Ouvrage Métrich, Maginot Line fortification in Kœnigsmacker, France
Ouvrage Métrich is a Maginot Line fortification in Kœnigsmacker featuring twelve combat blocks linked by underground galleries. These passages extend deep beneath the surface to provide protection against heavy bombardment.
The fortification was built between 1930 and 1935 as the third largest installation of the Maginot Line. Its construction reflected strategic planning to defend France's eastern border during the pre-war period.
The fortification housed a garrison of 769 soldiers and 26 officers from the 167th Infantry Regiment and 151st Artillery Regiment during its operational period.
The site requires proper preparation as underground areas are cool and damp throughout the year. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for narrow passageways to safely explore the complex structure.
The installation sits on anhydrite banks, a mineral layer that damages the structure from within. This geological challenge gradually weakens the galleries and equipment, creating an ongoing threat to the fortification's integrity.
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