Haguenau (FR)

History of Abri de Hatten

The Abri de Hatten Museum is situated in a former underground barracks for French soldiers on the former Maginot Line. Some of the bunker’s 28 rooms have been restored to their original condition, whilst others are dedicated to various themes relating to the history of Hatten during the Second World War. There are also interesting things to see on the grounds surrounding the bunker complex: An extensive collection of military equipment and material from 1939 to the present day, a collection of models, a memorial to the conscripts known as the „Malgré-nous“, and a hall containing exclusively American or German material from 1939 to 1945. Scenes re-enact the battle of January 1945 in Hatten. During the ‘Nordwind’ offensive launched by Germany, German and American forces faced off against each other in and around Hatten from 9 to 21 January 1945. Hatten and the neighbouring village of Rittershoffen became the scene of one of the bloodiest tank battles in France. In the fighting between German and American tank units, 2,500 soldiers lost their lives.

Both villages were destroyed in 85%. Following fierce street fighting, Hatten recorded 83 civilian deaths, whilst Rittershoffen recorded 31. Next to the museum lies the Forest of Remembrance, dedicated to the 114 civilian victims from the two communities. It is a place of tranquillity and reflection.
Remembrance tourism and the Maginot Line – Pays de Haguenau

Architecture

Between 1928 and 1940, under the Minister of War André Maginot, one of the world’s largest contiguous fortification systems was built – the Maginot Line – which is now a national monument in France.

The Maginot Line stretches for around 700 kilometres from Belgium in the north to the Swiss border in the south. The massive major combat groups, some of which were connected by underground supply systems, as well as the numerous infantry casemates, artillery positions and intermediate fortifications, were intended to prevent German troops from invading France. Large shelter (Abris).

The shelters of the Maginot Line were „barracks bunkers“. They were usually situated 1 kilometre behind the main line of defence (HKL). There were two different types: above-ground structures (Abris de Surface) and underground ones (Abris Cavernes). Abris Surface usually also had a basement level. The Abris Cavernes had one or two entrance blocks, similar to the fortifications (ouvrages), in which the access shafts to the barracks – situated approximately 20 metres below ground – were located. The abris were constructed to accommodate mobile units between the fortifications and the casemates, as part of the CORF construction programme. The abris, situated on the rear slope, had walls and ceilings 2.5 metres thick in their above-ground sections. For defence, they were equipped with GFM armoured turrets facing the enemy, which could be fitted with light machine guns (LMG), 5 cm grenade launchers and optical devices. The close-quarters defence embrasures for the entrances were manned by LMGs. The ‘Abris Surface’ still featured the characteristic diamond-shaped trench. (Source: Jean Bernard Wahl, The Maginot Line in Alsace).

The museum has been housed in one of the Maginot Line’s large shelters. It is a barracks bunker that served as accommodation for soldiers deployed on the front line. The 28 rooms, which have either been restored to their original condition or converted into exhibition spaces, were capable of accommodating 220 people.

The fort is dug into the southern flank, which is not exposed to enemy fire. The 60-metre-long, windowless façade features two armoured doors and four machine-gun embrasures, as well as a trench running alongside the building, intended both to collect debris in the event of a bombardment and to make access more difficult. At each end of the trench, there is an embrasure and a chute for throwing hand grenades, which were intended for close-quarters defence.

The whole structure is flanked on the east and west sides of the bunker, above the trench, by two GMF (Guet Fusil Mitrailleur) turrets. These were intended for observation and close-range defence.

Visitors can explore recreated areas such as the kitchen, the infirmary, the boiler and engine room, the radio room, the commander’s office, the generators, the sanitary facilities and the crew quarters. With these facilities, the large shelter was self-sufficient.