The , renamed Group Fortification Lorraine after 1919, is a military installation near Metz. It is part of the second fortified belt of forts of Metz and had its baptism of fire in late 1944, when the Battle of Metz occurred.
Historical context During the annexation, Metz was a German garrison of between 15,000 and 20,000 men at the beginning of the periodRené Bour, Histoire de Metz, 1950, p. 227. and exceeded 25,000 men just before the First World War,Philippe Martin, L'Express, no. 2937, 18–24 October 2007, Metz en 1900. gradually becoming the first stronghold of the German Reich.François Roth: Metz annexée à l'Empire allemand, in François-Yves Le Moigne, Histoire de Metz, Privat, Toulouse, 1986, p. 350. The completed the Second fortified belt of Metz composed of Festen Wagner (1904–1912), Crown Prince (1899–1905), Leipzig (1907–1912), empress (1899–1905), Lorraine (1899–1905), Freiherr von der Goltz (1907–1916), Haeseler (1899–1905), Prince Regent Luitpold (1907–1914) and Infantry-Werk Belle-Croix (1908–1914).
Built in the early 20th century, the group fortification became part of a wider program of fortifications called "Moselstellung", encompassing fortresses scattered between Thionville and Metz in the Moselle valley. The aim of Germany was to protect against a French attack to take back Alsace-Lorraine from the German Empire. The fortification system was designed to accommodate the growing advances in artillery since the end of 19th century. Based on new defensive concepts, such as dispersal and concealment, the fortified group was to be, in case of attack, an impassable barrier for French forces.
Overall design The scope of protection of the Group Fortification Lorraine was provided by a set of infantry positions, fortified barracks and artillery batteries scattered over a wide area and concealed by the natural topography. From 1899, the Schlieffen plan of the German General Staff designed the fortifications of the Moselstellung, between Metz and Thionville, to function like a lock for blocking any advance of French troops in case of conflict.Donnell Clayton, The German Fortress of Metz: 1870–1944, Oxford, Osprey, 2008, p. 24. This concept of a fortified line on the Moselle was a significant innovation compared to Système Séré de Rivières developed by the French. It later inspired the engineers of the Maginot Line.Donnell Clayton, The German Fortress of Metz: 1870–1944, Oxford, Osprey, 2008, pp. 10–13.
Construction and facilities Group Fortification Lorraine was built on the heights of Saulny. It was to strengthen the northwest edge of the first fortified belt. It controlled the railway axis Metz-Verdun, through Amanvillers and the highway Metz-Briey. Covering an area of 385 ha, the Feste Lorraine was built from 1899 to 1903. It consists of a main fortification and two support points north and west. It has 6 howitzers 150 mm wide and six long guns 100 mm wide.Donnell Clayton, The German Fortress of Metz: 1870–1944, Oxford, Osprey, 2008, p. 24. It had 14 observation domes and 24 lookout posts. It had two concrete barracks, one for 1,000 men, the other for 400 men. It was designed to accommodate four infantry companies, in addition to the gunners. The Feste had a phone line and a power plant with 4 diesel engines of 35 hp. and 600 m of tunnels connecting the different positions.Donnell Clayton, The German Fortress of Metz: 1870–1944, Oxford, Osprey, 2008, p. 24.
Successive assignments In 1890 the garrison relief was guaranteed by the fort troops Corps XVI stationed at Metz and Thionville. At the back of the German lines during World War I, the fort did not have the test of fire. In November 1918, the fort was again occupied by the French army. After the departure of French troops in June 1940, the German army reinvested the fort. After the war, the French army resumed the fortified group. The main building was used until 1985 by GRET 806,GRET 806: émetteurs grande puissance BLI, puis réseau RITTER then the 1st Company 43rd signals regiment.The 43rd Signal Regiment was dissolved June 30, 2002. The main building is from the early 2000s decade, used as a support station for electric and two communication antennas of the army. This building is protected by three walls with barbed wire, fence and wrought iron gates. The third stronghold, the most in the center, was recently installed to prohibit access to communications antennas. The building is equipped with an alarm to prevent intrusion. All other blocks are accessible without having to cross the center stronghold.
Second World War In early September 1944, the Battle of Metz began. The German command integrated the defensive system set up around Metz. On September 2, 1944, Metz was declared, in effect by the Reich, fortress Hitler. The fortress was required to be defended to the last by German troops, whose leaders were all sworn to the Führer.René Caboz, La bataille de Metz, Éditions Pierron, Sarreguemines, 1984, p. 132. The next day, September 3, 1944, General Krause, then commander of the fortress of Metz, established his High Command, the main command post in the barracks fort Alvensleben. The same day, the troops of General Krause took position on a line from Pagny-sur-Moselle to Mondelange, passing to the west of Metz by Chambley, Mars-la-Tour, Jarny and Briey. After an initial withdrawal, made on September 6, 1944, on Saint-privat and Amanvillers, the German lines were based firmly on the forts of the sector, particularly in the Group Fortification Lorraine, or Feste Lorraine, and the fortified positions on the sides of Amanvillers: Steinbruch-Stellung, Kellermann, and Wolfsberg-Stellung, Richepance and Batterie Vemont and Canrobert, and Horimont-Steelung. The area of Amanvillers–Saint-Privat was bound to the north by 1010th Sicherungs-Regiment of the Colonel Richter of the 462th Infanterie-Division and to the south by the Fahnenjunker of the Fahnenjunkerschule VI des Heeres, "Metz" under the command of Wehrmacht Colonel Siegroth. The sector fortifications, from Gravelotte to Semécourt, consisting of a discontinuous concrete wall, three meters high and 10 meters wide, reinforced by four forts, covered on the west by a line of outposts, trenches, barbed wire and machine gun positions, look stunning.
