egbert Posted 8 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 8 September , 2014 Ceiling details Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 8 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 8 September , 2014 .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 8 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 8 September , 2014 All the German fortresses here had running water, latrines, compressed air and electricity . This view to wards the exit with once gas-tight doors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 8 September , 2014 Share Posted 8 September , 2014 The inscription panel is beautiful and wonderfully preserved. How poignant to find such vivid evidence of the men's existence. What is the significance of the symbols in the right hand panel (the three uprights with branches to their right)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 8 September , 2014 Share Posted 8 September , 2014 Egbert, what I find striking about your photos is the comparative lack of leaves, dirt and other detritus in the trenches and fortifications. One would have thought that, after 100 years, they would have been full of rubbish. Most of the trenches I have explored on other mountain battlefields in the Vosges have also been free of accumulated debris. The situation tends to leave them relatively clear: they are in windy, exposed locations, so debris is blown out; and they are on steep hillsides so loosened material travels downwards. The partially infilled trenches I have seen most recently were on the area close to le Markstein, which is a wide open, bare summit. Some of the trench lines leading from the route des Crêtes have accumulated soil some soil on their floor, which has been grassed over. Even there, the vestiges tend to have weeds and stones at the bottom, not detritus. I found the same on Petit Ballon. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 8 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 8 September , 2014 The inscription panel is beautiful and wonderfully preserved. How poignant to find such vivid evidence of the men's existence. What is the significance of the symbols in the right hand panel (the three uprights with branches of their right)? Gwyn the 3 buckhorns are part of the Württemberg state heraldic/crest (black on yellöw). The state where the constructors L.I.R. 124 was peace time based Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 8 September , 2014 Share Posted 8 September , 2014 Thank you! (My original post was meant to say 'to their right'.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 8 September , 2014 Share Posted 8 September , 2014 From the look of those ceilings, you are quite the brave fellow to have ventured inside!!! I look forward to more photos. Well done! -Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 9 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 9 September , 2014 Immediately behind the exit, the balcony kind of concrete parapets begin parallel to the contour line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 9 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 9 September , 2014 Always imagine that there was no bush/tree vegetation that obstructed the killing field. This view downhill the valley were I started my climb earlier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 9 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 9 September , 2014 In order to present a better understanding of the view and military capabilities they had from these balcony-style parapets, I have stitched the 2 previous photos into a panorama picture although the camera angles slightly distorts the picture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 9 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 9 September , 2014 Some debris on the parapets ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 9 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 9 September , 2014 The balcony parapet is just some 2-3-meters wide. In the back another exit from the subterranean galleries. You can see how steep the slope leads uphill. Note the irons for attaching camouflage nets and the still intact iron frame from the gas proof door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 9 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 9 September , 2014 the end of the concrete parapet. This point is very close to the French line. If you look down into the valley, you can see already French occupied territory Although another location here in the Vosges mountains -that's how it looked like at Kanzel during the winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMarsdin Posted 9 September , 2014 Share Posted 9 September , 2014 Excellent Egbert, I always marvel at the incredible feats of engineering in such hostile conditions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 10 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 10 September , 2014 Before leaving Kanzel, also called Kiektanne, a picture from the connecting trench, probably before 1916 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 10 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 10 September , 2014 Some 200meters away, same altitude of approximately 570m, is impressive "Tanzplatz" (=dance floor). (Check Gwyn's map , post #743) TP bunkers housed a massive first aid station, command post and many supply facilities like kitchen, telephone posts electrical power station, blacksmith for the pack animals etc. It also was supplied by an aerial cableway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 10 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 10 September , 2014 The main bunker is massive and decorated with lots of ornaments. This panorama picture is slightly warped due to different camera angle. The structure itself is indeed a straight line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 10 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 10 September , 2014 THEN A post war photography shows the ornaments in detail. The sign says Truppenverbandplatz (Battalion Aid Station) Note the wooden structures built to embellish the front of the naked concrete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 10 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 10 September , 2014 Today the TP is a quiet and remote place. It sure was lively then, just 250meters behind the front lines. Shelling by indirect artillery fire was imminent and required concrete protection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 10 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 10 September , 2014 THEN A 1916 picture when still under construction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 10 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 10 September , 2014 .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 10 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 10 September , 2014 Under construction in 1916 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 10 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 10 September , 2014 NOW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egbert Posted 10 September , 2014 Author Share Posted 10 September , 2014 Then under construction by Reserve-Jäger-Bataillon 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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