Ettlingen Line facts for kids
The Ettlingen Line was like a long, protective wall built in Germany a long time ago, in 1707. It was also called the Lower Line. This line was made to defend against enemies during a big conflict called the War of the Spanish Succession. It wasn't a stone wall, but a barrier made from thick bushes, branches (called Verhauen), and strong wooden fences (called palisades). The Ettlingen Line was built to replace an older defense line, the Bühl-Stollhofen Line, which had been destroyed by French soldiers just a few months earlier in 1707.
History of the Ettlingen Line
Building the Ettlingen Line started soon after the older Bühl-Stollhofen Line was destroyed. A military leader named George Louis of Brunswick-Lüneburg, who was in charge of the army near the Rhine River, ordered its construction.
Years later, during another conflict called the War of the Polish Succession (from 1733 to 1738), the Ettlingen Line was made even stronger. They added special water channels that could be flooded to create a bigger barrier.
However, in 1734, French troops managed to break through these defenses. The line was damaged and destroyed again. But it was quickly rebuilt in 1735. After that, the Ettlingen Line wasn't as important for military defense anymore.
Where You Can Find It Today
The Ettlingen Line stretched between the Black Forest and the flat lands near the Rhine River. This area is now south of the city of Karlsruhe.
Even today, you can still see parts of this old defense line! Southwest of Karlsruhe, near a small settlement, you can find remains of the fortified line. These include parts of the old earth walls (called breastworks) and a small fort (called a redoubt). This section runs for about 500 meters through the Hardtwald forest.
In the woods of Rheinstetten, you can find an even longer part of the line that is still visible. To help people learn about this historical site, information boards have been put up. One was placed in Karlsruhe in July 2010, and another in Rheinstetten on a path called Pirschweg. You can also see parts of the line in Schöllbronn, where another information board tells its story.
See also
- Baroque fortifications in the Black Forest
- Bühl-Stollhofen Line
- Eppingen lines
