Fort du Trou-d'Enfer
Encyclopedia
The Fort du Trou-d'Enfer, also known as the Réduit du Trou-d'Enfer, is one of the fortifications of Paris
, It is located in Marly-le-Roi
, in the departement of Yvelines
. The fort was built between 1878 and 1881 for a garrison of 800 men. It was termed a réduit for its position surrounded by several smaller batteries. The fort was occupied by the Germans during World War II
, who blew up their ammunition when they evacuated the fort in August 1944, damaging the fort. The fort is named for the farm on whose land it sits, the ferme du trou-d'enfer, literally "Hellhole Farm."
of fortifications to modernize its fortifications and to adjust its defensive strategy to the new borders imposed in 1871. The portion of the system surrounding Paris amounted to 18 forts, 5 redoubts and 34 batteries constructed between 1874 and 1881, of which the Fort du Trou d'Enfer is a part.
OAS
members Albert Dovecar
et Claude Piegts
were executed at the Fort du Trou-d'Enfer in 1962.
The fort is presently assigned to the French National Forests Office and is not open to the public. The ONF operates a pheasant hatchery on the site of the fort for the grounds of the nearby French Presidential retreat.
Other fortifications in Yvelines:
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...
, It is located in Marly-le-Roi
Marly-le-Roi
Marly-le-Roi is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the centre....
, in the departement of Yvelines
Yvelines
Yvelines is a French department in the region of Île-de-France.-History:Yvelines was created from the western part of the defunct department of Seine-et-Oise on 1 January 1968 in accordance with a law passed on 10 January 1964 and a décret d'application from 26 February 1965.It gained the...
. The fort was built between 1878 and 1881 for a garrison of 800 men. It was termed a réduit for its position surrounded by several smaller batteries. The fort was occupied by the Germans 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 their ammunition when they evacuated the fort in August 1944, damaging the fort. The fort is named for the farm on whose land it sits, the ferme du trou-d'enfer, literally "Hellhole Farm."
History
In 1870 France was partly occupied by the Prussian Army. Following this defeat, France put in place the Séré de Rivières systemSéré 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...
of fortifications to modernize its fortifications and to adjust its defensive strategy to the new borders imposed in 1871. The portion of the system surrounding Paris amounted to 18 forts, 5 redoubts and 34 batteries constructed between 1874 and 1881, of which the Fort du Trou d'Enfer is a part.
OAS
OAS
OAS or Oas may refer to:* Organization of American States, an international organization of the Americas.* Ohio Auction School, an auction school in Ohio, USA.* Old Age Security, a social security payment available to most Canadians aged 65 or older....
members Albert Dovecar
Albert Dovecar
Albert Dovecar was a sergeant in the French 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment of the French Foreign Legion. He was executed by firing squad at the Fort du Trou d'Enfer for his part in the assassination of French National Police Divisional Commissaire Roger Gavoury during the Algerian War.- Biography...
et Claude Piegts
Claude Piegts
Claude Piegts, born 1 January 1934 at Castiglione, French Algeria, shot by firing squad in France at the Fort du Trou d'Enfer 7 June 1962, was a pied-noir and a member of the Organisation de l'armée secrète...
were executed at the Fort du Trou-d'Enfer in 1962.
The fort is presently assigned to the French National Forests Office and is not open to the public. The ONF operates a pheasant hatchery on the site of the fort for the grounds of the nearby French Presidential retreat.
See also
- Fortifications of Paris in the 19th and 20th centuriesFortifications of Paris in the 19th and 20th centuriesThe fortifications of Paris in the 19th and 20th centuries comprise:*The Thiers Wall, surrounding the city of Paris, and farther from the city,*The detached forts and their complementary fieldworks.They were built in two stages:...
Other fortifications in Yvelines:
- Batterie de Bouviers
- Batterie du Ravin de Bouviers
- Fort du Haut-Buc
- Fort de Saint-CyrFort de Saint-CyrThe Fort de Saint-Cyr, located in the commune of Montigny-le-Bretonneux, , is one of the forts built at the end of the 19th century to defend Paris. After the first world war the fort was used as an army weather station and arms depot...
- Fort de Bois-d'Arcy
Sources
- This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding French Wikipedia article as of October 17, 2010.