Fortified Sector of Faulquemont
Despite the withdrawal of the mobile forces that supported the fixed fortifications, the sector mounted a strong resistance.
The Faulquemont sector was part of the larger Fortified Region of Metz, a strongly defended area between the Ardennes to the west and the Sarre valley to the east.
A follow-up programme was planned to augment the ouvrages with artillery, but financial difficulties delayed the projected start date in 1940.
[10] The sector includes, in order from west to east, the following major fortified positions, together with the most significant casemates and infantry shelters in each sub-sector: Transferred to the SF Boulay.
156th Fortress Infantry Regiment (156e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse (RIF)), Lt.
Colonel Milon, command post at Éperon, northeast of Haute-Vigneulles Peacetime barracks and support: 146th Fortress Infantry Regiment (146e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse (RIF)), Lt.
Colonel Prat, command post at Steinbusch, later Pontpierre A number of blockhouses, demountable turrets and observation points were scattered in the interval spaces in the sub-sector between the river Nied and the Casernement de Téting..
Peacetime barracks and support: In early June in the face of the German assault, and with the collapse of the left wing of the French armies in Flanders, all fortress units attached to the Third Army were ordered to prepare for withdrawal to the south and west between 14 and 17 June The interval personnel of the SF Faulquemont were to be consolidated into a unit entitled the Groupement Girval, consisting of the 146th and 156th RIFs, together with units from the SF Sarre.
The German 167th Infantry Division approached Kerfent, Bambesch, Einseling and Téting, now manned only by their individual garrisons, on 19 June.
However, the 167th's parent unit, Höheres Kommando XXXXV, had obtained extra 8.8cm high-velocity guns, which had proven particularly effective against Maginot positions in other sectors.
After an initial infantry assault was repelled, a sustained barrage with 8.8 cm guns on Block 2 drove the defenders into the underground galleries.
[13] The following day the Wehrmacht attacked Kerfent with 8.8 cm fire from a battery positioned atop Bambesch.
The German batteries approached to within 100 metres (330 ft) to attack Block 2 using the cover of the nearby woods.
After a disorderly German retreat[13] the infantry attacks were suspended in favor of an artillery barrage at Laudrefang, firing between 3000 and 3500 rounds at the ouvrage.
While the concrete structure was badly damaged, it was not perforated, and the mortar turrets and cloches were not hit.
However, some of the regiment's 21st battalion were captured near Domptail by elements of the German 198th Infantry Division and shot out of hand.
The combat teams left behind at the ouvrages fought on, with Bambesch and Kerfent surrendering under fire on 21 June.
[21] The sector did not see significant action during the Lorraine Campaign of 1944, but Kerfent's observation block's cloche was used for weapons tests by the Americans.
[22] After the war, Kerfent's combat blocks were mostly left in their damaged state,[23] but the underground facilities were cleaned and maintained.
