SS chief Heinrich Himmler – immediately telephoned both the head of the SS's archaeological department, Amt für Ahnenerbe ("Office for ancestral heritage"), and Himmler himself. Telling argued strongly against the destruction of an important remnant of "Aryan civilization" and Himmler authorized him to stop the construction of the anti-tank trench. He informed Telling that a written order would be dispatched but that it would take several days to arrive. Telling then drove to the site and ordered the commanding Wehrmacht officers to immediately stop the construction process. When the local Wehrmacht commander refused, Telling threatened him with reprisals from the SS. Construction was called off and Himmler's written order arrived two days later countering the Wehrmacht's original instructions. Telling later settled near the site and considered himself a custodian of it until his death in 1968. See also List of walls Hadrian's Wall Offa's Dyke Dannevirke (town in New Zealand) Götavirke (Geatish Dyke) History of Denmark History of Schleswig-Holstein Silesian Walls Literature H. Hellmuth Andersen: "Til hele rigets værn, Danevirkes arkæologi", edited by Moesgård and Wormianum in 2004 . About the archaeology of Dannevirke. References External links Archaeological Border complex of Hedeby and the Danevirke : UNESCO Officiel Website Slesvig Wars in English and Danish Klaus Goldmann on early medieval canals and water management (in German) Museum at the Danewerk Parts of this article are based on the articles Dannevirke and Søren Telling on the Danish Wikipedia, accessed on 23 July 2006. 6th-century establishments in Germany Germanic archaeological sites Architecture in Denmark Geography of Denmark Geography of Schleswig-Holstein History of Schleswig-Holstein Military history of Denmark Iron Age Scandinavia Viking buildings and structures Fortification lines World Heritage Sites in Germany Linear earthworks Historic defensive lines