This fort with two blocks is the most western fort of the Maginot line (excluding Maubeuge) located 25 km from Sedan. It is also one of the last forts constructed.. Each block is independent and have their own power plant and ventilation. The blocks are connected by an underground gallery located at 30 meter depth . Underground are the kitchen and the hospital. There is no underground barracks the crew slept in the blocks

Block 1: casemate with 47 mm anti-tank gun firing to the east
Block 2 with a retractable turret for two double machine guns and 25 mm anti-rank gun

LA FERTÉ DOESN'T REPLY

On the 10th May the German army attacked Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. The 16th May the German army brook trough the Maginot line near Sedan. The small fort of La Ferté was on the side of this break through. The German army positioned heavy artillery around the fort and started a major attack. On the 18th of May the Germans are near the fort and have captured several villages in the surrounding.

With anti-tank guns the Germans fires accurate on each turret to making the fort blindness. The retractable turret from block 2was used for observation.

On the 19th May a German group reaches the retractable turret and eliminate the turret with explosives. Through the opening they trough gas grenades inside.
As from 19th of May the fort is not responding. The complete crew of 108 men dies by gas in the underground gallery

As soon as the German are sure that Ferté doesn't fire any more they move further as they are unable to access the fort due to the gas. Two days after the attack a French patrol to check the fort. They blow up a door to get in the fort but can't go down due to the gas and fires. After two weeks a German company gets in the fort and removes the bodies from the gallery. The soldiers are buried in the cemetery at the other side of the road.

NOW

La Ferté is open for public and is a national monument. The inside is still the same as in 1940.