 --> 00:22:45,300
Rusted, corroded steel and
Badly weathered concrete
418
00:22:45,300 --> 00:22:49,400
Twisted violently out of
Any recognizable shape.
419
00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:52,233
*
420
00:22:52,233 --> 00:22:55,133
Bell: whatever happened here
Would take one heck
421
00:22:55,133 --> 00:22:55,801
Of a force to cause
This much damage.
422
00:22:55,801 --> 00:22:56,000
Of a force to cause
This much damage.
423
00:22:58,300 --> 00:23:00,100
Narrator: and there's more.
424
00:23:00,100 --> 00:23:05,400
Concealed beneath the forest
Floor is a mysterious tunnel.
425
00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:07,533
Nearby are strange depressions
426
00:23:07,533 --> 00:23:11,200
Just visible through the trees.
427
00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:19,200
But what's most sinister is
An arch, a bridge to nowhere.
428
00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:21,500
How is it all connected?
429
00:23:21,500 --> 00:23:24,433
*
430
00:23:24,433 --> 00:23:25,801
Nusbacher: you've got what looks
Like a giant rib of some
431
00:23:25,801 --> 00:23:26,000
Nusbacher: you've got what looks
Like a giant rib of some
432
00:23:29,500 --> 00:23:34,400
Massive dinosaur sticking
Out of the earth.
433
00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:37,133
Agrawal:
There really is something
Fantastical about it.
434
00:23:37,133 --> 00:23:40,133
It has this otherworldly
Quality to it
435
00:23:40,133 --> 00:23:44,533
And it doesn't really feel
Like it should be in our world.
436
00:23:44,533 --> 00:23:46,467
Narrator: who built this arch?
437
00:23:46,467 --> 00:23:50,200
Why did its builders
Die in their thousands?
438
00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:54,400
And what cataclysmic event
Caused its destruction?
439
00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:55,801
*
440
00:23:55,801 --> 00:23:56,000
*
441
00:23:58,667 --> 00:24:01,367
*
442
00:24:01,367 --> 00:24:05,767
The answer lies in the final
Years of the second world war
443
00:24:05,767 --> 00:24:08,300
When the allied bombing campaign
Against germany
444
00:24:08,300 --> 00:24:09,833
Reached its peak.
445
00:24:09,833 --> 00:24:13,900
Corum:
The germans have lost control,
Not only the airspace
446
00:24:13,900 --> 00:24:17,367
Over france and the allied
Landing areas, but they've
447
00:24:17,367 --> 00:24:23,300
Lost control of the airspace
Over their own country.
448
00:24:23,300 --> 00:24:25,801
Narrator: allied bombs are
Decimating german factories
449
00:24:25,801 --> 00:24:26,000
Narrator: allied bombs are
Decimating german factories
450
00:24:26,833 --> 00:24:31,467
And severely disrupting
Their ability to fight.
451
00:24:31,467 --> 00:24:34,833
Corum: so the germans have
To find some way
452
00:24:34,833 --> 00:24:38,233
To defend themselves against
The allied onslaught.
453
00:24:39,767 --> 00:24:42,400
[ bombs explode ]
454
00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:43,733
Narrator: how would the germans
455
00:24:43,733 --> 00:24:46,933
Combat this threat
From the skies?
456
00:24:46,933 --> 00:24:51,067
And how was it connected
To this sinister site?
457
00:24:52,500 --> 00:24:53,000
*
458
00:24:59,433 --> 00:25:02,433
Narrator: in the final years
Of the second world war,
459
00:25:02,433 --> 00:25:06,133
The allies were bombing
Germany's factories to oblivion.
460
00:25:06,133 --> 00:25:08,633
So the nazi war
Machine decided to move
461
00:25:08,633 --> 00:25:13,100
Production of some armaments
To caves.
462
00:25:13,100 --> 00:25:16,733
The problem the germans
Have is that it's really,
463
00:25:16,733 --> 00:25:21,667
Really hard to
Make caves in rock.
464
00:25:21,667 --> 00:25:22,190
Their clever solution is
They're gonna make giant,
465
00:25:22,190 --> 00:25:23,000
Their clever solution is
They're gonna make giant,
466
00:25:25,067 --> 00:25:31,567
Artificial caverns where
There was no cave before.
