World War II

Due to the tense situation all lighthouses were quenched before the invasion. After the German occupation of Norway lighthouses were lit only on definite orders. Like many other lighthouses, Lindesnes was also occupied and built up with extensive defence fortifications.A radar station, gun sites, bunkers, trenches and barracks for several hundred men were also built, with the work done mostly by Russian prisoners-of-war.

Accidents connected with blasting work led to damage on the lighthouse, while on 24 June 1940, air raid damage on the machinery house and oil shed led to 60 litres of diesel oil leaking out

The sinking of M/S Palatia just off the lighthouse was one of World War II’s worst maritime disasters. The ship was sunk by Allied planes because it was believed to be a troop transport. It was instead a ship overfilled with prisoners-of-war. More than 900 people (mostly Russians) perished.