256:
268:
622:
support of the
Welschhof block. The Germans moved two 150 mm guns from the entrance to Simmerhof and began to attack Block 1 at Welschhof and Casemate Ouest de Singling. 111 150mm rounds were fired at the façade of Block 1, breaching it, but the covering fire from Simserhof Block 5 continued to prevent the Germans from attacking the top of the block. On the morning of 24 June the Germans gained and Simserhof, at the limit of its range with a contrary wind, could not fire effectively on the top of Welschhof. Having learned of the fall of the Casemate de Bining, which protected Welschhof's flank, Welschhof's commander decided to surrender at 10:00. Both Rohrbach and Simserhof continued to fire back at the Germans, ceasing fire at midnight in accordance with the terms of the
94:
81:
717:
596:). On 13 June the troops of the field army in the intervals between fortifications began to withdraw towards the south. A partial withdrawal of fortress troops took place in the SF Rohrbach, with some battalions of each fortress infantry regiment remaining in their positions until the armistice to cover the withdrawal of the interval troops and the fortress infantry assigned to the
704:) occupied the casemates of the Légeret sub-sector. From 13 June the regiment's interval units joined the DM Chastanet, retreating to the Marne-Rhine Canal in an attempt to form a defensive line. The regiment was forced to continue its retreat, falling back to Donon where it surrendered 21–22 June, while the casemate troops back on the Line surrendered on 30 June.
51:
835:, the importance of the Line declined. The positions in the SF Rohrbach were quickly disposed of or abandoned. Rohrbach and Welschhof were among the first positions to be deactivated, in 1970. Simserhof was first proposed as a potential museum in the 1960s, becoming one in the 1980s. Schiesseck and Otterbiel were not manned or maintained after the early 1970s.
291:. The SF Rohrbach was commanded by General Boutignon, then General Mortemart until 7 May 1940, then General Chastenet. The command post was at the Moulin de Montbronn. The interval troops, the army formations that were to provide the mobile defense for the sector, to support and be supported by the fixed defenses, were under the command of the 8th Corps (
669:) was composed of four battalions. The first battalion was a field unit, while the other three were placed in fortifications. The regiment was assigned to the Bitche sub-sector, occupying Schiesseck and Otterbiel, as well as nearby casemates. In June 1940, accordance with instructions to withdraw from the frontier, the field units of the 37th joined the
222:
valley to the east. The Lauter region was more important during the planning and construction phase of the
Maginot Line than it was in the operational phase of the Line, when the sectors assumed prominence. The Fortified Region of the Lauter was dissolved as a military organization on 18 March 1940.
579:
In early June in the face of the German assault, all fortress units attached to the Fifth Army were ordered to prepare for withdrawal to the south and west. While fortress units under the 2nd, 3rd and 8th Armies received categorical instructions to prepare to sabotage their positions and conduct an
707:
The 166th
Fortress Infantry Regiment was stationed on the Bining sub-sector, in Welschhof, Rohrbach and five casemates. The interval troops joined the DM Chastanet, falling back to the Marne-Rhine Canal, then to the Saint-Quirin forest where they were captured on 23 June. The casemates on the Line
612:
ran into German troops of the 262nd
Infantry Division, resulting in the death of Lieutenant Damour, in charge of the patrol, and one other French soldier. Later in the day the sector's positions were ordered to prepare to withdraw, sabotaging their equipment before leaving. On the 16th the Germans
621:
against a German 150 mm gun. However, Haut-Poirier surrendered at 2200 hours on the 21st, leaving the western flank of the SF Rohrbach exposed. During the morning of 22 June the
Germans assembled a battery of light artillery to attack Welschhof. The 75 mm turret at Simserhof fired in
604:
was assigned to the 43rd
Fortress Army Corps. According to the plan, Simserhof would cover the withdrawal and the garrison troops would withdraw in turn after sabotaging the equipment. Simserhof provided covering fire from 15 June, but by the 16th it was apparent that the retreat was nearly
616:
From 20 June the German 262nd
Infantry Division, penetrating at the SF Sarre, was able to move at will behind French lines. On 21 June 262nd attacked Welschof, taking return fire from Simserhof's 75 mm gun turret. Welschof spotted counter-battery fire for the SF Sarre's
850:
Schiesseck's entrances are visible from the road, but the combat blocks are located on military land and are not accessible. Welschhof is presently abandoned. Otterbiel is on military land and is not accessible to the public. It is reportedly used for ammunition storage.
177:. With lower priority than other sectors, the SF Rohrbach was built somewhat later than its neighbors to the east and west, and in company with positions on the extreme western end of the Maginot Line, became one of the "New Fronts." The sector contains several major
652:
Schiesseck and
Otterbiel saw relatively little action in 1940 compared to their neighbors, and surrendered to the Germans with the rest of the Bitche fortifications on 30 June 1940. Following the surrender, Simserhof was used by the Germans as a storage facility for
193:. The remaining positions and their garrisons finally surrendered on 27 June 1940. In 1944 German forces occupied several positions in the SF Rohrbach, forcing advancing American forces to attack them individually or to bypass them. The German
775:
in direct fire against the position's embrasures. By late on the 18th the
Americans occupied the surface in all areas except Block 2, which resisted until 20 December. The following day tank-dozers covered the firing positions and ditches.
613:
sent large formations through the gap they had exploited in the Sarre valley, moving behind the
Maginot Line. By the 17th Rohrbach was surrounded. On 19 June German infiltrators in the vicinity of Rohrbach were fired upon by Simserhof.
