A curious aspect of the river Rhine is how much it has changed over the years. All rivers alter their course over time, but this usually happens gradually and certainly not within living memory. The Rhine was notorious for its capability of delivering disastrous flooding, due to the spring melts on the mountains, the streams from which feed into the river. As part of the precautions to protect the land from the ravages of this torrent, in the years since 1945, a number of adaptations have been made along its banks as it flows north from Switzerland, forming a physical border between France and Germany. Unless you live along the banks of the river, or are regularly engaging in the river, these can often go unnoticed. This curious little bunker fully brings home the alterations to the terrain that have occurred in years since it was constructed.
During December 2019, we had arranged to explore what remained of the German Westwall in the region of Baden-Württemberg. This we undertook with the excellent help of a local guide who introduced us to a variety of different sites including this strange construction. Built as part of the Westwall, it is sited along what had once been the banks of the river; today it stands some distance back from the water and a newly-constructed levée obscures any view of the river that it once enjoyed. Likewise, the targets it was constructed to fire against have also suffered from advances of man's need to control the river; more on that in a while. As the page title suggests, this was constructed to house a Pak 36 Anti-Tank gun, the purpose of which was to target just two front line Maginot casemates on the banks of the Rhine. The two apertures are precisely lined up with the casemates on the opposite bank.
During December 2019, we had arranged to explore what remained of the German Westwall in the region of Baden-Württemberg. This we undertook with the excellent help of a local guide who introduced us to a variety of different sites including this strange construction. Built as part of the Westwall, it is sited along what had once been the banks of the river; today it stands some distance back from the water and a newly-constructed levée obscures any view of the river that it once enjoyed. Likewise, the targets it was constructed to fire against have also suffered from advances of man's need to control the river; more on that in a while. As the page title suggests, this was constructed to house a Pak 36 Anti-Tank gun, the purpose of which was to target just two front line Maginot casemates on the banks of the Rhine. The two apertures are precisely lined up with the casemates on the opposite bank.
The construction is basic; at first glance, it appears to be little more than a crudely constructed cinderblock tower, but looks are deceptive. The reason for the raised position is very simple; it elevates the gun to the height required to target the cloche on the roofs of the casemate, unimpeded by obstructions and reducing the distance the round would have to travel. Were the gun to be firing either higher or lower on its target, the effectiveness would be reduced due to the loss of energy during flight.
The structure's top was open to the elements, with the upper part providing a protective parapet to enhance the gun's own shield. The gun was run up into position via a ramp at the rear onto a wooden deck (now long gone, either through natural decay or more likely reused in the years immediately following 1945 when timber became a premium commodity during the post-war reconstruction of Germany). Below this, rather than a solid concrete plinth, the space was used for ammunition storage. Due to the structure being partially infilled, we are unable to say whether this lower chamber was accessed from above or via any kind of opening to the rear.
Where the site becomes more interesting still is the level of what is essentially pointless detail, on the face of the internal concrete. The position was built by civilian contractors and it would be safe to say the work would have been awarded on the basis of loyalty to the Party. This aspect is re-enforced by the eulogy to the regime impressed into the inner surface. This also includes two Party eagles (both since subjected to de-nazification) in the classic art deco-inspired form. Given the efforts that were employed in destroying the various bunkers of the former Westwall, this structure is a rare survivor, possibly due to its remote location.
What of the targeted casemates? Sadly they were lost to history during the 1960's when the French created a series of hydroelectric installations.