Dragon Posted 26 August , 2009 Share Posted 26 August , 2009 I arrived at courtine, a place just below Barrenkopf where the French - German lines come as close as 15meters. It is said that the lines so close together were the safest with respect to artillery attacks, because both artillery could not guarantee exact fire on the opposing enemy lines This close - La Courtine, photographed in May 2009. As I said in the other thread, using a wide angle 10 - 22 mm lens makes these trenches appear further apart than they are. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roel22 Posted 26 August , 2009 Share Posted 26 August , 2009 @Roel: Two speedy Dutch males overtook us the day before at Buchenkopf. I seriously thought of you hurrying up with your mine detector and shovel ready for action...... It wasn't me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Ring Posted 26 August , 2009 Share Posted 26 August , 2009 ...whilst this view is from the French lines up to the bunker Rather a dramatic photograph of impact marks from bullets on the rock faces. Looks like Swiss cheese. It must have been hell on earth for both sides. I find these photographs fascinating. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 August , 2009 La Courtine as mentioned before and shown from me and Gwyn, is a huge slope starting its downward between Schratzmännele and Barrenkopf. Here you see a trench with Schratzmännele in background and Barrenkopf out of the picture to the right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 August , 2009 This is Courtine in winter 1915/16; view from Barrenkopf towards anticline, Courtine continuing to the right downslope. The rim is the approximate path I took now. You also see the trenches which were shown by Gwyn and are only some 15 m apart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 27 August , 2009 Share Posted 27 August , 2009 Good stuff, Egbert. I'll post a photo looking up, if I can find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 August , 2009 Good stuff, Egbert. I'll post a photo looking up, if I can find it. ops sorry Gwyn; forgot to mention in the post that the 1919 images have been brought to my attention by Gwyn, they are of a 1920 Michelin trip advisor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 27 August , 2009 Share Posted 27 August , 2009 Looking up, the land has clearly been very disturbed and once you start looking, you can see vestiges of trenches and shelters. and I just quickly found and edited these; they're only record shots, taken on the walk up from Hohrodberg. The book Egbert refers to is my copy of Guides illustrés Michelin des Champs de Bataille – l’Alsace et les Combats du Vosges 1914 – 1918, Volume II – Metzeral - le Linge – la Chipote. Published 1920. I sent him some images. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 August , 2009 Gwyn , just for orientation: your excellent pictures are Courtine looking upwards, left Barrenkopf, straight anticline to the right would be Kleinkopf right??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 August , 2009 Continuing the walk - I am coming closer to Kleinkopf, the last summit in the row. This old picture shows all 3 peaks and the Courtine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 August , 2009 Always following and walking along the German front line, the trees frequently open views into the French held hinterland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 August , 2009 While this picture is appr. the same location (+- some 100-300m) when taken in 1919 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 August , 2009 Walking close to the summit of the Schratz there is an old quarry which , facing away from the front line, served the German reserve tropps as shelter and supply point. The quarry once was heavily fortified. Here is a contemporary image from 1915no Sorry to come back to the Schratzmännele quarry, shown in posts no 11 and 12: I think I found an additional remarkeable picture in the Michelin showing the construction of the depicted bunker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drover Posted 27 August , 2009 Share Posted 27 August , 2009 Excellent photos, Egbert. Thanks for posting and keep 'em coming! Drover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 28 August , 2009 Approaching the last summit in the row, we passed the Barrenkopf and come to Kleinkopf (not shown in this orientation picture) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 28 August , 2009 Kleinkopf being the last peak before the geography gradually slopes down towards the Münster valley serves as an excellent observation post for the artillery. Here is an artillery observation bunker, originally carved in the natural rocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 28 August , 2009 Commanding views (imagine the vegetation shot to pieces) deep down into the French supply lines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 28 August , 2009 And always troop shelter/supply shelters very close to the front line (some 30-50m distance) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 28 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 28 August , 2009 Corrugated metal sheet 93 years old, covered by layers of conrete form the roof Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 29 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 29 August , 2009 At the very end of the 4 summit ridge we broke free from the forest for a breathtaking view across the Münster valley. A sure ideal location for the artillery observers. The front continues to the very right of the picture but paralell to the view axis down in to the valley and up the Reichackerkopf on the other side Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 29 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 29 August , 2009 At about the place where you see the people in the previous picture is a massiv rock formation. It is caved by the Germans and used as a fire direction bunker, overlooking the vast landscape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 29 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 29 August , 2009 Same "rock-bunker" with the town of Münster deep down in the same named valley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Abbott Posted 29 August , 2009 Share Posted 29 August , 2009 Egbert This thread is excellent! Please keep them coming; the time spent by you is appreciated here in Ormskirk. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 30 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 30 August , 2009 Alright then Mark; here comes a series of 3 from the same "rock bunker" location: Then 1915 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 30 August , 2009 Author Share Posted 30 August , 2009 Then appr. 1920? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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