59:
308:, a salient in the French defensive lines along the Belgian border. The isolated area was one of the "New Fronts" to the west of the main Maginot Line, created to defend against the increased threat of a German advance through Belgium. The New Front positions suffered from restricted funding, as well as discontinuity in the fortification lines. Large distances between fortifications compared to earlier portions of the Line made mutual support between
66:
470:, whose entire garrison was killed when it was isolated and attacked three weeks earlier. The fortifications' arms and infrastructure were sabotaged before they were abandoned. Evacuation was complete by 12 June. The German 169th Infantry Division advanced to take possession of Vélosnes and other
438:
under the command of
Captain Sachy comprised 246 men and 6 officers of the 155th Fortress Infantry Regiment. The units were under the umbrella of the 2nd Army, Army Group 1. The Casernement de Saint-Jean-Marville provided peacetime above-ground barracks and support services to Vélosnes and other
485:
was stripped by the
Germans, and again after the war by scrap dealers. However, a number of 75mm artillery rounds were found in Block 5 in 1994. The army removed the material and blocked access to the block. The openings for the missing turrets have been blocked with rails.
544:
as the preferred term for the
Maginot positions, in preference to "fort", a term usually reserved for older fortifications with passive defensives in the form of walls and ditches. The literal translation of
328:(generating plant) and ammunition magazine branching off its short main gallery just inside the entrance block. A fifth combat block was planned with a second 75mm gun turret, but was never carried out. The
498:
itself is a habitat for bats and is not accessible to the public. Openings are grilled off to allow access for the bats. A trail with interpretive plaques winds through the surface features.
301:), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, with plan approval in 1934. Work by the contractor Demenois-Beaumont of Verdun began in 1934 at a cost of 35.3 million francs.
58:
1068:
1561:
997:
932:
281:. The position was sabotaged and abandoned by French forces that were ordered to retreat from the exposed position in June 1940 during the
89:
522:
844:
1540:
980:
963:
946:
918:
904:
653:
619:
585:
363:: infantry block with one GFM cloche, one GFM/observation cloche, one AM cloche, one twin machine gun embrasure and one machine gun/
1373:
1169:
1136:
1061:
450:
259:
213:
1467:
1217:
1085:
458:
From
September 1939 to June 1940 the 75mm turret at Vélosnes fired 10,000 rounds at German forces and positions. During the
1411:
507:
206:
1495:
1429:
1103:
1475:
1033:
1285:
1054:
466:
were ordered to withdraw the night of 10–11 June 1940 to straighten French lines, and to avoid the fate of nearby
1348:
1358:
1303:
1485:
1566:
1508:
1343:
1225:
1419:
1197:
1192:
1177:
1308:
1144:
1121:
467:
386:
364:
1452:
1396:
1363:
1293:
1260:
1250:
1245:
1187:
1116:
1270:
1202:
406:: Single block with one JM/AC47 embrasure, one JM embrasure, one AM cloche and one GFM-B cloche.
1457:
1447:
1437:
1401:
1391:
1333:
1328:
1154:
1111:
993:
976:
959:
942:
928:
914:
900:
649:
615:
581:
478:
278:
267:
178:
1503:
1442:
1386:
1323:
1265:
1255:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1149:
1126:
459:
282:
174:
1021:
1480:
1381:
1338:
1313:
1182:
1037:
453:
for a broader discussion of the events of 1940 in the Montmédy sector of the
Maginot Line.
332:
occupies a hilltop site with the turret block at the summit and the entrance to the rear.
385:: combined on-grade entrance with two automatic rifle cloches (GFM) and one machine gun/
1318:
1298:
1275:
1207:
512:
393:
A number of small blockhouses are associated with Vélosnes, as well as four casemates:
274:. It possesses four combat blocks and one entrance block. It is located to the east of
1555:
1353:
517:
1077:
1012:
255:
36:
867:
787:
760:
733:
706:
679:
1524:
1093:
17:
340:
104:
91:
354:
344:
1030:
553:
is a large fortification with a significant artillery component, while a
1046:
494:
The site is a nature preserve administered by the
Lorraine region. The
271:
412:: Artillery casemate with one 75mm gun embrasure and one GFM-B cloche.
911:
Fortress France: The
Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II
646:
Fortress France: The
Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II
373:(unbuilt): artillery block with one 75mm twin retractable gun turret.
