The overall Fortified Position of Liège was a constituent part of the country's National Redoubt.

Fort d'Embourg was built between 1881 and 1884 according to the plans of General Henri Alexis Brialmont.

The Fort d'Embourg is located about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) southeast of the center of Liège, on the heights above the community of Chaudfontaine, overlooking the Vesdre valley.

The service areas were placed directly opposite the barracks, which opened into the ditch in the rear of the fort (i.e., in the face towards Liège), with lesser protection than the two "salient" sides.

[3] The Brialmont forts were designed to be protected from shellfire equaling their heaviest guns: 21 cm.

[2][7] The fort's heavy guns were German, typically Krupp, while the turret mechanisms were from a variety of sources.

When the Liège's fortifications proved unexpectedly stubborn, the Germans brought heavy siege artillery to bombard the forts with shells far larger than they were designed to resist.

[2] Embourg's armament was upgraded in the 1930s to become part of the Fortified Position of Liège II, which was planned to deter a German incursion over the nearby border.

This was accompanied by improvements to ventilation, protection, sanitary facilities, communications and electrical power.

The next day the aerial bombardment resumed while German units infiltrated the area around the fort .