Fort d'Embourg
Encyclopedia
The Fort d'Embourg is one of twelve forts built as part of the fortifications of Liège in the late 19th century in Belgium
. It was built between 1881 and 1884 according to the plans of General Henri Alexis Brialmont
. Contrasting with the French forts built in the same era by Raymond Adolphe Séré de Rivières
, the fort was built exclusively of unreinforced concrete, a new material, rather than masonry. The fort was heavily bombarded by German artillery in the Battle of Liège
in World War I
and again at the opening of World War II
. It has been preserved and is operated as a museum.
, on the heights above the community of Chaudfontaine
, overlooking the Vesdre
valley.
The fort was built as an irregular rectangle, in contrast to most Brialmont forts, which were triangular. A 6 metres (19.7 ft) deep by 8 metres (26.2 ft) ditch encircles the fort. The principal armament was concentrated in the central massif. The ditches were defended in enfilade by 57mm guns in casemates resembling counterscarp
batteries, firing at shot traps at the other end of the ditch. The fort is one of the smaller Liège forts. Embourg is more elevated above the surrounding country than most of the Liège forts, overlooking the Ourthe
and Vesdre
valleys and controlling the road from Liège to Spa
.
With the exception of the Fort de Loncin, the Belgian forts made little provision for the daily needs of their wartime garrisons, locating latrines, showers, kitchens and the morgue in the fort's counterscarp
, a location that would be untenable in combat. This would have profound effects on the forts' ability to endure a long assault. The service areas were placed directly opposite the barracks, which opened into the ditch in the rear of the fort (i.e., in the face towards Liège), with lesser protection than the two "salient" sides. The Brialmont forts placed a weaker side to the rear to allow for recapture by Belgian forces from the rear, and located the barracks and support facilities on this side, using the rear ditch for light and ventilation of living spaces. In combat heavy shellfire made the rear ditch untenable, and German forces were able to get between the forts and attack them from the rear.
The fort's heavy guns were German, typically Krupp
, while the turret mechanisms were from a variety of sources. The fort was provided with signal lights to permit communication with the neighboring Fort de Loncin
and Fort de Liers
. The guns were fired using black powder rather than smokeless powder
, producing choking gas in the confined firing spaces that spread throughout the fort.
Occupying the fort during the remainder of the war, Germans made a number of improvements to the fort in 1914 and 1915.
II, which was planned to deter a German incursion over the nearby border. The armament was upgraded with new guns in the turrets and an anti-aircraft battery. This was accompanied by improvements to ventilation, protection, sanitary facilities, communications and electrical power. An infantry shelter with an automatic rifle cloche was built at this time, as well as a remote air intake tower some distance to the west of the fort, linked to the fort by an underground tunnel. In 1940 the fort's garrison comprised 323 men, mostly reservists, with four officers.
on 12 May 1940. The fort was surrounded on the 13th, occupying areas around the rear of the fort including the air intake tower. The neighboring Chaudfontaine
provided supporting fire against German infantry, who mounted an infantry attack at 2200 hours. On the 14th the Germans continued artillery fire against Embourg while Embourg fired in support of Chaudfontaine. On the 15th, aerial bombardment started at 1400 hours, lasting until the night. The next day the aerial bombardment resumed while German units infiltrated the area around the fort . On the 17th the fort was attack by bombers, artillery and infantry. Embourg called for artillery support from surrounding forts, which they could not provide, but did provide support for a while to Chaudfontaine. Shortly thereafter the 75mm gun turrets were knocked out of action. After sabotaging the fort's equipment, the garrison surrendered.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. It was built between 1881 and 1884 according to the plans of General Henri Alexis Brialmont
Henri Alexis Brialmont
Henri Alexis Brialmont was a Dutch-born Belgian military engineer. He was one of the leading fortifications engineers in the 19th century....
. Contrasting with the French forts built in the same era by Raymond Adolphe Séré de Rivières
Raymond Adolphe Séré de Rivières
Raymond Adolphe Séré de Rivières was a French military engineer and general whose ideas revolutionized the design of fortifications in France. He gave his name to the Séré de Rivières system of fortifications constructed after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870...
, the fort was built exclusively of unreinforced concrete, a new material, rather than masonry. The fort was heavily bombarded by German artillery in the Battle of Liège
Battle of Liège
The Battle of Liège was the opening engagement of the German invasion of Belgium, and the first battle of World War I. The attack on the city began on 5 August 1914 and lasted until the 16th when the last Belgian fort finally surrendered...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and again at the opening of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It has been preserved and is operated as a museum.
Description
The Fort d'Embourg is located about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) southeast of the center of LiègeLiège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, on the heights above the community of Chaudfontaine
Chaudfontaine
Chaudfontaine is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. On January 1, 2006 Chaudfontaine had a total population of 21,012. The total area is 25.52 km² which gives a population density of 823 inhabitants per km²....
, overlooking the Vesdre
Vesdre
thumb|right|250px|The course of the VesdreThe Weser or Vesdre is a river in eastern Belgium, in the province of Liège, and is a right tributary to the river Ourthe. Its source lies in the High Fens , close to the border with Germany near Monschau...
valley.
