Three Years of Work
The Siegfried Line was a huge project. It took three years to complete, from 1936 to 1939.
Built by Fritz Todt
The building of the line was overseen by Fritz Todt, a civil engineer who built many of Nazi Germany’s military installations, as well as road networks and other large government projects.
Building in Secret
It was a massive task, but one that Hitler wanted to be done in secrecy. He was making his first bold moves to expand German territory and was uncertain how foreign powers would react.
For two years, under a shroud of secrecy forts were built beneath camouflage nets and reed mats.
Despite hundreds of thousands of laborers and uniformed soldiers overseeing their work in the border regions, Hitler made no announcement of what was underway. Then, in 1938, he felt confident. The line had progressed enough for there to be no more need for secrecy. The existence of the vast defense network was announced.
