Fortifications of Metz
Encyclopedia
The Fortifications of Metz
, a city in northeastern France
, are extensive, due to the city's strategic position near the border of France and Germany
. After the Franco-Prussian War
of 1870, the area was annexed by the newly created German Empire
in 1871 by the Treaty of Frankfurt
and became a Reichsland. The German Army decided to build a fortress line from Mulhouse
to Luxembourg
to protect their new territories. The centerpiece of this line was the great Moselstellung, between Metz
and Thionville
, in Lorraine.
The fortifications around Metz consisted of casemates, concrete barracks
, infantry strong points, and concrete batteries
, equipped with rotating steel turrets (100–150 mm). Each position was surrounded by several ditches, or concrete trenches, with shelters and observation cupolas. A large barbed wire belt, defended by machine gun and rifle positions, completed the defensive system.
Forts had usually several large blockhouse style barracks. These had 3-meter thick reinforced concrete roofs with 2-meter thick walls. They were partially buried under as much as 6 m (19.7 ft) of compacted earth. Underground tunnels connected all of the structures. The fort also had deep wide trenches, some as much as 9 m (29.5 ft) in both dimensions. They were also surrounded by a thick layer of barbed wire entanglements.
Each fort had 2–4 batteries
, equipped with hydraulic rotating steel turrets (100–150 mm). In the summer of 1944, only 10% of the batteries were fully operational. Most of those were in Fort Driant (Feste Kronprinz) and Fort Jeanne d'Arc
(Feste Kaiserin). By November, during the battle of Metz
, the Germans troops had managed to get about 50% of the guns operational in most of the forts listed below. These batteries were lacking range tables, missing sights and other equipment to make the guns fully operational.
Below is a list of the fortifications that exist around the area of Metz. Because they switched hands quite often, the French
names are listed as well as any applicable German
ones. In parentheses is the construction period.
and were in service during the Siege of Metz
from 3 September to 23 October 1870.
The forts were in a ring approximately 4 km out from the city center, and were (anti-clockwise from the south):
defenses, but again saw little action. In October 1944, while occupied by the Germans, the fortifications were assaulted and captured by the American 3rd Army in the Battle of Metz
.
The forts were in an offset ring from 8–10 km from the city, and were (anticlockwise from the south):
(anticlockwise from the north):
of the U.S. Third Army during the Battle of Metz
in the Second World War. They are sometimes (mistakenly) referred to as forts, and their name alludes to their weak defensive strength. From south to north they are:
† - Lady's Wood
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
, a city in northeastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, are extensive, due to the city's strategic position near the border of France and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. After the Franco-Prussian War
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...
of 1870, the area was annexed by the newly created German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
in 1871 by the Treaty of Frankfurt
Treaty of Frankfurt (1871)
The Treaty of Frankfurt was a peace treaty signed in Frankfurt on 10 May 1871, at the end of the Franco-Prussian War.- Summary :The treaty did the following:...
and became a Reichsland. The German Army decided to build a fortress line from Mulhouse
Mulhouse
Mulhouse |mill]] hamlet) is a city and commune in eastern France, close to the Swiss and German borders. With a population of 110,514 and 278,206 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 2006, it is the largest city in the Haut-Rhin département, and the second largest in the Alsace region after...
to Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
to protect their new territories. The centerpiece of this line was the great Moselstellung, between Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
and Thionville
Thionville
Thionville , is a commune in the Moselle department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. The city is located on the left bank of the river Moselle, opposite its suburb Yutz.-Demographics:...
, in Lorraine.
The fortifications around Metz consisted of casemates, concrete barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
, infantry strong points, and concrete batteries
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
, equipped with rotating steel turrets (100–150 mm). Each position was surrounded by several ditches, or concrete trenches, with shelters and observation cupolas. A large barbed wire belt, defended by machine gun and rifle positions, completed the defensive system.
Forts had usually several large blockhouse style barracks. These had 3-meter thick reinforced concrete roofs with 2-meter thick walls. They were partially buried under as much as 6 m (19.7 ft) of compacted earth. Underground tunnels connected all of the structures. The fort also had deep wide trenches, some as much as 9 m (29.5 ft) in both dimensions. They were also surrounded by a thick layer of barbed wire entanglements.
Each fort had 2–4 batteries
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
, equipped with hydraulic rotating steel turrets (100–150 mm). In the summer of 1944, only 10% of the batteries were fully operational. Most of those were in Fort Driant (Feste Kronprinz) and Fort Jeanne d'Arc
Fort Jeanne d'Arc
Fort Jeanne d'Arc is a fortification located to the west of Metz in the Moselle department of France. It was built by Germany to the west of the town of Rozérieulles in the early 20th century as part of the third and final group of Metz fortifications...
(Feste Kaiserin). By November, during the battle of Metz
Battle of Metz
The Battle of Metz was a three-month battle fought between the United States Army and the German Army during World War II. It took place at the city of Metz following the Allied breakout after the Normandy landings. The attack on the city by the U.S. Third Army faced heavy resistance from the...
, the Germans troops had managed to get about 50% of the guns operational in most of the forts listed below. These batteries were lacking range tables, missing sights and other equipment to make the guns fully operational.
Below is a list of the fortifications that exist around the area of Metz. Because they switched hands quite often, the French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
names are listed as well as any applicable German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
ones. In parentheses is the construction period.
