The region around these two cities is excellent for military historians and industrial archeologists. This region has historically been in contention between France and Germany, occupied by each nation for various periods and captured during various wars. Remnants of fortifications from the early 1800s up to the cold war are found throughout the fields and forests of Northern France, including the Maginot line, German bunkers, and abandoned town forts. Metz has three rings of fortifications surrounding it, the innermost dating from the early 1800s, the middle from the mid 1800s, and the outer from WWI. Thionville has several major Maginot Line complexes buried nearby, with many minor bunkers in between.
Metz Fortification Rings:
A labyrinth of ammunition tunnels under the inner city ring make up
the "Metz Catacombs".
A large 1850s fort, still used for military training.
Another mid-1800s fort. This one had some kind of religious ceremony
going on, we probably pissed
off their god(s) with our annoying music.
German forts from around 1915 in the outer Metz ring. Some of these
were upgraded and used by the
French during WWII, but none were designed to be gas proof.
Third ring gun positions
These forts were precursors to the Maginot line. Despite not being
airtight or gas proof, they had extensive tunnel networks
connecting independant artillery positions, and some had underground
power stations, hidden ammunition bunkers, and shielded
gun turrets as seen above.The tunnels are much shallower than the Maginot
line, some have collapsed or flooded, and at
least one appeared to have been destroyed with explosives.
Don't lick the toad Jim!
Ligne Maginot.
The design and conception of the Maginot line is truly impressive, if
misguided. To learn more you can check out one of these fine sites:
http://www.bunkertours.co.uk/maginot_line_2000.htm,
http://www.maginot-line.com/ang/c_sommaire.htm,
http://europeanhistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa070601a.htm.
Aboveground Features:
The Maginot Line forts had "Pop-Up" turrets which could retract into
the ground for protection, then emerge and open fire on enemy tanks
and troops. It was rare to find one in the extended position, although
some can still be raised manually from inside thanks to large
counterweights. The smaller fixed domes were used for observation and
target plotting, as well as guarding entrances with machineguns.
Some entrances have been filled with dirt, others are welded shut.
A few bunkers have been damaged by scrap metal salvagers, and some by enemy
fire.
A few of these Overages are still owned by the military and have been
used through the cold war and up to the present day.
Underground:
A small bunker 5x better than anything in Alaska, but this was before
we'd seen the real bunkers. Jim declared this to be shit
despite the deep shelter under two gun positions, and the interesting
drain / escape tunnel. Nivelo was attacked by French bugs
in the drain.
The larger "Gros Overages" were equipped with electric subway trains
running on mine gauge track. Overhead catenary wires
supplied power and flat cars moved munitionsand men around. Jim and
Nivelo waited at the "Gare" (Station) and eventually
the Maginot Metro showed up!
Most of the turrets in this Overage still had guns installed. We were
able to crank various gears and rotate the turrets, and we probably
could have fired the double-barrel antitank cannon if there had been
any ammo left. The entire structure of these turrets was designed
to rotate, including the underground loading machinery, gunner's position,
and the ladder leading up into the dome.
Tunnels, doors, unfinished passages, signalling telegraph, ammo monorail
crane, and shell return chute.
In the "Usine" (Factory), were the generators, air filtration system,
machine shop, fuel tanks, and other support equipment.
Spare parts and more dangerous leftovers. It's da bomb, yo!
Random photos: Driving too fast, the shoe stealing fence, a random
building, and what you get when you order
Spaghetti at a dirty truck stop in France.