Festungsgürtel Kreuzlingen, Fortress belt in Kreuzlingen, Thurgau, Switzerland

The Festungsgürtel Kreuzlingen is a line of 42 bunkers and machine-gun positions built from 1937 to 1940 along the land border between Kreuzlingen and Konstanz. The works, designed for several days of occupation, and the stands, relieved daily, were fitted with infantry cannons and machine guns; mobile batteries replaced the planned artillery works.

Construction of the installation began in 1937 when Switzerland wanted to strengthen its borders in response to growing tensions in Europe. The system was active during World War II, but was partially abandoned after the war and later opened to visitors.

The fortress belt shows how Switzerland wanted to protect itself and what fears people had at that time. Visitors can see today how soldiers lived and worked in cramped bunkers, which makes the reality of war very direct.

Several marked walking trails lead through different parts of the installation and can be walked without special equipment. Most bunkers are accessible, but require sturdy shoes and caution in the narrow spaces.

The planned artillery works were dropped, and two mobile batteries took their place. The 5.9 million franc programme also included 42 machine-gun positions alongside six bunkers armed with infantry cannons. Armour plates for the firing slits came from Krupp in Germany after Swiss attempts failed.