Fort de Mutzig
Encyclopedia
The Fort de Mutzig, also known as Feste Kaiser Wilhelm II, is located near the town of Mutzig
, in the Bas-Rhin
departement of France
. It is one of the forts built by Germany
at the end of the 19th century to defend Strasbourg
.
It was the first new fortification built in what was then German territory after the invention of high explosives, which rendered earlier masonry fortifications obsolete.
that had been built by the Germans after the end of the Franco-Prussian War
. Earlier forts built from 1872 to 1880 used masonry, which did not resist high explosives or concrete. The Mutzig works were planned as a demonstration of new technology.
The western fort, built in 1895, was built of concrete from the beginning, while the 1893 eastern fort, which had been built in masonry, was reinforced and covered in concrete. Armored observation points and 150mm howitzer
turrets were installed, while Mutzig was the first German fort with its own electric generating plant. It also was equipped with a radio link to Strasbourg, infantry shelters and underground living quarters. Costs were estimated at 15 million marks.
fortifications.
In 1914, the 254 hectares (627.6 acre) fort comprised 50 buildings, with an underground space of approximately 40,000 square meters (400,000 square feet). With 22 turrets equipped with 10cm and 15cm howitzers at a maximum rate of fire of 6.5 tons of shells per minute, Mutzig was one of the strongest forts in Europe. 8000 troops of the German army manned the defenses of Strasbourg at the time. Forces were disposed in the ring of forts around Strasbourg, as well as the Vosges mountains
for defense against French forces around Belfort
.
The fort's armament included:
Three concrete barracks for the garrison and 18 concrete shelters for infantry were provided, along with four wells, bakeries and other support facilities distributed around the fortification.
, prompting an arms race in the form of fixed fortifications on the parts of France and Germany. The fort saw no significant fighting during the First World War, and was handed over intact to the French Army after the armistice of 1918, with the exception of about half of its 105mm guns, salvaged in 1917 by the Germans. The French Army designated Mutzig a rear defense of the Rhine frontier.
Despite being evacuated in 1940, it was bombed by the Germans. The eastern fort was the scene of fighting in June 1944 as the Allies advanced to the Rhine. The fort de Mutzig was rated 50%-75% serviceable in 1947.
Mutzig
Mutzig is a commune located at the entrance of the Bruche River Valley, in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace, in north-eastern France. the commune of Mutzig is on the Route des Vins d'Alsace.-History:...
, in the Bas-Rhin
Bas-Rhin
Bas-Rhin is a department of France. The name means "Lower Rhine". It is the more populous and densely populated of the two departments of the Alsace region, with 1,079,013 inhabitants in 2006.- History :...
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...
. It is one of the forts built by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
at the end of the 19th century to defend Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
.
It was the first new fortification built in what was then German territory after the invention of high explosives, which rendered earlier masonry fortifications obsolete.
Concept
Fort de Mutzig was part of a network of forts surrounding Strasbourg and MetzMetz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
that had been built by the Germans after the end of the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
. Earlier forts built from 1872 to 1880 used masonry, which did not resist high explosives or concrete. The Mutzig works were planned as a demonstration of new technology.
The western fort, built in 1895, was built of concrete from the beginning, while the 1893 eastern fort, which had been built in masonry, was reinforced and covered in concrete. Armored observation points and 150mm howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
turrets were installed, while Mutzig was the first German fort with its own electric generating plant. It also was equipped with a radio link to Strasbourg, infantry shelters and underground living quarters. Costs were estimated at 15 million marks.
Description
The fort comprises three main portions. The newest section, and the place used for tours, is located in the northwestern fort. The 1895 west fort is located somewhat to the south, and the eastern fort about one kilometer to the east of the western fort. Together they comprise a feste, or fortress, a concept leading eventually to the distributed ouvrages of the French Maginot LineMaginot Line
The Maginot Line , named after the French Minister of War André Maginot, was a line of concrete fortifications, tank obstacles, artillery casemates, machine gun posts, and other defences, which France constructed along its borders with Germany and Italy, in light of its experience in World War I,...
fortifications.
In 1914, the 254 hectares (627.6 acre) fort comprised 50 buildings, with an underground space of approximately 40,000 square meters (400,000 square feet). With 22 turrets equipped with 10cm and 15cm howitzers at a maximum rate of fire of 6.5 tons of shells per minute, Mutzig was one of the strongest forts in Europe. 8000 troops of the German army manned the defenses of Strasbourg at the time. Forces were disposed in the ring of forts around Strasbourg, as well as the Vosges mountains
Vosges mountains
For the department of France of the same name, see Vosges.The Vosges are a range of low mountains in eastern France, near its border with Germany. They extend along the west side of the Rhine valley in a northnortheast direction, mainly from Belfort to Saverne...
for defense against French forces around Belfort
Belfort
Belfort is a commune in the Territoire de Belfort department in Franche-Comté in northeastern France and is the prefecture of the department. It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône – the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .-...
.
The fort's armament included:
- 8 150mm howitzers in turrets with a range of 8500 metres (27,887.1 ft)
- 14 105mm guns in turrets, of two models, with a range of up to 13000 metres (42,650.9 ft)
- 8 57mm guns in disappearing turrets
- 12 53mm guns in embrasures
- 12 armored observation points, two with periscopes, and 7 infantry observation positions
Three concrete barracks for the garrison and 18 concrete shelters for infantry were provided, along with four wells, bakeries and other support facilities distributed around the fortification.
History
The province of Lorraine had been captured during the Franco-Prussian WarFranco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
, prompting an arms race in the form of fixed fortifications on the parts of France and Germany. The fort saw no significant fighting during the First World War, and was handed over intact to the French Army after the armistice of 1918, with the exception of about half of its 105mm guns, salvaged in 1917 by the Germans. The French Army designated Mutzig a rear defense of the Rhine frontier.
Despite being evacuated in 1940, it was bombed by the Germans. The eastern fort was the scene of fighting in June 1944 as the Allies advanced to the Rhine. The fort de Mutzig was rated 50%-75% serviceable in 1947.
Museum
A portion of the enormous site, which virtually covers the top of the Breuchstals mountain, was restored and may be visited today. It retains almost all its original equipment.Source
- This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding German Wikipedia article as of February 9, 2010.
External links
- Fort de Mutzig site
- Fort de Mutzig at Chemins de mémoire