762:
Schiesseck was occupied by elements of the German 25th Panzer Grenadier Division. From 17 November the 100th Infantry Division assaulted Schiesseck, in December after an aerial and artillery bombardment, even using captured German
580:
orderly retreat from 14 to 17 June, Fifth Army commander General Bourret's instructions to the SFs Rohrbach, Vosges, Haguenau and Lower Rhine were not as definitive. The personnel of the SF Rohrbach were to be consolidated into a
295:), General Desmazes, commander. The 8th Corps was in turn made up of the 24th Infantry Division and the 31st Alpine Infantry Division. Artillery support for the sector was provided by the 150th Position Artillery Regiment (
69:
French Ministry of Defense, except Rohrbach, or "Fort Casso," Association Fort Casso since 1989. Simserhof, while remaining the property of the Ministry of Defense, is managed by the Moselle département and the city of
870:
as the preferred term for the Maginot positions, in preference to "fort", a term usually reserved for older fortifications with passive defenses in the form of walls and ditches. The literal translation of
197:
offensive of early 1945 caused American forces to fall back, returning to complete the capture of the Rohrbach sector in March 1945. Following the war many positions were reactivated for use during the
302:
At the midpoint of the Battle of France on 1 June 1940, the fortress troops of the SF Rohrbach amounted to three fortress infantry regiments in nine battalions, comprising 575 officers and 16,850 men.
786:
Otterbiel was occupied by elements of the German 25th Panzer Grenadier Division. Otterbiel was to be the next position to be attacked by the 100th ID, but the American advance was interrupted by the
828:, a fortified strongpoint. Schiesseck, Otterbiel and Grand-Hohékirkel (in the SF Vosges), located at the Camp de Bitche army training center, were used for training in fortress systems and weapons.
633:
against German attack, firing approximately 13,500 shells in defense of its neighbor. The fate of the garrisons under the armistice terms remained ambiguous. The Germans tried to negotiate with the
1863:
1704:
798:, abandoning Schiesseck. The 100th returned on 15 March 1945 and attacked the area on a broad front. Because Schiesseck's visible installations had been effectively destroyed in December, the
572:
Simserhof fired for the first time on 12 October 1939, when a 75mm gun turret supported troops 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) in front of the fortified line. On 10 May 1940, Germany launched the
1751:
299:), which controlled both fixed and mobile artillery, commanded by Colonel Jaunon The 31e DIA was made up of active-service troops, while the 24th ID was a Class A reserve formation.
249:("Fortified Region of the Sarre") was briefly created, encompassing the SF Rohrbach and the neighboring SF Sarre. The region existed for two months, in September and October 1939.
211:
310:
The sector includes, in order from west to east, the following major fortified positions, together with the most significant casemates and infantry shelters in each sub-sector:
1046:
783:, which was not occupied by the Germans. Rohrbach was liberated by advancing American forces on 10 December 1944, after the German evacuated, sabotaging the installation.
1697:
255:
267:
802:
itself played no role in the German defense. Otterbiel was lightly defended, and the Americans, backed up by heavy artillery, were able to capture Otterbiel and the
1690:
747:
to fire at firing apertures in block 5. Combat engineers were assigned to attack individual blocks. The Germans abandoned Simserhof by an emergency exit after
820:, including Welschhof, Rohrbach, Schiesseck, Otterbiel and Simserhof, with the aim of restoring their combat capability to block a potential advance by the
2416:
576:
against the West, but in front of the Maginot Line, the front remained calm. On 12 May, Simserhof responded to the bombardment of advanced French posts.
1294:
847:
since 1989. Simserhof, while remaining the property of the Ministry of Defense, is managed by the Moselle département and the city of Bitche.
1190:
1913:
1471:
1320:
234:. The sector was afforded a high priority, with planning work starting in 1929 as part of the first cycle of fortification work. One
1668:
1258:
1050:
752:
843:
Rohrbach and Simserhof have been preserved and may be visited by the public. Rohrbach, or "Fort Casso" has been operated by the
832:
740:
242:
Seelberg, was not constructed; two casemates were built instead. Seelberg was to have had five combat blocks and two entries.
2406:
1600:
1552:
1521:
1228:
708:
were captured with Welschhoff 21–24 June, Rohrbach holding out until the armistice and surrendering in its turn on 30 June.
287:, headquartered at Wangenbourg, under the command of General Bourret, which was in turn part of Army Group 2 under General
1801:
1858:
1821:
230:
across the entire sector, with a concentration of positions on and in the vicinity of the major French army base, the
2385:
1880:
1641:
1617:
1583:
1566:
1538:
1507:
1662:
1397:
919:
900:
in the main Maginot Line often closely resembles a casemate, but is more lightly armed and can hold more occupants.
