4/1/2024 (Morning) Ehrenbreitstien Fortress

 

Another morning of liquid sunshine.  We are headed across the river this morning to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress.  Fortresses and castles have been built and destroyed on this strategic loaction since 4000 BC. The current fortress has actually never seen a major battle since it was built in the 1800's. The fortress is at the confluence of the Rhine and Main Rivers.

Looking across the River from where we were docked Ehrenbreitstien sits atop the ridge.

As we were leaving the ship, there was a statue of Wilhelm I the first Emporer and king of Prussia

The tour guides are dressed in period costume to play  the part of a British Engineering officer who had been assigned to learn about the fortification of Ehrenbreitstien in the eraly 1800's

The only approach to the fortress was across a batttlefield where cannons capable of firing 1000 meters were aimed.

If you got across the field, you would have to breach a field gate.

 If you got past the field gate, you would be on a moat with riflemen on either side to take you out

Travelling through the moat, there were no straight paths, gunners could shoot from many different angles , so there was no spot that was uncovered.

Located within the fortress in a memorial to all German military who have died.

Yet more of a guantlet to pass before getting to the inner "Curtain Wall" that protected the inner part of the fort.

There is an ariel tram that travel across the river to the fortress.  It was not running when we came up, but we took it back on the down side.

More liquid Sunshine

Then the fortress was mactive there were draw bridges that crossed between armaments.

To test their fortress, they fired cannons at their own walls to make sure they were secure.

If, by some miracle you made it through the gauntlet to the curtain wall 

riflemen would be at everyone of these ports in the curtain wall to stop you.

In the inner part of the fortress is the administration buildings, Now a museum.

Banner showing who controlled the fortress in the 20th century, from right to left, Prussia, the U.S. (after the first World War), France, Germany, The Third Reich, U.S. after the Second World War, the French (when Germany was divided up this area was under French control, then finally back under the German Democratic Republic.

View from the fortress looking up the Rhine

View from the fortress looking up the Mosel River

View from the fortress looking down the Rhine

Arial Tram

The only action here was near the end of the second world war when American Soldiers came to the fortress (there were no German troops here) they saw a Swastika of teh Third Reich above the archway and shot it down leaving these holes in the wall.