TracesOfWar.com

Petit Ouvrage de Villy-La-Ferté / Maginot Line - Fortress Villy-La-Ferté

(France - Lorraine - Villy)

This Maginot-fortress was a component of the Secteur Fortifié de Montmédy.The garrison consisted of 104 soldiers and 3 officers of the 155e RIF.

Between 15 and 19 May 1940, fortress Villy-La-Ferté was a place of fierce fightings. An intense artillery bombardment was launched by the Germans on 18 May. After a failed French counter-attack and the destruction of Block 1 & 2, the garrison was forced to retreat into the connection hallway. They were found dead on 2 June in this hallway by German soldiers, killed by a combination of poison gas and a broken ventilation system.

The fortress today:
It is currently a museum. The garrison of Villy-La-Ferté is buried at the national cemetery of Villy. Contact the mayor of Villy to visit.

Source

• Text: Kaj Metz
• Photos: Oorlogsmusea.nl