Fort de Domont
Encyclopedia
The Fort de Domont was built following the Franco-Prussian War
to defend Paris
. Located to the north of Paris in Domont
, the fort was part of an outer ring of fortifications built in response to improvements in the range and effectiveness of artillery
since the construction of the Thiers fortifications
of the 1840s. It was built between 1875 and 1879 in accordance with improved principles of fortification developed for the Séré de Rivières system
. Work on the fort began in 1874 and were completed in 1878. The fort covered an area of 12 hectares (29.7 acre) and its garrison comprised 1175 men and officers.
The fort's artillery fire supported its neighbors, the Fort de Montmorency
and the Fort de Montlignon. The pentagonal fort was entered through the south side, facing Paris. It featured a double caponier
on the point facing outward, and two flanking caponiers on the east and west sides. The fort's main armament was a 155mm Mougin turret
, added in 1884. Other artillery on the firing terrace, or cavalier, was of 120mm and 95mm caliber. The fort's artillery dominated the plains to the north, as well as the railway line to Pontoise.
On 3 and 4 September 1914, the fort fired on German scout parties in the vicinity of Luzarches, the only Parisian fortification to fire on Germans during World War I
. The fort was occupied by German forces during World War II
, who blew up the fort's ammunition stockpile before evacuating on 26 August 1944.
'The fort was used by the French Post (PTT)
as an ionospheric research station
during the 1950s, followed by the Ministry of Agriculture. The fort was briefly used by a private company for radiography work in the 1990s before it became a training center for the fire services in 1993. It is presently known as the Fort Domont Training Center ("Centre de Formation et d'entrainement, Fort de Domont). The center provides comprehensive training, including live fire exercises
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
to defend Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Located to the north of Paris in Domont
Domont
Domont is a commune in the Val-d'Oise department and Île-de-France region of France.-Notable people from Domont:*Bedi Buval footballer*Jean-Pierre Changeux neuroscientist*Yoann Djidonou footballer*Rémi Maréval footballer*Bertrand Ndzomo footballer...
, the fort was part of an outer ring of fortifications built in response to improvements in the range and effectiveness of artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
since the construction of the Thiers fortifications
Thiers wall
The Thiers wall was the last of the defensive walls of Paris. It was an enclosure constructed between 1841 and 1844 under a law enacted by the government of the French prime minister, Adolphe Thiers. It covered , along the 'boulevards des Maréchaux' of today...
of the 1840s. It was built between 1875 and 1879 in accordance with improved principles of fortification developed for the Séré de Rivières system
Séré de Rivières system
The Séré de Rivières system was an ensemble of fortifications built from 1874 and first used at the beginning of the First World War along the frontiers and coasts of France...
. Work on the fort began in 1874 and were completed in 1878. The fort covered an area of 12 hectares (29.7 acre) and its garrison comprised 1175 men and officers.
The fort's artillery fire supported its neighbors, the Fort de Montmorency
Fort de Montmorency
The Fort de Montmorency was built following the Franco-Prussian War to defend Paris. Located to the north of Paris in Montmorency, the fort was part of an outer ring of fortifications built in response to improvements in the range and effectiveness of artillery since the construction of the Thiers...
and the Fort de Montlignon. The pentagonal fort was entered through the south side, facing Paris. It featured a double caponier
Caponier
A caponier is a type of fortification structure. The word originates from the French word "caponnière" - which strictly means capon-cote i.e. chickenhouse.The fire coming from the feature A caponier is a type of fortification structure. The word originates from the French word "caponnière" -...
on the point facing outward, and two flanking caponiers on the east and west sides. The fort's main armament was a 155mm Mougin turret
Mougin turret
The Mougin turret is a land-based revolving gun turret that housed some of the heaviest armament in French fortifications of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
, added in 1884. Other artillery on the firing terrace, or cavalier, was of 120mm and 95mm caliber. The fort's artillery dominated the plains to the north, as well as the railway line to Pontoise.
On 3 and 4 September 1914, the fort fired on German scout parties in the vicinity of Luzarches, the only Parisian fortification to fire on Germans during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The fort was occupied by German forces during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, who blew up the fort's ammunition stockpile before evacuating on 26 August 1944.
'The fort was used by the French Post (PTT)
Postes, télégraphes et téléphones (France)
Postes, télégraphes et téléphones was the French public administration of postal services and telecommunications. Formed in 1921, it was split in 1991 into La Poste and France Télécom....
as an ionospheric research station
Ionosphere
The ionosphere is a part of the upper atmosphere, comprising portions of the mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere...
during the 1950s, followed by the Ministry of Agriculture. The fort was briefly used by a private company for radiography work in the 1990s before it became a training center for the fire services in 1993. It is presently known as the Fort Domont Training Center ("Centre de Formation et d'entrainement, Fort de Domont). The center provides comprehensive training, including live fire exercises