45:
923:
Kaufmann, J.E., Kaufmann, H.W., Jancovič-Potočnik, A. and Lang, P.
379:: artillery block with one 75mm two-gun turret and a GFM cloche.
263:
1050:
357:, one AM cloche, one GFM cloche and one GFM/observation cloche.
678:
Puelinckx, Jean; Aublet, Jean-Louis; Mainguin, Sylvie (2010).
648:. Westport, CT: Praeger Security International. p. 13.
610:
Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques (2003).
576:
Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques (2001).
549:
in the sense of a fortification in
English is "work." A
289:
is abandoned and is administered as a nature preserve.
614:(in French). Histoire & Collections. p. 77.
580:(in French). Histoire & Collections. p. 52.
1533:
1517:
1494:
1466:
1428:
1410:
1372:
1284:
1216:
1168:
1135:
1102:
1084:
988:Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques.
971:Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques.
954:Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques.
937:Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques.
304:Vélosnes is one of four positions in the so-called
237:
229:
221:
205:
193:
188:
170:
162:
154:
149:
141:
133:
125:
120:
83:
29:
418:: Artillery casemate with one 75mm gun embrasure.
400:: Block with one AM cloche and one GFM-B cloche.
299:Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées
990:Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 5.
973:Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 3.
956:Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 2.
939:Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 1.
612:Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 3
578:Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 1
1062:
540:English-language sources use the French term
8:
1069:
1055:
1047:
605:
603:
601:
599:
597:
185:
26:
992:Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009.
975:Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2003.
958:Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2003.
941:Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2001.
838:
836:
65:
644:Kaufmann, J.E.; Kaufmann, H.W. (2006).
568:
533:
347:and one retractable machine gun turret.
225:155th Fortress Infantry Regiment (RIF)
866:Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010).
786:Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010).
759:Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010).
732:Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010).
705:Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010).
7:
925:The Maginot Line: History and Guide
422:None of these are connected to the
909:Kaufmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W.
523:Czechoslovak border fortifications
477:The area saw no action during the
474:in the salient on 13 June 1940.
25:
1541:Defensive Organization of Corsica
899:Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003.
845:"Gros ouvrage (G.O.) de Velosnes"
508:List of all works on Maginot Line
324:, with its underground barracks,
166:Concrete, steel, deep excavation
64:
57:
1374:Fortified Sector of Faulquemont
1170:Fortified Sector of the Crusnes
320:Vélosnes is a relatively small
297:The site was surveyed by CORF (
1468:Fortified Sector of the Vosges
1218:Fortified Sector of Thionville
1086:Fortified Sector of the Escaut
557:is smaller, with lighter arms.
1:
1412:Fortified Sector of the Sarre
481:of 1944. The interior of the
341:automatic rifle cloches (GFM)
1562:Fortified Sector of Montmédy
1496:Fortified Sector of Haguenau
1430:Fortified Sector of Rohrbach
1137:Fortified Sector of Montmédy
1104:Fortified Sector of Maubeuge
868:"Vélosnes (gros ouvrage de)"
451:Fortified Sector of Montmédy
439:fortifications in the area.
355:grenade launcher cloche (LG)
260:Fortified Sector of Montmédy
214:Fortified Sector of Montmédy
847:(in French). darkplaces.org
1583:
1286:Fortified Sector of Boulay
1013:Velosnes (gros ouvrage de)
353:: infantry block with one
339:: infantry block with two
217:└─Tête du Pont de Montmédy
145:Abandoned, nature preserve
913:, Stackpole Books, 2006.
897:The Maginot Line 1928-45.
872:Index de la Ligne Maginot
830:Mary, Tome 3, pp. 189-190
792:Index de la Ligne Maginot
788:"Vélosnes (go de) Bloc 6"
765:Index de la Ligne Maginot
761:"Vélosnes (go de) Bloc 5"
738:Index de la Ligne Maginot
734:"Vélosnes (go de) Bloc 3"
711:Index de la Ligne Maginot
707:"Vélosnes (go de) Bloc 2"
684:Index de la Ligne Maginot
680:"Vélosnes (go de) Bloc 1"
398:Casemate d'Ecouviez Ouest
52:
42:
34:
464:Tête de Pont de Montmédy
434:The 1940 manning of the
306:Tête du Pont de Montmédy
927:, Pen and Sword, 2011.
