The Gros Ouvrage of Mont Des Welches is located 18km to the East of Thionville, Between the villages of Kemplich and Dalstein The Ouvrage has the standard entrances. The access to the main gallery is by a slope shaft and by staircase in the men's entrance. The Fort is very compact, no more than 200m from the entrance to the furthest extent of block2, It has 5 active blocks - 3 artillery (two of these are really mixed, containing both artillery and Infantry elements) ,1 infantry block and an Observatory. Commanded by Capitaine Tari, with a compliment of 552 men and 16 officers.

 The fort is usually securely locked. The fort was intact and complete until 1985 but since then, it has had a large amount of equipment removed and reused by the local associations.

Update Jan 2006 - The fort has been covered over with earth and is now completely sealed

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A Layout plan of the Fort from the book "Il était une fois La Ligne Maginot" By Jean Bernard Wahl.

The Munitions entrance

Just inside the doors to the munitions entrance

Just through the first blast door
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One of the side chambers in the Usine area The Usine with its generators still in place The Kitchen stove with Stainless Steel liner still in place The main Kitchen
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The main Kitchen The corridor to the Kitchen the benches still on the wall A turntable for small trucks in the corridor to the Usine One of the forts gun turrets in block 4 for the 75mm gun
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Filtration plant at the top of block 4 One of the forts gun turrets in block 4 for the 75mm gun, showing the counterweight One of the forts gun turrets in block 4 for the 75mm gun, showing the counterweight One of the forts gun turrets in block 4 for the 75mm gun, showing the counterweight
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Machinery for the lift to one of the blocks The lift Another lift shaft, this time filled with ammunition stillages thrown down the shaft Small ventilation plant
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The Commandants quarters Ammunition storage area  filters for one of the blocks Bottom of the 75mm gun  showing  the manual turning handle
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Empty shell  case chute to the bottom of the block

Empty shell  case chute to the bottom of the block