WORLD WAR 1 (1915)

BELGIUM
and FRANCE
World War I
World War II
June 1940
Paris

Left: Hitler (first row, left) with his fellow-soldiers somewhere in Belgium or France in 1914
Right: Hitler (top row centre) in 1916 in a lazaret in Beelitz (Germany)

Hitler was in different battles and areas in Belgium and France during the first World War. Some locations are very common, but on this page you might find a lot of locations that are less well-known. Some locations might require more investigation, but a lot of bunkers and trenches and original roads are, off course, not longer there. Some other places I could find back pretty easily. It’s important to know that Hitler was part of the 1st or 2nd Kompanie of the Reserve Infanterie Regiment 16 (RIR 16 or the List-regiment) untill October 7, 1915. After that he joined the 3rd Kompanie. Both were part of the 1st batallion of RIR 16. The most prominent sources used here are the Erinnerungsblätter Regimenter Bayerische Armee, Das Reserve Regiment List (Solleder, 1932), Mit Adolf Hitler im Bayerischen Reserve Infanterie Regiment 16 List (Meijer, 1931) and Frontsoldat Hitler (Russell, 2006).

Hitler in the First World War 1915

Old year, new years day and right after that - Warneton and Bas-Warneton

The regiment has a 4 days rest.

January 3 - Messines area

January 6 - Messines

The regiment goes to the village of Messines for a rest. They find shelter in the ‘Kloster’ and in cellars of different houses.

January 9 - Messines

The regiment goes back to the front line near Messines.

January 24 - Messines

The ‘Befehlstelle’ of the first batallion lays under fire. The commanders go to new ‘Stützpunkte’ at the ‘Bad- und Mittelferme’.

January 30 - Messines, Comines, Warneton

The regiment gets replaced.

- They stay near Befehlstelle Lugferme

- Some companies stay at the front line

- Some go to Messines and Warneton

- Some go to the Kellerferme

- The regimentsstaf is at Messines or Comines

Somewhere in February – St. Elooi

Hitler’s Regiment, says Hitler in a letter, is ‘left’ of Eloi (‘where the English were beaten’). This must be St. Elooi (Belgium), south of Ieper. There’s a war memorial on the Armetierseweg. Near St. Elooi, along the the Voormezelestraat, is the location of the Bayernwald.

February - Messines

February 5 - Wervicq

The first batallion marches through Werwicq to the crossing near Molière, because king Ludwig III comes there to visit the troops.

March - Comines

According to a vague description the regiment or parts of it spent 6 days in Comines.

March 8/9 - Tourcoing (Meijers book says March 6)

At night the regiment is replaced. They go to Tourcoing to serve as Reserve Troops. Their location is the ‘Kronprinz-Rupprecht-Kazerne’ at the Rue de Chènes Houpline (an old spinnery). They rest for 14 days.

March 10 - Battle of Neuve-Chapelle

On March 10 –13 the battle of Neuve-Chapelle took place. The British aim was to capture the village of Neuve-Chapelle. They were succesful, but the efforts stagnated after having taking just 1100 meters of land. About 13.000 British and 12.000 German soldiers were killed. Two British war cemeteries are on the Rue du Moulin just outside Neuve-Chapelle.

To get to Neuve-Chapelle the German List-regiment got transported towards Lille by train. They went to Marquilles by train. The troops were stationed at: Wicres (there’s still a German war cemetery there), Le Willy and Sainghin.

The regiment took part of the battle of Neuve-Chapelle. The 1st and 3rd batallion went through the woods of Biez to reach Neuve-Chapelle. The regiments staf was located at the so called Ferme de Biez (location unknown).

The troops travelled from Halpegarbe, through the wood, where they waited at the edge of the wood for the attack. The 1st batallion got to the crossing, southwest of Neuve Chapelle, but the enemy was not longer at the eastside of the villlage, but on the fields southwest of the woods of Biez.

March 12/13 - Battle of Neuve-Chapelle

The trenches in the area are enlarged, but the Germans are not able to take the village.

March 13/14 - Marquilles

At night the regiments marches from the front lines to Marquilles. Quartier at Salomé. The shelter on the same day for the 1st batallion was at Petit Hantay and La Bourse. The Regiment Staf goes to Grand and Petit Moisnil.