Forts of the first belt
The first, inner belt of fortifications were completed by the French just prior to the Franco-Prussian WarFranco-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...
and were in service during the Siege of Metz
Siege of Metz
The Siege of Metz lasting from 19 August – 27 October 1870 was fought during the Franco-Prussian War and ended in a decisive Prussian victory.-History:...
from 3 September to 23 October 1870.
The forts were in a ring approximately 4 km out from the city center, and were (anti-clockwise from the south):
- Fort de Saint-Privat (1870) / Fort Prinz August von Württemberg (1872–1875)
- Fort de QueuleuFort de QueuleuThe Fort de Queuleu is a fortification to the southeast of Metz, near Queuleu, France. Construction began while part of Lorraine was under French rule in 1868. After the interruption of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, the fort was improved between 1872 and 1875 by the German Empire , which had...
(1867–1870) / Fort Goeben (1871–1890) - Fort des Bordes (1870) / Fort Zatrow (1874–1875)
- Fort de Saint-Julien (1867–1870) / Fort Manteuffel (1871–1891)
- Fort Gambetta / Fort Hindersin (1879–1881)
- Fort Déroulède / Fort Kameke (1876–1879)
- Fort Decaen / Fort Schwerin (1878–1880)
- Fort de PlappevilleFort de PlappevilleThe Fort de Plappeville, or Feste Alvensleben, is a military fortification located to the northwest of Metz in the commune of Plappeville. As part of the first ring of the fortifications of Metz, it is an early example of a Séré de Rivières system fort...
(1867–1870) / Fort Alvenslebenn (1871–1891) - Groupe fortifié du Mont Saint-Quentin (1867–1870) / Feste Prinz Friedrich-Karl (1872–1892)
- Fort Diou (1867–1870) / Ostfort (1872–1892)
- Fort Girardin / Fort Mannstein (1872–1892)
Forts of the second belt
The second, outer belt of fortifications were completed by the Germans prior to the First World War but saw little service. Prior to the Second World War they were incorporated by the French into the Maginot LineMaginot Line
The Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defences, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in light of its experience in World War I,...
defenses, but again saw little action. In October 1944, while occupied by the Germans, the fortifications were assaulted and captured by the American 3rd Army in the Battle of Metz
Battle of Metz
The Battle of Metz was a three-month battle fought between the United States Army and the German Army during World War II. It took place at the city of Metz following the Allied breakout after the Normandy landings. The attack on the city by the U.S. Third Army faced heavy resistance from the...
.
The forts were in an offset ring from 8–10 km from the city, and were (anticlockwise from the south):
- Fort l’Aisne / Feste Wagner (1904–1912)
- Fort l’Yser / Feste Prinzregent Luitpold (1907–1914)
- Fort La Marne / Feste Generalfeldmarschall Freiherr von der GoltzColmar Freiherr von der GoltzWilhelm Leopold Colmar Freiherr von der Goltz also known as Goltz Pasha, was a Prussian Field Marshal and military writer.-Military career:...
(1907–1916)
(anticlockwise from the north):
- Fort Lorraine / Feste Lothringen (1899–1905)
- Fort François de Guise / Feste Leipzig (1907–1912)
- Fort Jeanne d'ArcFort Jeanne d'ArcFort Jeanne d'Arc is a fortification located to the west of Metz in the Moselle department of France. It was built by Germany to the west of the town of Rozérieulles in the early 20th century as part of the third and final group of Metz fortifications...
/ Feste Kaiserin (1899–1905) - Fort Driant / Feste Kronprinz (1899–1905)
- Fort Verdun / Feste Haeseler (1899–1905), sometimes referred to as Feste Graf Haeseler
The "seven dwarves"
These are a series of small defensive emplacements built between 1912 and 1916 in a line between Driant and Jeanne d'Arc. The name for them was created by the AmericansUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of the U.S. Third Army during the Battle of Metz
Battle of Metz
The Battle of Metz was a three-month battle fought between the United States Army and the German Army during World War II. It took place at the city of Metz following the Allied breakout after the Normandy landings. The attack on the city by the U.S. Third Army faced heavy resistance from the...
in the Second World War. They are sometimes (mistakenly) referred to as forts, and their name alludes to their weak defensive strength. From south to north they are:
- Marival bunker
- Vaux Southern point of support
- Vaux Northern point of support
- Bois-la-Dame† bunker
- Jussy Southern point of support
- Jussy Northern point of support
- Saint Hubert point of support
† - Lady's Wood
See also
- Fortified Region of MetzFortified Region of MetzThe Fortified Region of Metz comprised the central and most heavily-fortified portion of the Maginot Line. The region was established in 1926 as a military organization for the French fortifications along the frontier with Luxembourg and Germany to the east of Longuyon in northeastern France,...
for the Maginot LineMaginot LineThe Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defences, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in light of its experience in World War I,...
fortifications shielding the Metz industrial region - List of fortifications
Literature
- Inge & Dieter Wernet: Die Feste Wagner, Verny: Association pour la Découverte de la Fortification Messine 2002
- Inge & Dieter Wernet: Die Feste Wagner, A.D.F.M., Helios-Verlag Aachen 2010
- Inge & Dieter Wernet: La Feste Wagner, A.D.F.M., Helios-Verlag Aachen 2010