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Fortified Sector Of Thionville
The Fortified Sector of Thionville (''Secteur fortifié de Thionville'') was the French military organisation that in 1940 controlled the section of the Maginot Line immediately to the north of Thionville. The sector describes an arc of about , about halfway between the French border with Luxembourg and Thionville. The Thionville sector was the strongest of the Maginot Line sectors. It was surrounded but not seriously attacked in 1940 by German forces in the Battle of France, whose main objective was the city of Metz. Despite the withdrawal of the mobile forces that supported the fixed fortifications, the sector successfully fended off German assaults before the Second Armistice at Compiègne. The majority of the positions and their garrisons finally surrendered on 27 June 1940, the remainder on 2 July. Following the war, many positions were reactivated for use during the Cold War. Four locations are now preserved and open to the public. The Thionville sector was part of the l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Billig B5 75
Billig is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Andy Billig (born 1968), American politician *Etel Billig (1932–2012), American actress and director *Frederick S. Billig (1933–2006), American aerospace engineer *Fritz Billig (1902–1986), Austrian philatelist *Hannah Billig (1901–1987), British physician *Janet Billig Rich (born 1967), American talent manager and producer *Michael Billig (born 1947), British academic *Simon Billig, British actor {{surname ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fort Jeanne D'Arc
Fort Jeanne d'Arc, also called Fortified Group Jeanne d'Arc, is a fortification located to the west of Metz in the Moselle department of France. It was built by Germany to the west of the town of Rozérieulles in the early 20th century as part of the third and final group of Metz fortifications. The fortification program was started after the German victory of the Franco-Prussian War, which resulted in the annexation of the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine from France to Germany. The Fort Jeanne d'Arc was part of the ''Moselstellung'', a group of eleven fortresses surrounding Thionville and Metz to guard against the possibility of a French attack aimed at regaining Alsace and Lorraine, with construction taking place between 1899 and 1908. The fortification system incorporated new principles of defensive construction to deal with advances in artillery. Later forts, such as Jeanne d'Arc, embodied innovative design concepts such as dispersal and concealment. These later forts were ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ouvrage Billig
Ouvrage Billig, a ''gros ouvrage'' or large fortification of the Maginot Line, was located in the Fortified Sector of Thionville, Moselle in northern France. It is located between the ''gros ouvrages'' Metrich and Hackenberg, facing Germany. It saw relatively little action during World War II and after a period of reserve duty in the 1950s, was abandoned in the 1970s. Design and construction Billig was approved for construction by CORF (''Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées''), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, in June 1930 and became operational by 1935,Kaufmann 2006, p. 25 at a cost of 65 million francs. The contractor was Ossude of Paris.Mary, Tome 1, p. 52 Description This ''gros ouvrage'' is unusual in having one entrance for both ammunition and personnel. It lacks the large "M1" magazine of other ''gros ouvrages''. The dogleg-shaped layout is relatively short for a ''gros ouvrage'', with less than of underground gallery at an average d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ouvrage Métrich
Ouvrage Métrich located in the village of Kœnigsmacker in Moselle, comprises part of the Elzange portion of the Fortified Sector of Thionville of the Maginot Line. A ''gros ouvrage'', it is the third largest of the Line, after Hackenberg and Hochwald. It lies between ''petit ouvrage'' Sentzich and ''gros ouvrage'' Billig, facing Germany. Located to the east of the Moselle, it cooperated with Ouvrage Galgenberg to control the river valley. Design and construction Métrich was approved for construction by CORF (''Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées''), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, in November 1930 and became operational by 1935,Kaufmann 2006, p. 25 at a cost of 127 million francs. The contractor was Construction Générale.Mary, Tome 1, p. 52 Description Métrich is a typical large Maginot ''gros ouvrage'' with separate ammunition and personnel entry blocks. It has a particularly heavy artillery component, with seven 75 mm guns ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ouvrage Sentzich
Ouvrage Sentzich is part of the Fortified Sector of Thionville of the Maginot Line. The ''petit ouvrage'' for infantry is located to the south of ''gros ouvrage'' Galgenberg, on the edge of the main road to Luxembourg near the village of Sentzich. ''Gros ouvrage'' Métrich is to the east. As a small work, it was not considered for use after World War II and was abandoned. It is secured, but is not open to the public. Design and construction The Sentzich site was approved by CORF (''Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées''), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, in February 1930 and construction by contractor Verdun-Fortifications started the same year. The construction cost was 7.5 million francs.Mary, Tome 1, p. 52 Description The single infantry block possessed two firing chambers and one machine gun turret. The north chamber was equipped for a machine gun/ 37 mm anti-tank gun combination (JM/AC37), and was surmounted by an automatic rifle cloch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ouvrage Galgenberg
Ouvrage Galgenberg forms a portion of the Fortified Sector of Thionville of the Maginot Line. It is situated in the Cattenom Forest, near the ''gros ouvrage'' Kobenbusch and ''petit ouvrage'' Oberheid. The ''ouvrage'' was tasked with controlling the Moselle Valley and as such was called the "Guardian of the Moselle." Galgenberg did not see significant action in 1940 or 1944. After a period of reserve duty in the 1950s and 1960s, it was deactivated. It is now a museum. Design and construction The Galgenberg site was surveyed by the Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées (CORF), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, in 1930. Work began the next year,Mary, Tome 3, p. 95 and the position became operational in 1935,Kaufmann 2006, p. 25 at a cost of 48 million francs. The contractor was Verdun-Fortifications.Mary, Tome 1, p. 52 The site occupies the heights of the Galgenberg. ''Ouvrage'' Sentzich is close by the side of the Galgenberg ''massif'', ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ouvrage Oberheid