Lille Tourcoing weergeven op een grotere kaart

Tourcoing (France)

Kronprinz-Rupprecht-Kazerne (an old spinnery)

Location: Rue de Chènes Houpline

Today: unknown

On March 8/9 the regiment was replaced to Tourcoing to serve as reserve. They find shelter inside what the Germans called the Kronprinz-Rupprecht-Kazerne. It was actually an old spinnery. They rest in Tourcoing for 14 days.

Station Tourcoing

Location: Place Pierre Sémard

Today: This is the modern station of Tourcoing. It’s absolutely not certain that Hitlers regiment took the train at this station.

To get to Neuve-Chapelle in March 1915 the German List-regiment got transported towards Lille by train. From there they went to Marquilles by train.

The area of Lille station in WW1

(source: Meijer, 1934)

Neuve-Chapelle (France)

English War Cemeteries

Location: Rue du Moulin, behind the houses (signs lead the way)

Today: still there

Hitlers regiment was in the battle of Neuve-Chapelle in 1915. The English tried to capture the village. A lot of soldiers that died in 1915 are burried on these graveyards.

The English Cemeteries in Neuve-Chapelle. The Left picture shows both of them (right next to the trees in the background is the second one) (pictures: The Hitler Pages, 2009)

The fields around the graveyards with the village of Neuve-Chapelle in the background. The cemeteries are on the English side of the village. The Woods of Biez are on the other side (behind the village).
(picture: The Hitler Pages, 2009)

Neuve Chapelle weergeven op een grotere kaart

1915 Belgium-France

In 1915 the Regiment is in Vlaanderen and French-Vlaanderen. They take part of the fights of Neuve-Chapelle, La Bassée and Arras.

March 14 - Lille

The regiment is replaced. It travels back towards Lille by train.

March 17 untill May 1915 - Fromelles (scroll to 1916 to see Fromelles maps and pictures)

On March 17 the regiment goes back to Fromelles, through Marquilles station.

Locations in Fromelles: Rote Banke, Ferme Deleval (region Rue Deleval).

The ‘Befehlstelle’is located at Fromelles-Nord, 1100 meters west of the Rote Banke. The second ‘Befehlestelle’ (‘Bayern’) was located southeast of Deleval Ferme. The Regiments Befehlstelle was at the Schloß Fromelles in the cellar of a house opposite to a Sanitätsunterstand. The Regiment Staf was at a house of a notary in the so called Münsterstrasse (number 50). The Regiment Ordonanzen stay at the house of Schwarzen Marie.

April 22 - Second Battle of Ieper

Hitlers regiment takes part in the Second Battle of Ieper. During that battle the Germans used gas for the first time, surprising the allied forces.

May 2 – 8/9 - Front (Fournes)

The 1st batallion is at the front.

May 8/9 - Fournes

At night the troops go to Fournes. Hitler is said to have drawn several drawings of a house called ‘Zur Schwarzin Marie’. The house was named after the hostess of it.

May 9 (about 10 o’clock) - Fournes area

Back at the front. On May 9/10 there’s some heavy fighting going on in the area.

May 10/11 - Fournes

The 2nd and 3rd batallion go to Fournes (partly).

May 12/13 - Fournes

At night they’re back to the front line.

May 13-19 - Fournes-La Bassee

The 3rd batallion leaves for La Bassee in this period.

May 17 - Fournes and La Bassee

At night the 9th and 10th company go to La Bassee.

May 18 - Violaines

Some of the troops arrive at Violaines. They find shelter in a ‘hof’ (a public garden).

Around May 26 - Fromelles

The regimentsstaf is located at Fromelles.

May 29 - Wavrin and La Bassee

The second company goes to Wavrin and later on to La Bassee.

May – September - Fromelles

The regiment stays at the Fromelles area.

July 13 - La Bassee

A training takes place at La Bassee.

September 24/25 - Battle of La Bassee

The 1st and 3rd komp go to join the other troops at the Battle of La Bassee.

October 2-8 - La Bassee

Parts of the regiment are at La Bassee, near the channel, southwest of Auchy. If Hitler was here or not remains uncertain.

October 7 - Hitler switches companies

Hitler becomes a member of the 3rd company.

Autumn 1915 - La Bassee

Hitler was at La Bassee in the autumn of 1915. It’s not clear when exactly, because the companies of the regiment went there on different dates.