1848:
623:
190:
2218:
2014:
1906:
1776:
1761:
1981:
1756:
2312:
2062:
1930:
1791:
1766:
1741:
174:
2256:
1781:
170:
2340:
1948:
1826:
1816:
1811:
1796:
1746:
1731:
1419:
1632:
1182:
1674:
2320:
2130:
1899:
1806:
1771:
795:
288:
2421:
1650:
1298:
2193:
1853:
1736:
725:
181:
and was the scene of fighting in both 1940 and 1944. It was attacked in 1940 by German forces in the
2203:
2148:
642:
185:. The sector was heavily engaged by German forces in mid-June 1940, with several casemates and the
764:
2330:
1682:
779:
The U.S. 397th Infantry Regiment took up positions around Welschof, with no resistance from the
1475:
1448:
1327:
2411:
2353:
2188:
2070:
682:
724:
American forces reached the Bitche area at the very end of 1944. At the end of November the
2264:
2042:
2037:
2022:
618:
8:
2153:
1966:
1266:
787:
284:
2004:
1989:
2297:
2241:
2208:
2138:
2105:
2095:
2090:
2032:
1961:
791:
751:
the installations during the night of 19–20 November. The 44th Infantry yielded to the
491:
194:
2115:
2047:
2302:
2292:
2282:
2236:
2178:
2173:
1999:
1956:
1613:
1596:
1579:
1562:
1548:
1534:
1517:
1503:
507:
395:
327:
2246:
2348:
2287:
2231:
2168:
2110:
2100:
2085:
2080:
2075:
1994:
1971:
736:. Simserhof was occupied by elements of the German 25th Panzer Grenadier Division.
630:
339:
182:
161:) was the French military organization that in 1940 controlled the section of the
2325:
2226:
2183:
2158:
2027:
1654:
1636:
1236:
729:
608:
Rohrbach made contact with German forces on 15 June 1940, when a patrol from the
2163:
2143:
2120:
2052:
772:
744:
794:. The Seventh Army was pulled back to occupy positions previously held by the
2400:
2198:
1091:
1922:
1722:
588:, consisting of the 37th, 153rd and 166th RIFs, along with the 207th CISF (
219:
162:
141:
99:
693:, where they were captured between 21 and 24 June. The units remaining in
2369:
1938:
1839:
879:
is a large fortification with a significant artillery component, while a
821:
1891:
649:
commanders the order to relinquish their fortifications to the victors.
896:
is an infantry shelter, sometimes underground or under earth cover. An
748:
674:
573:
816:
By 1951 work was proceeding on renovation of many of the northeastern
1531:
Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II
806:
with few casualties. Bitche was finally liberated on 16 March 1945.
1543:
Kaufmann, J.E., Kaufmann, H.W., JancoviÄŤ-PotoÄŤnik, A. and Lang, P.
768:
215:
199:
145:
716:
1712:
733:
678:
654:
641:
awaited orders from their superiors. On 30 June, at a meeting at
390:), Lt. Colonel Mauvin, command post at the Abri de la Fröhmühle.
1423:
1629:
1229:""Sluggers" at a German Siegfried Line Fortress: December 1944"
166:
86:
40:
322:), Lt. Colonel Subervie, command post at the Mohrendorf farm.
690:
50:
1647:
790:
in late December, followed by the German counter-offensive
202:. Two locations are now preserved and open to the public.
283:
The Rohrbach sector was under the overall command of the
875:
in the sense of a fortification in English is "work." A
637:
but were rebuffed each time, as the commanders of the
55:
Mixed-arms cloche at Simserhof with artillery damage.
1591:Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques.
1574:Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques.
1557:Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques.
486:), Lt. Colonel Combert, command post at Schimberg.
1610:Maginot Line 1940: Battles on the French Frontier.
1089:
2398:
503:O350 of eight combat blocks and two entry blocks
403:O300 of eight combat blocks and two entry blocks
1675:Ouvrage Simserhof and the Bitche fortifications
1593:Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 5.
1576:Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 3.
1559:Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 1.
1443:
1441:
771:. The most effective bombardment used American
1907:
1713:Fortifications of the French frontier in 1940
1698:
1191:United States Army Center of Military History
1085:
1083:
1081:
1079:
1077:
866:English-language sources use the French term
519:O400 of four combat blocks and an entry block
388:153 RĂ©giment d'Infanterie de Forteresse (RIF)
320:166 RĂ©giment d'Infanterie de Forteresse (RIF)
169:. The sector was bordered to the west by the
1514:La Ligne Maginot: Guide des Forts Ă Visiter,
1438:
1321:"Operations Summary 397th Infantry Regiment"
1288:
1286:
1284:
484:37 RĂ©giment d'Infanterie de Forteresse (RIF)
1214:
1212:
1210:
1208:
1176:
1174:
1172:
594:régiment d'artillerie de la région fortifée
210:The Rohrbach sector was part of the larger
205:
2417:French border defenses before World War II
1914:
1900:
1705:
1691:
1630:Ouvrage de Rohrbach-les-Bitche, Fort Casso
1074:
996:
994:
957:
955:
953:
951:
949:
947:
945:
943:
941:
700:The 153rd Fortress Infantry Regiment (the
1921:
1595:Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009.
1578:Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2003.
1561:Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2001.
1345:
1297:. Military History Online. Archived from
1281:
1124:
964:
665:The 37th Fortress Infantry Regiment (the
629:Earlier on the 24th, Simserhof protected
590:compagnie d'infaterie du secteur fortifié
359:Casemate du Nord-Ouest de Singling Droite
1463:
1390:
1372:
1313:
1205:
1169:
715:
381:
1041:
1039:
1037:
1035:
1033:
1012:
991:
982:
938:
929:
477:
313:
297:RĂ©giment d'Artillerie de Position (RAP)
214:, a strongly defended area between the
2399:
356:Casemate de l'Ouest de Singling Gauche
1895:
1686:
1326:. MArshall Foundation. Archived from
1292:
1265:. Flume Creek Company. Archived from
1251:
1235:. Flume Creek Company. Archived from
1221:
1092:"Historique de l'Ouvrage de Rohrbach"
697:and casemates surrendered on 1 July.
