Ouvrage Bambesch is a lesser work (''petit ouvrage'') of the

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 the ...

. Located in the

Fortified Sector of Faulquemont The Fortified Sector of Faulquemont (''Secteur Fortifiée de Faulquemont'') was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the Maginot Line in the area of Faulquemont to the east of Metz. With five ''petit ouvrages'' th ...

, the ouvrage consists of three infantry blocks, and is located between ''petits ouvrages'' Kerfent and Einseling, facing Germany. Completed in 1932, it is located in the Bois de Bambesch. On 20 June 1940 during the

Battle of France The Battle of France (french: bataille de France) (10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign ('), the French Campaign (german: Frankreichfeldzug, ) and the Fall of France, was the Nazi Germany, German invasion of French Third Rep ...

, Bambesch was attacked by German forces, whose artillery battered the position, which could not be effectively supported by its neighbors, into surrender. Since 1973, Bambesch has been operated as a museum and is open to the public.

Design and construction

The site was surveyed by CORF (''Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées''), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, and was approved for construction in October 1931. It was completed at a cost of 11 million francs by the contractor Borie of Paris.Mary, Tome 1, p. 52 The ''petit ouvrage'' was planned for construction in two phases. The second phase was to add an 81mm mortar turret block and a separate entrance block.Mary, Tome 3, p. 113

Description

Bambesch comprises three infantry blocks. The blocks are linked by deep underground galleries, which also provide space for barracks, utilities and ammunition storage. The galleries are excavated at an average depth of up to .Mary, Tome 2, p. 117 *Block 1: Infantry block with one automatic rifle cloche (GFM) and one retractable twin machine gun turret. *Block 2: Infantry block with one GFM cloches, one grenade launcher cloche (LG), one twin machine gun embrasure and one machine gun/anti-tank gun embrasure (JM/ AC47). The GFM cloche has had the concrete blasted from around its base and is pocked by shellfire. *Block 3: Infantry/entry block with two GFM cloches, one twin machine gun embrasure and one JM/AC47 anti-tank gun embrasure. Work for the unbuilt second phase included a separate entry blocks and an 81mm mortar turret block.

Casemates and shelters

In addition to the connected combat blocks, a series of detached

casemate A casemate is a fortified gun emplacement or armored structure from which artillery, guns are fired, in a fortification, warship, or armoured fighting vehicle.Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary When referring to Ancient history, antiquity, th ...

s and infantry shelters surround Bambesch, including * Casemate de Bambiderstroff Nord: SIngle block with one JM/AC47 embrasure, one JM embrasure and one GFM-A/B cloche. * Casemate de Bambiderstroff Sud: SIngle block with two mortar cloches and one GFM-A/B cloche. * Casemate de Bambesch: Artillery casemate with two 75mm guns and one GFM cloche, located well to the rear.

Manning

The 1940 manning of the ''ouvrage'' under the command of Captain Pastre comprised 102 men and 2 officers of the 156th Fortress Infantry Regiment. The units were under the umbrella of both the 3rd and 4th Armies, Army Group 2. The Casernement de Zimming provided peacetime above-ground barracks and support services to Kerfent and other positions in the area.

History

:''See

for a broader discussion of the Faulquemont sector of the Maginot Line.'' On 20 June 1940, Bambesch was attacked by German long 88mm guns of the 167th Infantry Division. Block 2 was attacked first, driving the defenders into the underground galleries. With further attacks on Block 3, the defenders risked entrapment and asphyxiation. Despite support from neighboring Kerfent, the attackers could not be dislodged, and after two hours of bombardment, the garrison surrendered. The fort was stabilized after the war by military engineers and was acquired by the community of

Bambiderstroff Bambiderstroff () is a Communes of France, commune in the Moselle (department), Moselle Departments of France, department in Grand Est in northeastern France. Population See also * Communes of the Moselle department References External links ...

in 1972, mostly to use the work's well as a municipal water supply. The site was opened to the public on 31 August 1973 by the ''Association des Guides de Bambesch''.Kaufmann 2011, p. 234 The fortification's machinery and equipment have been preserved.

Notes

References

Bibliography

*Allcorn, William. ''The Maginot Line 1928-45.'' Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003. *Degon, André; Zylberyng, Didier, ''La Ligne Maginot: Guide des Forts à Visiter,'' Editions Ouest-France, 2014. *Kaufmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W. ''Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II'', Stackpole Books, 2006. *Kaufmann, J.E., Kaufmann, H.W., Jancovič-Potočnik, A. and Lang, P. ''The Maginot Line: History and Guide'', Pen and Sword, 2011. *Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. ''Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 1.'' Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2001. *Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. ''Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 2.'' Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2003. *Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. ''Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 3.'' Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2003. *Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. ''Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 5.'' Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009.