Owen's post about Sedan reminded me of a recent, unplanned, visit to Villy la Ferte, a section of the Maginot Line not far from Sedan. I first visited it in 1999, and went several times managing to explore the whole site. It is in a good state of preservation, with many of the ground level features completely intact. Inside the fighting bunkers have most of their weaponry, and you walk the entire length of the tunnel systems. On my last visit it was closed to visitors, but I managed to get some photos. Hope you enjoy them. First the external fighting bunkers on the approach roads.
Most of the garrison died through asphyxiation. A German round struck the fume extractors, gassing all those inside. Some bodies were not found until the 1970s. Memorial, and then graves in the military cemetery.
Some web links: Fort de Villy-la-Ferté (Ardennes ) : ligne Maginot Le souvenir de la 2ème GM dans la Marne et dans les Ardennes - Le Fort de Villy-la-Ferté présenté par Jean-Pierre Husson Map of the site:
And as there seems to have been an outbreak of the book; turn to pages 292-296 of your copies of 'Blitzkrieg in the West' gents . Some fine, and one grim, contemporary photographs.
French wikipedia article. Ouvrage de la Ferté - Wikipédia My book not arrived yet, Adam. Lots more photos here. Association fort Casso - PO Rohrbach Including a photo of the grave of Lieutenant Bourguignon whose photo is in the wiki article.
At last my favorite subject the Maginot line, a very under rated piece of fortication and in my opinion the best..... Most of the bunkers are sealed or in private ownership but I have spent many hours exploring them I just cant get enough also the army are starting to bury the entrances.... Here is one of my favorites and in the hands of people that care, not the army! ALSACE - LA LIGNE MAGINOT - FORT DE SCHOENENBOURG
Please take a look at my site - Maginot Line at War 1939-1940 - I have some photos of La Ferte. The front page has a nice photo of Block 2's GFM cupola that took a few hits from an 88mm Flak. The "Combat Operations" page had a nice photo of the AM turret. The "Combatants" page has some info and the personnel file of Oberleutnant Germer. Finally, the "Visiting the Maginot Line" page has soem "then and now" format photos. Regards, Marc
There seems to be a number of books with that title. As I am getting into WW2 and am trying to do it in a chronological order this sounds promising.
And as there seems to have been an outbreak of the book; turn to pages 292-296 of your copies of 'Blitzkrieg in the West' gents . Some fine, and one grim, contemporary photographs. Currently reading this book and read the 'Forts' section a few days ago. As mentioned there are many excellent pictures with some great then and nows. I did think it was rather lucky to read this then see it on the TV whilst it was fresh in my mind a few days later in Pauls 1940 Dig programme. I've often wondered about visiting the area of the Maginot Line but not sure if I really want to expand in detail from the BEF and the perimeters of Dunkirk.
When you look at the footage shown last night of the section which was assaulted the illusion of the structure becomes apparent, the shock of its failure to the French nation must have been absolute. Going to ask this of those who know the psychology of the "Phoney War" the waiting for something to happen - " digging in" - just an extension of 14-18 ? When war was declared we certainly were not prepared to fight a major war in Europe and whilst hindsight is wonderful to what extent did this line of forts lend to the defeat of France and GB in 1940 ? Having declared war we seemed to be faced with so much to do and so little to do it with Germany probably caught in the same boat. Had a more vigorous response been made in 1939 might things have been different ? (Sorry for the "what if" ). The Maginot line seems to have been the physical manifestation of the trauma of WW1. My first view of this line was in the late 60's Prunnells history of WW2 ( "in 96 weekly parts") - a through section diagram of a fort and photos of the line an amazing investment by any nation but perhaps the first battle of the line was lost in 1936. Not something I know much about but what plans or options had we ( Including the French) on the table for attacking Germany in 39 and had the Germans not attacked ion May 40 , at what point and where might the Allies have attacked them ? Norway and France the Germans getting in first.
Nice to see this bumped up. It was this visit, while doing a recce for another documentary, that led to this being selected for Dig1940.
