616:, a location that would be untenable in combat. This had profound effects on the forts' ability to endure a long assault. These service areas were placed directly opposite the barracks, which opened into the ditch in the rear of the fort (i.e., in the face towards Liège), with lesser protection than the two "salient" sides. This arrangement was calculated to place a weaker side to the rear to allow for recapture by Belgian forces from the rear, and in an age where mechanical ventilation was in its infancy, allowed natural ventilation of living quarters and support areas. However, the concept proved disastrous in practice. Heavy shellfire made the rear ditch untenable, and German forces were able to get between the forts and attack them from the rear. The massive German bombardment drove men into the central massif, where there were insufficient sanitary facilities for 500 men, rendering the air unbreathable, while the German artillery destroyed the forts from above and from the rear.
20:
142:
649:
plants, ventilation, sanitation and troop accommodations were improved, as well as communications. The work incorporated alterations that had already been made by the
Germans during their occupation of the forts in World War I. Most notably, the upgraded forts received defended air intake towers, intended to look like water towers, that could function as observation posts and emergency exits. The remaining two forts were used for ammunition storage.
559:
German forces were able to get between the forts and attack them from the rear. The forts were designed to be protected from shellfire equaling their heaviest guns: 21 cm. The top of the central massif used 4 metres (13 ft) of unreinforced concrete, while the caserne walls, judged to be less exposed, used 1.5 metres (4.9 ft). Under fire, the forts were damaged by 21 cm weapons and could not withstand heavier artillery.
121:, a new material and were equipped with the most modern arms available in 1888. The concrete was placed in mass, without reinforcement. Lack of useful night illumination in the 1880s meant that concrete could only be placed in daylight, causing weak joints between partially cured daily pours. The forts' heavy 12 cm, 15 cm and
619:
The Namur forts presented less of a check to the German advance than the Liège forts, as the
Germans quickly assimilated the lessons of Liège and applied them to the nearly identical fortifications of Namur, but taken together the Belgian fortifications held the German advance for several days longer
515:, with a central massif with concrete cover of 3 metres (9.8 ft) to 4 metres (13 ft) thickness, surrounded by a defended ditch 8 metres (26 ft) wide. The single entries are placed in the rear or the fort, facing Namur, with a long access ramp. The entry is defended by several elements:
116:
The forts were built to standard plans and were typically triangular to minimize the number of defensive batteries in the forts' defensive ditches, presenting their apex to the attacker. Construction began on 28 July 1888 by a French consortium, Hallier, Letellier Frères and Jules
Barratoux. The new
554:
In 1914 each fort also possessed a detachment of infantry which in theory could make sorties onto the surrounding cleared areas to harass a besieging enemy. In practice, it was impossible to make such sorties under German artillery fire. Happily for the defenders, the dispersion of German artillery
507:
All of the forts were built entirely in concrete, a new material for the time, rather than the more traditional masonry. The concrete was poured in mass, without reinforcement. The forts were equipped with guns of equal or greater power than those commonly used as siege artillery in 1888, 22 cm for
702:
In contrast to the Liège fortifications, where seven of the
Brialmont forts and all of the PFL forts may be visited, only one of the Namur forts is open to the public, Fort de St Heribert. It was buried for many years but since 2013 it is being excavated and restored, and can be visited the fourth
112:
could provide transport, food and fuel for an invader and
Brialmont recognized that France and Germany would once again go to war. By fortifying Liège and Namur, Belgium might deter France and Germany from fighting their next war in Belgium. The Liège fortifications were intended to deter Germany
648:
The
Belgians rebuilt seven of the Namur forts from 1929. The improvements addressed the shortcomings revealed by the battles of Liège and Namur. Improvements included replacing 21 cm howitzers with longer-range 15 cm guns, 15 cm howitzers with 120 mm guns, and adding machine guns. Generating
595:
During the siege of Namur the
Germans employed the lessons learned from their assault on the similar fortress ring of Liège. Unlike at Liège, where a quick German assault gave way to siege tactics, at Namur the Germans immediately deployed siege artillery on 21 August 1914. The guns included four
661:
in May 1940, the
Belgian VII Corps, consisting of the 8th Infantry Division and the Chasseurs Ardennais established a strong position in the Namur defenses, anchoring the southern end of the Dyle line. However, Namur was outflanked to the south by German forces that had broken the French line at
558:
The
Brialmont forts placed a weaker side to the rear to allow for recapture by Belgian forces from the rear, and located the barracks and support facilities on this side, using the rear ditch for light and ventilation of living spaces. In combat heavy shellfire made the rear ditch untenable, and
630:
The fortified position of Namur was conceived by a commission charged with recommending options for the rebuilding of
Belgium's defenses following World War I. The 1927 report recommended the construction of a line of new fortifications to the east of the Meuse. These new forts included
555:
fire was considerable. At least 60% of German shells, and more for large pieces, failed to find their targets. The fortress guns were less powerful than the German guns, but were more accurate and could take advantage of observation and fire support provided by neighboring forts.