Ouvrage Oberheid, also called Ouvrage Oberheide, forms a portion of the Fortified Sector of Thionville of the Maginot Line in northeast France. The ''petit ouvrage d'infanterie'' is located on a salient point of the Cattenom Forest between the ''gros ouvrages'' Kobenbusch (to the north) and Galgenberg (to the south), which provided covering fire during June 1940, when Oberheid faced daily bombardments and infiltrations. Oberheid has been abandoned and after extensive vandalism has been sealed. Design and construction Oberheid was surveyed by CORF (''Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées''), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, in 1930.Mary, Tome 3, p. 93 and the position became operational in 1935,Kaufmann 2006, p. 25 at a cost of 8 million francs. It was built by the contractor Verdun-Fortifications.Mary, Tome 1, p. 52 Description The single combat block has two firing chambers and a central barracks surmounted by a machine gun turret. Each fir ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ouvrage Kobenbusch
Ouvrage du Kobenbusch is a ''gros ouvrage'' of the Maginot Line, located in the Fortified Sector of Thionville in the Cattenom Forest. It possesses seven combat blocks and two entrance blocks, one for ammunition and the other for men. It is located between ''petit ouvrage'' Bois-Karre and ''petit ouvrage'' Oberheid, and was named for the surrounding Kobenbusch Forest. The position saw little action during World War II. Its deep passages have been flooded by the construction of a cooling water lake for a nearby nuclear power plant, but its surface features are being developed with an interpretive path through the surrounding forest. Design and construction The Kobenbusch position forms the point of the Cattenom salient, where the east-west defensive line turns to the south. The site was surveyed by CORF (''Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées''), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, in 1930. Work by the contractor Verdun-Fortifications began in 19 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ouvrage Bois-Karre
Ouvrage Bois- Karre is located in the Fortified Sector of Thionville of the Maginot Line, facing the France - Luxembourg border. The ''petit ouvrage'' is situated in the Cattenom Forest between the ''gros ouvrages'' Soetrich and Kobenbusch, just south of Boust. It is unusual for a Maginot fortification in its construction as a single blockhouse, with no underground gallery system or remotely located entries. Bois-Karre has been preserved and is maintained as a museum. Design and construction Bois-Karre was surveyed by CORF (''Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées''), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, in 1930. Work by the contractor Degaine-Dubois began in 1931,Mary, Tome 3, p. 93 and the position became operational in 1935,Kaufmann 2006, p. 25 at a cost of 10 million francs. Mary, Tome 1, p. 52 Bois-Karre was planned as an anchor point for a fortified line of retreat from the Cattenom salient formed by Kobenbusch and Oberheid. A firing chamber ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ouvrage Soetrich
Ouvrage Soetrich is a ''gros ouvrage'' of the Maginot Line in north-eastern France. Soetrich is located between ''petits ouvrages'' Ouvrage Immerhof, Immerhof and Ouvrage Bois Karre, Bois Karre, facing the France-Luxembourg border near the town of Hettange-Grande, part of the Fortified Sector of Thionville. Compared with other ''gros ouvrages'', Soetrich is compact in arrangement, with the entries and underground ammunition magazines and barracks in close proximity to the combat blocks, accessed through underground galleries at an average depth of . Its primary purpose was to cover the main road to Luxembourg, just to the west. Along with its neighbours, Ouvrage Rochonvillers and Ouvrage Molvange, Soetrich was used during the Cold War as a secure command centre for NATO forces. Design and construction The Soetrich site was surveyed by CORF (''Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées''), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, in 1930. Work by the contracto ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ouvrage Immerhof
Ouvrage Immerhof, also known as Ouvrage Ferme-Immerhof, is one of the largest ''petit ouvrages'' of the Maginot Line of north-east, France. Located near the community of Hettange-Grande, it is 7 km north of Thionville between the ''gros ouvrages'' of Molvange and Soetrich, the closest ''ouvrage'' to the Luxembourg frontier. It was part of the Fortified Sector of Thionville, in the Fortified Region of Metz, the strongest portion of the Line. Apart from its function as a communication post between the neighbouring ''gros ouvrages'', Immerhof also controlled the road and railway routes from Luxembourg, which pass in the immediate vicinity. In addition, Immerhof protected other Maginot works in the vicinity: the casemates of Kanfen, the infantry shelter of Stressling, the observation point and shelter of Hettange-Grande, and a number of nearby blockhouses constructed during the Phoney War. Built between 1930 and 1935, Immerhof saw little action. After a renovation for contin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abri Du Zeiterholz
Ouvrage Molvange is a large work, or ''gros ouvrage'' of the Maginot Line. The fortification complex faces the France-Luxembourg border from a height near Entrange in the Moselle department. The complex, armed and occupied in 1935, is located on the heights of Entrange, at an altitude of about . Molvange is flanked by the even larger Ouvrage Rochonvillers to the west and smaller ''petit ouvrage'' Immerhof to the east, part of the Fortified Sector of Thionville. Molvange was not involved in significant combat during World War II, but due to its size it was repaired and retained in service after the war. During the Cold War, Molvange's underground barracks and former ammunition magazine became a hardened military command centre. Design and construction The Molvange site was surveyed by CORF (''Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées''), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, in 1930. Work by the contractor, Quintin & Lesprit, began the same year,Mary, Tome ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
