SIEGFRIED LINE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20909, 14 September 1939, Page 3

SIEGFRIED LINE

GERMAN “WEST WALL” STRENGTH IN DOUBT ALLEGED SERIOUS DEFECTS The Siegfried Line, officially known as the “West Wall” —Germany’s counterpart of the Maginot Line — stretches from .the German-Dutch frontier to near Basle (Switzerland), and is constructed in triple fortifications. It is claimed by German military chiefs that this huge fortified girdle can be held with relatively small forces. Unlike the Maginot Line, which practically borders the German frontier (states the Dominion), the Siegfried Line has ibeen constructed at distances ranging from 50 to 100 miles from the border. In the south, where the French are attacking, there is a wide belt of German soil to cross before the fortifications are reached. The zones openly exposed to attack are fortified, so as to .supplement the natural barriers of mountain and forest (the Black Forest is in the path of the French advance). Early this year the fortresses were extended. Zones of Fortification The fortified zones in advance of the line itself are: (1) The whole eastern bank of the Rhine; (2) the Prussian districts of Ilanau and Gelnhausen (near Frankfurt-on-Main) a ltd most of Hesse, including the districts of Offenbach-on-Main and Damns tad; (3) the north-west corner of Bavaria, including the district of Aschaffenburg; (4) almost the whole of Baden and a large part of Wurttemburg, particularly the Stuttgart and the Heilbronn "districts and the whole Black Forest area. A number of the frontier zones last year were made areas prohibited to foreigners. The Line follows fairly closely the boundary of the so-called ”30 kilometre zone, ” laid down by the Treaty of Versailles as marking the part of Germany which was to remain demilitarised in perpetuity. lOn June 15 of this year it had been practically completed, and was inspected by Herr Hiller. It was officially stated that the whole of the defences would be completed within two months (August). Holland to Switzerland Commenting on the Siegfried Line the Yolkischer Beodachter said recently : “As the result of the intense constructional activity in the last year, the West Wall now comprises 12,000 steel and concrete forts, extending in an uninterrupted line frc'cn Holland to Switzerland. Many of them are subterranean, and are reputedly equipped with batteries of heavy machineguns, trench mortars and flame throwers. “In the Moselle Valley many fortifications are built deeply into the hillsides. Below ground are spacious quarters capable of accommodating large units, which are heated, lit by electricity, and gas-proof, and which contain kitchens, shower-baths, etc. There are, in addition, extensive munition depots, machinerooms and workshops linked together by subterranean passages. “The advance fortifications of the West Wall are strongly defended with machine-guns and anti-tank guns. Access to the fortifications is guarded by an elaborate system of road barricades, tank traps and barbed-wire entanglements. There are also strong anti-aircraft defences.” “Marmalade,” Says Gamalln Though the Germans have boasted of the strength of the Siegfried Line, General Gamelin, Commander of All French Defence Forces, referred to it on September 25 as “marmalade.” In April and May, according to a technical writer in the National Review, tests were conducted by the Germans and revealed serious defects in the concrete, some of which was blown into dust by the first heavy shell that struck it. The same commentator, referring to the tests, said: “It would have been useless to continue to apply what might have become a process of demolition, and it was decided to extend the line to its present depth to make up for faulty material used in those three months of haste — June, July and August, 1938. “Dr. Goebbels sensitively shielded the Siegfried line against a few insinuations in the foreign press as to its qualities by launching a counteroffensive against ‘the anti-Westwall campaign.’ It was again boosted . .

. . . At the time of writing (August) we presume that this great belt of concrete and steel is not completed.”