703:
Sunday of each month from April to October. All are on private or military property. Malonne is closed as a refuge for bats. In the context of the World War I commemorative program, a project was introduced by the Namur local authorities to allow public access to
608:
howitzers, firing from beyond the range of the forts' guns. The contest was unequal, and the forts suffered the same problems that plagued the Liège forts. Namur was evacuated by field forces on 23 August, the forts surrendering immediately afterwards.
587:
could arrive. After attacking the Fort de Marchovelette on 20 August, the Second Army started general fire the next day. At the same time, hoping to prevent the French Fifth Army from reinforcing, the Second Army attacked in the direction of
583:) Armies with approximately 107,000 men on 16 August 1914. Namur was garrisoned by about 37,000 in the forts and under the Belgian 4th Division (Michel). The Belgian goal was to hold at Namur until the French
707:(which will remain privately owned). Although the underground installation is considered unsafe by security services, counterscarp facilities and outdoor spaces will be cleared and signage will be added.
80:, which was intended to prevent a second German incursion into Belgium on the way to France. The neutrality policy and fortification programs failed and the Namur forts saw brief combat during the
129:
firm, and were housed in armored steel turrets made by various French, Belgian and German firms. The forts of Liège and Namur mounted 171 heavy guns, at a cost of 29 million francs. Lighter
1186:
76:. While the Namur defenses continued nominally to deter France from violating Belgian neutrality, the seven refurbished forts were intended as a backstop to the
612:
The Belgian forts made little provision for the daily needs of their wartime garrisons, locating latrines, showers, kitchens and the morgue in the fort's
1179:
466:
429:
392:
313:
276:
239:
202:
165:
350:
1091:
754:
504:. While it served no military purpose, it was used in the 1930s as the PFN command post, housed in an old tunnel network under the citadel.
57:
to deter an invasion of Belgium by France. The old fortifications consisted of nine forts built between 1888 and 1892 on either side of the
1270:
1172:
620:
than the Germans had anticipated, allowing Belgium and France to mobilize, and preventing the Germans from falling on an unprepared Paris.
49:
to fortify the traditional invasion corridor between Germany and France through Belgium. The position incorporated the fortress ring of
133:
provided close defense. The forts were equipped with a steam-powered electrical generating plant for lighting, pumps and searchlights.
1275:
508:
the French and 21 cm for the Germans. The forts' military purpose was to delay an enemy advance, allowing Belgian forces to mobilize.
108:. The comparatively undefended Meuse valley through Belgium provided an alternative for invasions of France or Germany. The plains of
1131:
1106:
779:
637:
512:
77:
849:
511:
Of triangular or quadrilateral form depending on the terrain, the Namur forts are identical in design to the forts of the
526:
A rolling drawbridge retracting laterally, revealing a 3.5 metres (11 ft) deep pit, equipped with grenade launchers
543:
Retractable armored gun turrets equipped with 57 mm guns for close defense, three for triangular forts, four for others
716:
1214:
679:
196:
666:, and VII Corps pulled back without a fight to avoid entrapment. The forts took initial German fire on 15 May.
576:
568:
1155:
1067:
691:
597:
130:
96:. The forts were built in a ring around Namur about 7 km (4.3 mi) from the city center. After the
93:
92:
The first modern forts at Namur were built between 1888 and 1892 on the initiative of the Belgian General
54:
19:
1234:
667:
605:
601:
344:
73:
122:
23:
1229:
584:
307:
97:
1219:
1024:
721:
671:
645:(PFN) was a further fallback, while securing the road and rail crossings of the Meuse at Namur.
233:
141:
69:
1127:
1102:
1087:
775:
750:
726:
658:
572:
105:
81:
1149:
1002:
1239:
1224:
704:
687:
501:
386:
270:
65:
1209:
675:
663:
632:
159:
46:
34:
1244:
683:
423:
694:, which would prove to be accurate and highly effective against fixed armored targets.
580:
1264:
58:
1249:
613:
460:
50:
921:
592:. This action was successful, with only one French regiment making it to Namur.
