General information on blockhouse STG n°87 of Vernes

SF Altkirch

Blockhouse of infantry, simple flanking with a 47mm anti-tank of navy to residence (or a gun of 25mm, the answer is not distinct), 1 Hotchkiss machine-gun brought by the troop occupying the places, and 1 standard bell GFM B.

The CORF (this single organization which planned the whole of constructions of the Maginot Line) is dissolved in 1935. The building sites, already reduced by the lack of appropriations, are far from being completed. And the detractors of the permanent fortification benefit from it to direct constructions towards a semi-permanent fortification lighter and thus less expensive.

Recall: in a permanent fortification, all (material and armament) are studied and designed to be and remain permanently on the spot; in a fortification of countryside or semi-permanent, construction is almost naked and the troops bring their material and their armament to each occupation. Each system has its advantages and its disadvantages.

In the event of attack, the permanent fortification is more effective than the fortification of countryside. For example, its sophisticated system of neutralization of poison gases is not easily applicable to the fortification of countryside, would be this only because them delicate embrasures to make tight for field guns. For example still, its guns can be more precise, faster and more powerful than those of countryside because they are more resistant (thicker flight and more door) and their affuts especially studied.

In the absence of attack, on the other hand, the permanent fortification was expensive in material and in maintenance and is not used for nothing, whereas the fortification of countryside, or countryside built in times of peace (semi-permanent) cost only the price of the concrete. Although less effective, with equal budget one can build some more (even everywhere with regard to the Maginot Line) and one occupies it (with weapons and luggage) or gives up it with the liking of the circumstances.

This recall to say that from disappearance of CORF, whereas one could have finished what was started and have considered, for example, to build more planes, under the impulse of the Gamelin general one builds a little everywhere hundreds of semi-permanent blocks to the more or less doubtful effectiveness. Inter alia one builds casemates and blockhouses STG (Technical Section of the Genius) which resemble casemates CORF by far. But one can take again on their account certain publicities for soft drinks known:

It with the color of alcohol, it has the taste of alcohol, but it is not alcohol!

At all events, even if it is not CORF, this type of blockhouse exists, belonged to the historical heritage and soldier and is thus very interesting to study. Thank you in Felix and his team who undertook to restore the blockhouse of Vernes in the SF of Altkirch.