467
00:25:31,567 --> 00:25:33,700
Narrator:
And this is the result.
468
00:25:33,700 --> 00:25:38,133
Weingut eins, a vast concrete
Structure that the germans
469
00:25:38,133 --> 00:25:44,067
Hoped would allow them to
Keep the war machine running.
470
00:25:44,067 --> 00:25:46,667
But what were they
Going to build here?
471
00:25:46,667 --> 00:25:49,067
And why was its
Construction hidden deep
472
00:25:49,067 --> 00:25:51,967
Within a forest
In southeast germany?
473
00:25:51,967 --> 00:25:52,190
*
474
00:25:52,190 --> 00:25:53,000
*
475
00:25:55,067 --> 00:25:59,133
Local historian, dr. Erhard
Bosch, explains that the site
476
00:25:59,133 --> 00:26:03,533
Had to match a very specific
Set of requirements.
477
00:26:03,533 --> 00:26:07,333
*
478
00:26:07,333 --> 00:26:08,967
Bosch: [ speaking german ]
479
00:26:08,967 --> 00:26:11,367
Translator:
In order to be able to be able
To build concrete buildings,
480
00:26:11,367 --> 00:26:15,067
You need gravel, water, cement,
And steel.
481
00:26:15,067 --> 00:26:18,200
All that was here.
482
00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:22,190
Narrator:
It needed so many resources
Because of its vast size.
483
00:26:22,190 --> 00:26:22,233
Narrator:
It needed so many resources
Because of its vast size.
484
00:26:22,233 --> 00:26:23,000
*
485
00:26:25,367 --> 00:26:30,133
Bell:
This bunker presented all sorts
Of engineering challenges.
486
00:26:30,133 --> 00:26:32,533
It would consist
Of 12 separate arches
487
00:26:32,533 --> 00:26:35,533
That'd be a quarter
Of a mile long.
488
00:26:35,533 --> 00:26:39,433
Each arch would be over
A hundred feet wide.
489
00:26:39,433 --> 00:26:43,067
It's a major
Construction project.
490
00:26:43,067 --> 00:26:46,900
Narrator: a workforce of over
10,000 was allocated,
491
00:26:46,900 --> 00:26:52,190
And construction began in
July, 1944 on the first arch.
492
00:26:52,190 --> 00:26:52,367
And construction began in
July, 1944 on the first arch.
493
00:26:52,367 --> 00:26:53,000
Agrawal:
Building arches is a challenge.
494
00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:58,533
They're very strong shapes
When they're actually finished
495
00:26:58,533 --> 00:27:01,633
But while you're constructing
Them, you have to keep
496
00:27:01,633 --> 00:27:07,133
Them supported in order
To keep it stable.
497
00:27:07,133 --> 00:27:10,300
Narrator: usually you'd use
A timber or steel frame
498
00:27:10,300 --> 00:27:12,200
But the lack of
Resources meant that
499
00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:15,067
The builders had to
Find another solution.
500
00:27:15,067 --> 00:27:18,367
*
501
00:27:18,367 --> 00:27:20,767
Nusbacher: you need as much
Gravel as possible
502
00:27:20,767 --> 00:27:22,190
Because the construction
Method you're gonna use
503
00:27:22,190 --> 00:27:23,000
Because the construction
Method you're gonna use
504
00:27:23,933 --> 00:27:28,867
Requires mountains of gravel.
505
00:27:28,867 --> 00:27:32,633
Agrawal: they could pile up this
Gravel into an immense shape,
506
00:27:32,633 --> 00:27:34,867
This arch shape, and then create
507
00:27:34,867 --> 00:27:38,867
Their concrete arch
On top of that.
508
00:27:38,867 --> 00:27:41,700
Narrator: but how would they
Move those vast mounds
509
00:27:41,700 --> 00:27:44,367
Of gravel from one
Arch to another?
510
00:27:44,367 --> 00:27:48,467
A few hundred feet away,
There's a clue.
511
00:27:48,467 --> 00:27:51,367
Bell: this was an underground
Tunnel with mine carts
512
00:27:51,367 --> 00:27:52,190
On a rail track.
513
00:27:52,190 --> 00:27:52,967
On a rail track.