857:
1164:
481:
468:
444:
431:
407:
394:
365:
352:
328:
315:
291:
278:
254:
241:
217:
204:
180:
167:
589:
547:
100:(1870–1871), Germany and France fortified extensively their new frontier in
500:
Other fortifications of Namur, obsolete in Brialmont's time, included the
68:
the forts were modernized to address shortcomings exposed during the 1914
1068:
http://www.lavenir.net/article/detail.aspx?articleid=dmf20140228_00441201
118:
109:
1144:
42:
1070:
L'avenir.net - De l'argent public pour un fort d'Emines toujours privé
641:(PFL I), backed up by the renovated Liège fortress ring, PFL II. The
101:
540:
Armored gun turrets for distant action, five to eight guns per fort
802:(in French). Centre Liègeois d'Histoire et d'Archéologie Militaire
795:
140:
126:
18:
1168:
1124:
Fortress Europe: European Fortifications of World War II
1099:
Fort Eben Emael. The key to Hitler’s victory in the west
772:
Fortress Europe: European Fortifications of World War II
523:
with numerous gun embrasures perpendicular to the entry.
1114:
Henri-Alexis Brialmont. Les Forts de la Meuse 1887-1891
1156:
Centre liègeois d’histoire et d’archéologie militaire
550:
for the defense of the ditches, six to nine per fort
1202:
113:and the Namur forts were to dissuade the French.
635:on the Belgian-Dutch-German border, designated
1152:, World War II Armed Forces - Orders of Battle
1180:
690:on the 23rd. Maizeret was targeted by German
536:Each fort possessed three types of armament:
532:A 57 mm gun firing along the axis of the gate
53:, originally designed by the Belgian General
8:
145:Cross section of a gun turret and fort from
1187:
1173:
1165:
1018:
1016:
877:
875:
152:The Namur forts are arranged as follows:
916:
914:
856:(in French). fortiff.be. Archived from
737:
1158:, Construction of the Brialmont Forts
1084:The Forts of the Meuse in World War I
747:The Forts of the Meuse in World War I
7:
1101:, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2005,
1086:, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2007,
1003:"Position fortifiee de Namur (PFN)"
774:. Combined Publishing. p. 99.
14:
567:Namur was invested by the German
16:Ring of fortifications in Belgium
1150:Belgian Fortifications, May 1940
1025:"La position fortifiée de Namur"
848:Puelinckx, Jean; Malchair, Luc.
796:"La Position Fortifiée de Liège"
854:Index des fortifications belges
383:Right bank of the Meuse :
25:Map: The forts of Namur on uMap
1023:Lessire, Andre (22 May 2010).
156:Left bank of the Meuse :
1:
638:position fortifiée de Liège I
1126:, Da Capo Press, USA, 2002,
1122:Kauffmann, J.E., Jurga, R.,
604:when WWI started and 420 mm
1271:Fortified position of Namur
1196:Fortified position of Namur
1007:Belgian Fortifications 1940
717:National redoubt of Belgium
643:position fortifiée de Namur
625:Position fortifiée de Namur
513:fortified position of Liège
78:fortified position of Liège
39:position fortifiée de Namur
31:fortified position of Namur
1292:
922:"The Siege of Namur, 1914"
463:, modernized for the PFN (
426:, modernized for the PFN (
389:, modernized for the PFN (
347:, modernized for the PFN (
236:, modernized for the PFN (
199:, modernized for the PFN (
162:, modernized for the PFN (
1276:Fortifications in Belgium
745:Donnell, Clayton (2007).
1001:Bloock, Bernard Vanden.
770:Kauffmann, J.E. (1999).
692:88 mm anti-aircraft guns
125:were made by the German
670:surrendered on 18 May,
563:The Namur forts in 1914
88:The Namur fortress ring
1215:Fort de Saint-Héribert
197:Fort de Saint-Héribert
149:
55:Henri Alexis Brialmont
38:
26:
1235:Fort de Marchovelette
749:. Osprey. p. 8.
602:Deutsches Kaiserreich
600:Austria had given to
345:Fort de Marchovelette
144:
41:) was established by
22:
850:"Citadelle de Namur"
598:Skoda 305 mm mortars
482:50.42139°N 4.89028°E
445:50.44111°N 4.94167°E
408:50.46361°N 4.98694°E
366:50.50667°N 4.93500°E
329:50.52444°N 4.88861°E
292:50.50667°N 4.85000°E
255:50.48583°N 4.80111°E
218:50.41250°N 4.83167°E
181:50.44444°N 4.80833°E
117:forts were built of
1145:Fort de St Héribert
928:. firstworldwar.com
529:The entrance grille
478: /
441: /
404: /
362: /
325: /
288: /
251: /
214: /
177: /
98:Franco-Prussian War
1082:Donnell, Clayton,
973:Dunstan, pp. 11-12
908:Donnell, pp. 45-48
310:, not modernized (
273:, not modernized (
150:
27:
1258:
1257:
1092:978-1-84603-114-4
1049:Kauffmann, p. 117
991:Kauffmann, p. 100
964:Donnell, p. 53-54
955:Donnell, p. 52-53
756:978-1-84603-114-4
727:Battle of Belgium
659:Battle of Belgium
487:50.42139; 4.89028
450:50.44111; 4.94167
413:50.46361; 4.98694
371:50.50667; 4.93500
334:50.52444; 4.88861
297:50.50667; 4.85000
260:50.48583; 4.80111
223:50.41250; 4.83167
186:50.44444; 4.80833
147:Popular Mechanics
82:Battle of Belgium
1283:
1240:Fort de Maizeret
1230:Fort de Cognelée
1189:
1182:
1175:
1166:
1161:
1119:
1097:Dunstan, Simon,
1071:
1065:
1059:
1056:
1050:
1047:
1041:
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1038:
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1011:
1010:
998:
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953:
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821:
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812:
811:
809:
807:
792:
786:
785:
767:
761:
760:
742:
502:Citadel of Namur
493:
492:
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387:Fort de Maizeret
377:
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308:Fort de Cognelée
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66:Second World War
61:, around Namur.
