Fortified Sector of Altkirch
Encyclopedia
The Fortified Sector of Altkirch (Secteur Fortifiée d'Altkirch) was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the French frontier with Germany and Switzerland
in the vicinity of Basel
. The sector's principal defense against an advance from Germany was the Rhine itself, which could be crossed only by boat or by seizing a bridge crossing. The frontier with Switzerland was not regarded as a high-risk location, save for a possible advance by German forces through Switzerland. Originally planned as a full extension of the Maginot Line
with artillery ouvrages, the sector's fortifications were scaled back and chiefly took the form of casemates and blockhouses. The SF Altkirch adjoined the Fortified Sector of Mulhouse
to the north and the Fortified Sector of Montbéliard
to the west.
, Ranspach-le-Haut
, Bettlach
and Trois-Maisons, with four more infantry ouvrages at Uffheim
, Helfrantzkirch
, Ranspach-le-Haut, Bettlach and Oltingue
. These were to be supported by 68 casemates. The project was cancelled in 1936 and were replaced by a more modest program that created three centers of resistance at Sierentz
, Bettlach-Oltingue and at Roedersdorff-Blochmont. A total of six blockhouses were built, each housing two 75mm guns, with six more blockhouses armed with two 47mm guns, two machine guns and two automatic rifles.
Three more resistance centers were proposed at Stetten, Ransbach-le-Haut and Trois-Maisons in 1937, but were replaced by more casemates, prepared for mobile 155mm and 240mm howitzers to cover the bridges at Basel and Huningue. Thirteen blockhouses, four observation positions and fourteen infantry shelters were planned for the Glaserberg, along the Swiss border.
. Afterwards, the Altkirch sector was under the command of the 44th Army Fortress Corps under General Tence, which was in turn under the command of the French 8th Army
, General Garchery at the Fort de Giromagny
, part of Army Group 3 under General Besson. The 44th Corps' headquarters was at Dannemarie. The 67th Infantry Division, commanded by General Boutignon, provided infantry support. The 67th DI was a series B reserve division, not suitable for heavy or sustained combat Following to its reorganization, the sector was called the Defensive Sector of Altkirch.
The SF/SD Altkirch was commanded by General Salvan. Fortress troops were provided by the 12th and 171st Fortress Infantry Regiments. Artillery support was provided by the third and fourth battalions of the 159th Position Artillery Regiment. At the mid-point of the Battle of France on 1 June 1940, the fortress troops of the SF Altkirch amounted to two fortress infantry regiments in five battalions, comprising 165 officers and 3,300 men.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in the vicinity of Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
. The sector's principal defense against an advance from Germany was the Rhine itself, which could be crossed only by boat or by seizing a bridge crossing. The frontier with Switzerland was not regarded as a high-risk location, save for a possible advance by German forces through Switzerland. Originally planned as a full extension of the Maginot Line
Maginot 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,...
with artillery ouvrages, the sector's fortifications were scaled back and chiefly took the form of casemates and blockhouses. The SF Altkirch adjoined the Fortified Sector of Mulhouse
Fortified Sector of Mulhouse
The Fortified Sector of Mulhouse was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the French frontier with Germany in the vicinity of Mulhouse. The sector's principal defense was the Rhine itself, which could be crossed only by boat or by seizing a bridge crossing...
to the north and the Fortified Sector of Montbéliard
Fortified Sector of Montbéliard
The Fortified Sector of Montbéliard was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the French border with Switzerland in the vicinity of Montbéliard. The Montbéliard sector stands in the vicinity of the Belfort Gap, a traditional invasion route into eastern France...
to the west.
Concept and organization
The region bordering Switzerland was treated as a low-priority area, but received a substantial number of casemates and blockhouses nonetheless. Initial plans floated in 1934 proposed four artillery ouvrages at StettenStetten, Haut-Rhin
Stetten is a communes in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-External links:*...
