Imagine; you are neutral and feeling no threat of the Second World War whatsoever, until..
Hitler decided in 1940 to invade both Denmark and Norway at the same time. This automatically caused a certain wake-up call and military actions were required. It took Sweden three years to build hundreds of forts on the border with Norway and Fort 118, Sjöänds Skans, is one of them. Just outside of Årjäng, at the nature reserve Glaskogen, lies this fort. It is well equipped with safety rooms, trenches and dragon teeth. Fortunately they have never had to use this Fort, but to this day it is still there. It is daily opened, free accessible and guided tours are given in the summer.
If you would like to know more about this fort Sjöänds Skans, please visit the site personally or read more information in our e-book. We will share with you the exact coordinates to find this place.
Personal story about Sjöänds Skans
We have found this short, but intense story of a day everyone had hoped that it would not happen. We have translated the text from Fort 118 to English, but please read to original if your Swedish is worth testing!
At 05:30 yesterday morning, German troops crossed the border and fought down the first line of defense. Sweden is at war. From the south-west, heavy cannon boom is heard and occasional aircraft pass at low altitude. In Sjöänds Skans redoubt there is full preparedness. The snipers are manned and fire can be heard from the road towards Årjäng. Suddenly about ten soldiers come running along the road. “The enemy is only 500 meters away,” reports the group leader. Then the rattle of a tank is heard and suddenly it comes around the bend in the road.
“Fire!” commands the platoon leader, but there is not much more than a few scattered shots. No one has been in battle before and everyone is scared and clutching their rifles in helplessness.
The enemy escort infantrymen disappear into the forest, while the tank slowly approaches. But now the anti-tank gun has arrived and almost simultaneously with the tank’s first shot, the pv gun fires. The air is torn by terrible demands. Earth and stones are thrown high into the air and everyone presses against the ground. The tank advances slowly but suddenly a roar is heard as it drives straight into the mining. Fire breaks out and the crew leaves the wreck followed by occasional shots from the redoubt. A deep silence spreads and only now is the scream of a wounded soldier heard.
The silence lasts an hour or so, but is suddenly interrupted by grenade launcher fire that hits everywhere in the redoubt with enormous force. Everyone presses their guards and only the sentry in the tower of the main bunker can spy. Suddenly he shouts “enemy infantry advancing over the ridge! Man the fire positions!” The enemy is already at the barbed wire barriers before the defenders open fire. Flanking fire is fired from the machine-gun bunker, but the enemy still breaks into the redoubt from the southwest. A shock group is quickly assembled and from the bunker roof forces the enemy to retreat with heavy losses. Silence descends again. The crew in Sjöänds Skans has passed their baptism of fire.
