Fort de Liouville
Encyclopedia
The Fort de Liouville, also known as Fort Stengel, located between the communes of Saint-Agnant-sous-les-Côtes and Saint-Jullien-sous-les-Côtes, near the town of Commercy
in the Meuse
departement of France
, is one of the forts built at the end of the 19th century to defend the valley of the Meuse. The fort was located on what was then the French frontier facing the German-occupied province of Lorraine
. The Fort de Liouville was located between the Fort de Gironville and the Camp des Romains.
. As a result of this defeat, the Séré de Rivières system
of fortifications was planned and constructed to defend the nation.
Construction started in 1876 on the roughly rectangular fort with a garrison of 691 troops. Work was completed in 1880, at a cost of 2,108,000 francs. The fort was updated between 1892 and 1910 with a protected magazine, replacement of caponier
s with counterscarp
s, and preparations for a Mougin turret
with two 155mm guns.
The Mougin turret and guns were installed in 1914, along with two machine gun turrets, a 75mm gun turret and two observation cloches. The fort was armed with a total of 40 artillery pieces in 1914. It was the only fort in the Hauts de Meuse line to receive concrete cover, but did not get concrete-protected barracks.
The fort dominates the Woëvre
valley and blocks the Marbotte and Lérouville gaps in the Hauts de Meuse, watching over the rail line to Lérouville
. Unusually, the gorge, or entry side of the fort faces German territory, since the fort is built on a west-facing escarpment.
Fort de Liouville was bombarded by German artillery for a large portion of the war, with the heaviest fire between 22 September and 16 October 1914. The Mougin turret was hit by a 305mm German shell, but continued to fire with one gun until 28 September. The north ammunition magazine was penetrated by shellfire. The 75mm turret fired despite considerable trouble with the mechanism and numerous casualties until the fort was evacuated, and the turret was jammed by a direct 305mm hit. Infantry continued to hold the area, and the fort was not taken. The fort suffered significant damage to its casemates.
In 1938 a machine gun turrret was removed and mounted at the Bastion de la Riene at the Citadel of Verdun.
The fort displays an unusual degree of attention to design, with window frames resembling Gothic tracery.
The fort is presently maintained by an association for its preservation.
Commercy
Commercy is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is the home of the madeleines referred to by Marcel Proust in A la Recherche du Temps Perdu.-History:...
in the Meuse
Meuse
Meuse is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.-History:Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
departement of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, is one of the forts built at the end of the 19th century to defend the valley of the Meuse. The fort was located on what was then the French frontier facing the German-occupied province of Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
. The Fort de Liouville was located between the Fort de Gironville and the Camp des Romains.
History
In 1870, France was partly occupied by the Prussian armyPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. As a result of this defeat, the Séré de Rivières system
Séré de Rivières system
The Séré de Rivières system was an ensemble of fortifications built from 1874 and first used at the beginning of the First World War along the frontiers and coasts of France...
of fortifications was planned and constructed to defend the nation.
Construction started in 1876 on the roughly rectangular fort with a garrison of 691 troops. Work was completed in 1880, at a cost of 2,108,000 francs. The fort was updated between 1892 and 1910 with a protected magazine, replacement of caponier
Caponier
A caponier is a type of fortification structure. The word originates from the French word "caponnière" - which strictly means capon-cote i.e. chickenhouse.The fire coming from the feature A caponier is a type of fortification structure. The word originates from the French word "caponnière" -...
s with 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...
s, and preparations for a Mougin turret
Mougin turret
The Mougin turret is a land-based revolving gun turret that housed some of the heaviest armament in French fortifications of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
with two 155mm guns.
The Mougin turret and guns were installed in 1914, along with two machine gun turrets, a 75mm gun turret and two observation cloches. The fort was armed with a total of 40 artillery pieces in 1914. It was the only fort in the Hauts de Meuse line to receive concrete cover, but did not get concrete-protected barracks.
The fort dominates the Woëvre
Woëvre
The Woëvre is a natural region of Lorraine in northeastern France. It forms part of Lorraine plateau and lies largely in the department of Meuse....
valley and blocks the Marbotte and Lérouville gaps in the Hauts de Meuse, watching over the rail line to Lérouville
Lérouville
Lérouville is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France....
. Unusually, the gorge, or entry side of the fort faces German territory, since the fort is built on a west-facing escarpment.
Fort de Liouville was bombarded by German artillery for a large portion of the war, with the heaviest fire between 22 September and 16 October 1914. The Mougin turret was hit by a 305mm German shell, but continued to fire with one gun until 28 September. The north ammunition magazine was penetrated by shellfire. The 75mm turret fired despite considerable trouble with the mechanism and numerous casualties until the fort was evacuated, and the turret was jammed by a direct 305mm hit. Infantry continued to hold the area, and the fort was not taken. The fort suffered significant damage to its casemates.
In 1938 a machine gun turrret was removed and mounted at the Bastion de la Riene at the Citadel of Verdun.
The fort displays an unusual degree of attention to design, with window frames resembling Gothic tracery.
The fort is presently maintained by an association for its preservation.
Batterie de Saint-Agnant
A triangular position built 1878-1880 as an annex to Liouville, with three 120mm guns prior to 1910. The position also had two Pamart casemate/cupolas for machine guns. It was severely bombarded during the first world war and is presently abandoned.External links
- Fort de Liouville site
- Fort de Liouville at fortiff.be
- Le fort de Liouville ou fort Stengel at fortiff' sere