Map of the Siegfried line

The original Siegfried line (Siegfriedstellung) was a line of defensive forts and tank defenses built by Germany as a section of the Hindenburg Line 1916-1917 in northern France during World War I. However, in English, Siegfried line more commonly refers to the similar World War II defensive line, built during the 1930s, opposite the French Maginot Line, which served a corresponding purpose. The Germans themselves called this the Westwall, but the Allies renamed it after the First World War line. This article deals with this second Siegfried line. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x1391, 160 KB) Darstellung zeigt Lage, Verlauf und bauliche Entwicklung des Westwalls. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x1391, 160 KB) Darstellung zeigt Lage, Verlauf und bauliche Entwicklung des Westwalls. ... The Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defences in Northern France constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916– 17 during World War I; the Germans called it the Siegfried Line. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Maginot Line (IPA: [maÊ’inoː], named after French minister of defence André Maginot) was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, machine gun posts and other defences which France constructed along its borders with Germany and with Italy, in the light of experience from World War I, and... In general, allies are people or groups that have joined an alliance and are working together to achieve some common purpose. ...

The Siegfried Line was a defence system stretching more than 630km (392 miles) with more than 18,000 bunkers, tunnels and tank traps. It went from Kleve on the border with the Netherlands, along the western border of the old German Empire as far as the town of Weil am Rhein on the border to Switzerland. More with propaganda in mind than for any strategic reason, Adolf Hitler planned the line from 1936 and had it built between 1938 and 1940. This was after the Nazis had broken the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Treaties by remilitarizing the Rhineland in 1936. Bunkers in Albania A bunker is a defensive military fortification. ... Dragons teeth (German: Höcker, humps) were square-pyramidal fortifications of concrete used during the Second World War to impede the movement of tanks. ... Kleve, traditionally known in English and French as Cleves (Dutch: Kleef) is a city in the north-west of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, near the Dutch border and the River Rhine, at . ... For German colonial territories, see German Colonial Empire. ... Weil am Rhein is home to the Vitra Design Museum Weil am Rhein is a German town and commune situated on the east bank of the River Rhine, and close to the point at which the Swiss, French and German borders meet. ... For other uses, see Propaganda (disambiguation). ... Hitler redirects here. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... National Socialism redirects here. ... This article is about the Treaty of Versailles of June 28 1919, which ended World War I. For other uses, see Treaty of Versailles (disambiguation) . The Treaty of Versailles (1919) was the peace treaty which officially ended World War I between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany. ... The Locarno Treaties were seven agreements negotiated at Locarno, Switzerland on 5 October—16 October 1925 and formally signed in London on December 1, in which the World War I Western European Allied powers and the new states of central and Eastern Europe sought to secure the post-war territorial... The Rhineland (Rheinland in German) is the general name for the land on both sides of the river Rhine in the west of Germany. ...

Origin of the name Westwall

Dragon's teeth - tank traps in the Eifel

Today we can no longer know for certain the exact origin of the German name Westwall (West Wall). It is most likely that the name simply came into popular use from the end of 1938. Nazi propaganda did not initially use the term very much, but the name was well-known from the middle of 1939, as Hitler sent an "Order of the Day to the soldiers and the workers at the Westwall" on May 20, 1939. The official name for the line until then had depended on the programmes described in the next section of this article. The name "Limes Programme" for example was a deliberately misleading cover name, chosen to make people think of the archaeological research that had just finished at the Limes Germanicus (Upper Germanic and Rhaetian Limes). Bunker near Buhlert woods, Germany b/w photo by Markus Schweiß This photo taken from German wikipedia image of same name. ... Bunker near Buhlert woods, Germany b/w photo by Markus Schweiß This photo taken from German wikipedia image of same name. ... During World War II, the term Dragons teeth came to designate square-pyramidal fortifications used to impede the progress of mechanized armies. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Mentioned in Despatches (MID) is a military award for gallantry or otherwise commendable service. ... is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This July 2007 does not cite any references or sources. ... Map of Upper Germanic Limes The Limes Germanicus (Latin for Germanic frontier) was a remarkable line of frontier (limes) forts that bounded the ancient Roman provinces of Germania Superior and Raetia, and divided the Roman Empire and the unsubdued Germanic tribes, from the years 83 to 260. ...

