Ouvrage de Froideterre

Tourelle de 75 mm R modèle 1905 . In the background the retractable machine gun turret

The Ouvrage de Froideterre (German: Zwischenwerk Kalte Erde ) is an intermediate work belonging to the Festes Platz Verdun . The abandoned facility is located on the southwestern hill of the eponymous slope "Côte de Froideterre".

Emergence, expansion phases

Layout of the facility

In the course of the fortification and reinforcement of the Verdun fortress as part of the construction of the Barrière de fer , the Froideterre hill was provided with an intermediate structure in 1887/1888. The facility was only created in the second generation and was in front of the older facilities from the years after 1875, such as the Fort du Saint-Michel (Verdun) . It was one of several of the then common intermediate works ( ouvrages ) without major self-defense systems.

In a renovation phase from 1902 onwards, extensive measures were taken to increase the combat value. The barracks on the eastern edge of the wall was equipped with a Hotchkiss MG rotating / lowering tower (accessible through the main hollow corridor), a Galopin twin rotating lowering tower 75R05 and another Tourelle de mitrailleuses modèle 1899 MG rotating / lowering tower on the front of the ramparts, neither of which to enter directly from the barracks, d. H. Releases and supplies had to move through the inadequately covered courtyard. Otherwise the plant was state-of-the-art for the time thanks to its continuous reinforced concrete construction.

A casemate de Bourges was built on the western flank . The unconnected fighting rooms were connected by a tunnel that was more or less parallel to the wall and about five to ten meters deep. This was not created until 1916 and was necessary due to the strong bombardment (see Tiefstollen , Fort de Moulainville ). Two armored observation domes Observatoire cuirassé , which are still present, were installed.

During the battle

The shot of the ouvrage, 1917

The Ouvrage was heavily involved in the fighting for Verdun , the battle for Verdun . The complex was of particular importance when the German troops had conquered the Ouvrage de Thiaumont and thus occupied the Thiaumont ridge to the east. Due to this fact, the Ouvrage was an important locking bar in the direction of the city, the capture of which would have significantly favored the right-wing advance of the Germans, since otherwise there would have been no more work. The facility also received rifle assistance from the artillery on the left bank . The work could not fall into German hands. Likewise, owing to its exposed location, the Ouvrage was heavily involved in the battles for the height 304 and the dead man, the Mort Homme ; On the one hand, it served as an excellent observation post, on the other hand, with the Casemate de Bourges and the connecting batteries, it gave heavy flank fire to the German troops advancing on the other bank.

Nevertheless, on June 23, 1916, after continuous bombardment from heavy calibers and gas grenades, the Germans almost captured the facility. It was only through a mistake by the Germans, who suspected that the fort would be blown up by the occupation and then withdrew from the fortification, that the French occupation finally managed to repel the attack. In fact, French flare ammunition was ignited by hand grenades thrown into the facility, which the Bavarian troops on the glacis believed that the facility was about to be blown up.

During the Second World War , the tank tower resisted the advancing Germans for a short time, but was soon switched off by anti-tank guns and the crew capitulated.

today

The interior of the Casemate de Bourges

The facility is in good condition, is signposted in the Champ de Bataille and can be reached on foot or by vehicle. A visit is possible with a permit or via a guided excursion. The deep tunnel system has not been accessible since the 1990s; it was closed with steel profiles because of a bat colony.