514
00:27:52,967 --> 00:27:53,000
Once each arch was completed,
515
00:27:55,133 --> 00:27:58,200
The gravel that was
Beneath it was dumped
516
00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:00,933
Down through hatches
Into these waiting carts
517
00:28:00,933 --> 00:28:02,900
Which would then
Take the gravel along
518
00:28:02,900 --> 00:28:06,633
To the next construction site.
519
00:28:06,633 --> 00:28:08,967
Narrator: the pressure was on
To finish the bunker
520
00:28:08,967 --> 00:28:11,067
And start production of a plane
521
00:28:11,067 --> 00:28:15,367
They hoped would change
The course of the war,
522
00:28:15,367 --> 00:28:20,100
The world's first operational,
Jet-powered fighter aircraft,
523
00:28:20,100 --> 00:28:22,190
The m.E. 262, beneath a roof
That was virtually bomb-proof.
524
00:28:22,190 --> 00:28:23,000
The m.E. 262, beneath a roof
That was virtually bomb-proof.
525
00:28:27,300 --> 00:28:28,767
Bosch: [ speaking german ]
526
00:28:28,767 --> 00:28:31,300
Translator: we are here
Underneath the 7th archway.
527
00:28:31,300 --> 00:28:35,667
The foundations to the left
And right go 17 meters deep
528
00:28:35,667 --> 00:28:38,167
And the lean concrete
Layer above us,
529
00:28:38,167 --> 00:28:40,800
It has broken away
In some places.
530
00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,333
The first reinforcing
Rods can be seen.
531
00:28:43,333 --> 00:28:46,067
They reinforce 5 meters
Of concrete.
532
00:28:46,067 --> 00:28:48,867
*
533
00:28:48,867 --> 00:28:50,867
Narrator:
When complete, the factory
534
00:28:50,867 --> 00:28:52,190
Would have been
A production line
535
00:28:52,190 --> 00:28:52,533
Would have been
A production line
536
00:28:52,533 --> 00:28:53,000
On a massive scale.
537
00:28:55,567 --> 00:28:57,100
Bosch: [ speaking german ]
538
00:28:57,100 --> 00:28:58,867
Translator: they wanted to dig
Further down from here
539
00:28:58,867 --> 00:29:01,733
And they would've had
Eight factory floors.
540
00:29:01,733 --> 00:29:04,567
When you consider the overall
Area they would've had,
541
00:29:04,567 --> 00:29:08,067
It would've amounted
To a 114,000 square meters
542
00:29:08,067 --> 00:29:09,800
Of manufacturing area.
543
00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:13,833
That's approximately
14 football pitches.
544
00:29:17,167 --> 00:29:19,733
Narrator:
Who built these enormous arches?
545
00:29:19,733 --> 00:29:22,190
And what was their connection
To these deep caverns?
546
00:29:22,190 --> 00:29:23,000
And what was their connection
To these deep caverns?
547
00:29:23,167 --> 00:29:25,067
Hollowed out of the ground,
548
00:29:25,067 --> 00:29:29,633
Just over
One and a half miles away.
549
00:29:29,633 --> 00:29:32,567
Bell: these craters are all
Over this particular area.
550
00:29:32,567 --> 00:29:35,433
And it's hard to tell
Exactly what happened here
551
00:29:35,433 --> 00:29:38,600
To create these holes
Just by looking at them.
552
00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:42,567
But their size and
Their depth are ominous.
553
00:29:42,567 --> 00:29:44,967
*
554
00:29:44,967 --> 00:29:47,267
Narrator:
What were these craters?
555
00:29:47,267 --> 00:29:49,900
And how are they linked
To thousands of deaths
556
00:29:49,900 --> 00:29:52,190
Deep in the german woodland?
557
00:29:52,190 --> 00:29:53,000
Deep in the german woodland?
558
00:29:55,267 --> 00:29:56,000
*
559
00:30:01,233 --> 00:30:04,933
Narrator: in southeast germany,
A huge concrete bunker,
560
00:30:04,933 --> 00:30:08,233
Called weingut eins, had
Become a critical part
561
00:30:08,233 --> 00:30:10,300
Of the war effort.
562
00:30:10,300 --> 00:30:12,800
And slave laborers
From the death camps
563
00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:15,667
Were forced to build it.