226:The sector featured a strong line of
1412:
1030:
824:. The positions were designated the
1787:SF Rohrbach (Maginot New Frontiers)
1757:SF Montmédy (Maginot New Frontiers)
1747:SF Maubeuge (Maginot New Frontiers)
1545:The Maginot Line: History and Guide
1469:
1094:(in French). Association Fort Casso
567:
13:
1838:(includes the Little Maginot Line/
1529:Kaufmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W.
1295:"The US Army vs. the Maginot Line"
1180:
543:Casemate du Grand-Hohékirkel Ouest
525:Casemate du Champ-d'Aviation Ouest
425:Casemate de Petit-RĂ©cherding Ouest
386:153rd Fortress Infantry Regiment (
365:Casemate de la Station-de-Rohrbach
318:166th Fortress Infantry Regiment (
189:Welschhof surrendering before the
14:
2433:
2386:Defensive Organization of Corsica
1742:SF Escaut (Maginot New Frontiers)
1623:
1612:Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2010.
1512:Degon, André; Zylberyng, Didier,
1502:Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003.
838:
809:
482:37th Fortress Infantry Regiment (
120:Preserved: Rohrbach and Simserhof
1719:Northern and northeastern France
1090:Puelinckx, Jean; Koch, Olivier.
689:withdrew further to the area of
645:, Lt. Colonel Simon brought the
554:Peacetime barracks and support:
546:Casemate du Grand-Hohékirkel Est
528:Casemate du Champ-d'Aviation Est
469:Peacetime barracks and support:
428:Casemate de Petit-RĂ©cherding Est
377:Casernement de Bining (Rohrbach)
373:Peacetime barracks and support:
266:
254:
92:
79:
49:
2219:Fortified Sector of Faulquemont
2015:Fortified Sector of the Crusnes
1492:
1398:"Fort Simserhof, Sierstal (57)"
1381:
1363:
1354:
1160:
1151:
1142:
1133:
1115:
1106:
1065:
1021:
886:
831:After the establishment of the
759:during the first days of 1945.
353:Casemate de l'Ouest de Singling
2313:Fortified Sector of the Vosges
2063:Fortified Sector of Thionville
1931:Fortified Sector of the Escaut
1663:Fort Simserhof, Siersthal (57)
1608:Romanych, Marc; Rupp, Martin.
1139:Mary, Tome 3, pp. 233, 237-238
1003:
973:
912:
883:is smaller, with lighter arms.
860:
305:
212:Fortified Region of the Lauter
175:Fortified Sector of the Vosges
1:
2257:Fortified Sector of the Sarre
1516:Editions Ouest-France, 2014.
1187:The U.S. Army in World War II
906:
624:Second Armistice at Compiègne
191:Second Armistice at Compiègne
171:Fortified Sector of the Sarre
2407:Fortified sector of Rohrbach
2341:Fortified Sector of Haguenau
2275:Fortified Sector of Rohrbach
1982:Fortified Sector of Montmédy
1949:Fortified Sector of Maubeuge
753:U.S. 100th Infantry Division
671:division de marche Chastanet
540:Casemate du Petit-Hohékirkel
431:Casemate de Petit-RĂ©cherding
419:Casemate du Sinnerberg Ouest
247:Région Fortifiée de la Sarre
159:Secteur Fortifié de Rohrbach
155:Fortified Sector of Rohrbach
26:Secteur Fortifié de Rohrbach
19:Fortified Sector of Rohrbach
7:
1422:. Simserhof. Archived from
1049:. Simserhof. Archived from
833:French nuclear strike force
743:assaulted Simserhof, using
741:U.S. 44th Infantry Division
455:Observatoire du Freudenberg
347:O250 of three combat blocks
335:O240 of three combat blocks
10:
2438:
2131:Fortified Sector of Boulay
1183:"On to the Siegfried Line"
1071:Mary, Tome 3, pp. 191, 201
711:
562:
434:Casemate du Seelberg Ouest
422:Casemate du Sinnerberg Est
278:
261:Insignia of the 153rd RIF.
2378:
2362:
2339:
2311:
2273:
2255:
2217:
2129:
2061:
2013:
1980:
1947:
1929:
1872:
1835:
1718:
1533:, Stackpole Books, 2006.
1500:The Maginot Line 1928-45.
1378:Mary, Tome 5, pp. 174-175
1157:Mary, Tome 1, pp. 116-117
1121:Mary, Tome 3, pp. 214-215
961:Mary, Tome 3, pp. 122-128
137:
129:
124:
116:
106:
74:
65:
60:
48:
37:
32:
23:
18:
1777:SF Faulquemont (Maginot)
1420:"Simserhof Presentation"
854:
660:
437:Casemate du Seelberg Est
273:Insign of the 166th RIF.
206:Concept and organization
1648:Simserhof official site
1547:, Pen and Sword, 2011.
1148:Mary, Tome 1, pp. 93-95
1047:"Simserhof: L'Histoire"
461:Casemate du Freudenberg
173:and to the east by the
1669:44th Infantry Division
1263:44th Infantry Division
1233:44th Infantry Division
845:Association Fort Casso
721:
673:, withdrawing through
537:Casemate de Rochat Est
534:Casemate de Rochat Est
112:Rohrbach and Simserhof
1923:Maginot Line Ouvrages
1797:SF Haguenau (Maginot)
1665:at Chemins de mémoire
1644:at Chemins de mémoire
1472:"Off the Beaten Path"
1451:. www.bunkertours.com
1360:Mary, Tome 5, p. 171.
