Fermont - Geschiedenis

History - Fermont
The fort of Fermont was constructed between 1931 and 1936; in May 1940 they were still busy with improvements. The fort has 7 blocks, a crew entrance and a ammunition entrance. In total the fort is situated on a terrain of 27 ha. In 1940 the fort had a crew of 600 men, of which 20 officers en 65 non-commissioned officers under command of captain Daniël Aubert. The fort is situated in the sector Crusnes. This sector starts in Longuyon en ends near Halvange en contains: 3 artillery forts (Fermont, Latiremont and Bréhain) 4 infantry forts (Ferme Chappy, Mauvais Bois, Bois du Four and Aumetz) 36 casemates 4 observation posts for the artillery 1 shelter Fermont is situated in the West part of the sector Crusnes in the under sector Arrancy. This front was 8 km long. In the middle is Fermont with on the left the infantry fort Ferme Chappy (2 blocks). In the zone lays 7 casemates and 2 observation posts The front was defended by 800 man, based in the forts and casemates. There were also troops and artillery behind the line. A long side the front there was barbed wire and anti-tank rails

On the 10th of May the German army attacks Holland, Belgium and France. On the 13th of May the German troops breaks through the Maginot line near Sedan. On the 17th of May the fort La Ferté was attacked and all 107 crew member died. The German main force moves on toward Dunkerque In the Fermont area everything is quit. Longwy is attacked by the Germans and they are trying to use the main roads around Fermont to move supplies. The retractable turret of Fermont fires on these convoys. On the 4th of June 25 soldiers dies when being on patrol near the village of Cutry

On the 15th of June the French army withdraw because of the worse situation in the rest of France. The Maginot line is alone without protection and the Germans get behind the main line On the 17th of June a German 88 mm canon fires on the wall of block 4. At 12h00 there is a hole in the wall. The damage is repaired during the night and the block can be used again. On the 21rst of June the German launch an attack on Fermont with heavy artillery followed by an infantry attack. Fermont has to defend it self. A German 37 mm anti-tank gun fires on the turret of the crew entrance and Florian Piton dies. The retractable turret from block 5 fires on the German 37 mm canon. With help of Latiremont the attack is stopped. The Germans withdraw with 80 casualties

During the war several German officers visits the Fort and they remove an engine. During the winter of 1944 the fort is used as barrack for the American soldiers who makes paintings in the canteen. After the war the fort is repaired and brought back is it's original status to defend the country against the communism. In 1967 the French army abandon the fort until 1975 when volunteers take over the fort to restore it and make it accessible for public. Yearly more than 19.000 people visits the fort