Fortress Metz - Fort Plappeville

This French fort is constructed from 1867 to 1870 and finished/modernized by the Germans in the period 1871-1898. During the First World War, it served as training camp for Prussian officers and rest station for Gernans marching to Verdun. The fort was occupied by French troops in November 1918.

After the French capitulation in 1940, the fort was occupied by German troops. On 7 September 1940, Heinrich Himmler payed the fort a visit for an inspection of the "Leibstandarte Adolph Hitler". Fort Plappeville later became a disciplinary camp for the Wehrmacht. At the beginning of September 1944 the fort's defense was reorganized and integrated into the defense of Metz. The fort saw heavy combat from September to November 1944. The German garrison, encircled by elements of the 379th Regiment of the U.S. 96th Infantry Division, repelled several American attacks, but surrendered eventually on 8 December 1944. This event occured 2 weeks after the German surrender of Metz.

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Source

• Text: Kaj Metz
• Photos: Quentin Toman