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RF Metz-Thionville-Longwy was planned to provide a protected area from which to counter-attack an enemy moving into France along the Sarre, to protect the industrial regions, and to anchor the right flank of the northern armies. The German fortifications of
Thionville and Metz were to be incorporated into the region, while the forts of Verdun, to the rear, were to be kept in reserve without renovation
282:(more lightly armed infantry works), as well as more than one hundred casemates and infantry shelters in the RF Metz. In 1929 an initial appropriation of 1,498,000,000 francs was allotted to the RF Metz, the most expensive region in the Maginot system. The highest-priority positions in the RF Metz were
300:
From 1931 new projects were developed to extend the RF Metz to the west from
Rochonvillers to Longuyon, and eastward to the Sarre. The left, or western wing was allocated an additional 400,000,000 francs. By the end of 1935, when CORF was disestablished, the sector's positions were being commissioned
246:
in addition to the previously-identified routes. It reiterated the proposed fortified regions around Metz, Belfort and along the Lauter. The report formalized the concept of the fortified region, to be about 60 kilometres (37 mi) in depth, a distance dictated by the range of heavy artillery. The
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be protected by new fortifications. The report noted that the frontier with
Belgium would be difficult to fortify. The committee's final report proposed a continuous fortification from the Swiss border north to the Lauter, and west to Longwy, with the area of the Sarre, which faced the demilitarized
242:, to once again consider the question of the frontiers. The commissioned was charged with formulating specific recommendations for defenses and for the incorporation of the existing defenses of Metz and Belfort. The report again listed potential invasion routes, listing the area to the northeast of
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The regions were to provide locations in which to confront an enemy and from which to launch an offensive to carry the battle onto enemy territory. The Metz region was considered a potential base for a counter-offensive should border defenses be pierced and
Lorraine threatened, possibly using the
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The line of the fortifications was modified in 1927 to leave Longwy exposed, anchoring the right end of the region instead at
Longuyon. This allowed optimal siting of fortifications on the heights behind Longwy, rather than contending with the town's basin and its close proximity to the border.
95:. The 1919 study recommended the creation of a mobile army that could carry war to the territory of an enemy, supported by frontier defenses that would prevent an enemy from penetrating French territory. The second part of the recommendation was to involve the creation of fortified regions (
297:, and seven infantry positions. Four interval casemates were built in 1930. At the same time, a program to provide the Line with long-range artillery was gradually dropped as costs mounted. By November 1930 the RF Metz had been allocated 2,298,000,000 francs.
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The
Fortified Region of Metz was organized as the 6th Military Region in peacetime. On 2 September 1939 a general mobilization of French forces was declared. Reserves were called up and the Maginot Line was fully manned. The
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as chairman. Disagreement arose between supporters of Pétain, who favored continuous light defenses covering concentrations of troops and construction materials for field fortifications, and supporters of
Marshal
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274:, or CORF, was established on 30 September 1927 to oversee the design, financing and construction of the Maginot Line. Its first priorities were the Metz and Lauter regions. CORF built 14
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plateau, the last two directly affecting the Metz industrial basin, home of much of France's coal and steel industry. The CDT recommended that the industrial area of Metz-Thionville-
154:, who advocated fortified regions like the ring of forts around Verdun, that had performed well during the first world war. The committee dissolved without reaching any conclusions.
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325:, with Army command exercising a more direct control over the four sectors. At the time of its dissolution, the RF Metz was commanded by General Le Maignon de Kérengat from the
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293:, with work beginning in 1929. A continuation of the construction campaign starting in 1930 resulted in the construction of three more large positions, six lesser artillery
138:. With the recovery of these territories following World War I, most of the Séré de Rivières forts were deep in the interior of northeastern France and not useful.
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at Metz. After the dissolution of the fortified region, the staff was transferred to the 42nd
Fortress Army Corps, formerly the SF Crusnes.
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234:. No specific recommendations on the location or character of the defenses were made. The Commission on Defense of the Frontiers (
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44:. The region was dissolved as a military organization on 18 March 1940, its command personnel moving to the 42nd Army Corps.
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The CDT's report proposed that offensive operations into
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24:. The region was established in 1926 as a military organization for the French fortifications along the frontier with
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An area to the west of the Rhine to prevent an incursion across the land frontier with
Germany onto the Alsace plain.
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for the French and German fortifications of the late 19th and early 20th century around Metz and Thionville
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The region was given the highest priority in funding, manning and equipment of all Maginot regions.
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and garrisoned. However, budget cuts were felt in the eastern wing, where the expansion of several
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Following the First World War, French defense policy was re-examined at the order of Marshal
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The Fortified Region of Metz was disestablished on 18 March 1940, two months before the
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of the 1880s were designed to defend the frontiers of France that existed following the
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former German fortifications of Metz and Strasbourg. The previous fortifications of the
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in northeastern France, forming a shield to the north of the industrialized areas of
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The RF Metz was again proposed in 1922 by the Territorial Defense Commission (
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An area in Lorraine to defend the coal-mining regions in the Sarre basin.
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and a northern region defending the Alsace plain to the frontier on the
29:
540:
Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II
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The Rhine frontier, with two fortified regions, one to the south of
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Kaufmann, J.E., Kaufmann, H.W., Jancovič-Potočnik, A. and Lang, P.
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comprised the central and most heavily fortified portion of the
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was deferred to 1940, never started after war threatened.
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583:Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques.
566:Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques.
263:German officers entering the ammunition entry at
585:Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 3.
568:Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 1.
272:Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiés
201:The Fortified Region of Metz-Thionville-Longwy
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644:Fortifications of the French frontier in 1940
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58:The region was divided into four sectors:
587:Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2003.
570:Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2001.
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159:commission de défense du territoire
718:SF Rohrbach (Maginot New Frontiers)
688:SF Montmédy (Maginot New Frontiers)
678:SF Maubeuge (Maginot New Frontiers)
554:The Maginot Line: History and Guide
278:(large artillery positions) and 24
236:commission de défense des frontiers
769:(includes the Little Maginot Line/
538:Kaufmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W.
204:The Fortified Region of the Lauter
14:
1317:Defensive Organization of Corsica
673:SF Escaut (Maginot New Frontiers)
528:Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003.
650:Northern and northeastern France
143:Conseil Supérieure de la Guerre
1150:Fortified Sector of Faulquemont
946:Fortified Sector of the Crusnes
78:Fortified Sector of Faulquemont
63:Fortified Sector of the Crusnes
1244:Fortified Sector of the Vosges
994:Fortified Sector of Thionville
862:Fortified Sector of the Escaut
68:Fortified Sector of Thionville
1:
1188:Fortified Sector of the Sarre
610:at darkplaces.org (in German)
519:incorporated into the RF Metz
1272:Fortified Sector of Haguenau
1206:Fortified Sector of Rohrbach
913:Fortified Sector of Montmédy
880:Fortified Sector of Maubeuge
209:Fortified region of Belfort
130:, in which France had lost
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1062:Fortified Sector of Boulay
73:Fortified Sector of Boulay
542:, Stackpole Books, 2006.
526:The Maginot Line 1928-45.
1338:Fortified Region of Metz
708:SF Faulquemont (Maginot)
443:Mary, Tome 3, pp. 79-116
18:Fortified Region of Metz
556:, Pen and Sword, 2011.
461:Mary, Tome 1, pp. 26-27
398:Mary, Tome 1, pp. 13-14
124:Séré de Rivières system
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339:Fortifications of Metz
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854:Maginot Line Ouvrages
728:SF Haguenau (Maginot)
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318:continued into 1940.
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698:Thionville (Maginot)
693:SF Crusnes (Maginot)
515:, one of the German
327:Fort de Saint-Julien
767:Southeastern France
723:SF Vosges (Maginot)
703:SF Boulay (Maginot)
497:Mary, Tome 1, p. 70
488:Mary, Tome 3, p. 99
479:Mary, Tome 1, p. 31
470:Mary, Tome 1, p. 28
452:Mary, Tome 1, p. 24
434:Mary, Tome 1, p. 22
416:Mary, Tome 1, p. 20
389:Mary, Tome 1, p. 13
371:Mary, Tome 1, p. 12
362:Mary, Tome 3, p. 79
128:Franco-Prussian War
1294:Petit Maginot Line
795:SF Alpes-Maritimes
713:SF Sarre (Maginot)
524:Allcorn, William.
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513:Fort de Guentrange
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265:Ouvrage Hackenberg
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195:Ouvrage Latiremont
56:
53:Ouvrage Kobenbusch
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1125:Coume Annexe Nord
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562:978-1-84884-068-3
173:, and across the
97:regions fortifiés
51:Munitions entry,
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1252:Grand-Hohékirkel
1135:Coume Annexe Sud
1080:Mont des Welches
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1343:Maginot Line
1262:Four-à-Chaux
1196:Haut-Poirier
974:Bois-du-Four
969:Mauvais-Bois
954:Ferme Chappy
654:Maginot Line
608:Maginot Line
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1301:Alpine Line
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898:La Salmagne
790:SF Dauphiné
771:Alpine Line
748:SF Altkirch
743:SF Mulhouse
683:SD Ardennes
663:SF Flanders
596:(in French)
579:(in French)
163:Belfort Gap
1332:Categories
1229:Schiesseck
1173:Laudrefang
1140:Mottenberg
1070:Hackenberg
1037:Galgenberg
1027:Kobenbusch
1022:Bois-Karre
964:Latiremont
893:Bersillies
812:OD Corsica
346:References
316:Phoney War
309:Operations
291:Hackenberg
222:, then to
42:Thionville
26:Luxembourg
1234:Otterbiel
1224:Simserhof
1214:Welschhof
1168:Einseling
1110:Bovenberg
1105:Berenbach
931:Thonnelle
888:Les Sarts
738:SF Colmar
224:Ottweiler
193:Block 6,
1280:Hochwald
1219:Rohrbach
1163:Bambesch
1100:Anzeling
1042:Sentzich
1032:Oberheid
1017:Soetrich
1012:Immerhof
1007:Molvange
936:Vélosnes
926:Chesnois
921:La Ferté
903:Boussois
785:SF Savoy
780:SD Rhône
668:SF Lille
333:See also
295:ouvrages
284:ouvrages
244:Hunsrück
184:Saarland
175:Lorraine
169:and the
136:Lorraine
105:Mulhouse
87:Creation
34:Longuyon
1310:Corsica
1257:Lembach
1158:Kerfent
1115:Denting
1090:Hobling
1047:Métrich
979:Bréhain
959:Fermont
804:Corsica
758:SF Jura
228:Homburg
30:Germany
1095:Bousse
1075:Coucou
1052:Billig
984:Aumetz
591:
574:
560:
546:
532:
179:Longwy
132:Alsace
109:Lauter
1130:Coume
220:Trier
171:Rhine
589:ISBN
572:ISBN
558:ISBN
544:ISBN
530:ISBN
289:and
270:The
230:and
216:Konz
207:The
141:The
134:and
40:and
38:Metz
28:and
16:The
870:Eth
218:to
1334::
353:^
226:,
846:e
839:t
832:v
773:)
656:)
637:e
630:t
623:v
111:.
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