Winter 1915-1916 - Fromelles

In November and December it’s pretty quiet at the front in Fromelles.

Fournes en Weppes (France)

Fournes en Weppes weergeven op een grotere kaart

Regiment Building
Location: Rue de Faidherbe, a few houses west and across the road from the Rue du 8 Mai 1945
Today: still there, it is turned into a Mairie today
Hitler was stationed here in 1915. There are different pictures made of Hitler accompanied by fellow soldiers. Most of them are made in the garden of the regiment building. A famous but unclear picture shows Hitler in the Rue Faidherbe in 1915.

Above: Hitler in the Rue Faidherbe, 1915 (Meijer, 1934)

Centre, above: The 1st company at the Schlossallee in Fournes, May 1915 (Solleder, 1932)

Centre, below: Graveyard German soldiers in 1915 in Fournes

(Solleder, 1932)

Right: The church of Fournes

(Meijer, 1934)

The regiment building in 2009. The Mairie was closed, so I couldn’t get behind the building. When the gate is open, it should be easy to take a look behind the building. It seems like the garden walls are still there. The one on the right is on the left picture. (pictures: The Hitler Pages, 2009)

Above and right: Hitler and
his fellow-soldiers in Fournes
in April 1915
Above: Hitler is sitting on the left
Right: Hitler is standing on the right

Fournes, Regiment Building 1916

Fournes, Regiment Building 1940
(picture: Heinrich Hoffmann)

Fournes, 1915, Hitler is the second one form the right

The Regiment building untill recently. The picture on the right shows the garden, with the same wall as in ‘14-’18

Butchery Fournes
Fournes en Weppes (Southwest of Lille), Rue Faidherbe 966
Today: still there
This is another building were Hitler was stationed in 1916. During the second world war the butchery was guarded and there was a sign that said: ‘In diesem Quartier lag 1916 unser Fuehrer Adolf Hitler als Soldat des Bayr. JNF. RGT. List’. The sign is broken, but it must be in the museum of Fromelles.

Hitler visited the butchery in Fournes en Weppes again in 1940. The right picture shows
the guards in front of the house

Brewery Le Febre

Location: unknown

This location is connected to the rumour of Hitler being homosexual. All I can say is that the location itself is indeed a location that has something to do with the German troops. The Erinnerungsblätter of the List Regiment (Solleder, 1932) mention it. Hitler must have been there, since the village is not that big. But that is, off course, of his possible feelings for the male gender.

Chateau/ Schloss

Location: unknown, but there is a Avenue du Chateau in the village

The Erinnerungsblätter of the List Regiment (Solleder, 1932) mention the castle of Fournes as a place where German troops of commanders were stationed. Hitler must have been there, since he brought messages around.

Three drawings of the Unterstand ‘Zur Schwarzen Marie’. The first one looks a little different, but it must be the same house from a slightly different perspective. The coloured drawing (Russel 2006) is worked over by an artist after 1933. The bike of the first sketch (Joachimsthaler, 1989) and the plank standing against the wall of the second (Joachimsthaler, 1989) are both of the third picture. All three pictures show the same stairs next to the house.

Unterstand

Location: unknown

Hitler made sketches of an Unterstand (shelter) in 1915. Russel (2006) says the Unterstand was near Fromelles. Joachimsthaler (1989) thinks it’s the Ruhequartier of the German Ordonanzen in Fournes, called Zur Schwarzen Marie. Fournes and Fromelles are not that far apart, though. The sketches were coloured and worked over by an artist after 1933.

1914 1915 1916 1917 1918

Fromelles/Aubers (France), the ‘wrong’ Hitlerbunker
Loocation: Road between Fromelles and Aubers (D141), just a few steps from the road
Today: still there
On the road between Fromelles and Aubers are a lot of bunkers. One of them is the so called Hitlerbunker, the bunker were Hitler was said to have been stationed in 1915. There is no prove that this is a bunker Hitler used to stay at. There are no pictures of Hitler visiting the bunker in 1940. The real Hitlerbunker is on the Rue de la Biette. A map of the region is found at www.pro-tourisme-nord.com

The Bunker on the road between Fromelles and Aubers
(pictures: The Hitler Pages)

Close-up of the bunker
(pictures: The Hitler Pages)

The bunker is a German bunker indeed,
but there are no pictures of Hitler visiting this bunker in 1940. It’s sure though that he knew this area very well...
(pictures: The Hitler Pages)

Hitler in Fromelles in 1940

A drawing made by Hitler of a farm in Fromelles, that was the ‘Verbandplatz’ of the regiment of Hitler in 1915.

