|
Ouvrage La Ferté
Ouvrage La Ferté, also known as Ouvrage Villy-La Ferté, is a ''petit ouvrage'' of the Maginot Line, located in the Fortified Sector of Montmédy, facing Belgium. The ''ouvrage'' lies between the towns of Villy and La Ferté-sur-Chiers. It possesses two combat blocks linked by an underground gallery. The westernmost position in its sector, it was a comparatively weakly armed fortification in an exposed position that left it vulnerable to isolation and attack. After a sustained attack during the Battle of France, the position was overwhelmed by German forces and was destroyed with its entire garrison killed. The fighting at La Ferté was the heaviest of any position in the Maginot Line. It is preserved as a war memorial. Design and construction La Ferté is one of four positions in the so-called ''Tête du Pont de Montmédy'' ("Montmédy Bridgehead"), a salient in the French defensive lines along the Belgian border. The isolated area was one of the "New Fronts" to the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maginot Line
The Maginot Line (french: Ligne Maginot, ), named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, is a line of concrete fortifications, obstacles and weapon installations built by France in the 1930s to deter invasion by Germany and force them to move around the fortifications. The Maginot Line was impervious to most forms of attack. In consequence, the Germans invaded through the Low Countries in 1940, passing it to the north. The line, which was supposed to be fully extended further towards the west to avoid such an occurrence, was finally scaled back in response to demands from Belgium. Indeed, Belgium feared it would be sacrificed in the event of another German invasion. The line has since become a metaphor for expensive efforts that offer a false sense of security. Constructed on the French side of its borders with Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium, the line did not extend to the English Channel. French strategy therefore envisioned a move into Belgium ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
JM Cloche
The JM cloche is an element of the Maginot Line. It is a non-retractable non-rotating cupola of steel alloy like GFM cloches, but are armed with twin heavy machine guns, as opposed to the lighter automatic rifles associated with the GFM. There are 179 JM cloches on the Maginot Line. JM is an acronym for ''Jumelage de Mitrailleuses'' (twin machine guns). While the MAC 31 heavy machine guns were of the same caliber (7.5mm) as those in GFM cloches, they had a longer practical range and a maximum range of , with a 500 round per minute rate of fire.Mary, Tome 2, page 109 Description The JM cloche closely resembles the GFM cloche in size and construction. It exists in three versions, all designed Model 1930: small, large and two-man. JM cloches had a single firing port, which was flanked on either side by trapezoidal observation ports. The blank rear was frequently backed by a concrete-covered embankment, which provided additional cover and reduced the prominence of the cloche. AM ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shaped Charge
A shaped charge is an explosive charge shaped to form an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) to focus the effect of the explosive's energy. Different types of shaped charges are used for various purposes such as cutting and forming metal, initiating nuclear weapons, penetrating armor, or perforating wells in the oil and gas industry. A typical modern shaped charge, with a metal liner on the charge cavity, can penetrate armor steel to a depth of seven or more times the diameter of the charge (charge diameters, CD), though greater depths of 10 CD and above have been achieved. Contrary to a misconception (possibly resulting from the acronym for ''high-explosive anti-tank'', HEAT) the shaped charge EFP jet does not depend in any way on heating or melting for its effectiveness; that is, the EFP jet from a shaped charge does not melt its way through armor, as its effect is purely kinetic in nature – however the process does create significant heat and often has a significant ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
71st Infantry Division (Wehrmacht)
The 71st Infantry Division ''Kleeblatt'' ("Cloverleaf Division", "Lucky One") (german: 71. Infanterie-Division) was an infantry division of the German Army, raised in 26 August 1939, shortly before the outbreak of World War II, as a division of the 2nd wave of deployment by Infantry Commander 19 (''Infanterie-Kommandeur 19'') in Hildesheim. It fought in Verdun, Stalingrad and Monte Cassino, among others. The division's symbol was the four-leaf clover and after congratulations on the victory in Verdun in June 1940, the division was henceforth called the "lucky one". The same action also earning Generalleutnant Karl Weisenberger the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 June 1940 by Generalfeldmarschall Ernst Busch. Divisional history In the divisional history of the 71st Infantry Division, a distinction is made between the line-up and personnel composition up to the Battle of Stalingrad as a caesura on the one hand, and the complete new line-up after the annihilation in 19 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Profil La Ferté
{{disambiguation ...
