THE SIEGFRIED LINE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 66, 10 December 1938, Page 17

THE SIEGFRIED LINE

Germany’s Defence

The veil of secrecy which has covered Germany’s western fortifications known as tlie Siegfried Line —Herr Hitler’s reply to France’s Maginot Line—was partly removed recently, according to the Daily Mail," London. The ‘Aiigriff,” journal of the Na-tional-Socialist Party, gives a detailed description of the work, into which the Fuehrer has thrown every available resource of man-power this year.

“Augriff” describes the first line of the fortifications as “a line of steel and concrete pyramids, running like a road over hills and down valleys from the north to the south extremities of the western frontier.”

Photographs reveal these obstacles as great concrete blocks, with teeth like cogwheels. In one photograph a line of them, five deep, can be seen stretching to the horizon. It is claimed that a tank would come to grief on these low obstructions at whatever angle it attacked. Behind the pyramids lie chain upon chain of machine-gun nests, supported by fortresses, dug deep into the earth, in which thousands of men are housed.

They have elaborate kitchens, running water and fully equipped administrative. offices, with an electric light supply that cannot 'be put out of action by shells or bombs. The German military command does not favour au entirely underground system like the Maginot Line, and Dr. Todt, Herr Hitler’s architectural expert, who built the Reich motor roads, has evolved a system of forts which are not dependent on each other, although they are connected overland. Troops have named one of the biggest forts the “Hotel Fatherland,” in praise of the comforts provided for those manning it. Even the smallest machine-gun outposts have sanitary and cooking equipment.

Great importance is attached to camouflage, and almost before tlie cement and concrete on the sides of the forts and gun towers is dry, workers are covering them with earth, i nwhich plants, grass, trees, shrubs, or even crops will grow. Countless miles of barbed wire are being strung out day and night, and it is clear that the work, although it hag progressed with extraordinary speed, is to be continued for many months to come.