564
00:30:15,667 --> 00:30:19,400
These holes were
Where their huts were.
565
00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:20,933
Nusbacher: they had no heat.
566
00:30:20,933 --> 00:30:22,767
They had no toilet facilities,
567
00:30:22,767 --> 00:30:24,867
They had no washing facilities.
568
00:30:24,867 --> 00:30:25,260
They didn't even
Have fresh water.
569
00:30:25,260 --> 00:30:26,000
They didn't even
Have fresh water.
570
00:30:28,567 --> 00:30:29,700
Bosch: [ speaking german ]
571
00:30:29,700 --> 00:30:31,400
Translator:
They didn't have enough to eat.
572
00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:36,433
So you can imagine they
Became emaciated very quickly.
573
00:30:36,433 --> 00:30:43,233
If they did try to escape and
Were caught, they were shot.
574
00:30:43,233 --> 00:30:48,233
Narrator:
Out of 10,000 laborers,
A total of 4,000 died.
575
00:30:48,233 --> 00:30:51,733
*
576
00:30:51,733 --> 00:30:55,260
By the end of april 1945,
Only seven arches
577
00:30:55,260 --> 00:30:56,000
By the end of april 1945,
Only seven arches
578
00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:57,867
Had been completed.
579
00:30:57,867 --> 00:31:01,067
But the allies were already
Sweeping through germany
580
00:31:01,067 --> 00:31:05,933
And the entire site was
Placed under u.S. Military rule.
581
00:31:05,933 --> 00:31:09,867
So why is there now only
One arch left standing?
582
00:31:09,867 --> 00:31:12,867
The twisted steel
And concrete is a clue.
583
00:31:12,867 --> 00:31:15,067
*
584
00:31:15,067 --> 00:31:17,200
Bell:
If there were another world war,
585
00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:20,433
The americans thought they
Might adopt a bunker like this
586
00:31:20,433 --> 00:31:24,100
For their own military
Installations back in the u.S.
587
00:31:24,100 --> 00:31:25,260
But first, they wanted to
See just how strong it was.
588
00:31:25,260 --> 00:31:26,000
But first, they wanted to
See just how strong it was.
589
00:31:28,633 --> 00:31:33,667
So, they decided to blow it up.
590
00:31:33,667 --> 00:31:37,300
Narrator: the u.S. Blew the
Arches up, one by one,
591
00:31:37,300 --> 00:31:40,367
Until they found out
How much explosive power
592
00:31:40,367 --> 00:31:43,500
Each structure could withstand.
593
00:31:43,500 --> 00:31:48,367
Nusbacher:
So all of the cold-war era
Nuclear bunkers
594
00:31:48,367 --> 00:31:53,067
Are based, in their structure,
On tests that were done
595
00:31:53,067 --> 00:31:55,260
In 1947 here at weingut eins.
596
00:31:55,260 --> 00:31:56,000
In 1947 here at weingut eins.
597
00:31:58,100 --> 00:32:03,400
Narrator:
After it was destroyed,
Weingut eins was abandoned.
598
00:32:03,400 --> 00:32:06,067
*
599
00:32:06,067 --> 00:32:09,333
Nusbacher: when I look at the
Ruins of weingut eins,
600
00:32:09,333 --> 00:32:12,767
That terrible
Slave labor project
601
00:32:12,767 --> 00:32:17,533
That was designed to keep
The nazi war machine going,
602
00:32:17,533 --> 00:32:23,500
And I look at its failure,
And I know that when power
603
00:32:23,500 --> 00:32:25,260
Is untrammeled by justice,
It can only go so far
604
00:32:25,260 --> 00:32:26,000
Is untrammeled by justice,
It can only go so far
605
00:32:29,167 --> 00:32:31,067
Before it destroys itself.
606
00:32:31,067 --> 00:32:37,833
*
607
00:32:37,833 --> 00:32:39,833
Narrator:
In a remote forest in maine,
608
00:32:39,833 --> 00:32:42,733
At the northeastern tip
Of the united states,
609
00:32:42,733 --> 00:32:46,233
Is something you don't
Expect to stumble across.
