Casemate de Bourges
The Casemate de Bourges or Bourges casemate is a standard type of independent flanking fighting space of a fortress or a plant developed from 1885 onwards . The two-storey concreted combat area consists of above-ground gun positions for two light French field guns on fortress mounts and a fire control center. In the basement there are ammunition and powder storage rooms as well as resting places for the crew.
History and Development
Due to the development of explosive shells and rapid fire guns at the end of the 19th / beginning of the 20th century, the old fortresses built from quarry stone, whose hollow passages were only covered by gravel and earth, were almost worthless against artillery fire with the then new ammunition. Comprehensive modernization measures were necessary. Reinforced concrete , which has been developing since the middle of the 19th century, played a special role as a building material. From 1895, the pioneer major (Commandant du Génie) Laurent developed the combat area, which was relatively easy and inexpensive to build. It got its name from the first prototype that was built and tested in Bourges. From 1899 onwards, 46 of these casemates were built in various facilities, of which 26 covered the right and 20 the left flank of the relevant core work.
Location of the fighting area in the fortress
The Bourges casemate was usually built on the right or left flank of a fortress or factory . The combat area is located inside the moat ring and was originally accessible either through cavities or above ground. The Casemattes de Bourges, accessible from above, were often connected to the core plant later, also during the First World War, via tunnels and deep tunnels such as the Galeries in 1917 . This measure was necessary because it turned out during the fighting that the long and uncovered path across the courtyard (e.g. that of the Ouvrage de Froideterre about 100-150 m) could not be described as safe during the violent fighting. In some cases, additional fighting rooms were installed or added to the standard casemates according to the local conditions. In the case of the Ouvrage de Froideterre, for example, this is a machine gun bunker covering the above-ground access.
Armament
Originally the Bourges casemate was equipped for two Canon Lahitolle de 95 mm . Later, however, the Canon de 75 mle in 1897 on a fortress carriage was given preference because of its greater ability to elevate the tube (54 ° instead of 45 °). There were various machine-gun slits and loopholes built in afterwards.
Structure of the fighting area
First floor
On the upper floor of the casemate there were two separate gun positions for the cannons. There was a direct access to the basement in the partition wall, which was intended for the ammunition replenishment. This entrance consisted of a niche measuring approximately 100 × 100 × 60 cm (W × H × D) in the partition between the two rooms. The niche is on the long side of the room facing the core of the fort. A man who passed the ammunition upstairs could stand on a platform halfway up the room in the basement. However, there were various modifications to this detail of the casemate. In addition, there was a crane system with a trolley in the connecting passage between the two gun positions for replacement work on the guns and the transport of ammunition. The actual access to the basement consists of a staircase also located in the gun room facing the core plant. Access to passageways or the Forthof was usually on the rear wall or the side facing away from the front. The above-ground access could usually be barricaded with movable blocks.
Basement
In the basement there were storage rooms for ammunition and resting places for the crew. If the casemate was connected to galleries or tunnels, access to them was usually housed here.
Sightseeing
Casemates Bourges can be visited well in Fort Douaumont , Fort Vaux , Fort d'Uxegney and the Ouvrage de Froideterre .