Lock point at Näfels

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Armored observation turret of the Autschachen A 6753 infantry bunker

The Näfels barrier (Army designation no. 2419) was a defense line of the Swiss Army at the former entrance to the Reduite . It extends north of Näfels across the valley entrance into the Glarnerland .

In World War II it was the right of the 4th Army Corps subordinate group Glärnisch operated, which also includes the Glarner Gebirgsfüsilierbataillon 85 belonged. In 1947 it was taken over by the Reduit Brigade 24 .

It was abandoned in the 1990s and is preserved as a lock point of national importance.

Lock point at Näfels

water-filled tank ditch across the valley floor, pink = artillery works, yellow = infantry bunker

A medieval Letzimauer was built in 1352 not far from today's lock and the Battle of Näfels took place nearby in 1388 .

During the Second World War, the blocking point with the water-filled tank ditch (army designation T 3500), infantry bunkers, the Niederberg and Beglingen artillery works and the artillery bunkers in the Ennet Mountains were created. They had the task of preventing an opponent from breaking through in the direction of Glarus - Klausenpass to the Reduit.

In July 1941, the construction of a tank ditch began, which is preserved today due to its ecological importance. The water-filled ditch is crossed by several streams on bridges, including the Rauti . In 1942 and 1943, six infantry bunkers and the artillery works at Näfels-Niederberg and Beglingen, which were made ready to fire in November 1942 but not yet fully equipped, are located south of the tank ditch and are located in the valley slopes and flank the obstacle on both sides. In addition to blocking the valley entrance, the two middle fortifications primarily had to cover the Linth plain with artillery fire to support the Linth position.

Three more bunkers were built on the road over the Kerenzerberg , which at that time was the only road along the Walensee from the Mittelland towards Graubünden and the Sargans fortress . In 2008, as part of the “Bunker Worlds” project, a study on the potential and difficulties with decommissioned bunker systems was carried out on the Näfels and Ennetberg barrier.

Still existing objects:

  • Infantry plant Hang A 6742 ⊙
  • Infantry plant Kreuz A 6745 ⊙
  • Infantry bunker Stampf A 6750 ⊙
  • Infantry bunker Garage A 6751 ⊙
  • Autschachen A 6753 infantry bunker ⊙
  • Infantry bunker Damm A 6759 ⊙
  • Tank trench with barricade Niederberg T 3500.01 ⊙
  • Kerenzer infantry bunker on the left A 6766 ⊙
  • Kerenzer infantry bunker on the right A 6768 ⊙

  • Infantry bunker Damm A 6759 on the Escherkanal, today the Linth-Escher Auditorium

  • Tank trench with barricade Niederberg T 3500.01

  • Infantry bunker, Kerenzerberg barrier A 6766

  • Infantry bunker, Kerenzerberg barrier A 6768

Beglingen Artillery Works

The Beglingen artillery plant (army designation A 6756) is located on the eastern side of the valley ⊙ of the Näfels barrier and flanked it together with the Niederberg artillery plant. It was built in 1941–1943.

The rock consisted of four gun positions, two observer positions as well as local and external defense and cost around 5 million francs. The armament consisted of two 7.5 cm attachment cannons 39 (Ernst and Josef) and two 10.5 cm attachment cannons 39 (Fridolin and Barbara) as well as a 4.7 cm bunker anti-tank cannon 41 and three machine guns.

From 1942 to 2009, a 60-meter-long Von Roll inclined elevator (winch lift, drive in the mountain station) ran in a tunnel from the entrance ( 439  m high) to the first floor ( 465  m high).

After being released from secrecy, it was converted into a troop camp in 1999, served as accommodation for asylum seekers from 2000 to 2001 and as a warehouse for museum goods in the Freuler Palace until 2009 . In 2018, the municipality of Glarus Nord bought the Beglingen fortress, the tank trenches and Mollis Airport from Armasuisse . The community decided to leave the fortress to Fortress Beglingen AG , which was founded at the end of February 2018 and which is to repair and operate the facility. Contrary to the expectations of the Beglingen Museum Fortress Association , a pure museum is not planned, even if the operating company also aims to preserve the cultural property.

  • Main entrance to the Beglingen Artillery Works A 6756

Niederberg artillery plant

The Niederberg artillery plant (army designation A 6740) is located on the western side of the valley ⊙ of the Näfels barrier and flanked it together with the Beglingen artillery plant. It was built from December 1941 and completed in late 1942.