874:(in French). fortiff.be
794:(in French). fortiff.be
767:(in French). fortiff.be
740:(in French). fortiff.be
713:(in French). fortiff.be
686:(in French). fortiff.be
410:Casemate de la Laiterie
404:Casemate d'Ecouviez Est
293:Design and construction
197:Large artillery work (
416:Casemate de Villecloye
345:mixed-arms cloche (AM)
1078:Maginot Line Ouvrages
462:the garrisons of the
262:between the towns of
1024:at lignemaginot.com
843:Wahl, J.-B. (2010).
821:Mary, Tome 3, p. 205
634:Mary, Tome 3, p. 165
389:(JM/AC47) embrasure.
367:(JM/AC47) embrasure.
254:(large work) of the
105:49.49917°N 5.45314°E
1031:Ouvrage de Velosnes
1022:Ouvrage de Velosnes
812:Mary, Tome 3, p. 72
241:6 officers, 246 men
101: /
1518:Petit Maginot Line
1040:at wikimaginot.eu
1036:2016-04-06 at the
895:Allcorn, William.
426:or to each other.
387:47mm anti-tank gun
365:47mm anti-tank gun
134:Controlled by
1549:
1548:
1349:Coume Annexe Nord
998:978-2-35250-127-5
933:978-1-84884-068-3
490:Current condition
479:Lorraine Campaign
258:, located in the
245:
244:
230:Number of blocks:
184:
183:
179:Lorraine Campaign
110:49.49917; 5.45314
16:(Redirected from
1574:
1476:Grand-Hohékirkel
1359:Coume Annexe Sud
1304:Mont des Welches
1071:
1064:
1057:
1048:
1043:
1027:
1018:
1002:
985:
968:
951:
884:
883:
881:
879:
863:
857:
856:
854:
852:
840:
831:
828:
822:
819:
813:
810:
804:
803:
801:
799:
783:
777:
776:
774:
772:
756:
750:
749:
747:
745:
729:
723:
722:
720:
718:
702:
696:
695:
693:
691:
675:
669:
666:
660:
659:
641:
635:
632:
626:
625:
607:
592:
591:
573:
558:
538:
468:Ouvrage La Ferté
460:Battle of France
283:Battle of France
248:Ouvrage Vélosnes
189:Ouvrage Vélosnes
186:
175:Battle of France
121:Site information
116:
115:
113:
112:
111:
106:
102:
99:
98:
97:
94:
72:Ouvrage Vélosnes
68:
67:
61:
48:
30:Ouvrage Vélosnes
27:
21:
18:Ouvrage Velosnes
1582:
1581:
1577:
1576:
1575:
1573:
1572:
1571:
1552:
1551:
1550:
1545:
1529:
1513:
1490:
1462:
1424:
1406:
1368:
1280:
1212:
1164:
1131:
1098:
1080:
1075:
1041:
1038:Wayback Machine
1025:
1016:
1009:
1000:
983:
966:
949:
892:
887:
877:
875:
865:
864:
860:
850:
848:
842:
841:
834:
829:
825:
820:
816:
811:
807:
797:
795:
785:
784:
780:
770:
768:
758:
757:
753:
743:
741:
731:
730:
726:
716:
714:
704:
703:
699:
689:
687:
677:
676:
672:
667:
663:
656:
643:
642:
638:
633:
629:
622:
609:
608:
595:
588:
575:
574:
570:
566:
561:
539:
535:
531:
504:
492:
445:
432:
318:
295:
216:
209:
129:Lorraine region
109:
107:
103:
100:
95:
92:
90:
88:
87:
79:
78:
77:
76:
75:
74:
73:
69:
43:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1580:
1578:
1570:
1569:
1564:
1554:
1553:
1547:
1546:
1544:
1543:
1537:
1535:
1531:
1530:
1528:
1527:
1521:
1519:
1515:
1514:
1512:
1511:
1506:
1500:
1498:
1492:
1491:
1489:
1488:
1483:
1478:
1472:
1470:
1464:
1463:
1461:
1460:
1455:
1450:
1445:
1440:
1434:
1432:
1426:
1425:
1423:
1422:
1416:
1414:
1408:
1407:
1405:
1404:
1402:Ouvrage Téting
1399:
1394:
1389:
1384:
1378:
1376:
1370:
1369:
1367:
1366:
1361:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1326:
1321:
1316:
1311:
1306:
1301:
1296:
1290:
1288:
1282:
1281:
1279:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1222:
1220:
1214:
