Ouvrage Four a Chaux

Infobox Military Structure
name=Ouvrage Four à Chaux
partof=Maginot Line
location=Northeast France
coordinates=


caption=Block 6 and the array of anti-tank rails


caption2=
type=
code=
built=
builder=
materials=Concrete, steel
height=
used=
demolished=
condition=
ownership=
open_to_public=Yes
controlledby=France
garrison=
current_commander=
commanders=
occupants=
battles=Battle of France
events=Maginot Line Infobox
localisation=
type=GO
year=1930-1938
sector=Fortified Sector of the Vosges
sub-sector=Subs-sector of Langensoultzbach
number=A4
regiment=
blocks=8
entrance=EM+EH
strength=580
picture=
caption=

Ouvrage Four à Chaux was a "grand ouvrage" of the Maginot Line, located in the community of Lembach, France, in the Bas-Rhin département. Four à Chaux was adjoined by "petit ouvrage" Lembach and "gros ouvrage" Hochwald, and faced the German frontier. A "four à chaux" is a lime kiln in French, and the "ouvrage" was located in the area of a limestone quarry and kiln, which operated until 1939.

The "ouvrage" comprised eight blocks, with six combat blocks and two entries. The significant change in level between the combat blocks and the ammunition entrance required an inclined gallery immediately after the ammunition entrance. There was a 24 meter elevation difference between the ammunition entrance and the higher personnel entrance.

Four à Chaux is a position of medium importance on the Line, covering an area of 26 hectares, with a garrison of 477 men, 78 non-commissioned officers and 25 officers, 4.5 km of subterranean galleries and six combat blocks.

Block 1 was destroyed using explosives by the Germans before the surrender in 1945.

Description

*Personnel entrance: one machine gun embrasure (JM) and one [GFM cloche|automatic rifle cloche (GFM).
*Ammunition entrance: one machine gun/47mm anti-tank gun emnrasure (JM/AC47), and two GFM cloches.
*Block 1 (destroyed): one 135mm gun turret and two GFM cloches
*Block 2: one 75mm gun turret, one GFM cloche and one machine gun cloche (JM).
*Block 3: one 81mm mortar turret, one GFM cloche and one grenade launcher cloche (LG).
*Block 4: one [VDP cloche|observation cloche (VDP), one GFM cloche and two JM cloches.
*Block 5: one machine gun turret and one GFM cloche
*Block 6: one JM embrasure, one JM/AC47 embrasure, one GFM cloche one JM cloche and one VDP cloche.

History

On 19 June, 1940, Four à Chaux and Lembach were bombed by German "Stukas", with little effect [Kauffmann, p. 172] .

Tours

Today, Four à Chaux is open to the public under the guidance of the SILE association. The guided visit includes Block 2, the barracks, principal gallery, "usine" and the museum. The "ouvrage" may be visited throughout the year.

External links

* [http://www.lignemaginot.fr www.lignemaginot.fr]
* [http://www.ot-lembach.com Office du tourisme de Lembach]

References

*Allcorn, William. "The Maginot Line 1928-45." Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-84176-646-1
*Kauffmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W. "Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II", 2006. ISBN 0-275-98345-5

Notes

ee also

* List of all works on Maginot Line
* Siegfried Line
* Atlantic Wall
* Czechoslovak border fortifications