On the morning of September 9, 1944, the American artillery rained shells on identified German positions, paving the way for the infantry and the tanks of Task force McConnell. Arriving in the Wood Jaumont US troops' 2nd Infantry regiment were taken under fire by Fort Kellermann. The German batteries eliminated, within moments, seven tanks and two freestanding guns, forcing the column to withdraw precipitately.Hugh M. Cole: The Lorraine Campaign, Center of Military History, Washington, 1950, pp. 152–155. Wanting to bypass the fortifications from the north, the Americans were soon under fire from a German counterattack before being stopped by gunfire from Group Fortification Lorraine. The artillery of the US campaign immediately resumed his attacks on the fortifications of the sector, but without great results considering the terrain and vegetation. The 3rd Battalion of the Task force, in charge of the right flank of the attack, fell on the fortified farmhouse of Moscou,At that same place, the French troops of Napoleon III repelled the assault of three German columns, August 18, 1870, at the Battle of Gravelotte. a veritable redoubt between the German fortifications, before being taken under heavy fire from Gravelotte. The 2nd Battalion Task force, which was heading towards Vernéville with relative ease, was finally stopped by gunfire from a sunken road, west of Fort Francis de Guise. The day ended with a failure for Colonel Roffe, who regretted high lossesLosses of 2nd Infantry regiment already amounting to 14 officers and 332 men, including 228 in just the sector of Amanvillers. for "twenty odd forts".
The Colonel of the Roffe 2nd Infantry regiment, whose losses already amounted to 14 officers and 332 men on the morning of September 9, required the air support of General Silvester. On September 10, 1944, three squadrons of fighter-bombers dropped their bombs on the eastern sector of Amanvillers, where the fortifications were grouped. The P-47s reached their targets, but the 500-pound bombs had little effect on the reinforced concrete fortifications. The infantry attack at 6:00 pm met fierce resistance. Despite the support of tanks, it stopped breathless three hours later. Towards Gravelotte, in the Woods Génivaux, American troops destroyed the Fahnenjunker of Wehrmacht (army) Colonel Siegroth that dominate the field. On the September 10, 1944, the commander of the 7th Armored Division agreed to take position near Roncourt to support a new attack from the 2nd Infantry regiment. The September 11, 1944, at 6:30 am, the tanks were headed for Pierrevillers, wiping the passage with sporadic gunfire. They finally came across a antitank roadblock, under fire from anti-tank guns camouflaged and difficult to locate. The infantry, however, managed to take a position on the wooded slopes, northwest of the village of Bronvaux, too far, however, to support the 2nd Infantry regiment. Despite several counter attacks by the 462th Infantry Division, American troops arrived to take over the land in the late afternoon, after a rolling artillery barrage targeting fortifications in the sector, and using smoke shells for cover.
On September 13, 1944, the US military redeployed its troops on the front line to concentrate its attack on the fortifications. But fatigue and stress disoriented the men of the 2nd Infantry regiment and they were finally relieved of such a Hell hole,"Received warning order that we are to be relieved which is good news, this is sure a hell hole" (Walking Journal of the 3rd Battalion 2nd Infantry Regimentof September 14, 1944). September 14, 1944. The 1st Battalion Task force, hard hit by the shelling of the 462th Volks-Grenadier-Division and specific small arms fire, had to withdraw with difficulty behind a screen of smoke rockets, more than five hundred meters from Amanvillers. Around 14:00, an air strike on Amanvillers did not allow the infantry to advance, the village being too close to the fortifications of the sector to be taken in full. Two regiments, reinforced by the engineering companies 90th Infantry Division, took over in the area: the 357 Infantry Regiment of Colonel Barth took position along the woods of Jaumont, East of Saint-Privat, while 359 Infantry Regiment of Colonel Bacon took position east of Gravelotte.
On September 15, 1944, an attack was planned on the Canrobert sector of buildings and Kellermann sector to the north and Fort Jeanne d'Arc to the south of the sector. The approach was difficult, German soldiers defend inch by inch. American bazookas were not effective on the concrete bunkers, and tanks followed by armed flamethrower sections pouncing on the first German lines, neither reaching them, nor neutralizing them, nor taking them. General McLain sector concluded that a frontal attack would be doomed to failure and ordered his troops to keep the pressure on the outposts 462th Volks-Grenadier-Division without attacking frontally forts Jeanne-d'Arc and Lorraine.Hugh M. Cole: The Lorraine Campaign, Center of Military History, Washington, 1950, pp. 176–183.
On September 16, 1944, in thick fog, the attack on Canrobert started at 10:00. It was stopped two hours later by the Fahnenjunker of Colonel Siegroth, who engaged in a man-to-man fight without mercy. The Americans 357th Infantry Regiment withdrew, leaving 72 soldiers in the field. At 5:00 pm, the 1st Battalion of the same regiment was stopped in its tracks by artillery and small arms. In the southern sector, 2 Battalion lost 15 officers and 117 men under heavy fire from mortars and automatic weapons, from the buffer strip. At nightfall, the battalion has advanced only 200 meters.