1213:
1211:
1210:
1205:
1200:
1195:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1174:
1172:
1166:
1165:
1163:
1162:
1157:
1152:
1147:
1141:
1139:
1133:
1132:
1130:
1129:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1108:
1106:
1100:
1099:
1097:
1096:
1090:
1088:
1082:
1081:
1076:
1074:
1073:
1066:
1059:
1051:
1045:
1044:
1028:
1019:
1015:at fortiff.be
1008:
1007:External links
1005:
1004:
1003:
986:
969:
952:
935:
921:
907:
891:
888:
886:
885:
858:
832:
823:
814:
805:
778:
751:
724:
697:
670:
668:Kaufmann, p.20
661:
654:
636:
627:
620:
593:
586:
567:
565:
562:
560:
559:
532:
530:
527:
526:
525:
520:
515:
513:Siegfried Line
510:
503:
500:
491:
488:
456:
455:
444:
441:
431:
428:
420:
419:
413:
407:
401:
391:
390:
380:
374:
368:
358:
348:
317:
314:
294:
291:
243:
242:
239:
235:
234:
231:
227:
226:
223:
219:
218:
211:
203:
202:
195:
191:
190:
182:
181:
172:
168:
167:
164:
160:
159:
156:
152:
151:
147:
146:
143:
139:
138:
135:
131:
130:
127:
123:
122:
118:
117:
85:
81:
80:
71:
70:
63:
62:
56:
55:
54:
53:
50:
49:
40:
39:
32:
31:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1579:
1568:
1565:
1563:
1560:
1559:
1557:
1542:
1539:
1538:
1536:
1532:
1526:
1523:
1522:
1520:
1516:
1510:
1509:Schoenenbourg
1507:
1505:
1502:
1501:
1499:
1497:
1493:
1487:
1484:
1482:
1479:
1477:
1474:
1473:
1471:
1469:
1465:
1459:
1456:
1454:
1451:
1449:
1446:
1444:
1441:
1439:
1436:
1435:
1433:
1431:
1427:
1421:
1418:
1417:
1415:
1413:
1409:
1403:
1400:
1398:
1395:
1393:
1390:
1388:
1385:
1383:
1380:
1379:
1377:
1375:
1371:
1365:
1362:
1360:
1357:
1355:
1352:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1344:Village Coume
1342:
1340:
1337:
1335:
1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1312:
1310:
1307:
1305:
1302:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1291:
1289:
1287:
1283:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1226:Rochonvillers
1224:
1223:
1221:
1219:
1215:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1194:
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1176:
1175:
1173:
1171:
1167:
1161:
1158:
1156:
1153:
1151:
1148:
1146:
1143:
1142:
1140:
1138:
1134:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1109:
1107:
1105:
1101:
1095:
1092:
1091:
1089:
1087:
1083:
1079:
1072:
1067:
1065:
1060:
1058:
1053:
1052:
1049:
1039:
1035:
1032:
1029:
1023:
1020:
1014:
1011:
1010:
1006:
999:
995:
991:
987:
982:
981:2-913903-88-6
978:
974:
970:
965:
964:2-908182-97-1
961:
957:
953:
948:
947:2-908182-88-2
944:
940:
936:
934:
930:
926:
922:
920:
919:0-275-98345-5
916:
912:
908:
906:
905:1-84176-646-1
902:
898:
894:
893:
889:
873:
869:
862:
859:
846:
839:
837:
833:
827:
824:
818:
815:
809:
806:
793:
789:
782:
779:
766:
762:
755:
752:
739:
735:
728:
725:
712:
708:
701:
698:
685:
681:
674:
671:
665:
662:
657:
655:0-275-98345-5
651:
647:
640:
637:
631:
628:
623:
621:2-913903-88-6
617:
613:
606:
604:
602:
600:
598:
594:
589:
587:2-908182-88-2
583:
579:
572:
569:
563:
556:
555:petit ouvrage
552:
548:
543:
537:
534:
528:
524:
521:
519:
518:Atlantic Wall
516:
514:
511:
509:
506:
505:
501:
499:
497:
489:
487:
484:
480:
475:
473:
469:
465:
461:
454:
452:
447:
446:
442:
440:
437:
429:
427:
