egbert Posted 26 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 26 October , 2012 This war time picture shows "Aussichtsfelsen" with annexed defensive complex "Storchennest" (Stork's Nest). You can see very well the 4 windows in the rock, where today's French monument has been erected. (My previous panorama picture was taken right in front of the 4 windows where the soldiers stand, looking down into the plain) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 26 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 26 October , 2012 Only 20 meters to the left, is the site where the first ever Heavy Minenwerfer was employed on HWK against the French ( 21.1.1915). Commander was Lt d.R. Hans Killian, who developed the firing techniques and whose book I read now 3rd time "Totentanz auf dem Hartmannsweilerkopf, and which I consider the best personal account written about the battles on/at HWK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 26 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 26 October , 2012 Base plate of heavy Minenwerfer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 26 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 26 October , 2012 Shelter for Minenwerfer crews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 26 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 26 October , 2012 A lot of rubble around the fortresses. I am not sure if I can recognize one of the high voltage wires here amongst the barbed wire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 26 October , 2012 Share Posted 26 October , 2012 Ah. I took photos of that round base plate intending to identify it later. Thanks! (Ages ago I sent you a postcard of trenches at the summit, labelled au fond, St Ann, Jungholz. Is that round here? You did say, but I haven't got a properly functioning computer at the moment. Please use it if you wish.) Superb 'then' photos. The quality is amazing. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 26 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 26 October , 2012 (Ages ago I sent you a postcard of trenches at the summit, labelled au fond, St Ann, Jungholz. Is that round here? You did say, but I haven't got a properly functioning computer at the moment. Please use it if you wish.) Gwyn I know what you mean Gwyn. These pictures will come later, maybe tomorrow and are from the summit positions, not from the ascend (I will include your picture if you will, as I can connect the THEN view with an exact NOW view) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 26 October , 2012 Share Posted 26 October , 2012 Please use it! I will be venturing into utter cyber-oblivion as my replacement computer has arrived and it's Windows 8, so I won't know how to do anything anymore, ever. Dave, a nice map! Your desperately seeking Sennheim Cernay story amused me. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 26 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 26 October , 2012 Dave, a nice map! Your desperately seeking Sennheim Cernay story amused me. Gwyn No pity with Dave -he should have asked the right guys. P.S. I have a list of all forced name changes from Alsace battlegrounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 26 October , 2012 Share Posted 26 October , 2012 I have a dictionary of French-German place names in all Alsace. However, once you start looking at pre-War postcards, which I do a lot, you pretty quickly pick up the alternative place names. I also end up with a mental picture of the places as they were a hundred years ago. This summer, I was utterly and idiotically astonished to find that you don't cross the Col du Bussang through a tunnel these days! Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 Meanwhile I entered one of the fortress' galleries within "Aussichtsfelsen". The section where I am in, goes all the way through the rock formation. About in the center, a wooden stair leads up to a firing position. There are side galleries as well and a smaller cavern near the exit. Besides theses features, there is the already mentioned signal intercept station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 This is the upper room with MG embrasure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 View from window/embrasure towards NE. Tremendous field of fire due to destroyed forest then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 Stairs down to another level and other galleries. Whole Battalions could take cover here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 Another exit, but we turn around, as Louis explores the rock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 Power- and telephone wires Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 My French friend hurries me along. We took an East heading exit, turn left towards Northern flank and climb up the last meters to the summit positions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 What a commanding view down to Sulz and the small village of Jungholtz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 Detail photo from Jungholtz visible in distance -Now..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 .....and the exact same position- THEN (I think this is Gwyn's picture, mentioned before) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 The last meters to the summit cross. Another fortress, part of all the many summit fortresses. I am standing/walking in a trench looking up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 ...turning around looking down the trench from where I came up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 Summit cross at 956m altitude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 Same view from post war painting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 27 October , 2012 Author Share Posted 27 October , 2012 Imperfect collage from today's summit, looking NE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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