General information on the “Galgenberg”

Fortification CORF with artillery of 81mm and 135mm.

SF Thionville

It is a beautiful traditional fortification whose underground galleries are partly in masonry (apparent stones), which is the case in most fortifications of the area.

In 1940 it is not worried by the German troops.

It belongs to these fortifications, in very general good state, which await only the voluntary ones to emphasize them. We lost the name and guide very sympathetic nerve addresses which commented on us the visit; if somebody finds his coordinates, to communicate them thank you in advance to us.

Caption plan. H: men; B: crenel under concrete; C: bell; T: turret; Infanterie_: armament of infantry; Artillerie_: artillery armament; Observatoires_: armoured observatories

In top: the coordinates are in geographical system WGS84

Photographers

Large a thank you with the photographers who made us share their passion.

Vivien WIATR, on a GFM of Galgenberg

Gerald GOELTL

Entry of the ammunition

Photograph opposite: Protected entry, in a traditional way, by an anti-tank JM/AC47 (on the left on the photograph), of FM and 2 bells GFM.

Click: zoom of the photograph opposite

Above of the entry.

Ditch diamond protected by a FM

JM/AC47

Photograph opposite: room of shooting of the block of entry of the ammunition. The JM is out of battery and the AC47 (which occupies the same crenel) is “unobtrusive”. On the right of JM, a grenade chute defends the ditch diamond.

Crenel of the JM/AC47.

A “room of local neutralization”, with ventilators and anti-gas filters of combat, ensures the pressurization of the casemates of the block of entry.

Pont rolling

There is the impression (photo) that the entry in the hall of unloading of the trucks seems to be done without difficulties, out put opposite the shootings of protection which cover the esplanade.

However, not only one crenel of FM protects the transshipments from materials of the trucks towards tip trucks, but, moreover, after an elbow, the gallery which succeeds this hall is barred by an armor-plated door in front of which an overhead travelling crane masks a ditch.

Case FM

The ammunition, transhipped in the hall, are posed on tip trucks (way of 60cm) pushed by men. The electric traction was not considered because there are few distances to traverse between the entry, the store with ammunition and the turret of 135.

The way which enters the principal gallery makes a new elbow under the protection of a trunk of interior defense (photo opposite)

Detail of the trunk.

Principal gallery

The principal gallery is roomy, with two ways for tip trucks. By various junctions it leads to the general store with ammunition (M1), quartering and the various blocks.

M1. General store with ammunition

The tip trucks do not penetrate in the surfaces of storage of the ammunition, to avoid the sparks (and thus the explosions) which could produce their wheels on the rails. The cases with ammunition are discharged and handled by means of hoists which circulate under monorails.

Carry avoids breath

The quartering and the blocks of combat are protected, by this door with automatic closing, against an explosion occurring in the general store with ammunition. The latter avoids the propagation of the shock wave and the breath.

Block 4. Turret of 81

A secondary gallery leaves the principal gallery and serves the blocks of combat 1 to 4. The photograph opposite watch the junction towards B4 (on the left photograph) and B1-2-3, straight.

Eclipsed turret of 81.

GFM which protects the accesses from the turret.

Block 3. Turret of machine-guns

Junction towards B3 (on the right of the photograph) and towards B1-2, straight.

Click: zoom of the photograph opposite

Turret of machine-guns out of battery.

GFM which protects the accesses from the turret. The position of this GFM is curious because she plays more the part of a JM than of a GFM.

Block 6. Turret of 135

Opposite, the turret of 135 is in eclipsed position. It dominates the current atomic generating power station of Cattenom.

Not to be taken for target by enemy tended shootings, like this turret draws under 45°, it can technically be installed in a light basin. It is the case. The disadvantage of this kind of positioning is that flammable fluids, poisons or, can infiltrate in the fortification like rain water, in spite of the arranged drains.

On the left one notices the presence of an air intake armor-plated which feeds the room of neutralization of B6 (below).

GFM which protects the tops from B6.

Bell “grenade thrower” of brought closer protection (nonoperational in 1940).

Turret of 135

The turret is on 3 levels, like all the turrets with eclipses retained by the CORF. Opposite the photo watch the lower stage, that where a beam balances the turret to enable him to go up and to go down without efforts.

Level 2, intermediary, are that of pointing. He, here, is unfortunately not seen under his best day for lack of some brushstrokes. Amateurs, an association awaits you!

B5. Observatory

The artillery observatory is integrated into a block with three “bells”: VDP (observation on behalf of artillery), GFM (observation of infantry and protection of the tops by FM) and, finally, JM (Twinning of machine-guns) whose mission is double since its shootings protect the south from Galgenberg and, also, close Sentzich.

Zone command

We gathered, here, the photographs of several casemates: intelligence service for artillery, the infantry, headquarters, room of the commander… The painted planks are to be noticed. On the other hand the buildings miss maintenance, for lack of arm…

Telephone center

The telephone center is very well restored. With the wall, the triangular lamps are candle lamps of help. One of the two “pianos”, opened, shows the system of cards making it possible to the operator to put in communication two subscribers.

Entry of the men

Photograph opposite: Principal gallery on the level of quartering and the junction towards block 3 (towards the left of the photograph).

JM protecting the entry.

The entry of the men is out of well. To reach quartering the personnel uses a staircase but the materials pass by hoists.

Generating factory

Detail of one of the four diesel engines SGCM which equip Galgenberg.

Generator considering side alternator.

As the turrets function with engines with D.C. current, the alternate one produced by the generators is transformed by these generators.

CLM twin-cylinder, which produces the emergency lighting in the event of abrupt stop of the group under operation.

Workshop

Some machine tools allow, the personnel of the Genious, to complete emergency work.

Room of neutralization (filters)

The fortification is tight. Its air is drawn outside then it is distributed in the various buildings after being cleansed (neutralization of poison gases) in the filters of the room of neutralization.

This room is very curious because the filter elements are stored with the ceiling what is unusual in fortification CORF.

Cook

Click: zoom of the photograph opposite

The autoclaves are electric, like almost the whole of the apparatuses of the fortification.

Room with meat.

Rooms of troop

The beds are on two levels and the space of circulation is not tiny room to its strict minimum, as it is the case in some other fortifications CORF.

The meals are taken in the rooms, on folding shelves fixed at the wall, close to the racks with parcelling and the weapon racks.

Close to the rooms, the mailbox and the only element putting the men in relation to the outside world.

Hygiene of the personnel

Wash-hand basins, showers and latrines.

The latrines are on septic tanks with soda. It is important to mix the feces with each use, this is why an agitator was installed beside the basin (on the left on the photograph). Note: the WC taken in photograph seems not to be cleaned since good a long time…