Controlled by France Battles/wars Battle of France | In use Abandoned | |
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Materials Concrete, steel, deep excavation Similar Ouvrage Téting, Ouvrage Kerfent, Ouvrage Bovenberg, Ouvrage Laudrefang, Ouvrage Oberheid | ||
Ouvrage Mottenberg is a lesser work (petit ouvrage) of the Maginot Line. Part of the Fortified Sector of Boulay, the ouvrage consists of one entrance block and two infantry blocks, and is located between petits ouvrages Coume Annexe Sud and Kerfent, facing Germany.
Contents
Design and construction
The site was surveyed by CORF (Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency; Mottenberg was approved for construction in September 1931. It was completed at a cost of 13 million francs by the contractor Societé Alsacienne des Travaux Publics. The petit ouvrage was to receive a separate entrance block, an 81mm mortar turret and a 135mm gun turret in a second phase, never carried out
Description
Mottenberg comprises three infantry blocks. The blocks are linked by deep underground galleries, which also provide space for barracks, utilities and ammunition storage. The galleries are excavated at an average depth of up to 30 metres (98 ft).
The second phase of construction was to add an 81mm mortar turret block, a 135mm gun turret block and an entry block, as well as underground support facilities.
Casemates and shelters
In addition to the connected combat blocks, a series of detached casemates and infantry shelters surround Mottenberg, including
Manning
The 1940 manning of the ouvrage under the command of Captain Cloarec comprised 145 men and 3 officers of the 160th Fortress Infantry Regiment. The units were under the umbrella of the 3rd Army, Army Group 2. The Casernement de Ban Saint-Jean provided peacetime above-ground barracks and support services to Coume and other positions in the area.
History
See Fortified Sector of Boulay for a broader discussion of the Boulay sector of the Maginot Line.On 21 June 1940, Mottenberg fired on German troops attacking petit ouvrage Kerfent. Since Mottenberg was only able to use machine gun fire, the intervention was unsuccessful and Kerfent surrendered. After World War II, Mottenberg was in poor condition and was not chosen for renovation.
Current condition
All above-ground elements such as cloches and turrets have been salvaged, with few other elements visible.