Petit Ouvrage de Villy-La-Ferté / Maginot Line - Fortress Villy-La-Ferté
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.
- Text: Kaj Metz
- Photos: Kaj Metz
Address and contactinformation
- D52/Route de la Ferté
- 03 24 27 50 80
- WWII grade:
Where is it?
Sorry, no map found.
- Commonwealth War Graves Carignan
- Commonwealth War Graves Laneuville-sur-Meuse
- French War Cemetery Villy-La-Ferté