610
00:32:46,233 --> 00:32:52,467
*
611
00:32:52,467 --> 00:32:55,260
Meigs:
You're in this part of maine
That is overgrown with --
612
00:32:55,260 --> 00:32:55,800
Meigs:
You're in this part of maine
That is overgrown with --
613
00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:56,000
With trees and low forest
And it's very scenic.
614
00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:01,567
And then in the middle of it,
You can see the remnants
615
00:33:01,567 --> 00:33:04,100
Of old cables and machinery.
616
00:33:04,100 --> 00:33:07,767
*
617
00:33:07,767 --> 00:33:10,933
Gough: there are two identical
Structures made of metal,
618
00:33:10,933 --> 00:33:14,533
Completely rusted out, with
What appears to be a pipe
619
00:33:14,533 --> 00:33:16,500
Coming out of the back of it.
620
00:33:16,500 --> 00:33:18,767
*
621
00:33:18,767 --> 00:33:22,500
Meigs:
You can see a large, old engine.
622
00:33:22,500 --> 00:33:25,200
Clearly something
Technical and industrial
623
00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:25,260
Used to dominate this space.
624
00:33:25,260 --> 00:33:26,000
Used to dominate this space.
625
00:33:27,833 --> 00:33:32,600
*
626
00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:37,100
Bell: it looks like some mad
Experiment gone wrong.
627
00:33:37,100 --> 00:33:40,067
An eccentric scientist who
Decided to create something
628
00:33:40,067 --> 00:33:44,267
Fantastical in the
Middle of nowhere.
629
00:33:44,267 --> 00:33:45,667
Narrator: but what is it?
630
00:33:45,667 --> 00:33:51,067
And how is it related to these
Two dilapidated locomotives?
631
00:33:51,067 --> 00:33:53,233
Bell: you come across what
Looks like a pulley system
632
00:33:53,233 --> 00:33:55,260
And these rusted and corroded
Pieces of metal which
633
00:33:55,260 --> 00:33:56,000
And these rusted and corroded
Pieces of metal which
634
00:33:57,733 --> 00:34:00,600
Looks like broken
Pieces of track.
635
00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:03,100
*
636
00:34:03,100 --> 00:34:06,933
Narrator: the entire woodland
Is full of mystery.
637
00:34:06,933 --> 00:34:09,633
Normally, tracks
Connect something.
638
00:34:09,633 --> 00:34:13,500
But these just end abruptly.
639
00:34:13,500 --> 00:34:15,667
Are these structures connected?
640
00:34:15,667 --> 00:34:19,167
And if so, how?
641
00:34:19,167 --> 00:34:22,200
And then you have the fact
That it's so remote.
642
00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:25,067
It's deep
In the maine wilderness,
643
00:34:25,067 --> 00:34:25,260
Far from anything,
So the question is,
644
00:34:25,260 --> 00:34:26,000
Far from anything,
So the question is,
645
00:34:27,933 --> 00:34:31,133
What is it, and what
Is it doing here?
646
00:34:31,133 --> 00:34:37,700
*
647
00:34:37,700 --> 00:34:39,433
Narrator:
The answer lies in an industry
648
00:34:39,433 --> 00:34:42,600
That helped to define maine
And make america great
649
00:34:42,600 --> 00:34:46,333
In the 19th and
Early 20th centuries.
650
00:34:46,333 --> 00:34:48,533
The logging industry.
651
00:34:48,533 --> 00:34:51,667
*
652
00:34:51,667 --> 00:34:55,260
Gough: northern maine has 18
Million acres of forest land.
653
00:34:55,260 --> 00:34:56,000
Gough: northern maine has 18
Million acres of forest land.
654
00:34:56,833 --> 00:34:59,100
And at the turn of
The last century,
655
00:34:59,100 --> 00:35:02,133
It was the hub of
The logging industry.
656
00:35:02,133 --> 00:35:04,867
At the time
When timber was king.
657
00:35:04,867 --> 00:35:07,067
*
658
00:35:07,067 --> 00:35:11,067
Narrator:
The country was growing
And it needed more wood.
659
00:35:11,067 --> 00:35:13,067
And the forests
Were being cut down
660
00:35:13,067 --> 00:35:15,733
In industrial quantities
By lumber barons
661
00:35:15,733 --> 00:35:19,300
Who sought to profit from
This insatiable demand.
