Fortified Sector of Montmédy
The sector was not as strongly defended as other sections of the Maginot Line, facing the southern Ardennes region of Belgium.
The weakly defended area in front of Sedan was the scene of a major breakthrough by German forces in the opening of the Battle of France.
A number of blockhouses were built to local designs, such as the FCR or Billotte blocks of the Sedan subsector.
Blockhouses typically displayed the rounded edges and shielded firing positions characteristic of artillery casemates and combat blocks of the Maginot ouvrages built by CORF (Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, but were usually built under non-CORF direction.
Casemates tended to be built by CORF as part of the integrated Maginot defences, and frequently mounted heavier weapons, of up to 75 mm calibre.
[6] The sector included, in order from west to east, the following major fortified positions, together with the most significant casemates and infantry shelters in each sub-sector:[nb 1] 147th Fortress Infantry Regiment (147e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse (RIF)), Colonel Pinard, with the 55th DI as interval troops The Sedan sub-sector was not considered part of the Maginot fortifications, as they were built by organizations other than CORF and were planned as largely local initiatives, rather than as an integrated chain of advanced, mutually supportive fortifications.
[1] Additionally, a series of 11 Bilotte-style blockhouses were built as the "Second Position" stop line behind Sedan[9] 136th Fortress Infantry Regiment (136e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse (RIF)), Lt.
Colonel Vinson, with the 3rd DINA as interval troops The Mouzon subsector was not considered part of the Maginot fortifications.
[1] Peacetime barracks and support: 132nd Fortress Infantry Regiment (132e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse (RIF)), Lt.
Ordered by General Huntziger to retreat to new positions farther south, the end of the Montmédy Bridgehead became exposed.
This was composed of the village of Villy, occupied by the 3rd Colonial Infantry Division, backed up by Ouvrage La Ferté, the effective western end of the Maginot Line.
However, the Maginot fortifications in the area were farther apart than in other sectors, and La Ferté was at the limit of Chesnois' artillery range.
Evacuation was complete by 12 June, a day ahead of the scheduled withdrawal, which resulted in the uncovering of the west flank of Ouvrage Ferme Chappy to the east.
[14] The Germans stripped the Montmédy fortifications during the Occupation, removing weapons for re-use and salvaging the massive steel cloches for scrap.
As part of a general withdrawal of French forces from the Maginot Line, the 132nd RIF pulled back on 13 June and joined the Division de marche Burtaire, retreating to Verdun.
On 21 May the 6th company was captured by German forces in the Hache Forest and the Inor line was abandoned, falling back to Stenay.
The regiment came under attack from 13 May and was pushed back to the Fort du Rozelier near Verdun by 21 May, when it was attached to the 71st Infantry Division, which became the 17trh ID two days later.
[18] The 155th Fortress Infantry Regiment held the Tête du Pont de Montmédy, the most exposed portion of the sector, including La Ferté.
[20] The other three ouvrages are abandoned although the surface of Vélosnes is maintained as a nature trail; its interior is a protected refuge for bats.