Construction programmes, 1938–1940

There were several distinct construction phases on the Siegfried Line:

• Border Watch programme (pioneering programme) for the most advanced positions (1938)
• Limes Programme (1938)
• Aachen-Saar Programme (1939)
• Geldern Emplacement between Brüggen and Kleve (1939–1940)
• Western Air Defence Zone (1938)

These programmes were all pushed forward with the highest priority, using every resource available. Oche redirects here; in darts the oche is the line from which players must throw. ... Location Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) Administration Country NUTS Region DEC Capital Saarbrücken Minister-President Peter Müller (CDU) Governing party CDU Votes in Bundesrat 3 (from 69) Basic statistics Area  2,569 km² (992 sq mi) Population 1,044,000 (11/2006)[1]  - Density 406 /km... Brüggen Glacier and surroundig area, September 2001 Brüggen Glacier in southern Chile is the largest western outflow from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and, unlike most glaciers worldwide, advanced significantly since 1945. ...

Typical basic construction types

At the start of each construction programme, basic construction prototypes were laid out on the drawing board and then built, sometimes by the thousands. This standardisation of the bunkers (popularly known as pillboxes) and tank traps was necessary because of the lack of raw materials, transport and workers. A bunker is a defensive warfare fortification to protect oneself. ...

Pioneering programme

For the main part of the pioneering programme, small bunkers were set up with three embrasures towards the front. The walls were only 50cm thick and provided no protection against poison gas. Soldiers stationed there did not have their own beds but had to make do with hammocks. In exposed positions, similar small bunkers were erected with small armoured round "lookout" sections on the roofs. All these constructions were already considered outdated when they were built and at best offered protection against shrapnel from bombs and grenades. The programme was carried out by the Border Watch (Grenzwacht), a small military troop which took up activity in the Rhineland immediately after it was remilitarized. The bunkers were set up near the foreign borders. Categories: Fortification | Architectural elements | Stub ... Early detection of chemical agents Sociopolitical climate of chemical warfare While the study of chemicals and their military uses was widespread in China, the use of toxic materials has historically been viewed with mixed emotions and some disdain in the West (especially when the enemy were doing it). ... It has been suggested that Fragmentation (weaponry) be merged into this article or section. ... The Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb produced in the United States. ... Grenade may refer to: The well-known hand grenade commonly used by soldiers. ... The Rhineland (Rheinland in German) is the general name for the land on both sides of the river Rhine in the west of Germany. ...

Limes programme

Type 10 Limes programme bunker seen from the back

The Limes Programme began as a result of an order by Hitler to strengthen fortifications on the western German border. Bunkers built in this phase starting in 1938 were more strongly constructed. The framework for each of this programme's Type 10 bunkers probably took around 20 man years to build and required around 287 m³ of concrete, very close to the amount needed for a small block of flats. Download high resolution version (1005x679, 104 KB)Tank traps at Siegfried Line in Eifel, Germany Taken from German wikipedia photo of same name. ... Download high resolution version (1005x679, 104 KB)Tank traps at Siegfried Line in Eifel, Germany Taken from German wikipedia photo of same name. ... Basic Concept A man-hour (sometimes rendered man-hour) is the amount of work performed by an average worker in one hour. ... This article is about the construction material. ...

The bunkers had a ceiling and walls 1.5m (5 feet) thick, but this was proved completely insufficient even before construction was finished. A total of 3,471 Type 10 bunkers were built along the entire length of the Siegfried Line. The bunkers had a central room or shelter for 10 to 12 men with an entrance, stepped embrasures facing backwards and a combat section 50cm (19 inches) higher. This section had embrasures at the front and sides for machine guns, and a separate entrance. More embrasures were provided for carbines and the entire structure was constructed so as to be safe against poison gas, based on experiences in the First World War. A carbine is a firearm similar to, but generally shorter and less powerful than, a rifle or musket of a given period. ...

The bunker was heated with a safety oven, and the chimney, which led to the outside, was covered with a thick grating. Every soldier was given a sleeping-place and a stool; the commanding officer had a chair. There was very little space: each soldier had about 1 m² of space, which meant that the rooms were packed full.

Inside the bunkers of this type still remaining today are the signs hung up to prepare the men for their task: "The walls have ears" or "Lights out when embrasures are open!"

Aachen-Saar Programme

The bunkers built under this programme were similar to those of the Limes programme: Type 107 double MG casemates with concrete walls up to 3.5m thick. One difference was that in this case there were no embrasures at the front, only at the sides of the bunkers. Embrasures were only built at the front in special cases and were then protected with heavy metal doors. The programme included the towns of Aachen and Saarbrücken which were initially west of the Limes Programme defence line. A Casemate is a heavy duty structure originally a vaulted chamber in a fortress. ... Oche redirects here; in darts the oche is the line from which players must throw. ... Saarbrücken [] is the capital of the Saarland Bundesland in Germany. ...

