Fort Heldsberg

In March 1938, Austria was annexed by Germany under the Anschluss, creating a new, potentially hostile section of frontier. The fort at Heldsberg was planned to stop or delay an attack across the nearby Rhine, as well as providing artillery coverage on the southern end of Lake Constance. The German plan for a Swiss invasion, Operation Tannenbaum, noted the presence of the Heldsberg position and concluded: A very desirable approach is to attack from the east at Rheineck, the shortest way to the enemy flank, but the mountainous terrain and the strong fortifications at Rheineck (Heldsberg) promise no success. The Border Line forts did not deploy a defense in depth. == Description ==

Heldsberg was armed with four 75mm guns, mounted in individual concrete blockhouses, supported by five machine gun blocks, The surface components, running roughly from west to east, include: • Mg1/Boeb1: Machine gun/observation block. • BK1: 75mm gun block. • BK2: 75mm gun block. • Mg2/Mg3: Machine gun block. • Entry: Facing to the rear, close to the underground utility plant and barracks. • BK4: 75mm gun block. • BK3/Mg4: 75mm gun, machine gun block. • Mg5/Boeb2: Machine gun/observation block. • Emergency exit: Facing the rear. • Mg7: Machine gun block. • Mg6: Machine gun block. On 14 May 1940 a false alarm caused the switch to be activated, nearly derailing an innocent coal train. A number of unconnected satellite bunkers support the main fort and provide covering fire for anti-tank barriers. ==Present situation==

Heldsberg was decommissioned as obsolete in 1992. Heldsberg was sold out of Swiss military service to the town of St. Margrethen, which operates it as a museum. The museum opened in 1993. ==See also==