Maginot-Linie im Krieg 1939-1940

Besuch der Maginot-Linie

	Then Hackenberg 1940.  One of the four large diesel engines in the fortresses' power generation plant.
	Now Hackenberg 1995.  Same engine today.  The engines are still used to this day to provide power to the fortress.
	Then Hackenberg 1940.  The 135mm mortar of block 9 during German occupation of the fortress.
	Now Hackenberg 1995.  Same view as above.  Visitor's see the interior of block 9 during tours of the fortress.
	Then Hackenberg 1940.  The 135mm mortar turret of block 9.  Hackenberg's greatest combat action was in 1944 when the US Army attacked and captured the fortress in November 1944.
	Now Hackenberg 2007.  Tours of the fortress include the interior and exterior of block 9 where visitors can see the 135mm mortar turret in action.  This view of the turret is a reverse angle view from the 1940 photograph above.

	Now Immerhof 1995.  The fort's machine gun turret in the eclipsed position.  The armored turrets of many Maginot Line forts are still operable to this day.
	Now Immerhof 1995.  The fort's machine gun turret in firing position.  Same turret as above; but a different perspective.

	Then Galgenberg 1940.  As one of the heaviest armed sections of the Maginot Line, the fortifications in the Cattenom Forest were not attacked by the German Army.  This German news photograph shows Galgenberg's crew waiting for handover of the fortress to the German Army.
	Now Galgenberg 1995.  The munitions entrance block remains much as it was in 1940.
	Now Bois-Karre 1995.  Machine gun turret in firing position.
	Then Sentzich 1940.  A mono-block ouvrage sited along a main road from Thionville to Germany.
	Now Sentzich 1995.  Now a musem in the village of Sentzich.
	Now Galgenberg 2007.  Billboard explaining the various fortifications visitors can see in the Cattenom Forest around Fortress Galgenberg.  This part of the Line is unique because visitors can see all major types of Maginot fortified works within a relatively small area.

	Then Michelsberg 1940.  Block 2 after attack by artillery of the German 95th Infantry Division.
	Now Michelsberg 2007.  Repaired after the war by the French Army, the block has returned to its pre-war appearance.

	Then La Ferte 1940.  The taking of Fort La Ferte provided grist for the German propaganda machine.  Block 2 of the fort is among most photographed Maginot fortifications.  In this photograph, German sildiers are inspecting the turret which was destroyed by German combat engineers.  In the foreground are the graves of three French soldiers.
	Now La Ferte 1995.  Open to vistors since the early 1970's, the fort is a memorial to the 104 crew who died during the German attack.
	Then La Ferte 1940.  Block 2's armored turret was dislodged by an explosive charge placed by German combat engineers.
	Now La Ferte 1995.  Block 2's turret; still as it was after the battle.
	Then La Ferte 1940.  An armored cupola of Block 2 with impact marks from an 88mm Flak cannon.
	Now La Ferte 1995.  Same cupola as above.

	Then Fermont 1940.  A 135mm howitzer of block 4.  Subjected to artillery bombardment, this block was nearly destroyed when the wall of the block was penetrated by88mm Flak fire.  Fortunately for the fort's crew, the Germans were unaware of the breach and stopped firing before the interior of the block was damaged.
	Now Fermont 1995.  Block 4 was repaired after the war by the French Army.
	Now Fermont 1995.  Interior of a 75mm howitzer turret.  This is one of several turrets on display in Fermont's museum.

	Then Bambesch 1940.  The cupola of block 2 was heavily damaged by direct fire during the attack of the German 167th Infantry Division.
	Now Bambesch 2007.  Frozen in time; the same cupola more than 65 years later.  An 88mm round is still lodged in the wall of the cupola.

	Then Schoenenbourg 1940.  Block 4's 75mm howitzer turret was the target of aerial and artillery bombardment.
	Now Schoenenbourg 1995.  Today, the combat blocks are in the middle of a pasture.
	Now Schoenenbourg 1995.  A 47mm antitank cannon and Reibel twin machine gun on display in the munitions entrance block.  These weapons were interchanged in the firing embrasure based on the type of target.

	Then Four-a-Chaux 1940.  Superficial damage resulting from Stuka bombing.
	Now Four-a-Chaux 1995.  Repaired after the war by the French Army, block 6 no longer shows any sign of damage.