Western Air Defence Zone

The Western Air Defence Zone (Luftverteidigungszone West or LVZ West) continued parallel to the two other lines toward the east, and consisted mainly of concrete flak towers. These weapons were designed to force enemy planes to fly higher, thus decreasing the accuracy of their bombing. These towers were protected at close range by bunkers from the Limes and Aachen-Saar programmes. FLAK was a punk rock side project of members of the band Machinae Supremacy in 2001. ...

Geldern Emplacement

Geldern Emplacement bunker near Kleve

The Geldern Emplacement lengthened the Siegfried Line northwards as far as Kleve on the Rhine, and was only built after the start of World War II. The Siegfried Line originally ended in the north near Brüggen in the Viersen district. The primary constructions were unarmed dugouts which were, however, extremely strongly built out of concrete. For camouflage they were often built near farms. Siegfried Line bunker at Geldern Emplacement near Kleve, Germany From German wikipedia image of same name. ... Siegfried Line bunker at Geldern Emplacement near Kleve, Germany From German wikipedia image of same name. ... Viersen is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... Countershaded Ibex are almost invisible in the Israeli desert. ...

Tank traps

Aachen-Saar programme Type 39 tank barrier with 5 "teeth"

Tank traps were also built for miles along the Siegfried Line and were known as "dragon’s teeth" or "pimples" (in German Höcker, "humps") because of their shape. These blocks of reinforced concrete stand in several rows on a single foundation. There are two typical sorts of barrier: Type 1938 with four teeth getting higher toward the back, and Type 1939 with five such teeth. Many other irregular lines of teeth were also built, however. If the lie of the land allowed it, water-filled ditches were dug instead of tank traps. An example of this kind of defence are those north of Aachen near Geilenkirchen. Bunker ruins at Siegfried Line, Aachen, Germany From German wikipedia photo of same name. ... Bunker ruins at Siegfried Line, Aachen, Germany From German wikipedia photo of same name. ... Dragons teeth (German: Höcker, humps) were square-pyramidal fortifications of concrete used during the Second World War to impede the movement of tanks. ... Geilenkirchen is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the district Heinsberg. ...

Water-filled trench near Geilenkirchen

water-filled trench at Siegfried Line, Germany From German wikipedia photo of same name. ... water-filled trench at Siegfried Line, Germany From German wikipedia photo of same name. ...

Working conditions during construction

The bunkers constructed during the pioneering programme were mostly built by private firms, but the private sector was not able to provide the number of workers needed for the programmes that followed. This gap was filled by the Todt Organisation named after its founder, Fritz Todt. With this organisation’s help, huge numbers of workers - up to half a million at a time - were found to work on the Siegfried Line. Transport of materials and workers from all across Germany was managed by the Deutsche Reichsbahn railway company, which took advantage of the well-developed strategic railway lines built on Germany’s western border in World War I. Organisation Todt Flag Organisation Todt (OT) was a Nazi construction and engineering group during the years of the Third Reich, which enslaved over 1. ... Fritz Todt in the uniform of a major general of the Luftwaffe Fritz Todt (September 4, 1891 – February 8, 1942) was an German engineer and senior Nazi figure, the founder of Organisation Todt. ... Germanys main train operator, the Deutsche Bahn AG (German Railway Corporation, also known as DB or DBAG) provides passenger and freight service via federally owned tracks. ...

Working conditions on the building sites were highly dangerous; for example, the most primitive means had to be used to handle and assemble extremely heavy armour plating weighing up to 60 tonnes. Life on the building site and after work was monotonous and many people gave up and left.

Armour plates and arms

German industry could not deliver as many steel armour plates as were needed for the mounting of weapons in the bunkers, meaning that the bunkers were not of great military value. The armour-plated sections included the embrasures and their shutters as well as armoured cupolas for 360-degree defence. Germany depended on other countries to provide the alloys required in producing armoured plates (mostly nickel and molybdenum), so either the armour plates were left out or they were produced with low-quality replacement materials. This deficiency was visible even on official photographs. For other uses, see Steel (disambiguation). ... Turret (highlighted) attached to a tower on a baronial building in Scotland In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects from the wall of a building, such as a medieval castle or baronial house. ... For specification language, see Alloy Analyzer. ... For other uses, see Nickel (disambiguation). ... General Name, Symbol, Number molybdenum, Mo, 42 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 6, 5, d Appearance gray metallic Standard atomic weight 95. ...

The bunkers were still fitted with guns, which proved inadequate in the first war years and were therefore dismantled, but the high-calibre weapons necessary for efficient defence could not be built into the existing bunkers.

