The sector's defenses relied primarily on a system of inundations that could be created by fortified dikes and regulating weirs, backed by blockhouses.
Weakly defended compared with other sections of the Maginot Line, the sector received a measure of attention and funding from the mid-1930s when the formerly demilitarized Saarland was reintegrated into Germany.
The shallow water tables in the area prevented deeply buried fortifications of the Maginot type in most of the sector, but presented opportunities for the defensive use of inundations.
A system of reservoirs feeding diked impoundments gave France the ability to rapidly flood the valleys of the Nied and Moderbach rivers.
Three ouvrages armed with 75mm gun turrets were proposed: Remmerberg, Vahl-Ebersing and Valette, but funding difficulties prevented their construction.
[7] 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:[nb 1][10] 69th Fortress Machine-gun Infantry Regiment (69e Régiment des Mitrailleurs d'Infanterie de Forteresse (RMIF)), Lt.
Colonel Jobin, command post at the Bois de Brill The sector included ten blockhouses, designated by number, and two artillery casemates, Noonenwald (AC7B) and Biding Nord (AC 3B), which provided flanking fire along the blockhouse line with 75mm guns.
[10] Peacetime barracks and support: 82nd Fortress Infantry Regiment (82e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse (RIF)), Lt.
[10] Peacetime barracks and support: 174th Fortress Machine-gun Infantry Regiment (174e Régiment des Mitrailleurs d'Infanterie de Forteresse (RMIF)), Lt.
Colonel Duparant, command post at the Corne du Plaffenbusch The sector comprised ten blockhouses, mostly on the south side of the Moderbach, all built by the STG.
The sector also included four fortified dikes intended to control inundations along the Moderbach: Water features included: Peacetime barracks and support: 41st Colonial Machine-gun Infantry Regiment (41e Régiment des Mitrailleurs d'Infanterie du Casemate (RMIC)), Lt.
Colonel Tristani The sector lacked blockhouses or casemates entirely, consisting of two advanced posts, Grundviller and Hill 242.
Water features included: Peacetime barracks and support: 51st Colonial Machine-gun Infantry Regiment (51e Régiment des Mitrailleurs d'Infanterie du Casemate (RMIC)), Lt.
Peacetime barracks and support: 133rd Fortress Infantry Regiment (133e Régiment d'Infanterie de Forteresse (RIF)), Colonel Bertrand, command post at Kalhausen A fallback line behind the main line, roughly following the south bank of the Albe river.
The French 2nd Army Group withdrew to the vicinity of the Maginot Line and deferred transfers of forces to other sectors, achieving the effect desired by the Germans of preventing reinforcement at Sedan.
[11] The assault in earnest on the SF Sarre, Operation Tiger, opened on 14 June with an artillery bombardment that had little effect on French defenses.
XXIV AK's attack on the east side of the sector failed entirely and was the object of a successful French counterattack.
[13][14] With high casualties and less than overwhelming success, the commanding German Colonel General von Witzleben considered calling off the offensive, but a captured copy of French withdrawal plans caused him to continue the attack.
[17] The 41st Colonial Machine Gun Infantry Regiment defended the Moderbach and Albe valleys in the Kappelkinger sub-sector.
[18] The 69th Fortress Machine Gun Infantry Regiment occupied the Lixing sub-sector, which was transferred to the SF Faulquemont on 15 March 1940.