Siegfried Line

The original Siegfried line was a line of defensive forts and tank defences built by Germany along their border with France in 1916-1917 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 the second Siegfried line, the Westwall.

Related Topics:
Germany - France - 1916 - 1917 - World War I - World War II - Maginot Line - Allies

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The Siegfried Line or Westwall 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.

Related Topics:
Bunker - Tank trap - Kleve - Netherlands - German Empire - Weil am Rhein - Switzerland - Propaganda - Adolf Hitler - 1936 - 1938 - 1940 - Nazi - Treaty of Versailles - Locarno Treaties - Rhineland

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