The role of the Siegfried Line at the beginning of the war

Despite France’s declaration of war on Germany at the beginning of the Second World War, there was no major combat at the Siegfried Line at the start of the campaign in the west. Instead, both sides remained stuck in the so-called Phony War, where neither side wanted to attack the other and both stayed in their safe positions. When the campaign finished, all transportable weapons were removed from the Siegfried Line and used in other places. The concrete sections were left in place in the countryside and soon became completely unfit for defence. The bunkers were instead used for storage, for example for farming equipment. British Ministry of Home Security Poster of a type that was common during the Phony War The Phony War, or in Winston Churchills words the Twilight War, was a phase in early World War II marked by few military operations in Continental Europe, in the months following the German...

Reactivation of the Siegfried Line, 1944

With the D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944, war in the west broke out once more and a new situation arose. On August 24, 1944 Hitler gave a directive for the renewed construction of the Siegfried Line. 20,000 forced laborers and members of the German National Labor Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst, RAD) most of whom were 14 to 16-year-old boys, attempted to reequip the line for defence purposes. Local people were also called in to carry out this kind of work, mostly building anti-tank ditches. It all ended in failure as a result of Allied air superiority. Land on Normandy In military parlance, D-Day is a term often used to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. ... For other uses, see Normandy (disambiguation). ... is the 157th day of the year (158th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... is the 236th day of the year (237th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Air superiority is the dominance in the air power of one side air forces of another side during a military campaign. ...

During construction it was already clear that the bunkers could no longer begin to withstand the newly developed armour-piercing weapons. At the same time as the actual Siegfried Line was reactivated, small concrete "Tobruk" bunkers (named after Tobruk, the seaport in eastern Libya) were built along the border to the occupied area. These bunkers were mostly dugouts for single soldiers. Tobruk or Tubruq (Arabic: طبرق; also transliterated as Tóbruch, Tobruch, Ţubruq, Tobruck ) is a town, seaport, municipality, and peninsula in eastern Libya in Northern Africa. ...

Clashes on the Siegfried Line

Main article: Drive to the Siegfried Line

American soldiers cross the Siegfried Line

In August 1944 the first clashes took place by the Siegfried Line. The section of the line now fought over the most was the Hürtgenwald area in the Eifel, 20 km (13 miles) southeast of Aachen. The battle in this confusing, heavily forested area claimed the lives of more than 10,000 U.S. soldiers. The German death toll is not documented, but Hans von Luck estimates it at around 9,000. ^{[citation needed]} American soldiers cross the Siegfried Line The drive to the Siegfried Line was one of the final Allied phases in World War II of the Western European Campaign. ... Download high resolution version (1401x1093, 319 KB)Then came the big day when we marched into Germany--right through the Siegfried Line. ... Download high resolution version (1401x1093, 319 KB)Then came the big day when we marched into Germany--right through the Siegfried Line. ... Hürtgenwald is a municipality in the district of Düren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... Not to be confused with Eiffel Tower. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Hans-Ulrich von Luck und Witten (15 July 1911–15 January 1997), usually shortened to Hans von Luck, was a Colonel in the German Armored Forces (Oberst der Panzerwaffe) during World War II. He served with the 7th Panzer Division and 21st Panzer Division, seeing action in Poland, France, North...

After the Battle of Hürtgenwald, the Battle of the Bulge began, starting at the area south of the Hürtgenwald, between Monschau and the Luxembourgian town of Echternach. This offensive was a last-ditch attempt by the Germans to reverse the course of the war. It cost the lives of many people without resulting in any lasting success. Combatants United States Germany Commanders Courtney Hodges Walter Model Strength 120,000 80,000 Casualties 33,000 casualties 12,000—16,000 deaths[1] (est. ... For the 1965 film, see Battle of the Bulge (film). ... Monschau (French: Montjoie) is a city in the west of Germany, located in the district Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia. ... This article is about the country in western Europe. ... District Grevenmacher Canton Echternach LAU 2 LU00006005 Geography Area Area rank 20. ...

There were serious clashes at other parts of the Siegfried Line. Soldiers in many bunkers refused to give up fighting, afraid of German courts-martial. Many German soldiers paid for this decision with their lives, as the group shelters in particular did not protect them well. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

In Spring 1945, the last Siegfried Line bunkers fell at the Saar and Hunsrück. The Saar protectorate (1,000 sq. ... A typical view of the Hunsrück countryside. ...

The Siegfried Line as a propaganda tool

The Siegfried Line was much more valuable as a propaganda tool than as a military defence. German propaganda, both at home and abroad, repeatedly portrayed the line during its construction as an unbreachable bulwark.