Profil may refer to: *La Mouette Profil, a French hang glider design *Profil (band), a French musical group *''Profil (literary magazine)'', a Norwegian literary magazine *''profil (magazine)'', an Austrian news magazine * ''Profil (Russian magazine)'', a Russian general interest magazine See also * Profile (other) Profile or profiles may refer to: Art, entertainment and media Music * ''Profile'' (Jan Akkerman album), 1973 * ''Profile'' (Githead album), 2005 * ''Profile'' (Pat Donohue album), 2005 * ''Profile'' (Duke Pearson album), 1959 * '' ''Profi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ninth Army (France)
The Ninth Army (french: IXe Armée) was a field army of the French Army during World War I and World War II. The Ninth Army, first named "détachement d'armée Foch", was formed for the first time on 29 August 1914, to fill the gap between the Fourth and Fifth Army. It played an important role in the first Battle of the Marne. The Ninth Army was disbanded on 5 October 1914, when Foch became commander of Army Group North. The Ninth Army was recreated on 6 July 1918 under command of Antoine de Mitry to fight in the Second Battle of the Marne. In 1940, it was initially the only part of the French army that faced the Germans directly as they came unexpectedly through the Ardennes during the early stages of the Fall of France. It included the 41st Army Corps, of two fortress divisions. Commanders World War I * General Ferdinand Foch (29 August 1914 – 5 October 1914) * General Antoine de Mitry (6 July 1918 – 7 August 1918) World War II * General André Corap (2 September 1939 â ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
55th Infantry Division (France)
The 55th Infantry Division (french: 55e Division d'Infanterie, 55e DI) was a French Army formation during World War I and World War II. World War I During World War I, the division comprised: *204th Infantry Regiment (to September 1918) *231st Infantry Regiment (to May 1916) *246th Infantry Regiment (to September 1918) *276th Infantry Regiment (to March 1916) *282nd Infantry Regiment (to May 1916) *289th Infantry Regiment (to September 1918) *67th Territorial Infantry Regiment (to September 1918) It was part of the French 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 11th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 30th, 31st, 33rd, 35th, 37th, 1st Colonial, 1st Cavalry Corps during which it participated in the First Battle of the Marne, the First Battle of the Aisne, the Second and Third Battle of Artois, the Battle of Verdun, the First Battle of Noyon, the Third Battle of the Aisne and the Second Battle of Noyon. The Division was dissolved on 10 September 1918. At various times, it was part of the French ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Meuse (river)
The Meuse ( , , , ; wa, Moûze ) or Maas ( , ; li, Maos or ) is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea from the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. It has a total length of . History From 1301 the upper Meuse roughly marked the western border of the Holy Roman Empire with the Kingdom of France, after Count Henry III of Bar had to receive the western part of the County of Bar (''Barrois mouvant'') as a French fief from the hands of King Philip IV. In 1408, a Burgundian army led by John the Fearless went to the aid of John III against the citizens of Liège, who were in open revolt. After the battle which saw the men from Liège defeated, John ordered the drowning in the Meuse of suspicious burghers and noblemen in Liège. The border remained stable until the annexation of the Three Bishoprics Metz, Toul and Verdun by King Henry II in 1552 and the occupation of the Duchy of Lorraine by the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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] |
Ouvrage Vélosnes
Ouvrage Vélosnes is a ''gros ouvrage'' (large work) of the Maginot Line, located in the Fortified Sector of Montmédy between the towns of Othe and Vélosnes, facing Belgium. It possesses four combat blocks and one entrance block. It is located to the east of ''petit ouvrage'' Thonnelle. The position was sabotaged and abandoned by French forces that were ordered to retreat from the exposed position in June 1940 during the Battle of France. The ''ouvrage'' is abandoned and is administered as a nature preserve. Design and construction The site was surveyed by CORF (''Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées''), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, with plan approval in 1934. Work by the contractor Demenois-Beaumont of Verdun began in 1934 at a cost of 35.3 million francs. Vélosnes is one of four positions in the so-called ''Tête du Pont de Montmédy'', a salient in the French defensive lines along the Belgian border. The isolated area was one of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ouvrage Thonnelle
Ouvrage Thonnelle is a ''petit ouvrage'' of the Maginot Line, located in the Fortified Sector of Montmédy between the towns of Thonnelle and Verneuil-Petit, facing Belgium. It possesses four combat blocks. It is located between ''gros ouvrages'' Vélosnes and Chesnois. The position was sabotaged and abandoned by French forces that were ordered to retreat from the exposed position in June 1940 during the Battle of France. The ''ouvrage'' is abandoned. Design and construction The site was approved in 1934. Work by the contractor GTBA began in 1935 at a cost of 23.7 million francs. A planned second phase was to add one artillery block and support facilities, while a third phase was to add three artillery blocks, making Thonnelle a ''gros ouvrage''. The rise in tensions between France and Germany in the late 1930s prevented the second and third phases from being pursued. Thonnelle is one of four positions in the so-called ''Tête du Pont de Montmédy'', a salient in the Fren ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ouvrage Chesnois
Ouvrage Chesnois, also known as Ouvrage Chênois, is a ''gros ouvrage'' of the Maginot Line, located in the Fortified Sector of Montmédy, facing Belgium. The ''ouvrage'' lies between the towns of Montlibert and Thonne-le-Thil. It possesses six combat blocks. It is located between ''gros ouvrage'' Thonnelle and ''petit ouvrage'' La Ferté. The position was sabotaged and abandoned by French forces that were ordered to retreat from the exposed position in June 1940 during the Battle of France. The ''ouvrage'' is now abandoned and sealed. Design and construction The site was approved in 1934. Work by the contractor Bringer & Tondu began in 1934 at a cost of 37 million francs. A planned second phase was to add a second artillery block. The rise in tensions between France and Germany in the late 1930s prevented the second phase from being pursued. Chesnois is one of four positions in the so-called ''Tête de Pont de Montmédy'', a salient in the French defensive lines along the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
.jpg "Click for more on -> Meuse (river)")
