Fort Rapp

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Throat with throat barracks

Fort Rapp (originally: Fort Moltke ) was one of the 14 works that were built by Prussia after the Franco-Prussian War as part of the defensive ring around Strasbourg . The initiator of the construction was Field Marshal von Moltke . The fort was built according to the Biehler system . It is located in the south of the parish of Reichstett and about seven kilometers north of the city center of Strasbourg. Access can be via the “Rue du Géneral de Gaulle”.

After 1918 the fort by the French after coming out was Colmar native General Rapp renamed "Fort Rapp".

The 4.5 hectare fort was built from 1872 in the stone construction method customary at the time and put into service on September 26, 1874. The French enemy intelligence reported:

"The fort de Reichstett (Moltke) a été inauguré le 26 September 1874 par salves d'artillerie"

" Fort Reichstett (Moltke) was put into service on September 26, 1874 with artillery volleys "

It was set up to accommodate troops and could accommodate a crew of 800 men in its approximately 220 rooms. The pioneer captains Stephan and Volkmann were responsible for the work.

The facility was not involved in any acts of war and is almost undamaged.

Building description

The fort consisted of:

  • the throat bastion with weapons place, a peace powder magazine and the guard house (the latter also only in peacetime)
  • a surrounding, dry trench, which was additionally secured with barbed wire
  • the two-story Kehlkaserne with the troop accommodation and necessary facilities (toilets, washing facilities, kitchen, bakery, infirmary and the single rooms for the officers.) Furthermore, the close-up defense system for the throat ditch and the throat pranks was located here.
  • the main traverse with casemates , inside the war powder magazine and the laboratory
  • the shelters for reserve guns under the parapets of the front and the flanks
  • the free-standing guns on the main wall and secured by trusses
  • an armored observation tower overhanging the front
  • a double trench stroke in the jutting corner of the Contreescarpe
  • a caponier on the left and right to coat the trench in the flanks
  • the annex batteries to the left and right outside the ditch at the level of the protruding angles to the throat ditch
  • a total of eight counter mines in front of the Contreescarpe

Armament

The artillery armament consisted of 18 cannons in the caliber of 90-150 mm (at times also mortars of the caliber 210 mm) in the firing position and a further 18 guns and mortars as reserves in shelters. For trench defense, Hotchkiss 37 mm revolver cannons and 53 mm rapid fire cannons were installed in the trench strokes and throat cases .

crew

The crew consisted of 800 NCOs and men and 15 officers. It consisted of: infantrymen, engineers, artillerymen and signalists.

communication

The telecommunication connection was maintained to the outside by telegraph, light signal and later also by telephone. Inside, speaking tube systems, mechanical bells, and electric bells were used.

Combat value increase

The development of armor-piercing shells led to a massive reinforcement of the structure in 1885 and the following measures:

  • Relocation of the artillery to external annex batteries outside the trench
  • Reinforcement of the vault with concrete
  • Securing the windows of the Kehlkaserne
  • Reinforcement of the front trenches and the capons, better protection of the revolver cannons
  • Equipping the Contreescarpemauer and the throat area with an iron fence
  • Installation of iron doors in front of the openings
  • Increase in firepower by adding two 150 mm coastal rail guns

history

First World War

During the First World War , the building served as a depot and as a prison camp for Russian and Italian prisoners of war.

Second World War

At the beginning of the Second World War , the fort was integrated into the system of the Maginot Line and occupied by the 226 ème Régiment d'Infanterie (226th Infantry Regiment) from Strasbourg as a rear supply base. At the same time it served as a recreation point for the occupying forces of the Upper Rhine works on the Maginot Line.

From 1940 to 1944 the German Wehrmacht used the fort as a depot for ammunition, material and fuel. Polish prisoners of war were used as labor. The presence of the Reich Labor Service can also be proven for a short time.

post war period

In 1944/45 the fort was occupied by the troops of the FFI , the 1ère Armée française (1st French Army) and the Americans.

From 1946 to 1968 the French army used the fort as an ammunition depot.

Then abandoned and handed over to the Ministère de l'Intérieur - Service de la Protection Civile (Ministry of the Interior - Department of Civil Protection). Then finally abandoned from 1979 and left to the community of Reichstett as a local recreation area.

In 1992–93 it was restored by the fondation de l'Association des Amis du Fort Rapp . Inside there is a small museum. On April 14, 1996, the facility was opened to the public in the presence of the mayor of Strasbourg and later Minister of Culture, Catherine Trautmann . Since 2002 the "Association Patrimoine et Histoire de Reichstett" has taken over the work to preserve the fort. In addition to the fort, the museum of the "Troupes de Marine" and a school museum can be visited.

  • Throat with main entrance

  • Entrance to the Escarpen Kapponiere

  • museum

  • museum

See also

Web links

Commons : Fort Rapp  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Un rapport du contre-espionnage français, trouvé aux Archives de Vincennes.
  2. ↑ on making the artillery shells
  3. ↑ firing over bank
  4. ↑ The original name "canon de revolver" is misleading, as it is a multi-barrel gun based on the Gatling system. This is sometimes referred to in French as a mitrailleuse.

Coordinates: 48 ° 38 ′ 25 "  N , 7 ° 45 ′ 23"  E