Fortified position of Namur

The position incorporated the fortress ring of Namur, originally designed by the Belgian General Henri Alexis Brialmont to deter an invasion of Belgium by France.

Before the Second World War the forts were modernized to address shortcomings exposed during the 1914 Battle of Liège and the short siege of Namur.

The neutrality policy and fortification programs failed and the Namur forts saw brief combat during the Battle of Belgium in 1940.

The comparatively undefended Meuse valley through Belgium provided an alternative for invasions of France or Germany.

The plains of Flanders could provide transport, food and fuel for an invader and Brialmont recognized that France and Germany would once again go to war.

Construction began on 28 July 1888 by a French consortium, Hallier, Letellier Frères and Jules Barratoux.

Lack of useful night illumination in the 1880s meant that concrete could only be placed in daylight, causing weak joints between partially cured daily pours.

The forts' military purpose was to delay an enemy advance, allowing Belgian forces to mobilize.

The single entries are placed in the rear or the fort, facing Namur, with a long access ramp.

[12] During the siege of Namur the Germans employed the lessons learned from their assault on the similar fortress ring of Liège.

These 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.

[15] The fortified position of Namur was conceived by a commission charged with recommending options for the rebuilding of Belgium's defenses following World War I.

[18] During the Battle of Belgium in May 1940, the Belgian VII Corps, consisting of the 8th Infantry Division and the Chasseurs Ardennais established a strong position in the Namur defenses, anchoring the southern end of the Dyle line.

However, Namur was outflanked to the south by German forces that had broken the French line at Sedan, and VII Corps pulled back without a fight to avoid entrapment.

[20][22] In the context of the World War I commemorative program, a project was introduced by the Namur local authorities to allow public access to Fort d'Emines (which will remain privately owned).

Although the underground installation is considered unsafe by security services, counterscarp facilities and outdoor spaces will be cleared and signage will be added.