Germany / Fortification
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The breakthrough of the first line of the so-called 'Westwall' in October 1944 was a decisive success for the US troops in the battle for Aachen. In addition to tank traps, the Westwall consisted of small bunkers of various designs. Bunker 84 was a so-called Regelbau 10 design.
The Westwall was a fortification, but it was also a propaganda programme started in 1936. In October 1938, without the bunker construction originally planned here having been completed, Adolf Hitler announced increased protection for the cities of Aachen and Saarbrücken, which lay to the west of the previously planned fortifications. During this 'Aachen-Saar Programme', Aachen was surrounded by bunker lines to the east and west.
Difficulties with the supply lines, but also Nazi propaganda about the supposedly insurmountable Westwall caused the US troops to stop at the outskirts of Aachen in early September 1944. On the orders of General Courtney H. Hodges, commander-in-chief of the 1st United States Army, the city was to be encircled. To this end, the US 1st Infantry Division under the command of Major General Clarence R. Huebner, advanced eastwards via Verlautenheide and Ravensberg. Meanwhile the 30th Infantry Division under Major General Leland S. Hobbs advanced westwards to cross the River Wurm at Rimburg and advance via Herzogenrath to Aachen. Even though the bunkers along the Westwall lines were poorly manned and equipped, the advance of the US troops proved difficult and bloody for both sides. Thus, control of the bunkers along the marching routes sometimes changed between US and German control in quick succession. It was not until 17 October 1945 that the ring around Aachen was closed, and the battle for the city ended on 21 October with Aachen's surrender.
The vast majority of the Westwall bunkers were destroyed and demolished either during the fighting or shortly afterwards. Near the city of Aachen, however, a few ruins can still be seen today in forest and meadow regions. An example of this is Bunker 84, which was part of the first Westwall line. Built according to the Regelbau 10 scheme, of which 3,471 installations were erected along the entire Westwall, it consisted of a ready room with gas locks and an attached fighting room. The regular crew of 15 men was protected by 1.5m thick concrete walls.
52062, Aachen