, Ranspach-le-Haut
Ranspach-le-Haut
Ranspach-le-Haut is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
, Bettlach
Bettlach, Haut-Rhin
Bettlach is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
and Trois-Maisons, with four more infantry ouvrages at Uffheim
Uffheim
Uffheim is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
, Helfrantzkirch
Helfrantzkirch
Helfrantzkirch is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
, Ranspach-le-Haut, Bettlach and Oltingue
Oltingue
Oltingue is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
. These were to be supported by 68 casemates. The project was cancelled in 1936 and were replaced by a more modest program that created three centers of resistance at Sierentz
Sierentz
Sierentz is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. It is located roughly halfway between Mulhouse and Basel; both are easily accessed by train from its station....
, Bettlach-Oltingue and at Roedersdorff-Blochmont. A total of six blockhouses were built, each housing two 75mm guns, with six more blockhouses armed with two 47mm guns, two machine guns and two automatic rifles.
Three more resistance centers were proposed at Stetten, Ransbach-le-Haut and Trois-Maisons in 1937, but were replaced by more casemates, prepared for mobile 155mm and 240mm howitzers to cover the bridges at Basel and Huningue. Thirteen blockhouses, four observation positions and fourteen infantry shelters were planned for the Glaserberg, along the Swiss border.
Command
Until 16 March 1940, the Altkirch sector was part of the Fortified Region of BelfortFortified region of Belfort
The fortified region of Belfort formed the first line of defense in the Séré de Rivières system of fortifications in the Belfort Gap...
. Afterwards, the Altkirch sector was under the command of the 44th Army Fortress Corps under General Tence, which was in turn under the command of the French 8th Army
Eighth Army (France)
The Eighth Army was a Field army of the French Army during the World War I and World War II.After the armistice it was part of the occupation of the Rhineland...
, General Garchery at the Fort de Giromagny
Fort de Giromagny
Fort de Giromagny, also known as Fort Dorsner, was built between 1875 and 1879. The fort forms the southern end of the defensive curtain of the Haute Moselle Region, abutting the Fortified region of Belfort , which lies to its south. The Haute Moselle defenses form a link between the fortified...
, part of Army Group 3 under General Besson. The 44th Corps' headquarters was at Dannemarie. The 67th Infantry Division, commanded by General Boutignon, provided infantry support. The 67th DI was a series B reserve division, not suitable for heavy or sustained combat Following to its reorganization, the sector was called the Defensive Sector of Altkirch.
The SF/SD Altkirch was commanded by General Salvan. Fortress troops were provided by the 12th and 171st Fortress Infantry Regiments. Artillery support was provided by the third and fourth battalions of the 159th Position Artillery Regiment. At the mid-point of the Battle of France on 1 June 1940, the fortress troops of the SF Altkirch amounted to two fortress infantry regiments in five battalions, comprising 165 officers and 3,300 men.
Description
The sector includes, in order from north to south, the following significant casemates and blockhouses in each sub-sector:Sub-sector of Franken
171st Fortress Infantry Regiment (171e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse (RIF)), Lt. Colonel Demange. All positions were constructed by the Army Engineering Service (Service Technique du Génie (STG)).- Casemate d'Uffheim Nord-Ouest (80b), two 75mm guns
- Casemate d'Uffhein Nord-Est (80), two 75mm guns
- Casemate de l'Hôpital-de-Sierentz (81), two 75mm guns
- Blockhaus de Sierentz Voie-Ferrée Ouest (82), single blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus de Sierentz Voie-Ferrée Est (83), single blockhouse with one GFM clocheGFM clocheThe GFM cloche was one of the most common defensive armaments on the Maginot Line. A cloche was a fixed and non-retractable firing position made of a thick iron casting which shielded its occupant...
