The Maginot Line & a bit of Vauban

L'ouvrage de le Ferte was the small Maginot Line fort on the west end of the Line & was the only fort the Germans managed to take. 

Even an 88 couldn't get thru the capolas.

The most likely theory is thought that this pop up cupola was dislpodged & the bunnker under was set on fire & there was a failure in the isolation system & the entire garrison of 200 men was gassed or asphysiated.    We were not able to go inside because it was only open to guided tours in the afternoon & we had a higher priority for then

Montemedy was built over many years & held by a Spanish garison of 900 men when attacked by 20,000 French in Lousis XIV's time.  It capitualated after 59 days.  Vauban then added further improvements & not taken again.

It is on a  magnificent site providing great views of the beautiful countryside.  The village inside is mostly deserted with town now below the citadel. 
   

L'ouvrage de Fermont is a major Maginot fort & open for tours at the same time as le Ferte. We proritised this one.  It has been repaired by volunters.

The tour guide only spoke French, but we were lent an English booklet & most of it was self evident anyway.  The fort has two major bunkers with 2 or 3 75mm guns, numerous mg posts, amumitions stoes & living quaters spread over a 2km front all connected by underground railway.  We were taken from the ammunition store to bunker no.1 on the railway.  We were taken outside at bunker 1 & walked to bunker 2 & back.  Then back on the railway to the living quarters.  After the tour there was a museum full of bits & pieces from other forts.

The electric train.

Outside bunker no.1 with 3 75mm guns.

On top of bunker no.2 with a pop up twin 75mm turret.

Battle scars on the gun cupola  The German attacked the fort with a mix of guns for 88 up to 305mm but failed to break it.  The French lost 1 casulaty. The closest they got was when an 88 ponded one spot on bunker no.1 all morning.  It was almost thru when they gave up or ran out of ammo & the Frenc plugged the hole overnight.

Sleeping quarters for the 800 man garrison.

It took over 2 hours to go though the fort & aother half to check out the museum & array of guns outside the entrance.  Definitely a high point of the trip.