Design and construction
The site was approved in stages by CORF (''Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées''), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, between 1929 and 1932. Work by the contractor Enterprise de Travaille de Fortification began in 1929 at a cost of 172 million francs.Mary, Tome 1, p. 52 A planned second phase was to add two 81mm mortar turrets and three more casemates on the back side of the ridge. Original plans called for a turret block with 155mm guns and another with long-range 145mm guns.Kaufmann 2011, p. 225 More than of underground galleries connect the entries to the farthest blocks 4 and 5, at an average depth of . An "M1" magazine, arranged with a horseshoe-shaped perimeter gallery connected by cross galleries between the legs, is located close to the ammunition entrance, while the large underground barracks and utility areas are just inside the personnel entry. The ''ouvrage'' is Y-shaped in plan, with the main gallery splitting in two almost in from the ammunition entry. A gallery runs to the principal combat blocks of the west wing, while the other passage runs another approximately to the combat blocks of the east wing.Mary, Tome 3, pp. 100–101 The gallery system was served by a narrow-gauge (60 cm) electrified railway that continued out the ammunition entry and connected to a regional military railway system for the movement of materiel along the front a few kilometres to the rear.Mary, Tome 2, p. 53Description
The ''gros ouvrage'' (large work) is composed of 17 combat blocks and 18 artillery pieces, with a total of of galleries. The galleries are between below the surface to protect against bombardment. The main gallery extends .Entries
* Ammunition Entry Type A: Connects to military railroad, defended by one machine gun/ 37mm anti-tank gun embrasure (JM/AC37) and two automatic rifle cloches (GFM). * Personnel Entry: defended by one machine gun/37mm anti-tank gun embrasure (JM/AC37), one grenade-launcher cloche (LG), and two GFM cloches.East wing blocks
* Block 1: infantry block, in front of the east wing, equipped only with a retractable machine gun turret. * Block 2: artillery block armed with a retractable twin 75mm gun turret and two automatic rifle cloches (GFM). * Block 3: armed with one 81mm mortar turret. An automatic rifle cloche (GFM) was tactically linked to the neighboring Ouvrage Mont des Welches as an observation point. * Block 4: infantry block with one retractable machine gun turret, 37mm anti-tank gun (JM/AC37) embrasure, one machine gun embrasure (JM) and two GFM cloches. * Block 5: eastwards-flanking artillery block with three 75mm gun embrasures, two automatic rifle embrasures (FM), two GFM cloches and one grenade-launcher cloche (LG). * Block 6: artillery block with one 135mm retractable gun turret and one GFM cloche.West wing blocks
* Block 7 : infantry block, twin of Block 4 with one machine gun turret (JM), one machine gun/anti-tank gun embrasure (JM/AC37), one machine gun embrasure (JM) and two GFM cloches. * Block 8 : westwards-flanking artillery block with three 75mm gun embrasures and two GFM cloches. * Block 9 : an unusual artillery block, armed with one 135mm gun turret and a flanking 135mm gun embrasure to the west. Two GFM cloches provided local defense. * Block 10 : artillery block with one 81mm mortar turret and two GFM cloches.Observation blocks
Two observation blocks are situated on the ridge of the Hackenberg, which gives its name to the ''ouvrage'' * Block 11: equipped with a periscope-type observation cloche (VDP) and a GFM cloche. * Block 12: with a periscope-type observation cloche and two GFM cloches.Tank obstacle blocks
Apart from Hochwald, Hackenberg is the only ''ouvrage'' in the Line with a deep anti-tank ditch and wall. The ditch is defended by Blocks 21 and 25. * Block 21: located at the eastern extremity of the ditch, this infantry block is provided with one machine gun/anti-tank embrasure (JM/AC37), one machine gun embrasure (JM), one 50mm mortar embrasure and one GFM cloche. * Block 22: an infantry block in the angle of the ditch with one machine gun/anti-tank embrasure (JM/AC37), one machine gun cloche (JM), and a GFM cloche. * Block 23: a small block armed with two GFM cloches and a grenade-launcher cloche (LG). * Block 24: a large infantry block in the western angle of the ditch, with a machine gun/anti-tank gun embrasure (JM/AC37), a machine gun turret (JM), a 50mm mortar turret and two GFM cloches. * Block 25: a mixed block for the defense of the anti-tank ditch with a 75mm gun embrasure, a machine gun embrasure, a 50mm mortar embrasure and a GFM cloche.Casemates and shelters