1130:Romanych, Rupp, p. 52
755:, which occupied the
739:From 15 November the
719:
592:) and the 59th RARF (
440:Casemate du Judenhoff
382:Sub-sector of LĂ©geret
289:André-Gaston Prételat
1767:Thionville (Maginot)
1762:SF Crusnes (Maginot)
1671:assault on Simserhof
1400:. Chemins de Memoire
1387:Mary, Tome 5, p. 173
1369:Mary, Tome 5, p. 169
1351:Mary, Tome 5, p. 165
1293:Dickerson, Bryan J.
1218:Mary, Tome 5, p. 143
1166:Mary, Tome 1, p. 129
1112:Mary, Tome 3, p. 213
1027:Kaufmann 2006, p. 14
1018:Mary, Tome 3, p. 189
1009:Mary, Tome 3, p. 116
979:Kaufmann 2006, p. 20
970:Kaufmann 2006, p. 13
702:RĂ©giment de la Sarre
685:. On 17–18 June the
619:Ouvrage Haut-Poirier
478:Sub-sector of Bitche
464:Abri de Reyerswiller
314:Sub-sector of Bining
218:to the west and the
33:Part of Maginot Line
1836:Southeastern France
1792:SF Vosges (Maginot)
1772:SF Boulay (Maginot)
1301:on 7 September 2015
1000:Mary, Tome 1, p. 38
988:Mary, Tome 1, p. 39
935:Mary, Tome 1, p. 15
788:Battle of the Bulge
667:RĂ©giment des Vosges
598:divisions de marche
458:Abri du Freudenberg
449:Casemate de LĂ©geret
165:in the vicinity of
2363:Petit Maginot Line
1864:SF Alpes-Maritimes
1782:SF Sarre (Maginot)
1653:2017-05-05 at the
1642:Ouvrage de Rohbach
1635:2018-01-22 at the
1498:Allcorn, William.
1470:Donnell, Clayton.
1449:"Finding the Line"
1193:. pp. 471–475
920:"The Maginot Line"
804:Ensemble de Bitche
792:Operation Nordwind
722:
582:Division de Marche
531:Abri du Kindelberg
492:Ouvrage Schiesseck
446:Casemate d'Holbach
362:Casemate de Bining
195:Operation Nordwind
75:Controlled by
2394:
2393:
2194:Coume Annexe Nord
1889:
1888:
1601:978-2-35250-127-5
1553:978-1-84884-068-3
1522:978-2-7373-6080-0
726:U.S. Seventh Army
720:Otterbiel Block 2
683:Marne–Rhine Canal
508:Ouvrage Otterbiel
443:Abri de Fröhmühle
396:Ouvrage Simserhof
328:Ouvrage Welschhof
151:
150:
2429:
2321:Grand-Hohékirkel
2204:Coume Annexe Sud
2149:Mont des Welches
1916:
1909:
1902:
1893:
1892:
1707:
1700:
1693:
1684:
1683:
1679:
1659:
1605:
1588:
1571:
1526:
1487:
1486:
1484:
1483:
1474:. Archived from
1467:
1461:
1460:
1458:
1456:
1445:
1436:
1435:
1433:
1431:
1426:on 3 August 2010
1416:
1410:
1409:
1407:
1405:
1394:
1388:
1385:
1379:
1376:
1370:
1367:
1361:
1358:
1352:
1349:
1343:
1342:
1340:
1338:
1332:
1325:
1317:
1311:
1310:
1308:
1306:
1290:
1279:
1278:
1276:
1274:
1255:
1249:
1248:
1246:
1244:
1225:
1219:
1216:
1203:
1202:
1200:
1198:
1181:Clarke, Jeremy.
1178:
1167:
1164:
1158:
1155:
1149:
1146:
1140:
1137:
1131:
1128:
1122:
1119:
1113:
1110:
1104:
1103:
1101:
1099:
1087:
1072:
1069:
1063:
1062:
1060:
1058:
1053:on 4 August 2010
1043:
1028:
1025:
1019:
1016:
1010:
1007:
1001:
998:
989:
986:
980:
977:
971:
968:
962:
959:
936:
933:
927:
926:
924:
916:
901:
890:
884:
864:
687:unités de marche
643:Grand-Hohekirkel
584:entitled the DM
568:Battle of France
407:Ouvrage Seelberg
368:Abri de Rohrbach
340:Ouvrage Rohrbach
293:8e Corps d'Armee
270:
258:
183:Battle of France
102:in World War II.
98:
96:
95:
85:
83:
82:
61:Site information
53:
44:
16:
15:
2437:
2436:
2432:
2431:
2430:
2428:
2427:
2426:
2397:
2396:
2395:
2390:
2374:
2358:
2335:
2307:
2269:
2251:
2213:
2125:
2057:
2009:
1976:
1943:
1925:
1920:
1890:
1885:
1874:
1868:
1837:
1831:
1720:
1714:
1711:
1677:
1657:
1655:Wayback Machine
1637:Wayback Machine
1626:
1603:
1586:
1569:
1524:
1495:
1490:
1481:
1479:
1468:
1464:
1454:
1452:
1447:
1446:
1439:
1429:
1427:
1418:
1417:
1413:
1403:
1401:
1396:
1395:
1391:
1386:
1382:
1377:
1373:
1368:
1364:
1359:
1355:
1350:
1346:
1336:
1334:
1333:on 10 June 2011
1330:
1323:
1319:
1318:
1314:
1304:
1302:
1291:
1282:
1272:
1270:
1269:on 10 July 2011
1257:
1256:
1252:
1242:
1240:
1227:
1226:
1222:
1217:
1206:
1196:
1194:
1179:
1170:
1165:
1161:
1156:
1152:
1147:
1143:
1138:
1134:
1129:
1125:
1120:
1116:
1111:
1107:
1097:
1095:
1088:
1075:
1070:
1066:
1056:
1054:
1045:
1044:
1031:
1026:
1022:
1017:
1013:
1008:
1004:
999:
992:
987:
983:
978:
974:
969:
965:
960:
939:
934:
930:
922:
918:
917:
913:
909:
904:
891:
887:
865:
861:
857:
841:
826:mĂ´le de Bitche
814:
796:U.S. Third Army
773:tank destroyers
745:tank destroyers
730:Alexander Patch
714:
663:
570:
565:
558:Camp de Bitche.
