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The MAGINOT Line is doubtless the most famous recent fortifications but certainly also one of the most badly known. Close to LONGUYON (3.5 mi), we can visit the fort of FERMONT, the fort mattering most on the West of the MAGINOT line.
The fort of FERMONT contained a block " men door " and a block " ammunitions door ", defended each by a cannon 1.8 in anti-tank or by a twinning of machine guns of 0.3in . FERMONT contained 7 blocks of fight which we reached by goods lifts or elevators, or by staircases. Every block was armed either of artillery of 75 installed in an escamotable turret 35 mm in thickness and 265 tons weighty, or 2 mortars of 81 in an escamotable turret, or machine guns in an escamotable turret.
In 1940, the Captain of active Daniel AUBERT, under the orders of the Major POPHILLAT of the fort of LATIREMONT, commanded the fort of FERMONT and his 792 men. Kitchens in particular bakery, some water is needed, toilets, chambers, homes, an infirmary, offices, a prison. To the plan electrical energy, FERMONT arranges a direct supply of the peacetime or a direct supply insured by 4 generating sets of 233 CV, among which 2 are enough to produce the consummate energy.
June 15th, 1940, in the morning, German invade France by the road of LONGWY-LONGUYON. Immediately, FERMONT opens the fire of its artillery, obliging German to move back and to pass more on the West. Attacked in the cannon first time on June 17th, FERMONT resists and ripostes. Attacked second time in the heavy artillery on June 25th, FERMONT will resist and will regret only a dead man. But, after the surrender of the French gouvernment, the captain AUBERT will put back the fort to German, some days later.
You can visit the fort, thanks to numerous volunteers.
It was also of use as set to an action movie: " the purple rivers " in 2000 with Jean RENO.
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