In addition to the extensive network of connected combat blocks, a series of detached casemates and infantry shelters surround Hackenberg, including * Abri du Hummersberg: Subterranean infantry shelter (''abri-caverne'') with two GFM cloches. * Casemate du Hummersberg Nord: Single block with one JM/AC37 embrasure, one JM embrasure and one GFM cloche. * Casemate du Hummersberg Sud: Single block with one JM/AC37 embrasure, one JM embrasure and one GFM cloche.Mary, Tome 3, p. 99 * Casemate de Veckring Nord: Single block with one JM/AC37 embrasure, one JM embrasure and one GFM cloche. * Casemate de Veckring Sud: Single block with one JM/AC37 embrasure, one JM embrasure and one GFM cloche. * Abri de Veckring: Subterranean infantry shelter (''abri-caverne'') with two GFM cloches.Manning
940 men and 41 officers were billeted in June 1940, part of the 153rd Position Artillery Regiment (RAP) and the 164th Fortress Infantry Regiment (RIF). Official strength was 42 officers and 1040 men. The commanding officer was Chef d'Escadron Ebrard until 13 June 1940, succeeded by Chef de Bataillon Ismeur. The Casernement de Veckring provided peacetime above-ground barracks and support services to Hackenberg and other positions in the area.History
:''See Fortified Sector of Boulay for a broader discussion of the Boulay sector of the Maginot Line.'' The construction of Hackenberg' took place between 1929 and 1933. After France's entry into1940
German troops harassed Hackenberg in 1940. A portion of the front was at this time held by the British1944
During theCold War
Following World War II, interest revived in the use of the Maginot Line to defend against a possible Soviet advance through southern Germany. Funds were allocated for restoration of the ''gros ouvrages'', with new 105mm artillery proposed for Block 8 at Hackenberg. Funding was not forthcoming, and work was limited to restoration of systems and improvements to existing armament. Restoration of Block 8, damaged in the American attack of 1944, was canceled. The renovations did not include the command post or the barracks. By 1956, Hackenberg had been designated part of the ''Mòle de Boulay'', a strongpoint in the northeastern defenses against Soviet attack. By the late 1950s interest in fixed fortifications was waning after France developed a nuclear deterrent. The money needed to maintain and upgrade the fortifications was diverted for the nuclear programs. Hackenberg was maintained for use by the Army until 1968, and finally abandoned in 1970 after it was placed in second-class reserve. In 1975,Mary, Tome 5, p. 176 residents from nearby villages started to organize sightseeing tours, which led to the founding of the volunteer-driven AMIFORT association for the preservation of Hackenberg.Current status
Today, site visits are organized by ''l'Association AMIFORT VECKRING''. The volunteers have restored one block in the west wing to functionality, with a working elevator, a turret turntable and lift table. The movement of the turret is shown to visitors. One of the four generators is equipped with a post-World War II engine and is also running during sightseeing tours. The electric train in the mountain is used in the tour to transport visitors from the ammunition entry to the functional turret. Block 8 is also visited in the tour. The eastern wing is in poor condition due to subsidence in gypsum strata that have damaged the structure, and cannot be toured. Guided tours are offered on weekends, opening hours on weekends are 14:00 to 17:00, varying over the year.See also
* List of all works on Maginot Line * Siegfried Line * Atlantic Wall *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.External links