Ouvrage Metrich
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| Ouvrage Métrich | |
|---|---|
| Part of Maginot Line | |
| Northeast France | |
 135mm gun turret, gros ouvrage Métrich Block 11, September 2004 |
|
| Built | |
| Construction materials |
Concrete, steel |
| In use | Abandoned |
| Current owner |
Private |
| Controlled by | France |
| Battles/wars | Battle of France |
| Type of work: | Large artillery work (Grand ouvrage) |
|---|---|
| sector └─sub-sector |
Fortified Sector of Thionville └─Sub-sector of Elzange |
| Work number: | A17 |
| Regiment: | 167th Fortress Infantry Regiment (RIF) + 151st Position Artillery Regiment {RAP} |
| Number of blocks: | 12 |
| Strength: | 769 enlisted + 26 officers |
Ouvrage Métrich located in the village of Kœnigsmacker in Moselle, comprises part of the Elzange potion of the Fortified Sector of Thionville of the Maginot Line. It is the third largest ouvrage of the Line, after Hackenberg and Hochwald. It lies between petit ouvrage Sentzich and gros ouvrage Billig, facing Germany.
Contents |
[edit] Description
Ouvrage Métrich comprises two entries and ten combat blocks:
- Ammunition entry: at-grade, one machine gun/37mm anti-tank gun embrasure (JM/AC37), one machine gun embrasure (JM), and two automatic rifle cloches (GFM).
- Personnel entry: ggently descending from the entry, one JM/AC37 embrasure, one JM embrasure, and two GFM cloches.
- Block 1: Artillery block flanking to the northwith three 75mm gun embrasures and two GFM cloches.
- Block 3: Infantry block flanking to the north with one machine gun turret, one JM/AC37 embrasure, one JM embrasure and one GFM cloche
- Block 4: Infantry block with one machine gun turret
- Block 5: Artillery block with on 81mm mortar turret and two GFM cloches
- Block 7: Observation block with one GFM cloche and one VDP periscope cloche.
- Block 8: Mixed block with one 75mm gun turret, one JM/AC37 embrasure, one JM embrasure and two GFM cloches
- Block 10: Artillery block with one 75mm gun terret and one grenade launcher turret (LG).
- Block 11: Artillery block with one 135mm gun turret, one grenade launcher turret and one GFM cloche.
- Block 14: Observation block with two GFM cloches and one periscope cloche (VDP).
- Block 15: Artillery block with two 81mm mortar embrasures and two GFM cloches.
[edit] Manning
The ouvrage was manned by 795 men and 26 officers under the command of Commandant Lauga.
[edit] History
The principal mission of the ouvrage was to cover the Moselle valley. The during the Occupation support areas of the ouvrage were transformed by German occupiers into offices and manufacturing facilities.
[edit] Current condition
The ouvrage is in a state of advanced dilapidation, primarily because the soil is composed of gypsum, causing the destruction of the floors and walls of the galleries. Magazine M1 was used for the cultivation of mushrooms in 1986-87. The entries and blocks with embrasures have been covered with rubble by the Army.
[edit] External links
- La Ligne Maginot en Lorraine
- This article is based on a translation of an article from the German Wikipedia. GO de Metrich - Galerie de photos
- Bunkertours - Metrich
[edit] References
- Allcorn, William. The Maginot Line 1928-45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84176-646-1
- Kauffmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W. Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II, 2006. ISBN 0-275-98345-5
[edit] Notes
[edit] See also
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