Fort Ebersberg Explained

Fort Ebersberg
Partof:Swiss Border Line
Location:Northern Switzerland
Coordinates:47.5719°N 8.5793°W
Map Type:Switzerland
Map Size:300
Built:1940
Materials:Concrete, deep excavation
Condition:Preserved
Ownership:Private
Open To Public:Yes
Controlledby:Switzerland

Fort Ebersberg, also known as Fort Rüdlingen, was built between 1938 and 1940 in the Swiss Canton of Zurich to guard the Rhine against a German invasion at the opening of World War II. It is the only such position in the Zurich canton, located near the town of Berg am Irchel. The fort was part of the Swiss Border Line defenses, Swiss military designation A5438.

Description

The fort was built between 1938 and 1940, buried in sandstone on a north-facing slope. In 1978, the weapons were removed. The fort was decommissioned April 2003.[1] Ebersberg's primary weapons were two semi-automatic 75mm guns in separate blockhouses,[2] intended to hamper a German crossing of the Rhine.

Present situation

The surface installations at Ebersberg are accessible and have interpretive displays. The subterranean parts of the fort are not accessible to the public.[3] The site is maintained in preservation under a long-term lease by the Military Historical Foundation of the Canton of Zurich. Although the guns were removed, the remainder of the equipment remains. Public tours are available.[1]

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Die Festung Ebersberg. Bunkeranlagen der Schweiz. 13 January 2011. German. https://web.archive.org/web/20110204025200/http://www.unterirdischeschweiz.ch/4657.html. 4 February 2011. dead.
  2. Kauffmann, pp. 157-158
  3. Web site: Artillery Fortress Ebersberg (A5438). STIWOT. 13 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718124720/http://www.ww2museums.com/article/16485/Artillery-Fortress-Ebersberg-A5438.htm. 18 July 2011. dead.