For Germans the building of the line represented the regime's defensive intentions, whereas for neighbouring countries it appeared threatening and reassuring at the same time. This strategy proved very successful from the Nazi point of view both at the start and at the end of the World War II. At the start of the war, the opposing troops remained behind their own defence lines, allowing the Germans to attack Poland, and at the end of the war, the invading forces spent more time than necessary at the half-finished, now-gutted Siegfried Line, thus allowing military manoeuvres in the east. In this light, the Siegfried Line can be seen as the Nazis' greatest propaganda success, with wide-ranging consequences.

The Siegfried Line was the subject of a popular British song of 1939 which fitted the mood of the time for the troops marching off to France: Were Gonna Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line is a popular song, sung by British troops on the Western Front in WW2. ...

We're going to hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line.
Have you any dirty washing, mother dear?
We're gonna hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line
'Cause the washing day is here.
Whether the weather may be wet or fine
We'll just rub along without a care.
We're going to hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line
If the Siegfried Line's still there ... ^{[citation needed]}

General George S. Patton, when asked about the Siegfried Line, reportedly said, "Fixed fortifications are monuments to the stupidity of mankind". ^{[citation needed]} George Smith Patton Jr. ...

Post-war period

Bunker ruins near Aachen

Bunker on the Siegfried line

The Siegfried Line as a chain of biotopes

During the post-war period, many sections of the Siegfried Line were removed using explosives. This work, as well as removal of land mines, once again cost the lives of many people. Tank traps at the Siegfried Line, Germany From German wikipedia image of same name. ... Tank traps at the Siegfried Line, Germany From German wikipedia image of same name. ... Ury House, Aberdeenshire ruined by removal of the roof after the second world war to avoid taxation. ... Download high resolution version (806x605, 96 KB)Info: Bunker of the Siegfried Line between Karlsruhe and Durmersheim Source: de:Bild:Durmersheim Bunker. ... Download high resolution version (806x605, 96 KB)Info: Bunker of the Siegfried Line between Karlsruhe and Durmersheim Source: de:Bild:Durmersheim Bunker. ... Siegfried Line, Germany as a chain of biotopes From German wikipedia image of same name. ... Siegfried Line, Germany as a chain of biotopes From German wikipedia image of same name. ... A biotope is a region environmentally uniform in conditions and in the flora and fauna which live there. ... “Minefield” redirects here. ...

"The unpleasant as a memorial"

In North Rhine Westphalia, about 30 bunkers still remain intact; most of the rest were either destroyed with explosives or covered with earth. The tank traps still exist to a large extent; in the Eifel, for example, they run over several kilometres, giving an impression of what was probably the greatest Nazi propaganda success.

Since 1997, with the motto "The value of the unpleasant as a memorial" (Der Denkmalswert des Unerfreulichen), an effort was begun to put a preservation order on the remains of the Siegfried Line as a historical monument. This was intended to stop propagandistic use of the Siegfried Line by radical right-wing groups. The idea was furthermore to take away the myth of the line's impermeability: if it is a memorial everyone interested will be able to visit it and judge matters for themselves. The Taj Mahal, commissioned by the Muslim Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, as a mausoleum for his wife, Arjumand Banu Begum. ... “Right wing” redirects here. ...

At the same time, state funding was still being provided to destroy the remains of the Siegfried Line. For this reason, emergency archaeological digs took place whenever any part of the line was removed, for example for road building. The archaeological activity was not able to stop the destruction of these sections but furthered scientific knowledge and revealed details of the line's construction. It is still a very controversial question whether or not it is justifiable to preserve these military structures – similar to the Roman Limes – given that they were built by the Nazis. The limes Germanicus, 2nd century. ...

Nature conservation at the Siegfried Line

Nature conservationists consider the remains of the Siegfried Line valuable as a chain of biotopes where, thanks to its size, rare animals and plants can take refuge and reproduce. This effect is magnified because the concrete ruins can not be used for farming or forestry purposes. For the psychology topic, see Environmental psychology. ... Biotope is a coined word proposed firstly in Germany (Biotop) based on Greek bios=life or organism and topos=place. So biotope is literally an area where life is living. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Siegfried Line

• http://www.westwallmuseum-irrel.de/
• Pillbox Warfare in the Siegfried Line
• Siegfried Line song as MP3
• German parody on British Siegfried Line song in MP3
• Storming Simserhof near Bitche - 1944
• Bunker Pictures: Pictures, locations, information about bunkers from WW2 and The Atlantikwall

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