Fort Reuenthal Explained

Fort Reuenthal
Partof:Swiss Border Line
Location:Northern Switzerland
Coordinates:47.6048°N 8.2022°W
Map Type:Switzerland
Map Size:300
Built:1939
Materials:Concrete, deep excavation
Condition:Preserved
Ownership:Private
Open To Public:Yes
Controlledby:Switzerland

Fort Reuenthal is a 20th-century Swiss fortification located in the Aargau canton near the Swiss border with Germany. Built between 1937 and 1939, the fort overlooks the Rhine where it bends around the town of Full-Reuenthal, and was intended to prevent a crossing of the Rhine at the hydroelectric plant at Dogern. It was a component of the Swiss Border Line of defenses. It is armed with two artillery blocks for 75 mm guns and two machine gun blocks. The fort uses camouflage, with house-like superstructures over some positions. Deactivated as a military post in 1988, it is operated as a museum.

Description

Fort Reuenthal is located just south of Full-Reuenthal. It overlooks the Rhine and the hydroelectric station spanning the river at Dogern.[1] It is part of the Border Line defenses built by Switzerland in the late 1930s, prior to a shift in Swiss priorities to the National Redoubt in the Alps.[2] Work on the fort was started in 1937, and completed in 1939.[3]

The fort's armament comprised two artillery blocks with 75 mm guns and three machine gun blocks.

Present situation

Fort Reuenthal is operated by the Swiss Military Museum (Schweizerisches Militärmuseum Full), whose display facility is located about 0.9km (00.6miles) away in the direction of the Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant.[4]

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The unique Twin Museum and its roots. 12 January 2011. Schweizerisches Militämuseum Full. 16 September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130916024844/http://www.festungsmuseum.ch/xml_1/internet/de/application/f35.cfm. dead.
  2. Kauffmann, pp. 155-156
  3. Web site: Portrait. Festungmuseum Reuenthal. 13 January 2011. German. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101220031812/http://www.festungsmuseum.ch/xml_2/internet/de/application/f9.cfm. 20 December 2010.
  4. Web site: Lageplan. 12 January 2011. Schweizerisches Militämuseum Full. English. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110707000220/http://www.militaer-museum.ch/xml_1/internet/de/application/f4.cfm. 7 July 2011.