History of the bunker Beatenbucht

The Swiss Army's defence system, which is staggered in depth, was partly built before the Second World War, from the border across the midlands into the Réduit, in this case, to the fortified sector of Lake Thun. 

With Army Order No. 13, General Guisan ordered the withdrawal of large units into the Réduit. 

Mountain Infantry Regiment 15, which was subordinated to the 3rd Division Commander, planned and built the bunkers and barricades along Lake Thun, in the Grünenberg-Pass, Sigriswilerergrat, the Kander and the Gantrisch area. The Fischbalmen barrage in Beatenbucht was the last of seven barricades along the right bank of Lake Thun to Interlaken and was completed in 1942. Then, the first manning exercises of the newly built bunkers and barriers were carried out.

During the Cold War - and still until the end of 1994 - the Beatenbucht barrier was occupied. The facility belonged to Réduit Brigade 21, which covered a large part of the Bernese Oberland.

During the war mobilisation, exercises the troops entered the installations directly. In addition to the rock work with anti-tank gun and light machine gun, the barrage included a roadblock with steel beam barrage elements and barbed wire, stored in a small depot (cavern). 

Armed with 21 men, the facility was initially equipped with a 4.7 cm infantry cannon on pivot mount, which was later replaced by a 9 cm anti-tank cannon 50. 

With the end of the Cold War and the advent of GPS guided missiles, the facility was de-classified in 1999.