552:
480:
473:Camp de Bitche.
467:
452:Abri de LĂ©geret
384:
371:
316:
308:
285:French 5th Army
281:
274:
271:
262:
259:
208:
144:
109:the public
108:
93:
91:
90:
80:
78:
56:
38:
28:
12:
11:
5:
2435:
2425:
2424:
2422:MĂ´le de Bitche
2419:
2414:
2409:
2392:
2391:
2389:
2388:
2382:
2380:
2376:
2375:
2373:
2372:
2366:
2364:
2360:
2359:
2357:
2356:
2351:
2345:
2343:
2337:
2336:
2334:
2333:
2328:
2323:
2317:
2315:
2309:
2308:
2306:
2305:
2300:
2295:
2290:
2285:
2279:
2277:
2271:
2270:
2268:
2267:
2261:
2259:
2253:
2252:
2250:
2249:
2247:Ouvrage TĂ©ting
2244:
2239:
2234:
2229:
2223:
2221:
2215:
2214:
2212:
2211:
2206:
2201:
2196:
2191:
2186:
2181:
2176:
2171:
2166:
2161:
2156:
2151:
2146:
2141:
2135:
2133:
2127:
2126:
2124:
2123:
2118:
2113:
2108:
2103:
2098:
2093:
2088:
2083:
2078:
2073:
2067:
2065:
2059:
2058:
2056:
2055:
2050:
2045:
2040:
2035:
2030:
2025:
2019:
2017:
2011:
2010:
2008:
2007:
2002:
1997:
1992:
1986:
1984:
1978:
1977:
1975:
1974:
1969:
1964:
1959:
1953:
1951:
1945:
1944:
1942:
1941:
1935:
1933:
1927:
1926:
1919:
1918:
1911:
1904:
1896:
1887:
1886:
1884:
1883:
1877:
1875:
1870:
1869:
1867:
1866:
1861:
1856:
1851:
1845:
1843:
1833:
1832:
1830:
1829:
1824:
1822:SF Montbéliard
1819:
1814:
1809:
1804:
1802:SF Lower Rhine
1799:
1794:
1789:
1784:
1779:
1774:
1769:
1764:
1759:
1754:
1749:
1744:
1739:
1734:
1728:
1726:
1721:(includes the
1716:
1715:
1710:
1709:
1702:
1695:
1687:
1681:
1680:
1672:
1666:
1660:
1645:
1639:
1625:
1624:External links
1622:
1621:
1620:
1606:
1589:
1572:
1555:
1541:
1527:
1510:
1494:
1491:
1489:
1488:
1462:
1437:
1411:
1389:
1380:
1371:
1362:
1353:
1344:
1312:
1280:
1250:
1239:on 4 June 2004
1220:
1204:
1168:
1159:
1150:
1141:
1132:
1123:
1114:
1105:
1073:
1064:
1029:
1020:
1011:
1002:
990:
981:
972:
963:
937:
928:
910:
908:
905:
903:
902:
885:
858:
856:
853:
840:
839:Present status
837:
813:
811:MĂ´le de Bitche
808:
749:booby-trapping
728:under General
713:
710:
662:
659:
569:
566:
564:
561:
560:
559:
551:
550:
547:
544:
541:
538:
535:
532:
529:
526:
522:
521:
520:
504:
479:
476:
475:
474:
466:
465:
462:
459:
456:
453:
450:
447:
444:
441:
438:
435:
432:
429:
426:
423:
420:
416:
415:
414:
404:
383:
380:
379:
378:
370:
369:
366:
363:
360:
357:
354:
350:
349:
348:
336:
315:
312:
307:
304:
280:
277:
276:
275:
272:
265:
263:
260:
253:
232:Camp de Bitche
207:
204:
149:
148:
139:
135:
134:
131:
127:
126:
122:
121:
118:
114:
113:
110:
104:
103:
76:
72:
71:
67:
63:
62:
58:
57:
54:
46:
45:
35:
34:
30:
29:
24:
21:
20:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2434:
2423:
2420:
2418:
2415:
2413:
2410:
2408:
2405:
2404:
2402:
2387:
2384:
2383:
2381:
2377:
2371:
2368:
2367:
2365:
2361:
2355:
2354:Schoenenbourg
2352:
2350:
2347:
2346:
2344:
2342:
2338:
2332:
2329:
2327:
2324:
2322:
2319:
2318:
2316:
2314:
2310:
2304:
2301:
2299:
2296:
2294:
2291:
2289:
2286:
2284:
2281:
2280:
2278:
2276:
2272:
2266:
2263:
2262:
2260:
2258:
2254:
2248:
2245:
2243:
2240:
2238:
2235:
2233:
2230:
2228:
2225:
2224:
2222:
2220:
2216:
2210:
2207:
2205:
2202:
2200:
2197:
2195:
2192:
2190:
2189:Village Coume
2187:
2185:
2182:
2180:
2177:
2175:
2172:
2170:
2167:
2165:
2162:
2160:
2157:
2155:
2152:
2150:
2147:
2145:
2142:
2140:
2137:
2136:
2134:
2132:
2128:
2122:
2119:
2117:
2114:
2112:
2109:
2107:
2104:
2102:
2099:
2097:
2094:
2092:
2089:
2087:
2084:
2082:
2079:
2077:
2074:
2072:
2071:Rochonvillers
2069:
2068:
2066:
2064:
2060:
2054:
2051:
2049:
2046:
2044:
2041:
2039:
2036:
2034:
2031:
2029:
2026:
2024:
2021:
2020:
2018:
2016:
2012:
2006:
2003:
2001:
1998:
1996:
1993:
1991:
1988:
1987:
1985:
1983:
1979:
1973:
1970:
1968:
1965:
1963:
1960:
1958:
1955:
1954:
