Ouvrage Oberheid, Military fortification in Cattenom, France
Ouvrage Oberheid is a military fortification in Cattenom centered on a concrete block with two firing chambers and a machine gun turret at the top. The installation includes quarters for roughly 78 soldiers and 2 officers, along with two generators providing the site with power.
The structure was built in 1930 as part of the Maginot Line defensive system along the border. Despite daily bombardments during the June 1940 battles, it sustained only minimal damage.
The fortification represents interwar French military design with distinctive reinforced concrete construction that shaped daily life for its garrison. Visitors can observe how the thick walls and compact layout reflected the defensive thinking of that era.
The site features four armored observation posts, with one connected to the larger Métrich fortification nearby. Visitors should prepare for underground exploration with narrow passages and limited light in the enclosed spaces below ground.
The four observation posts were strategically positioned to create a coordinated defense network during the installation's operation. This layered surveillance approach allowed defenders to monitor the border from multiple angles simultaneously.
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