Ouvrage Sentzich, Military fortification in Cattenom, France

Ouvrage Sentzich is a single-block infantry fortification of the Maginot Line, built from 1930 for 7.5 million francs. Its two firing chambers flank north and south with JM/AC37 twin machine gun/37 mm anti-tank embrasures, each topped by a GFM observation cloche; a machine gun turret and two 36 hp Baudouin generators complete the work.

Sentzich was approved by CORF in February 1930, and contractor Verdun-Fortifications began building the same year for 7.5 million francs. The petit ouvrage was manned by 66 men of the 168th Fortress Infantry Regiment under Lieutenant Legrand. It saw no significant action in 1940 or 1944; the Thionville positions surrendered on 30 June 1940, and Sentzich was not rearmed after the war.

The ouvrage is owned by the commune of Cattenom and maintained by an association, but it is secured and closed to the public, so it can only be seen from outside. Its name comes from the village of Sentzich, attached to Cattenom since 1971, whose road to Luxembourg lay under the work's fire. The concrete blockhouse with barred windows and a wire fence stands at the edge of that road.

The ouvrage is closed and not open to the public; it is owned and maintained by the commune of Cattenom and secured. It stands on the edge of the main road to Luxembourg near the village of Sentzich, south of gros ouvrage Galgenberg. The Blockhaus de Sentzich lies on the other side of the village, immediately south of the ouvrage.

The garrison held about 66 soldiers and one officer from the 168th Fortress Infantry Regiment, positioned between two neighboring defense works. This middle position allowed mutual support with adjacent fortifications along the defense line.