1952:
1950:
1946:
1940:
1937:
1936:
1934:
1932:
1928:
1924:
1917:
1912:
1910:
1905:
1903:
1898:
1897:
1894:
1882:
1879:
1878:
1876:
1871:
1865:
1862:
1860:
1857:
1855:
1852:
1850:
1847:
1846:
1844:
1841:
1834:
1828:
1825:
1823:
1820:
1818:
1815:
1813:
1810:
1808:
1805:
1803:
1800:
1798:
1795:
1793:
1790:
1788:
1785:
1783:
1780:
1778:
1775:
1773:
1770:
1768:
1765:
1763:
1760:
1758:
1755:
1753:
1750:
1748:
1745:
1743:
1740:
1738:
1735:
1733:
1730:
1729:
1727:
1724:
1717:
1708:
1703:
1701:
1696:
1694:
1689:
1688:
1685:
1676:
1673:
1670:
1667:
1664:
1661:
1656:
1652:
1649:
1646:
1643:
1640:
1638:
1634:
1631:
1628:
1627:
1619:
1618:1-84176-646-1
1615:
1611:
1607:
1602:
1598:
1594:
1590:
1585:
1584:2-913903-88-6
1581:
1577:
1573:
1568:
1567:2-908182-88-2
1564:
1560:
1556:
1554:
1550:
1546:
1542:
1540:
1539:0-275-98345-5
1536:
1532:
1528:
1523:
1519:
1515:
1511:
1509:
1508:1-84176-646-1
1505:
1501:
1497:
1496:
1478:on 2011-07-18
1477:
1473:
1466:
1450:
1444:
1442:
1425:
1421:
1415:
1399:
1393:
1384:
1375:
1366:
1357:
1348:
1329:
1322:
1316:
1300:
1296:
1289:
1287:
1285:
1268:
1264:
1260:
1254:
1238:
1234:
1230:
1224:
1215:
1213:
1211:
1209:
1192:
1188:
1184:
1177:
1175:
1173:
1163:
1154:
1145:
1136:
1127:
1118:
1109:
1093:
1086:
1084:
1082:
1080:
1078:
1068:
1052:
1048:
1042:
1040:
1038:
1036:
1034:
1024:
1015:
1006:
997:
995:
985:
976:
967:
958:
956:
954:
952:
950:
948:
946:
944:
942:
932:
921:
915:
911:
899:
895:
889:
882:
881:petit ouvrage
878:
874:
869:
863:
859:
852:
848:
846:
836:
834:
829:
827:
823:
819:
812:
807:
805:
801:
797:
793:
789:
784:
782:
777:
774:
770:
766:
760:
758:
754:
750:
746:
742:
737:
735:
731:
727:
718:
709:
705:
703:
698:
696:
692:
688:
684:
680:
676:
672:
668:
658:
656:
650:
648:
644:
640:
636:
632:
627:
625:
620:
614:
611:
606:
603:
599:
595:
591:
587:
583:
577:
575:
557:
556:
555:
549:Abri du Camp.
548:
545:
542:
539:
536:
533:
530:
527:
524:
523:
518:
517:petit ouvrage
514:
510:
509:
505:
502:
498:
494:
493:
489:
488:
487:
485:
472:
471:
470:
463:
460:
457:
454:
451:
448:
445:
442:
439:
436:
433:
430:
427:
424:
421:
418:
417:
413:, never built
412:
411:petit ouvrage
408:
405:
402:
398:
397:
393:
392:
391:
389:
376:
375:
374:
367:
364:
361:
358:
355:
352:
351:
346:
345:petit ouvrage
342:
341:
337:
334:
333:petit ouvrage
330:
329:
325:
324:
323:
321:
311:
303:
300:
298:
294:
290:
286:
269:
264:
257:
252:
251:
250:
248:
243:
241:
240:petit ouvrage
237:
233:
229:
224:
221:
217:
213:
203:
201:
196:
192:
188:
187:petit ouvrage
184:
180:
176:
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
147:
143:
140:
136:
132:
128:
123:
119:
115:
111:
105:
101:
88:
77:
73:
68:
64:
59:
52:
47:
42:
36:
31:
27:
22:
17:
2412:Maginot Line
2331:Four-Ă -Chaux
2274:
2265:Haut-Poirier
2043:Bois-du-Four
2038:Mauvais-Bois
2023:Ferme Chappy
1786:
1723:Maginot Line
1609:
1592:
1575:
1558:
1544:
1530:
1513:
1499:
1493:Bibliography
1480:. Retrieved
1476:the original
1465:
1453:. Retrieved
1428:. Retrieved
1424:the original
1414:
1402:. Retrieved
1392:
1383:
1374:
1365:
1356:
1347:
1335:. Retrieved
1328:the original
1315:
1303:. Retrieved
1299:the original
1271:. Retrieved
1267:the original
1262:
1253:
1241:. Retrieved
1237:the original
1232:
1223:
1195:. Retrieved
1186:
1162:
1153:
1144:
1135:
1126:
1117:
1108:
1096:. Retrieved
1067:
1055:. Retrieved
1051:the original
1023:
1014:
1005:
984:
975:
966:
931:
914:
897:
893:
888:
880:
877:gros ouvrage
876:
872:
867:
862:
849:
844:
842:
830:
825:
817:
815:
810:
803:
799:
785:
780:
778:
761:
756:
738:
732:pursued the
723:
706:
701:
699:
694:
686:
670:
666:
664:
651:
646:
638:
634:
628:
615:
609:
607:
605:impossible.