The fort was built as an irregular rectangle, in contrast to most Brialmont forts, which were triangular. A 6 metres (19.7 ft) deep by 8 metres (26.2 ft) ditch encircles the fort. The principal armament was concentrated in the central massif. The ditches were defended in enfilade by 57mm guns in casemates resembling counterscarp
Counterscarp
A scarp and a counterscarp are the inner and outer sides of a ditch used in fortifications. In permanent fortifications the scarp and counterscarp may be encased in stone...
batteries, firing at shot traps at the other end of the ditch. The fort is one of the smaller Liège forts. Embourg is more elevated above the surrounding country than most of the Liège forts, overlooking the Ourthe
Ourthe
The Ourthe is a 165 km long river in the Ardennes in Wallonia . It is a right tributary to the river Meuse. The Ourthe is formed at the confluence of the Ourthe Occidentale and the Ourthe Orientale , west of Houffalize.The source of the Ourthe Occidentale is near Libramont-Chevigny, in the...
and Vesdre
Vesdre
thumb|right|250px|The course of the VesdreThe Weser or Vesdre is a river in eastern Belgium, in the province of Liège, and is a right tributary to the river Ourthe. Its source lies in the High Fens , close to the border with Germany near Monschau...
valleys and controlling the road from Liège to Spa
Spa, Belgium
Spa is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liège. It is situated in a valley in the Ardennes mountain chain, some southeast of Liège, and southwest of Aachen. As of 1 January 2006, Spa had a total population of 10,543...
.
With the exception of the Fort de Loncin, the Belgian forts made little provision for the daily needs of their wartime garrisons, locating latrines, showers, kitchens and the morgue in the fort's counterscarp
Counterscarp
A scarp and a counterscarp are the inner and outer sides of a ditch used in fortifications. In permanent fortifications the scarp and counterscarp may be encased in stone...
, a location that would be untenable in combat. This would have profound effects on the forts' ability to endure a long assault. The service areas were placed directly opposite the barracks, which opened into the ditch in the rear of the fort (i.e., in the face towards Liège), with lesser protection than the two "salient" sides. The Brialmont forts placed a weaker side to the rear to allow for recapture by Belgian forces from the rear, and located the barracks and support facilities on this side, using the rear ditch for light and ventilation of living spaces. In combat heavy shellfire made the rear ditch untenable, and German forces were able to get between the forts and attack them from the rear.
Armament
Embourg's armament included a Grüsonwerke turret with a single 21 cm Krupp gun, a15cm Creusot turret with twin guns and a 12 cm Châtillon-Commentry turret with two Krupp guns, all for distant targets. Four Grüsonwerke 57mm gun turrets were provided for local defense. The fort also mounted an observation turret with a searchlight. Nine rapid-fire 57mm guns were provided in casemates for the defense of the ditches and the postern.The fort's heavy guns were German, typically Krupp
Krupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
, while the turret mechanisms were from a variety of sources. The fort was provided with signal lights to permit communication with the neighboring Fort de Loncin
Fort de Loncin
The Fort de Loncin is one of twelve forts built as part of the Fortifications of Liège in the late 19th century in Belgium. It was constructed between 1881 and 1884 according to the plans of General Henri Alexis Brialmont...
and Fort de Liers
Fort de Liers
The Fort de Liers is one of twelve forts built as part of the fortifications of Liège in the late 19th century in Belgium. It was built between 1881 and 1884 according to the plans of General Henri Alexis Brialmont...
. The guns were fired using black powder rather than smokeless powder
Smokeless powder
Smokeless powder is the name given to a number of propellants used in firearms and artillery which produce negligible smoke when fired, unlike the older gunpowder which they replaced...
, producing choking gas in the confined firing spaces that spread throughout the fort.
First World War
Liège first came under attack on 6 August 1914. When the Liège's fortifications proved unexpectedly stubborn, the Germans brought heavy siege artillery to bombard the forts with shells far larger than they were designed to resist. Embourg was heavily bombarded starting 12 August. The fort surrendered the next day after 48 hours of bombardment.Occupying the fort during the remainder of the war, Germans made a number of improvements to the fort in 1914 and 1915.
Fortified Position of Liège
Embourg's armament was upgraded in the 1930s to become part of the Fortified Position of LiègeFortified Position of Liège
The fortified position of Liège was established following World War I by Belgium to fortify the traditional invasion corridor from Germany through Belgium to France. The Belgian experience of World War I, in which the Belgian Army held the invading force for a week at Liège, impeding the German...
II, which was planned to deter a German incursion over the nearby border. The armament was upgraded with new guns in the turrets and an anti-aircraft battery. This was accompanied by improvements to ventilation, protection, sanitary facilities, communications and electrical power. An infantry shelter with an automatic rifle cloche was built at this time, as well as a remote air intake tower some distance to the west of the fort, linked to the fort by an underground tunnel. In 1940 the fort's garrison comprised 323 men, mostly reservists, with four officers.
Second World War
Embourg first came into contact with German forces during the Battle of BelgiumBattle of Belgium
The Battle of Belgium or Belgian Campaign formed part of the greater Battle of France, an offensive campaign by Germany during the Second World War...
on 12 May 1940. The fort was surrounded on the 13th, occupying areas around the rear of the fort including the air intake tower. The neighboring Chaudfontaine
Fort de Chaudfontaine
The Fort de Chaudfontaine, also called the Fort de la Rochette, is one of twelve forts built as part of the fortifications of Liège in the late 19th century in Belgium. It was built between 1881 and 1884 according to the plans of General Henri Alexis Brialmont...
provided supporting fire against German infantry, who mounted an infantry attack at 2200 hours. On the 14th the Germans continued artillery fire against Embourg while Embourg fired in support of Chaudfontaine. On the 15th, aerial bombardment started at 1400 hours, lasting until the night. The next day the aerial bombardment resumed while German units infiltrated the area around the fort . On the 17th the fort was attack by bombers, artillery and infantry. Embourg called for artillery support from surrounding forts, which they could not provide, but did provide support for a while to Chaudfontaine. Shortly thereafter the 75mm gun turrets were knocked out of action. After sabotaging the fort's equipment, the garrison surrendered.
Present
A commemorative association was established in 1946, which has erected monuments and maintained a museum in the fort. The fort has been preserved and may be visited by the public.External links
- Fort d'Embourg at fortiff.be