1291:
1290:
1286:
1285:
1284:
1282:
1281:
1280:
1261:
1260:
1259:
1254:
1220:Fort de Suarlée
1210:Fort de Malonne
1198:
1193:
1159:
1141:
1117:
1116:, Bouge, 1987.
1079:
1074:
1066:
1062:
1057:
1053:
1048:
1044:
1034:
1032:
1022:
1021:
1014:
1000:
999:
995:
990:
986:
981:
977:
972:
968:
963:
959:
954:
950:
945:
941:
931:
929:
920:
919:
912:
907:
903:
898:
894:
889:
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880:
873:
863:
861:
860:on 31 July 2017
847:
846:
842:
837:
833:
828:
824:
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803:
794:
793:
789:
782:
769:
768:
764:
757:
744:
743:
739:
735:
722:Battle of Liège
713:
700:
682:on 21 May, and
655:
633:Fort Eben-Emael
628:
565:
486:
484:
480:
477:
472:
469:
467:
465:
464:
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234:Fort de Suarlée
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208:
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185:
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176:
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160:Fort de Malonne
139:
94:Henri Brialmont
90:
70:Battle of Liège
47:First World War
17:
12:
11:
5:
1289:
1287:
1279:
1278:
1273:
1263:
1262:
1256:
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1058:Donnell, p. 59
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982:Donnell, p. 56
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901:
899:Donnell, p. 12
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881:Donnell, p. 36
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838:Donnell, p.17
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829:Donnell, p.13
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271:Fort d'Emines
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1250:Fort de Dave
1245:Fort d'Andoy
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1077:Bibliography
1063:
1054:
1045:
1033:. Retrieved
1028:
1009:. orbat.com.
1006:
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978:
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930:. Retrieved
925:
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862:. Retrieved
858:the original
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820:Donnell, p.9
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614:counterscarp
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461:Fort de Dave
424:Fort d'Andoy
151:
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30:
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1160:(in French)
1118:(in French)
1031:(in French)
698:Present day
674:on 19 May,
657:During the
485: /
448: /
411: /
369: /
332: /
295: /
258: /
221: /
184: /
64:Before the
1265:Categories
1112:C. Faque,
1035:27 October
932:27 October
806:26 October
733:References
606:Big Bertha
585:Fifth Army
581:von Hausen
473:04°53′25″E
470:50°25′17″N
436:04°56′30″E
433:50°26′28″N
399:04°59′13″E
396:50°27′49″N
354:50°30′24″N
320:04°53′19″E
317:50°31′28″N
283:04°51′00″E
280:50°30′24″N
246:04°48′04″E
243:50°29′09″N
209:04°49′54″E
206:50°24′45″N
172:04°48′30″E
169:50°26′40″N
131:57 mm guns
123:21 cm guns
45:after the
864:20 August
590:Charleroi
573:von Bülow
548:casemates
357:04°56′6″E
84:in 1940.
1029:L'Avenir
711:See also
688:Maizeret
119:concrete
110:Flanders
106:Lorraine
926:Battles
676:Malonne
672:Suarlée
521:tambour
43:Belgium
1130:
1105:
1090:
800:P.F.L.
778:
753:
575:) and
569:Second
102:Alsace
35:French
684:Andoy
664:Sedan
577:Third
137:Forts
127:Krupp
59:Meuse
51:Namur
1128:ISBN
1103:ISBN
1088:ISBN
1037:2010
934:2010
866:2012
808:2010
776:ISBN
751:ISBN
686:and
678:and
653:1940
104:and
29:The
1203:PFN
1267::
1027:.
1015:^
1005:.
924:.
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519:A
37::
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