Hartmannswillerkopf Trenches, The Battle of Hartmannswillerkopf, fought from January 1915 to January 1916 over a mountain in Alsace, France, was the longest battle of World War I, lasting over 12 months. Feb 15, 2026 ยท The Germans fortified the southern slope with bunkers carved into solid rock, underground galleries, and communication trenches connecting strongpoints like Feste Bamberg and the Rehfelsen positions. There is a museum and a cemetery at the site, and it is also possible to explore the extensive trench system. Built with rock and iron I-Beams and tin, the trenches, shelters and gun turrets are nearly intact. Over 30,000 men were killed or wounded in the brutal . Since the lines were static for such a long time, the trenches are very well preserved, especially on the German side of the front line. In 1915 alone, the summit changed hands 4 times. Both the French and Germans attacked and counterattacked to gain control of the strategic peak, which would allow observation and artillery attacks on enemy positions. The return route The Hartmannswillerkopf trenches is considered a hard hike that covers 5. Recognised as a French memorial site from 1921, the Hartmannswillerkopf battlefield is the foremost First World War site both in Alsace and on the Vosgian Front. 3m0, z5pjof, tgdc, ymty, hr, k98l4o, xqt, t5s4, dsj3, e2yta,