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Origin and history

La Ferté is a small infantry fort on the Maginot line, built between 1935 and 1937. It consists of two blocks connected by an underground gallery, equipped with machine guns, machine guns, and anti-tank guns of 25 and 47 mm. Its strategic position at the northern end of the line made it a vulnerable point, all the more so as it lacked heavy artillery support and effective rear defences.

Designed to withstand attacks from the north and east, it was surprised by a German offensive from the west in May 1940. On 18 May, after days of fierce fighting and intensive shelling by 250 German guns, the two blocks were neutralized by explosive charges. The 106 members of the garrison, commanded by Lieutenant Maurice Bourguignon, died asphyxiated in the underground gallery, victims of fires and toxic gases.

The fall of the work, which occurred on 19 May 1940, marked a strong symbol for German propaganda, although its military impact was limited. The soldiers' bodies were not recovered until June 1940 and buried in mass graves in Villy. Today, the site has been classified as Historic Monument since 1980 and is open to the public, managed by a local association dedicated to the memory of defenders.

The book illustrates the limits of the Maginot line, including its lack of defensive depth and its vulnerability to flank attacks. Despite its small size and limited means, there remains a poignant testimony of the French resistance in 1940 and of the sacrifices made. The remains, still marked by the impacts of the battle, recall the violence of the fighting and heroism of his garrison.

After the war, the work was ceded to the communes of La Ferté-sur-Chiers and Villy in 1971. Since 1973, the Villy-La Ferté Defenders' Remembrance Committee has ensured its preservation and openness to the public. Visits allow you to discover the damaged blocks, the underground gallery, and the equipment of the period, providing a unique overview of the living and fighting conditions of the Maginot line soldiers.

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