Montmedy to Camp Marguerre

[SteveMarsdin]

Good evening all,

We're spending Easter in Belgium at the in-laws and today I borrowed my wife's car to continue exploring the areas of the French retreat after 22 August and those of the German behind-the-lines activity during the Verdun campaign.

I posted photos on other German built cemeteries, e.g at Charency-Vezin; various sites south and south-west of Longwy and the Gros Max at Duzey in previous threads:

 

 

 

 

This time I wanted to look at some of the sites mentioned in the second volume of Jean Claude Delhez' book:

 

and finally get to visit Camp Marguerre, as recommended by Christina Holstein and Simon Worrall.

Although severely under-gunned the mere silhouette of the old Vauban fortress at Montmedy is very impressive:

and you can understand why the Germans were initially wary of advancing down the Chiers valley.

The next war is also in evidence: as well as the more visited nearby Maginot Line forts at La Ferte and Fermont, the field and hillsides abound with blockhouses and other ouvrages:

This area was under German occupation for over four years and eventually the dead of both sides were re-interred in especially built cemeteries, such as this one at Villette:

[SteveMarsdin]

After their mauling at Ethe the French 7e DI retreated south-westwards and Villette contains the graves of many 101e RI soldiers as well as many Germans.

[SteveMarsdin]

Like the nearby cemetery at Charency Vezin, it is a credit to the German Army and in particular those that built it

[SteveMarsdin]

From Villette I went to Noers and another remote memorial on a hilltop:

[SteveMarsdin]

Engraved with that well known quote from the Bible:

[old joe]

Great photos. I enjoyed viewing them.

Regards,

Joseph

[SteveMarsdin]

Thank you, Joseph,

I think the burials at Noers have now been re-interred elsewhere, leaving the memorial standing alone:

[SteveMarsdin]

From Noers I went to a little valley, south of Marville, that of the Crédon:

In this insignificant looking valley the combat support trains of the French 26eRA and 44eRAC were destroyed by the German 21s and 7.7s. This was due to indirect fire following the aerial observations of a 58 year old German aviator, Deunert. Over 200 horses were killed and with a lack of transport over 20 French 75s had to be left behind. Some were still intact and subsequently transferred to Germany for examination by Krupps.

[SteveMarsdin]

It was then time to head south in search of concrete ! On the way I was reminded that I was in Lorraine and that man doesn't have a monopoly on construction:

Mangiennes had also seen fighting on 10 August:

[Fred van Woerkom]

Steve, Interesting photos. Are there more to come on this beautiful area? Cheers, Fred

[SteveMarsdin]

Are there more to come on this beautiful area? Cheers, Fred

Yes there are but it's such a beautiful day today (and my wife and family have gone shopping !) that I'm going to go for another exploration, calling at Sedan to check on the memorial in St Charles Cemetery. I'll post more later.

[Martin Bennitt]

Thanks Steve. Having read Delhez' books, I've already put this area as one of the priorities of future trips and your latest pictures only reinforce that. I was interested by your Post 9, which indicated that this heroic charge was more costly to the Germans than the French

cheers Martin B

[SteveMarsdin]

this heroic charge was more costly to the Germans than the French

cheers Martin B

Hi Martin,

They're French figures ! It is usually portrayed in French sources as a small scale but nonetheless great French victory; in reality it was nothing of the sort (a winning draw at best !) as the attacking French forces had to be extricated from the battle by the quick action of Cordonnier whose troops were sent in support.

These concrete tunnels south of Mangiennes have always puzzled me: in reality they're supports for the railway that ran perpendicularly over them:

The spur to the nearby Longwy/Metz line was built, as I understand it, to allow supplies to the Germans at Verdun, in particular their big guns at Duzey, Ferme du Sorel ans Bois de Hingry.

[SteveMarsdin]

Near Muzeray this water tower stills stands today. Built during WW1 as the germans wanted in an independent and secure water supply (and the number of troops increased the need for water):

I hope the new tower, just visible on the last photo, lasts as long !

[SteveMarsdin]

Loison is the nearest village to Camp Marguerre and even there they are examples of German concrete:

[SteveMarsdin]

On to Camp Marguerre. The camp itself occupies only a small part of the German complex with miles of light railway for support facilities and the big guns in the Bois de Hingry and Ferme du Sorel:

[SteveMarsdin]

The buildings were stripped of furnishings at fitments by local residents after the war as they tried to rebuild their homes. The camp was also used by the Resistance in WW2.

[SteveMarsdin]

Although some of the blocks are partially collapsed it is easy to get an idea of the Camp nearly 100 years later:

And;

[SteveMarsdin]

Some of the decoration still remains:

[SteveMarsdin]

The Camp's main function was making concrete, concrete sections and buildings:

Today, all that remains are the four supporting pillars

[SteveMarsdin]

You can still see the imprint of the corrugated iron mould, used in some cases:

As well as the raised lines of the ballast of the trackways:

[SteveMarsdin]

Concrete paths were laid between the various buildings:

And, underneath the natural debris and growth of nearly 100 years, they too exist today:

[SteveMarsdin]

The sight is well worth a visit, although I would recommend more than the 20 minutes that the Verdun tourist office suggest !

Please also see this thread http://1914-1918.inv...ic=178024&hl=to see how well german concrete lasts

On my way home I felt it appropriate to visit a nearby German cemetery to pay my respects. This is Azannes II:

[SteveMarsdin]

At the ossuary at the top:

I noticed what I presume is an error in the date of death of Georg Menges ?