Excerpted from 'The Times', London January 18 2003

Friendship Washes Over Siegfried Line
From Roger Boyes in Berlin

Germany has started to destroy the giant concrete Siegfried Line, Hitler's defensive wall against an Allied attack, in a gesture of friendship toward the French.

Bulldozers and power hammers were at work yesterday smashing a military bunker overlooking the French city of Stasbourg, in the first move to destroy the 400-mile frontier fortifications.
(..... )

There could be no more potent symbol of French and German partnership than the demolition of the wall. The countries celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the Franco-German Elysee Treaty on Wednesday and it has spurred closer co-operation between the capitals. A new European initiative is to be announced from Berlin and Paris next week.
(.....)

There are also practical reasons for the demolition work. The fortifications are deteriorating, walls are crumbling and sudden gaping holes pose a danger to children. An eight-mile stretch of the wall on the Belgian border has been placed under a preservation order and some other stretches are being ransacked by museums.
( ..... )

Yesterday the Siegfried Line was holed for the last time. '

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Absolutely assinine Oh well--I guess that will make the relec shops richer as well as those who will be selling this stuff on ebay--just like the Berlin Wall.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Incredible isn't it. Just another way of re-writing history. When it's all been ripped up and plowed under, future generations won't realise how intense a period of history the early 20th century really was.

It's interesting that they are destroying the Siegfried Line but what about the Maginot Line?? Are the French going to follow suit?

In a way I think by removing the Line, it lessens the sacrifice of all those who suffered and died, to free Europe from the Nazi's.

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"Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever."
- Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)

Very sad to read this - battlefields are our heritage and need to be preserved; future generations will no doubt regret this.

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Paul Reed
Webmaster - Battlefields of WW2- http://www.ww2battlefields.info
D Day Ancestors: The British Army in Normandy - http://www.ddayancestors.com

times are changing guys, and it suckls big time ! this reminds me too much of the US civil war sites that are being bulldozed and prepared for housing or mall tracts.......what the hey are we doing here ? !

E

I agree whit oyu all. So many CW Battlefields are now Fragging mall parking lots From what I heard--you now cannot see anything to do with the Fuhrer Bunker in Berlin--except for the exhaust vent--the rest is reportedly a fragging parking lot.

I will tell you some good news though---- in Heidelberg at 7th Army HQ--they are using the same buildings that the Germany Army used at their HQ in Heidelberg. these will be protected for a long time

Also--as told to me by a friend of mine who was born and raised in Heidelberg--at the gate intrance to 7th Army HQ--THE original German Eagles are still on the building--de-nazified of course but--you can still see the shadow of the eagles swastikas at the gates--barely but--you can see them.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

RIGGGGHHHHHTTTTTT.....
OK, so, the deal is that with all our technology, being able to simply push a little red butoon, people are worried that a relic that has been standing for nearly 70 years, and reminds us of the most epic battle in the world's history, will imply that hostilities between these 2 traditional rivals, will take on WW1 logic....RIGGGGGHHHHHHHTTTTTTT.....

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"GARRY OWEN"-Traditional war-cry of the US 7th Cavalry.
"CURRAHEE"-War-cry of the US 506th PIR.
"Everybody thinks that they are going to get the chance to punch some Nazi in the face at Normandy-and those days are over, they are long gone"-Lt Chris Burnett

What about the Maginot line then? Next?

I am glad there are no talks of the Finnish Salpa-linja being destroyed, and I am sure if there were, the Finnish people would not accept that.At least today, cannot say anything about the future.


http://www.jns.fi/palvelut/marjala/marjalabunker.htm

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Great shots there Kai, and it looks like a great spot to go camping at. I mean--the view is fantastic.

I noticed some rubberized coats in that other foto.

I also wonder if the ring of Pillboxes at Brest are still there?

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.