Belfort fixed place

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Fortifications of Belfort

The Fixed Place Belfort (Fr .: Place fortifiée de Belfort ) was a fortified area in the first line of defense of the Système Séré de Rivières in the section between the Fixed Place Épinal and Besançon . In the center was the city of Belfort with the citadel.

history

Shortly after the defeat in the Franco-Prussian War , Belfort was selected as an important traffic junction for roads and railways, to form the first line of the Barrière de fer together with the fixed place Épinal, the fixed place Toul and the fixed place Verdun . Belfort was the southernmost of these four fixed places.

This first line of defense in the east of France was formed by several sections of so-called "fortress bars" along the border. The fixed place Belfort (originally a fortified camp - camp retranché ) extends from Fort de Giromagny , which still belonged to the "Haute Moselle" block , in the north to Fort Lachaux in the "Môle défensif du Lomont" section in the south. The entire fortification system consisted of the forts from 1793 to 1870, those of the construction period from 1874 to 1886 and the (more modern) artillery batteries.

List of forts, ouvrages, and batteries

1792 to 1870

Attachments of the 1st ring
  • Belfort Citadel (open to visitors)
  • Fort Hatry ( location , built 1865-1870, open to visitors)
  • Fort de la Justice ( location , built between 1825 and 1842, outdoor area open to the public)
  • Fort et Tour de la Miotte ( location , built between 1831 and 1835, can only be visited on certain days)
  • Fort des Hautes Perches ( Lage , Rue des Perches, 90400 Danjoutin). Reconstruction of the old fort of the same name that stood at this point (restricted military area).
  • Fort des Basses Perches ( Lage , 90400 Danjoutin ). New construction of the old fort of the same name, which was located in the same place (will be opened to visitors on request).
  • Redoute de Bellevue (1870, canceled at the beginning of the 20th century)
Fort des Hautes Perches

1874 to 1886

The forts Séré de Rivières from 1874 to 1886 form the second line of fortifications, with the exception of the two Forts des Perches , which were still part of the first fortification ring. The reason for the continued use could be the strategic value demonstrated by Colonel Denfert-Rochereau in the final phase of the German siege in the years 1870 to 1871.

  • Fort de Giromagny ( location , built from 1874 to 1879). Property of the municipality of Giromagny (open on request).
  • Réduit du Bosmont ( location , built from 1874 to 1877). Property of Danjoutin Municipality (can be visited).
  • Magasin de secteur du Bosmont ( Lage , Danjoutin )
  • Ouvrage du Rondot (built 1890/91, demolished)
  • Ouvrage de Meroux ( location , Rue d'Ouvrage, 90400 Meroux, built between 1908 and 1913). Owned by the municipality.
  • Fort de Bessoncourt ( Location , Rue du Fort de Sernamont, 90160 Bessoncourt, built between 1883 and 1886)
  • Fort du Salbert ( location , built 1874 to 1877). From 1953 to 1958 there was a radar station here (Ouvrage "G" de la DAT, enter at your own risk).
Associated systems:
Ouvrage Sud du Salbert (built 1890/91)
Ouvrage du Petit Salbert (built 1890/91)
Ouvrage de la Forêt (built 1890/91)
Ouvrage du Haut Salbert (built 1890/91)
Ouvrage du Nord Salbert (built 1890/91)

1890

  • Ouvrage terrassé de Moval ( location , built 1890 to 1891, derelict)
  • Ouvrage de Essert ( location , built 1890 to 1892). Property of the municipality (can be visited).
  • Ouvrage du Mont-Rudolphe in Offemont ( location , built in 1885). Concrete reinforcement started in 1914, not completed.

Location cannot be precisely located:

  • Ouvrage de l'étang Neuf
  • Ouvrage du Piton Lagace
  • Ouvrage de Denney (built 1890/91, derelict and partially leveled)
  • Ouvrage d'infanterie des 3 chênes (1890/91, freely accessible)
  • Ouvrage des Fougerais (built 1889 to 1890, restricted military area)
  • Ouvrage de la Verpillière (built 1890/91)
  • Ouvrage du Bas du Mont (built 1890, in Urcerey , demolished)

By presidential decree of January 21, 1887, the Minister of War, Georges Boulanger , implemented that all forts, fortified artillery installations and barracks of the Système Séré de Rivières had to bear the names of former military commanders, which is why the forts were then given different names. On October 13, 1887, this was revoked by Boulanger's successor, Théophile Ferron , with Note No. 14980 of the same date, and the forts were given their original names. These “new” names were not really adopted by the local population.

Nowadays, most of the objects are no longer used by the military and are abandoned or are privately owned.

literature

  • Pierre Richard Belfort: 40 années d'efforts, 1873–1913. Le système défensif, Séré de Rivières. P. Richard, Bart 2004, ISBN 2-9517149-7-1 .

Web links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ fortress commander 1870 to 1871
  2. ↑ Note No. 5285 of March 25, 1886 from Minister of War Général Boulanger to the General Commanders of the Military Regions; Presidential decree of January 21, 1887 renaming the forts, fortified artillery systems and barracks, as proposed by the Minister of War, Général Boulanger