662
00:35:19,300 --> 00:35:22,833
*
663
00:35:22,833 --> 00:35:25,260
Matthew laroche,
Superintendent of the
664
00:35:25,260 --> 00:35:25,500
Matthew laroche,
Superintendent of the
665
00:35:25,500 --> 00:35:26,000
Allagash wilderness waterway,
Explains how it worked.
666
00:35:30,900 --> 00:35:34,067
The loggers would come up the
River systems cutting pine
667
00:35:34,067 --> 00:35:37,367
And as the pine got depleted,
They would just keep moving
668
00:35:37,367 --> 00:35:38,833
Up the rivers.
669
00:35:38,833 --> 00:35:41,133
*
670
00:35:41,133 --> 00:35:43,633
Meigs: you know, cutting down
The tree is the easy part.
671
00:35:43,633 --> 00:35:46,733
The hard part is
Getting that giant log
672
00:35:46,733 --> 00:35:51,467
Out of wherever it fell and
Into some kind of transportation
673
00:35:51,467 --> 00:35:55,260
System that can get it to the
Sawmill or the paper mill.
674
00:35:55,260 --> 00:35:55,733
System that can get it to the
Sawmill or the paper mill.
675
00:35:55,733 --> 00:35:56,000
Bell: the nearest sawmill was
In bangor, 145 miles away.
676
00:36:00,133 --> 00:36:02,833
The only problem was,
They needed to find a way
677
00:36:02,833 --> 00:36:06,633
To transport all these logs
Between one lake and another,
678
00:36:06,633 --> 00:36:11,200
Across a really
Narrow strip of land.
679
00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:13,367
Narrator:
This isolated stretch of land
680
00:36:13,367 --> 00:36:16,833
Lay between eagle and
Chamberlain lakes.
681
00:36:16,833 --> 00:36:19,367
*
682
00:36:19,367 --> 00:36:22,100
And it was only
About 3,000 feet,
683
00:36:22,100 --> 00:36:24,300
Just a little more
Than half a mile,
684
00:36:24,300 --> 00:36:25,260
But if you were gonna drag
All those logs by oxen,
685
00:36:25,260 --> 00:36:26,000
But if you were gonna drag
All those logs by oxen,
686
00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:31,933
It might as well
Have been 50 miles.
687
00:36:31,933 --> 00:36:34,533
*
688
00:36:34,533 --> 00:36:36,900
Narrator: how would they haul
Thousands of logs
689
00:36:36,900 --> 00:36:39,767
Across this narrow
Strip of land?
690
00:36:39,767 --> 00:36:42,900
And would it work?
691
00:36:44,233 --> 00:36:45,000
*
692
00:36:50,733 --> 00:36:54,367
Narrator:
In northern maine, a narrow
Strip of land was preventing
693
00:36:54,367 --> 00:36:58,600
Lumber barons from transporting
Their logs to market.
694
00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:01,733
So they had to find a
Way of bridging the gap.
695
00:37:01,733 --> 00:37:05,100
And this is what
They came up with.
696
00:37:05,100 --> 00:37:08,567
An ingenious system of rails,
Cable, and iron,
697
00:37:08,567 --> 00:37:11,733
Powered by the
Technology of the day.
698
00:37:11,733 --> 00:37:14,202
It was called
Eagle lake tramway.
699
00:37:14,202 --> 00:37:14,933
It was called
Eagle lake tramway.
700
00:37:14,933 --> 00:37:15,000
*
701
00:37:18,900 --> 00:37:23,100
Gough: essentially, the tramway
Was a small railway
702
00:37:23,100 --> 00:37:27,600
That was pulled by a cable
Loop and powered by steam.
703
00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:30,733
*
704
00:37:30,733 --> 00:37:32,567
Narrator:
But this narrow neck of land
705
00:37:32,567 --> 00:37:34,833
Was in the middle of nowhere.
706
00:37:34,833 --> 00:37:39,767
How would they be able
To transport the parts?
707
00:37:39,767 --> 00:37:43,067
Laroche:
So all the material came
By rail to greenville.
708
00:37:43,067 --> 00:37:44,202
Up moosehead lake
With steamboats.
709
00:37:44,202 --> 00:37:45,000
Up moosehead lake
With steamboats.