The original armament consisted of four 7.5 cm attachment cannons 39 on stand mounts. These were replaced around 1975 by four 10.5 cm howitzers 46 L22 (Viktor, Andreas, Ruedi, Balthasar guns). The tunnel defense was carried out with two machine gun positions. The cannons were able to work from 1942 to 1985 as far as Ziegelbrücke , Speer , Amden , Mühlehorn am Walensee.

The infrastructure consists of a 400 meter long main tunnel at a height of 570  m with cross tunnels to the guns, four 50 meter long caverns (I-IV) for accommodation, kitchen, dining room, switchboard, shooting office, ventilation center, engine room with emergency power system and tunnel V. for two ammunition magazines. About 25 meters above the main tunnel are the tunnels to the observation post and the water reservoir, which can be reached via three 8 meter long ladders. There were 100 beds for the crew, 40 beds for NCOs and officers and 30 beds in the sickroom.

The total construction costs amounted to 4.2 million francs.

The plant was released from secrecy in 2001, and in 2007 it was acquired by the municipality of Näfels, including forest parcels on Niederberg. In 2009 the museum goods of the Freuler Palace were relocated here from the Beglingen plant.

  • Artillery factory Niederberg A 6740

  • 10.5 cm howitzer "Balthasar"

Artillery bunker Ennetberg

Artillery bunker Ennetberg

With the eight artillery bunkers Ennetberg (army designation A 6723-6726 Ennetberg-Matten, A 6727-6730 Ennetberg-Kängel), fixed bunker positions were created in the reduit for the mobile artillery. These were operated in active service by the field howitzer batteries 162 and 163.

The bunkers are located on the Ennetberg high plateau above and east of Netstal at around 950  m . They are scattered over the districts of Matten and Chängel and camouflaged as chalets and hay sticks. Due to their architecture, they are considered an exceptional artillery position.

The armament consisted of eight 12 cm field howitzers 1912/39 L14 (12 cm Hb 12/39), which were modernized in 1939 with a muzzle brake and increased cargo space. The pipes were installed on lever mounts. Later four bunkers (A 6723, 6726, 6727, 6730) with the 10.5 cm howitzer 46 were converted to lever mounts and the remaining four for other purposes (A 6724 magazine, A 6725 battery fire control center, A 6728 magazine, A 6729 accommodation and magazine ) used.

  • Artillery bunker Ennetberg-Matten A 6723 (12 cm Hb 12/39, later 10.5 cm Hb 46) ⊙
  • Artillery bunker Ennetberg-Matten A 6724 (originally 12 cm Hb 12/39, later magazine) ⊙
  • Artillery bunker Ennetberg-Matten A 6725 (12 cm Hb 12/39 and battery fire control center, later magazine, battery fire control center) ⊙
  • Artillery bunker Ennetberg-Matten A 6726 (12 cm Hb 12/39, later 10.5 cm Hb 46) ⊙
  • Artillery bunker Ennetberg-Kängel A 6727 (12 cm Hb 12/39, later 10.5 cm Hb 46) ⊙
  • Artillery bunker Ennetberg-Kängel A 6728 (12 cm Hb 12/39, later magazine) ⊙
  • Artillery bunker Ennetberg-Kängel A 6729 (12 cm Hb 12/39, later accommodation and storage) ⊙
  • Artillery bunker Ennetberg-Kängel A 6730 (12 cm Hb 12/39, later 10.5 cm Hb 46) ⊙

  • Ennetberg Chängel and Matten with artillery bunker

  • 12 cm cannon bunker, battery fire control center Ennetberg-Matten A 6725

  • 12 cm cannon bunker, magazine Ennetberg-Matten A 6724

  • 10.5 cm cannon bunker, Ennetberg-Chängel A 6730

  • 12 cm cannon bunker, accommodation, Ennetberg-Chängel A 6729

literature

Web links

Commons : Sperrstelle Näfels  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Historical Association of the Canton of Glarus: Letzinen in Switzerland
  2. ↑ Little porcupine: Kerenzerberg barrier
  3. ↑ Bunker camping on Ennetberg
  4. ↑ Bunker Worlds: Map Analysis
  5. ↑ Funiculars Switzerland: 8753.01 Mollis Artillery Works Beglingen Entrance - 1st floor
  6. ^ Museum fortress Beglingen A 6756
  7. ↑ Southeastern Switzerland of April 23, 2018: No fortress museum in the Beglingen artillery factory
  8. ^ Municipality of Glarus Nord: Artillery casemate factory Niederberg A 6740
  9. ↑ Architonic: Indestructible Memory. The conversion of European bunkers

Coordinates: 47 ° 6 '23.6 "  N , 9 ° 3' 56.1"  E ; CH1903:  seven hundred twenty-three thousand four hundred eighty-five  /  218 564