- Blockhaus du Chemin-Creux (84), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche and command post
- Blockhaus du Haselberg (85), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus de Aschenbach (86), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus des Vernes (87), single blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus de Stetten (88), double blockhouse with two GFM cloches
- Blockhaus du Tapfelbaum (89), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus de Helfranzkirch Nord-Ouest (90), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus des Trois-Maisons-Nord (91), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus de Ranspach Nord (93), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus de Ranspach Sud (94), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus de la Cote 445 (95), double blockhouse with two GFM cloches
- Blockhaus du Monument (96), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus de Knoeringue Est (97), double blockhouse with one Pamart cloche
- Blockhaus de Knoeringue Sud-Est (99), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus du Willerbach (100), single blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus du Tiefenbach Nord (101), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus du Tiefenbach Sud (102), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus du Calvaire (103), double blockhouse with two GFM cloches
- Casemate de Breitenhaag (104), two 75mm guns
- Blockhaus de Breitenhaag (105), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus du Cesarhof Nord (106), double blockhouse
- Blockhais du Caesarhof Sud (107), double blockhouse
- Blockhaus du Strengwald Nord (108), double blockhouse
- Blockhaus du Strengwald Sud (109), double blockhouse
- Casemate de Bettlach (110), double blockhouse
- Blockhaus de Bettlach Nord (111), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus de Bettlach Sud (112), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
Sub-sector of the Ill (Durmenach)
12th Fortress Infantry Regiment (12e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse (RIF)), Lt. Colonel Françon. All positions were constructed by the STG.- Casemate d'Oltingue (113), two 75mm guns
- Blockhaus de Raedersdorf (114), double blockhouse with two GFM cloches
- Casemate de Raedersdorf (115), two 75mm guns
- Blockhaus de Brochritty Est (116), double blockhouse with one GFM cloche
- Blockhaus de Brochritty Sud (117), double blockhouse
Four heavy gun emplacements were planned:
- Willerhof, with four 155mm gun positions and three shelters
- Breitenhaag, with two 240mm gun positions and two shelters
- Eichwald, with four 155mm positions and three shelters
- Strengwald, with two 240mm positions and one shelter
Troop barracks were located at Uffheim, near Ranspach-le-Bas, near Bettlach, Ferrette and Raedersdorf.
Glaserberg
Additionally, 47 positions were planned by the Main d'Oeuvre Militaire (MOM)), which was in charge of small-scale fortifications, on the Glasenberg massif looking into Switzerland. 29 were built, a mixture of blockhouses, observation points and infantry shelters.Battle of France
The German offensive (Operation Kleiner Bär) across the Rhine was concentrated in the area near and to the north of ColmarColmar
Colmar is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is the capital of the department. Colmar is also the seat of the highest jurisdiction in Alsace, the appellate court....
, with little fighting in the Altkirch sector. The offensive, launched on 15 June, was rendered unimportant when the German XIX Corps under General Heinz Guderian
Heinz Guderian
Heinz Wilhelm Guderian was a German general during World War II. He was a pioneer in the development of armored warfare, and was the leading proponent of tanks and mechanization in the Wehrmacht . Germany's panzer forces were raised and organized under his direction as Chief of Mobile Forces...
reached the Swiss border on 17 June, behind the main French line.
The 12th RIF was deployed on the heights of the Jura until 17 June, when it was called back to Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
for the defense of the city. The second battalion was captured the next day, while the first battalion, retreating to Masevaux
Masevaux
Masevaux is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
, was captured on the 19th at Chapelle-sous-Rougemont.
The 171st RIF began a retreat toward the Dollar Valley and Masevaux on 18 June. Fighting ensued at Sentheim
Sentheim
Sentheim is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
on the 19th, with Colonel Lavelle's detachment and the 21st battalion captured there. The remainder retreated to the Lauw
Lauw
Lauw is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
-Mortzwiller
Mortzwiller
Mortzwiller is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
area. The second and third battalions were captured at Masevaux
Masevaux
Masevaux is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
, while the remainder of the regiment, now amounting to about one hundred men, retreated through the Stiftkopf forest, ending up at the Tête-de-Neuf-Bois. On the 26th the regiment was ordered to the Charbonniers village, where it was captured.
External links
- Secteur fortifié d'Altkirch at darkplaces.org