710
00:37:45,333 --> 00:37:47,733
And then landed at
Northeast carry,
711
00:37:47,733 --> 00:37:50,067
And from there it was brought
In with horses on sleds,
712
00:37:50,067 --> 00:37:51,833
In the middle of the wintertime.
713
00:37:51,833 --> 00:37:54,733
We're talking about
A 35 mile trip
714
00:37:54,733 --> 00:37:58,633
With sleds and horses to
Get this material in here.
715
00:37:58,633 --> 00:38:00,667
*
716
00:38:00,667 --> 00:38:05,133
Narrator:
It took 12 arduous months
To assemble the tramway.
717
00:38:05,133 --> 00:38:07,367
But would it actually work?
718
00:38:07,367 --> 00:38:09,867
*
719
00:38:09,867 --> 00:38:11,367
Meigs: when they originally
Put this together,
720
00:38:11,367 --> 00:38:14,202
They had to bolt all of
These dollies to the cable,
721
00:38:14,202 --> 00:38:14,800
They had to bolt all of
These dollies to the cable,
722
00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:15,000
And it turned out that,
They tightened the bolts down
723
00:38:17,700 --> 00:38:19,733
All the way, but it wasn't
Quite tight enough,
724
00:38:19,733 --> 00:38:21,733
So everything slipped
And nothing worked.
725
00:38:21,733 --> 00:38:24,733
And they then had to take
Thousands of bolts back out
726
00:38:24,733 --> 00:38:27,400
And it turned out
The threads didn't go
727
00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:29,500
Far enough down the
Bolt so they had to
728
00:38:29,500 --> 00:38:32,467
Get out a filing system
And extend the threads
729
00:38:32,467 --> 00:38:34,300
A little bit, one at a time.
730
00:38:34,300 --> 00:38:37,367
And then put it
All back together.
731
00:38:37,367 --> 00:38:39,333
[ birds chirping ]
732
00:38:39,333 --> 00:38:42,567
Gough: once it was finished,
The workers watched nervously
733
00:38:42,567 --> 00:38:44,202
As the trucks crawled
Along and they noticed
734
00:38:44,202 --> 00:38:45,000
As the trucks crawled
Along and they noticed
735
00:38:45,833 --> 00:38:49,500
It wasn't going as fact
As they had expected.
736
00:38:49,500 --> 00:38:51,733
That was because
There was a bump
737
00:38:51,733 --> 00:38:56,133
Along the path, and once
The logs got over the bump,
738
00:38:56,133 --> 00:38:58,833
The weight of the logs
Helped it pick up steam
739
00:38:58,833 --> 00:39:00,500
The rest of the way.
740
00:39:00,500 --> 00:39:02,467
*
741
00:39:02,467 --> 00:39:04,067
Narrator:
But how effective would it be
742
00:39:04,067 --> 00:39:07,133
At moving thousands
Of logs over land,
743
00:39:07,133 --> 00:39:11,367
Onto mills in bangor and beyond?
744
00:39:11,367 --> 00:39:14,202
Laroche: the tramway ran on
These rails right here.
745
00:39:14,202 --> 00:39:15,000
Laroche: the tramway ran on
These rails right here.
746
00:39:15,233 --> 00:39:18,200
There was a top layer
And a bottom layer.
747
00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:20,567
And these trucks, and
There's one right there,
748
00:39:20,567 --> 00:39:24,633
The logs went onto those
Little pointed things.
749
00:39:24,633 --> 00:39:27,133
The logs would be pulled
On on the eagle lake end
750
00:39:27,133 --> 00:39:29,833
And they would travel
This top layer of rails
751
00:39:29,833 --> 00:39:31,733
All the way to chamberlain
Lake and then roll off
752
00:39:31,733 --> 00:39:33,933
The end of the tramway and
Dump into chamberlain lake
753
00:39:33,933 --> 00:39:37,300
And from there it was
Log drive down to bangor.
754
00:39:37,300 --> 00:39:38,767
*
755
00:39:38,767 --> 00:39:42,167
Narrator: the logs moved at
3 miles per hour,
756
00:39:42,167 --> 00:39:44,202
Powered entirely by steam.
757
00:39:44,202 --> 00:39:44,567
Powered entirely by steam.
758
00:39:44,567 --> 00:39:45,000
*
759
00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:51,633
Laroche: these are the boilers
Which created steam.