Farm where Hitler was stationed
Location: southern edge of Fromelles, on the D22, last farm on the left
Today: still there
Hitler was stationed in a farm on the edge of Fromelles. Hitlers regiment was in this region in several periods of the war. In 1940 Hitler visited the farm again.

Fromelles (France) more about Fromelles here

A map of the front near Fromelles, May 1915

(Solleder, 1932)

Fromelles May 1915 weergeven op een grotere kaart

Fromelles 1916

(Meijer, 1934)

The Graveyard

(Meijer, 1934)

The church of Fromelles

(Meijer, 1934)

House on the Gartenstrasse between Fromelles and Aubers, 1916

(Solleder, 1932)

House between Fromelles and Aubers

(Meijer, 1934)

House between Fromelles and Aubers

(Meijer, 1934)

Unterstande near Fromelles

(Solleder, 1934)

Above and below: Trenches near Fromelles, 1915 (Joachimsthaler, 1989)

A drawings Hitler made near Fromelles. The aquarel ‘Haus mit weissem Zaun’ is made northwest of Fromelles, near the ‘Roten Banke’, in 1915. A lot of drawings of Adolf Hitler were redone or coloured by a better artist after 1933.

Dachau, near Fromelles
(Meijer, 1934)

Dachau

Location: Rue Delval (look at the map for the exact location)

Today: unknown

The Germans gave German names to the locations of the area they were at. An area at one of the ends of the Rue Delval was called Dachau. Every Meldegänger in the area must have known the place.

The Deleval Ferme
(Solleder, 1932)

Deleval Ferme

Location: Rue Delval (exact location unknown)

Today: unknown

Another marking point in the area was the Deleval Ferme.

Senling
(Meijer, 1934)

Senling

Location: unknown

Today: unknown

The book of Adolf Meijer shows a picture of a place called Senling. It’s another location that might be hard to find back.

The Spital in Fromelles
(Solleder, 1932)

Truppenverbandplatz

Location: unknown

Today: unknown

Another building Solleder mentions is the Spital or Truppenvernandplatz, a filedhospital, in Fromelles.

The station of Fromelles
(Meijer, 1934)

Fromelles Station

Location: unknown

Today: unknown

There’s no railway running through Fromelles anymore. In WW1 there was. The picture below shows a ruïned station.

Rote Banke and the House mit weissem Zaun

Location: Rue Delval (on the corner of the road to Pétillon) Look at the map for the exact locations.

Today: unknown, there are houses there

Hitler knew the area the Germans called the Rote Banke very well. He drew a picture of the ‘Haus mit weissem Zaun’ that was also on the Rue Delval.

Befehlstelle Bayern

Location: unknown

The book Adolf Meijer made about the First World War shows a picture of the Befehlstelle Bayern. Hitler must have know the place.

Befehlstelle Bayern.
(Meijer, 1934)

This map shows the Gefechtsbefeehlstelle of RIR 16 in Fromelles and the Regimentsstab in Fournes in 1915.

(Joachimsthaler, 1989)

Fromelles (France), the ‘real’ Hitlerbunker
Location: At the end of Rue de la Biette (outside the village) is a soccerfield, behind it in the fields is the bunker
Today: still there
The bunker Hitler visited in 1940 is on the Rue de la Biette.

Above: Hitler visited this bunker in 1940 (pictures: Heinrich Hoffmann)
Below: The bunker today (picture: The Hitler Pages)

The WW1 Hitlerbunker
There is discussion about what the exact Hitlerbunker was in World War 1. There are (still) a lot of bunkers from that war in Belgium and France, and it’s obvious that Hitler has seen more than one. The fact that there are pictures of Hitler in front of such a bunker from 1940 is widespred on the internet. The pictures beneath show Hitler in front of a WW 1 bunker. It doesn’t look like it’s the same bunker as the most well-known bunkers in the Fromelles/Aubers region we show here.

June 25-26, 1940, somewhere in Belgium or France.
The picture on the right shows Hitler, Ernst Schmidt and Max Amman from up close