425:
417:
414:
411:
408:
405:
402:
399:
396:
395:
394:
388:
384:
381:
378:
375:
372:
369:
366:
362:
359:
356:
352:
349:
346:
342:
338:
335:
334:
333:
331:
327:
323:
315:
313:
311:
307:
302:
300:
292:
290:
288:
284:
280:
277:
276:petit ouvrage
273:
269:
265:
261:
257:
253:
249:
240:
236:
232:
228:
224:
220:
215:
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
194:Type of work:
192:
187:
180:
176:
173:
169:
165:
161:
157:
155:Built by
153:
148:
144:
140:
136:
132:
128:
124:
119:
114:
86:
82:
60:
51:
47:
41:
38:
33:
28:
19:
1567:Maginot Line
1486:Four-à-Chaux
1420:Haut-Poirier
1198:Bois-du-Four
1193:Mauvais-Bois
1178:Ferme Chappy
1159:
989:
972:
955:
938:
924:
910:
896:
890:Bibliography
876:. Retrieved
871:
861:
849:. Retrieved
826:
817:
808:
796:. Retrieved
791:
781:
769:. Retrieved
764:
754:
742:. Retrieved
737:
727:
715:. Retrieved
710:
700:
688:. Retrieved
683:
673:
664:
645:
639:
630:
611:
577:
571:
554:
551:gros ouvrage
550:
546:
541:
536:
495:
493:
482:
476:
471:
463:
457:
448:
435:
433:
423:
421:
415:
409:
403:
397:
392:
382:
376:
370:
360:
350:
336:
329:
325:
322:gros ouvrage
321:
319:
309:
305:
303:
298:
296:
286:
275:
256:Maginot Line
252:gros ouvrage
251:
247:
246:
210:└─sub-sector
199:Gros ouvrage
198:
171:Battles/wars
150:Site history
37:Maginot Line
1525:Alpine Line
1309:Michelsberg
1122:La Salmagne
1042:(in French)
1026:(in French)
1017:(in French)
1001:(in French)
984:(in French)
967:(in French)
950:(in French)
316:Description
312:difficult.
108: /
84:Coordinates
1556:Categories
1453:Schiesseck
1397:Laudrefang
1364:Mottenberg
1294:Hackenberg
1261:Galgenberg
1251:Kobenbusch
1246:Bois-Karre
1188:Latiremont
1117:Bersillies
564:References
93:49°29′57″N
44:Northeast
1458:Otterbiel
1448:Simserhof
1438:Welschhof
1392:Einseling
1334:Bovenberg
1329:Berenbach
1155:Thonnelle
1112:Les Sarts
279:Thonnelle
270:, facing
238:Strength:
222:Regiment:
163:Materials
142:Condition
96:5°27′11″E
1504:Hochwald
1443:Rohrbach
1387:Bambesch
1324:Anzeling
1266:Sentzich
1256:Oberheid
1241:Soetrich
1236:Immerhof
1231:Molvange
1160:Vélosnes
1150:Chesnois
1145:La Ferté
1127:Boussois
1034:Archived
502:See also
472:ouvrages
310:ouvrages
268:Vélosnes
35:Part of
1534:Corsica
1481:Lembach
1382:Kerfent
1339:Denting
1314:Hobling
1271:Métrich
1203:Bréhain
1183:Fermont
547:ouvrage
542:ouvrage
496:ouvrage
483:ouvrage
443:History
436:ouvrage
430:Manning
424:ouvrage
383:Block 6
377:Block 5
371:Block 4
361:Block 3
351:Block 2
337:Block 1
330:ouvrage
287:ouvrage
272:Belgium
1319:Bousse
1299:Coucou
1276:Billig
1208:Aumetz
996:
979:
962:
945:
931:
917:
903:
878:12 May
851:12 May
798:12 May
771:12 May
744:12 May
717:12 May
690:12 May
652:
618:
584:
343:, one
285:. The
207:sector
137:France
46:France
1354:Coume
529:Notes
326:usine
250:is a
126:Owner
994:ISBN
977:ISBN
960:ISBN
943:ISBN
929:ISBN
915:ISBN
901:ISBN
880:2010
853:2010
800:2010
773:2010
746:2010
719:2010
692:2010
650:ISBN
616:ISBN
582:ISBN
449:See
266:and
264:Othe
158:CORF
1094:Eth
1558::
870:.
835:^
790:.
763:.
736:.
709:.
682:.
596:^
177:,
1070:e
1063:t
1056:v
882:.
855:.
802:.
775:.
748:.
721:.
694:.
658:.
624:.
590:.
233:4
201:)
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