601:
597:
593:
589:
585:
581:
578:
571:
553:
516:
512:
506:
501:gros ouvrage
500:
496:
490:
483:
481:
468:
410:
406:
401:gros ouvrage
400:
394:
387:
385:
372:
344:
338:
332:
326:
319:
317:
309:
301:
296:
292:
282:
246:
244:
239:
235:
231:
227:
225:
209:
186:
178:
163:Maginot Line
158:
154:
152:
142:World War II
138:Battles/wars
125:Site history
107:Open to
100:Nazi Germany
25:
2370:Alpine Line
2154:Michelsberg
1967:La Salmagne
1859:SF Dauphiné
1840:Alpine Line
1817:SF Altkirch
1812:SF Mulhouse
1752:SD Ardennes
1732:SF Flanders
1678:(in French)
1658:(in French)
1604:(in French)
1587:(in French)
1570:(in French)
1525:(in French)
822:Warsaw Pact
306:Description
2401:Categories
2298:Schiesseck
2242:Laudrefang
2209:Mottenberg
2139:Hackenberg
2106:Galgenberg
2096:Kobenbusch
2091:Bois-Karre
2033:Latiremont
1962:Bersillies
1881:OD Corsica
1482:2011-02-10
907:References
765:8.8cm guns
681:along the
675:Sarrebourg
574:Blitzkrieg
133:Late 1930s
2303:Otterbiel
2293:Simserhof
2283:Welschhof
2237:Einseling
2179:Bovenberg
2174:Berenbach
2000:Thonnelle
1957:Les Sarts
1807:SF Colmar
1259:"Assault"
769:howitzers
655:torpedoes
602:Chastenet
600:. The DM
586:Chastanet
513:Ouvrage B
497:Ouvrage A
117:Condition
43:, France
2349:Hochwald
2288:Rohrbach
2232:Bambesch
2169:Anzeling
2111:Sentzich
2101:Oberheid
2086:Soetrich
2081:Immerhof
2076:Molvange
2005:VĂ©losnes
1995:Chesnois
1990:La Ferté
1972:Boussois
1854:SF Savoy
1849:SD RhĂ´ne
1737:SF Lille
1651:Archived
1633:Archived
818:ouvrages
695:ouvrages
639:ouvrages
635:ouvrages
631:Rohrbach
228:ouvrages
216:Ardennes
200:Cold War
179:ouvrages
146:Cold War
2379:Corsica
2326:Lembach
2227:Kerfent
2184:Denting
2159:Hobling
2116:MĂ©trich
2048:Bréhain
2028:Fermont
1873:Corsica
1827:SF Jura
873:ouvrage
868:ouvrage
800:ouvrage
781:ouvrage
767:and 8"
757:ouvrage
734:Germans
712:1944-45
679:Lorquin
647:ouvrage
610:ouvrage
563:History
279:Command
236:ouvrage
70:Bitche.
2164:Bousse
2144:Coucou
2121:Billig
2053:Aumetz
1616:
1599:
1582:
1565:
1551:
1537:
1520:
1506:
1455:8 June
1430:7 June
1404:7 June
1337:4 June
1305:8 June
1273:7 June
1243:7 June
1197:7 June
1098:5 June
1057:7 June
238:, the
167:Bitche
97:
87:France
84:
41:Bitche
2199:Coume
1331:(PDF)
1324:(PDF)
923:(PDF)
855:Notes
691:Donon
661:Units
220:Sarre
130:Built
66:Owner
39:Near
1614:ISBN
1597:ISBN
1580:ISBN
1563:ISBN
1549:ISBN
1535:ISBN
1518:ISBN
1504:ISBN
1457:2010
1432:2010
1406:2010
1339:2010
1307:2010
1275:2010
1245:2010
1199:2010
1100:2010
1059:2010
898:abri
894:abri
153:The
1939:Eth
892:An
677:to
515:),
499:),
89:and
2403::
1440:^
1283:^
1261:.
1231:.
1207:^
1189:.
1185:.
1171:^
1076:^
1032:^
993:^
940:^
657:.
626:.
409:,
399:,
343:,
331:,
245:A
1915:e
1908:t
1901:v
1842:)
1725:)
1706:e
1699:t
1692:v
1485:.
1459:.
1434:.
1408:.
1341:.
1309:.
1277:.
1247:.
1201:.
1102:.
1061:.
925:.
511:(
495:(
157:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.