Ouvrage Les Sarts

Ouvrage Les Sarts is a petit ouvrage of the Maginot Line, built as part of the "New Fronts" program to address shortcomings in the Line's coverage of the border with Belgium. Like the other three ouvrages near Maubeuge, it is built on an old Séré de Rivières system fortification, near the town of Marieux.

Ouvrage Les Sarts
Part of Maginot Line New Frontiers, Séré de Rivières system
Northern France
Ouvrage Les Sarts
Coordinates50.31875°N 3.97263°E / 50.31875; 3.97263
Site information
Controlled byFrance
Site history
Built1934–1938
MaterialsConcrete, steel, deep excavation, masonry
Battles/warsSiege of Maubeuge, Battle of France
Ouvrage Les Sarts
Type of work:Small artillery work (Petit ouvrage)
sectorFortified Sector of Maubeuge
Regiment:101st Fortress Infantry Regiment (RIF)
Number of blocks:2
Strength:2 officers, 100 men

Séré de Rivières

The original Fort des Sarts was built to the west of Marieux in 1878-1881 as part of the Séré de Rivières fortifications of Maubeuge. The pentagonal fort is surrounded by a ditch defended by counterscarps. In 1914 the fort was upgraded with a 75mm gun turret. The position was planned to cover the N2 road to Mons. Bersillies was attacked by German forces in 1914 during the Siege of Maubeuge, suffering heavy large-caliber artillery bombardment from the first day of the siege. Isolated far behind the front lines, it surrendered to the Germans with the other Maubeuge fortifications on 7 September 1914, with its works almost completely destroyed.[1]

Design and construction

The Maginot-era site was approved in 1934. Work cost 10.5 million francs.[2]

Description

The Maginot-era improvements to Sarts comprise two combat blocks. The ouvrage[nb 1] was built within the walls of the old Fort des Sarts. An underground gallery connects the two blocks. A second phase was planned to provide two artillery blocks armed with one 75mm twin gun turret each, as well as an entry block outside the walls of the old fort.[5]

A number of small blockhouses are associated with Les Sarts, as well as a casemate:

  • Casemate de Héronfontaine: Single block with one JM/AC47 embrasure, one JM embrasure, a mixed-arms AM/50mm mortar turret and two GFM-B cloches. It is not connected to the ouvrage[5]

Manning

The 1940 manning of the ouvrage under the command of Captain Leduc comprised 100 men and 2 officers of the 84th Fortress Infantry Regiment. The units were under the umbrella of the 101st Fortress Infantry Division, 1st Army, Army Group 1.[5]

History of the Maginot ouvrage
See Fortified Sector of Maubeuge for a broader discussion of the events of 1940 in the Maubeuge sector of the Maginot Line.

During the Battle of France in 1940, the invading German forces approached Maubeuge from the south and east, to the rear of the defensive line. The German 28th Infantry Division moved along the line of fortifications 19–22 May, rolling up blockhouses and larger fortifications. Les Sarts first took fire on 21 May, with a Stuka raid on 22 May. Heavy fire from the rear continued on 23 May, gradually reducing the fort's defenses. At 1100 hours, with all means of resistance gone, les Sarts surrendered, the last ouvrage of the defenses of Maubeuge to do so.[8]

Current

Les Sarts is not accessible to the public. It is reported to be in poor condition, with all metal salvaged.[9]

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See also

Notes
  1. English-language sources use the French term ouvrage as the preferred term for the Maginot positions, in preference to "fort", a term usually reserved for older fortifications with passive defenses in the form of walls and ditches.[3] The literal translation of ouvrage in the sense of a fortification in English is "work." A Maginot gros ouvrage is a large fortification with a significant artillery component, while a petit ouvrage is smaller, with lighter arms.[4]

References
  1. Puelinckx, Jean; et al. (2010). "Sarts (fort des)". Index de la Fortification Française 1874-1914 (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  2. Mary, Tome 1, p. 52
  3. Kaufmann 2006, p. 13
  4. Kaufmann 2006, p.20
  5. Mary, Tome 3, p. 66
  6. Puelinckx, Jean; Aublet, Jean-Louis; Mainguin, Sylvie (2010). "Sarts (po des) Bloc 1". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  7. Puelinckx, Jean; Aublet, Jean-Louis; Mainguin, Sylvie (2010). "Sarts (po des) Bloc 2". Index de la Ligne Maginot (in French). fortiff.be. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  8. Mary, Tome 3, p. 183-184
  9. Donnell, Clayton. "Off the Beaten Path". The Maginot Line. Retrieved 18 May 2010.

Bibliography
  • Allcorn, William. The Maginot Line 1928-45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84176-646-1
  • Kaufmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W. Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II, Stackpole Books, 2006. ISBN 0-275-98345-5
  • Kaufmann, J.E., Kaufmann, H.W., Jancovič-Potočnik, A. and Lang, P. The Maginot Line: History and Guide, Pen and Sword, 2011. ISBN 978-1-84884-068-3
  • Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 1. Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2001. ISBN 2-908182-88-2 (in French)
  • Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 2. Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2003. ISBN 2-908182-97-1 (in French)
  • Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 3. Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2003. ISBN 2-913903-88-6 (in French)
  • Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 5. Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009. ISBN 978-2-35250-127-5 (in French)
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