"Hagenstellung", Orel, 1943

[CNE503]

Hello,

When the Germans decided to evacuate the Orel salient on July 28th, 1943, the 2. Panzerarmee orderly retreated from defensive positions to defensive positions from July 31st, 1943 and on.
The first one of these positions was called the "Grüne-Linie", the second one the "Rote-Linie", the third one the "Schwarze-Linie" and the last one reached on August 13th, 1943 was the so-called "Hagenstellung", from Dmitrowsk in the south to the eastern approaches of Briansk to the north.

Could anyone explain me what is the meaning of "Hagen"?

Thank you very much!
Cheers,

CNE503

[GregSingh]

One possibility is from German/Dutch for : fence/hedge/enclosure/protected place.

[MLW]

Hagen was a character in the Nibelungenlied. In WWI, one of the defensive lines in Flanders was named the Hagenstellung after him.

Regards,
Marc

[CNE503]

Hello gentlemen,

Thank you for your answers.
I guess that the "Hagenstellung" may have been named according to the Nibelungenlied. After all, another fortified position held by Germans in the Eastern Front was the "Wotan-Linie" (Odin line).
Anyway, my German is improved to know the meaning of Hagen

Cheers,

CNE503