760
00:39:51,633 --> 00:39:55,600
Ran through these pipes up here,
Over to this engine,
761
00:39:55,600 --> 00:39:58,667
That would drive this belt.
762
00:39:58,667 --> 00:40:00,867
And the belt drove the
Machinery over here
763
00:40:00,867 --> 00:40:04,267
And these reduction gears
And the big final drive
764
00:40:04,267 --> 00:40:06,400
Over there with the
U-shaped cutouts in it
765
00:40:06,400 --> 00:40:08,333
Was where the
Trucks fit into the,
766
00:40:08,333 --> 00:40:10,267
The cable fit right
Into there and it
767
00:40:10,267 --> 00:40:12,567
Would drove the, drove
The logs over there
768
00:40:12,567 --> 00:40:14,202
And drop them right into
Chamberlain lake over there.
769
00:40:14,202 --> 00:40:14,433
And drop them right into
Chamberlain lake over there.
770
00:40:14,433 --> 00:40:15,000
It was quite an engineering
Marvel for the time.
771
00:40:18,167 --> 00:40:19,700
*
772
00:40:19,700 --> 00:40:24,500
Narrator: the tramway operated
From 1903 to 1909,
773
00:40:24,500 --> 00:40:28,900
Carrying in total 100
Million board feet of timber.
774
00:40:28,900 --> 00:40:32,133
But if it was so effective,
Why did the lumber barons
775
00:40:32,133 --> 00:40:34,767
Abandon it after only six years?
776
00:40:34,767 --> 00:40:37,000
*
777
00:40:37,000 --> 00:40:40,033
Meigs: eventually a small
Railroad was built
778
00:40:40,033 --> 00:40:42,100
That was able to move the logs
779
00:40:42,100 --> 00:40:44,202
In an even more
Convenient fashion.
780
00:40:44,202 --> 00:40:44,600
In an even more
Convenient fashion.
781
00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:45,000
And in fact this was the way
That logging was being done
782
00:40:47,733 --> 00:40:50,600
Across new england at that time.
783
00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:54,067
There were dozens of small
Little rail lines being built
784
00:40:54,067 --> 00:40:55,900
Into all kinds of
Wilderness areas,
785
00:40:55,900 --> 00:41:01,300
For the sole purpose
Of extracting the timber.
786
00:41:01,300 --> 00:41:03,767
Laroche: they did not remove the
Tramway from this location
787
00:41:03,767 --> 00:41:05,500
When they stopped using it.
788
00:41:05,500 --> 00:41:08,300
Primarily because it
Was such a remote area
789
00:41:08,300 --> 00:41:09,533
That they couldn't
Really take it out.
790
00:41:09,533 --> 00:41:10,767
I suppose they didn't
Really know if they
791
00:41:10,767 --> 00:41:12,800
Would use it again,
But they never did.
792
00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:14,202
Once they shut it down,
It never got used again.
793
00:41:14,202 --> 00:41:15,000
Once they shut it down,
It never got used again.
794
00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:22,933
*
795
00:41:22,933 --> 00:41:26,200
Narrator: now, the tramway
Is rusting away.
796
00:41:26,200 --> 00:41:31,100
And gradually being
Reclaimed by nature.
797
00:41:31,100 --> 00:41:33,800
When I come here and I
See people looking at them
798
00:41:33,800 --> 00:41:35,700
And they asking a
Bunch of questions,
799
00:41:35,700 --> 00:41:37,167
How'd they get it here,
What did it do,
800
00:41:37,167 --> 00:41:39,633
When did it work,
How much did it move?
801
00:41:39,633 --> 00:41:43,833
That kinda renews your
Enthusiasm for the site.
802
00:41:43,833 --> 00:41:44,202
Meigs:
When I see this kind of thing,
803
00:41:44,202 --> 00:41:45,000
Meigs:
When I see this kind of thing,
804
00:41:45,567 --> 00:41:50,267
It just makes me think
About the enormous effort,
805
00:41:50,267 --> 00:41:53,667
The sweat, the ingenuity
That went into
806
00:41:53,667 --> 00:41:59,333
These kinds of projects and
Into building the united states.
807
00:41:59,333 --> 00:42:03,533
*
64307
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.