Ehem. Westwall - Sicht des Naturschutzes

The former Westwall

Observations on a Nazi structure from the perspective of nature conservation

After the Second World War, the concrete structures of the Westwall were largely forgotten. They were reclaimed by nature. Today, a diverse flora and fauna with numerous endangered species can be found there. Lined up like a string of pearls, the ramparts form a chain of small biotope islands that criss-cross the landscape and connect watercourses, forests and meadows. The former Siegfried Line thus brings together the various landscape areas as a "Green Wall in the West - Memorial to the Former Siegfried Line" to form a comprehensive biotope network. The plants and animals that colonize or use the remains of the Siegfried Line have aroused the current interest of nature conservationists. The bunkers are home to bats, for example, because they find shelter and stable temperatures there. Markus Thies will be on hand to answer questions about bats and wildcats. (He has been involved in voluntary bat protection for 35 years.) Remains of the Westwall are home to rare lichens and mosses, for example. Wildcats appreciate the cover provided by the former military positions from birds of prey, which the ruins of the Westwall offer them in an often cleared landscape. The Westwall is a reminder of the horrors of the Second World War and should be preserved as a memorial.