Ouvrage Hochwald
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| Ouvrage Hochwald | |
|---|---|
| Part of Maginot Line | |
| Northeast France | |
 Block 6 |
|
| Built | |
| Construction materials |
Concrete, steel |
| In use | |
| Current condition |
In use by French Air Force |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Controlled by | France |
| Battles/wars | Battle of France |
| Type of work: | Large artillery work (Grand ouvrage) |
|---|---|
| sector └─sub-sector |
Fortified Sector of Haguenau └─Sub-sector of Hoffen |
| Number of blocks: | 13 |
Ouvrage Hochwald is an ouvrage of the Maginot Line. Located in the Fortified Sector of Haguenau in the community of Drachenbronn-Birlenbach, it was designed to protect the Northern Vosges region. The Ouvrage Hochwald is often considered as two separate ouvrages because of the anti-tank ditch separating the western and the eastern portions of the ouvrage, and is the largest of the Maginot ouvrages in Alsace. Uniquely, original plans for the position included an elevated battery to the rear with long-range 145mm or 155mm gun turrets [1]
Contents |
[edit] Description
Ouvrage Hochwald includes ten combat blocks and three entrance blocks: five combat blocks located on each side, an ammunition entrance, a personnel entrance located on the back side and an intermediate personnel entrance located in the middle of the principal gallery.
[edit] Eastern wing
- Block 1: A casemate block with one 135mm gun turret, one 135mm gun embrasure, one automatic rifle cloche (GFM) and one observation cloche (VDP).
- Block 2: A submerged (in the earth) block with one 81mm mortar turret, one GFM cloche and on machine gun cloche (JM).
- Block 3: A casemate block with two 75mm gun embrasures, two machine gun/47mm anti-tank gun embrasures (JM/AC47), two GFM cloches and two 50mm mortar embrasures.
- Block 5: A submerged block wit one machine gun turret.
- Block 6: A casemate with three 75mm gun embrasures, one grenade launcher cloche (LG), one GFM cloche and one JM cloche.
- Block 7 bis: A submerged block with one 75mm gun turret and one GFM cloche.
[edit] Western wing
- Block 12: A casemate block with two 75mm gun embrasures, one GFM cloche and one VDP cloche.
- Block 13: A casemate block with one 135mm gun embrasure, one JM/AC47 embrasure, one JM embrasure and two GFM cloches
- Block 14: A submerged block with one 135mm gun turret, one GFM cloche and one VDP cloche.
- Block 15: A submerged block with one machine gun turret and one GFM cloche.
- Block 16: A casemate block with two 75mm embrasures, two JM/AC47 embrasures, two 50mm mortar embrasures and two GFM cloches.
[edit] History
Hochwald was one of the most active ouvrages during the Phoney War of 1939-1940. On October 8-9 1939, Hochwald fired in support of French patrols, revealing deficiencies in gun mounts and ammunition[2]. In November the ouvrage fired on German minelayers. During the Battle of France in June 1940, Hochwald remained unmolested until 16 June, when it fired on Germans moving toward Lembach and received artillery fire and Stuka attacks in return. Attacks came again on the 20th, and Hochwald fired in support of Lembach. More aerial attacks followed on the 22nd.
[edit] Current condition
Hochwald is part of the French Air Force Drachenbronn Air Base, and is used as a hardened command center. It is closed to the public except for the Pierre Jost Museum, which is open on days of national remembrance. Another Maginot ouvrage, Mont Agel of the Alpine Line, performs a similar function in southeastern France.
[edit] References
- Allcorn, William. The Maginot Line 1928-45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84176-646-1
- Kauffmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W. Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II, 2006. ISBN 0-275-98345-5
