Siegfried Line

The Siegfried Line, known in German as the Westwall (= western bulwark), was a German defensive line built during the late 1930s. Started in 1936, opposite the French Maginot Line, it stretched more than 630 km (390 mi) from Kleve on the border with the Netherlands, along the western border of Nazi Germany, to the town of Weil am Rhein on the border with Switzerland. The line featured more than 18,000 bunkers, tunnels and tank traps.

This article is about the Second World War defensive line. For the First World War "Siegfriedstellung", see Hindenburg Line.

The Siegfried Line
Der Westwall
Western Germany
Map of the Siegfried Line
TypeFortification
Site history
Built1936 (1936)
Built byGerman Army
In use1939–1945
MaterialsConcrete, steel
Battles/warsWorld War II

From September 1944 to March 1945, the Siegfried Line was subjected to a large-scale Allied offensive.

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