Hill 285 – La Haute Chevauchée

Hill 285, called la Haute Chevauchée by the French, is the highest elevation of the main Argonne ridge in the area of the former combat zone. Both for the French and the Germans, Hill 285 had a very significant strategic importance and was a site of heavy fighting both above and below ground throughout the entire war.

At the beginning of the actual Argonne fighting in September 1914, units of the 33. preußische Infanterie-Division (33rd Infantry Division) had succeeded in capturing the eastern area of the Argonne Forest up to the old Roman road (today’s D 38c) including Heights 263 and 285. The objective was to flank and support the attacks led decisively by Infanterie-Regiment 130 (130th Infantry Regiment) along the Varenner Straße (today’s D 38) in the direction of le Four de Paris. On September 28, 1914, Infanterie-Regiment 98 (98th Infantry Regiment) advanced the farthest, moved beyond Hill 285, and then west into the Biesme valley directly up to the hamlet of Lachalade. The securing of Hill 285 was assigned to two companies of Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 27 (27th Landwehr Infantry Regiment).

The French positions on Hill 263 were attacked by the 5. Jäger-Bataillon (5th Jäger Battalion) and other units on January 8, 1915, and captured in the first assault. Further advance onto Hill 285 failed due to unreconnoitered quarries between the two heights, which the French had cleverly integrated into their defense system. Along the Römerstraße, parts of Infanterie-Regiment 130 (130th Infantry Regiment) broke forward, captured three French trenches, and established connection on the right with the units of the 6. Jäger-Bataillon. In addition, connection could be made on the left with the 5. Jäger-Bataillon deployed there. Parts of Infanterie-Regiment 30 had succeeded in completely capturing the Kahle Höhe and the Schwarze Kuppe. Even though the main objective, the capture of Hill 285, could not be achieved, the attack was a success in view of the massive territorial gains. The positions achieved with it were essentially to remain until the German major offensive in July 1915.

Following the fighting in January 1915, a French offensive operation became apparent for the 33. Infanterie-Division (33rd Infantry Division) between Vauquois and Hill 263. To preempt this, another attempt was to be made on February 16, 1915, through an advance in the sector of the 67. Infanterie-Brigade (67th Infantry Brigade) as well as the 13. Landwehr-Brigade (13th Landwehr Brigade) to capture Hill 285 and la Fille Morte. Even though the troops were able to gain some ground, losses were high and the advance was unsuccessful. It failed to prevent the impending French attack, which began on February 17, 1915, and struck the exhausted German troops with full force. The fighting dragged on for several days, though the French failed to achieve a breakthrough.

In the following weeks, there were only sporadic French attacks, such as during the Easter holidays from April 4 to 6, 1915. By means of a massive artillery bombardment and smaller patrol operations, German troops were to be tied down to accompany larger offensive efforts in the St. Mihiel salient. On the German side, under the direction of Hauptmann (captain) Schimpff, Pionier-Bataillon 16 (16th Pioneer Battalion), mine warfare was pushed forward in the area between Schwarze Kuppe and Hill 263, which the French reciprocated with equal intensity. In a short time, more than 30 mine galleries were created on both sides. The ridge north of Hill 285 to the left and right along the Roman Road was named after Hauptmann Schimpff, which bears the name “Haut-Jardinet” among the French.

Following this great success, amidst at times heavy French attack efforts until the autumn of 1915, the task was undertaken to expand the newly won positions and carry out position straightenings in order to maintain a secure position for the upcoming winter. Already on July 20, 1915, by order of the XVI. Armee-Korps (XVI Corps), units of the 33. Infanterie-Division (33rd Infantry Division) under the new commander Generalmajor Carl Wilhelm Vollbrecht, in cooperation with elements of the Infanterie-Regiments 145 (145th Infantry Regiment), stormed and captured the “Jägersack” on the northern slope of the Cheppe-Grund. From this position, the French had been able to flank and dangerously threaten the German lines situated further west.

From September 27, 1915, units of the 33. Infanterie-Division set out to attack the French position parts still remaining on Hill 285 and the saddle of la Fille Morte. Above all from Hill 285 as well as a western point called the “Fillemorte-Küppchen”, the French continued to have good observation capabilities into the German position system and rear area. The capture of the saddle of la Fille Morte was fully achieved. The French were forced into an unfavorably located reverse-slope position. Although units of the Infanterie-Regiments 98 (98th Infantry Regiment) as well as the Jäger-Bataillons 6 (6th Jäger Battalion) were able to advance up to the southern slope of Hill 285, they had to retreat again. Hill 285 remained in mutual possession on its crest and continued to open up an observation possibility for the French into the western adjoining part of the German positions on la Fille Morte. The elevation remained a site of constant engagements. Essentially, however, the goal that had already been striven for in September 1914 was now achieved: a straight front line running from the Varenner Straße (today’s D 38) in the north via the Bolante, la Fille Morte, Hill 285 to the foothills of Hill 263.

Following these combat actions, the above-ground Argonne front calmed down. On la Fille Morte as well as Hill 285, mine warfare took on extreme forms. In December 1916, a German mine with approx. 1,050 hundredweight of explosives detonated and blew away the entire crest of Hill 285. A crater approximately 50 meters deep was formed. Several companies of French infantry were buried. Due to the resulting change in position, the French were deprived of their observation capability into the German position system.

Over a width of about 4 kilometers, the Germans subsequently established an interconnected gallery system up to 50 meters deep, out of which mine explosions were carried out by driving forward combat galleries. The French mostly stuck to simpler constructions of individual mine galleries. Over time, a continuous chain of craters developed between the two positions, which still exists today. Since the late 1980s, a French association in particular, l’Association des Amis de Vauquois et sa Région, in agreement with French authorities and organizations, has been taking care of the research and preservation of the remnants of the fighting in this area that lasted until the autumn of 1918.

Locally, there are a few tourist-developed areas where one can approach the subject. A few years ago, a circular trail starting at the local parking lot with several information boards at prominent positions was established on Hill 285. The main point of this circular trail is the huge mine crater from December 1916, as well as the French ossuary/monument, which has accommodated the remains of more than 10,000 fallen soldiers of all participating nations from the fighting. In the eastern area of the large crater, a memorial cross made of Westerwald oak was erected in 1971 by members of Panzerbataillon 144 (144th Armored Battalion) from Koblenz as part of a Franco-German ceremony for all fallen soldiers in the Argonne. Since 2012, the Kaisertunnel, which was formerly developed for museum visits, is unfortunately no longer accessible to the public due to safety issues.