Fort Schoenenbourg - Maginot Line

Ouvrage or fort Schoenenbourg is the largest fortification of the French maginot line that is open to the public in Alsace. Schoenenbourg was heavily bombarded during the Battle of France in 1940, receiving more enemy ordnance than any other position in France, with no significant damage. In 1945, retreating German troops used explosives to destroy much of the ouvrage. After the war it was fully repaired and placed back into service as part of a programme to use Maginot fortifications to resist a potential Warsaw Pact advance through Europe. By the 1970s the plan had lost favour and funding, and Schoenenboug was abandoned. In 1987 a local organisation undertook Schoenenbourg's preservation, and today it is open to public visitation.
The major work was completed in 1935 and final completion took place in 1938. The work is composed of eight blocks, with six combat blocks including two casemate blocks, a personnel entrance block and an ammunition entrance block. Underground galleries connect the blocks, extending more than 1,500 metres (1,600 yd) in length. The underground barracks and utility areas are located just inside the personnel entry. The ouvrage was served by electrified 600 mm narrow-gauge railway. The rail lines ran directly into the munitions entry of the ouvrage and all the way out to the combat blocks.
• Block 1: Infantry casemate on two levels, with one twin machine gun/47 mm anti-tank gun embrasure (JM/AC47), one flanking twin machine gun and two automatic rifle cloches (GFM), as well as an emergency exit. This block was particularly difficult to supply with ammunition, since it lacked a hoist, and all ordnance had to be carried by the troops.
• Block 2: Infantry block with one retractable twin machine gun turret and one GFM cloche. As with Block 1, no ammunition hoist was provided.
• Block 3: Artillery block with one retractable twin 75 mm gun turret and one GFM cloche. The block had an ammunition hoist with a capacity of 2.5 tonnes (2.5 long tons; 2.8 short tons).
• Block 4: Artillery block, identical to Block 3, with an additional observation cloche (VDP).
• Block 5: Artillery block with one retractable twin 81 mm mortar turret, one GFM block and one grenade launcher cloche (LG) (never armed). The hoist capacity was 500 kg (1,100 lb).
• Block 6: Infantry casemate, identical to Block 1, with a single GFM cloche.
• Block 7: Ammunition entry with two hoists of 5 and 2.5 tonnes (4.9 and 2.5 long tons; 5.5 and 2.8 short tons) capacity, two GFM cloches, three FM automatic rifle embrasures and one JM/AC47 embrasure.
• Block 8: Personnel entry with one GFM cloche, one LG cloche, one JM/AC47 embrasure and two FM automatic rifle embrasures.
The 1939 manning of the ouvrage under the command of Commandant Reynier comprised 491 men and 17 officers of the 22nd Fortress Infantry Regiment and the 156th Position Artillery Regiment.
History
1940
The fortification at Schoenenbourg is the one that saw the most combat between September 1939 and June 1940. Over this period, over 17,000 shells were fired from the fort, and it was itself the target of over 3000 shells and 160 bombs. Schoenenbourg was in action against the German 146th Infantry Division, which applied pressure along the Line. On 19 June 1940, German Stukas attacked Schoenenbourg and other ouvrages, returning on the 20th and 21st. The attacks on the 21st were joined by a bombardment with 420 mm siege mortars, lasting three days. The bombardment cracked walls, but did not disable the position. Schoenenbourg fired during this period in support of nearby casemates, not seriously affected by the bombardments. Schoenenbourg's turrets were retracted to receive the heavy shells, and raised during the lengthy reloading period for counterbattery fire. The inventory of German ordnance fired against Schoenenbourg was found to comprise 160 aerial bombs, 50 42 cm shells, 33 28 cm shells, and approximately 3000 smaller projectiles, the most ammunition used against any fortification in France. The surrender of Schoenenbourg was effected on 1 July 1940.
1945
No fighting took place in the area of Schoenenbourg during the American advances of 1945, but the retreating Germans of the 245th Infantry Division caused extensive damage in March, using explosives to wreck the entrances and turrets, along with a number of nearby casemates. The U.S. 36th Infantry Divisiontook possession of the damaged ouvrage on 20 March 1945.
Cold War
In the 1950s interest in the Maginot Line was renewed. In 1951, Lembach, Four-à-Chaux, Hochwald and Schoenenbourg were designated the Môle de Haguenau, a point of resistance against a potential invasion by forces of the Warsaw Pact. By the late 1950s interest in fixed fortifications was waning after France developed a nuclear deterrent. The money needed to maintain and upgrade the fortifications was diverted for the nuclear programs. Schoenenbourg was not manned or maintained after the early 1970s.