Fort d'Embourg

Built in 1888, this fort was part of the Reinforced Position Liege, La Position Fortifiée de Liège, PFL. During World War I, the PFL consisted of 12 forts built around the city of Liège.

Besides Fort Embourg, these were the forts; Barchon, Boncelles, Chaudfontaine, Evegnée, Flémalle, Fléron, Hologne, Lantin, Liers, Loncin and Pontisse.

After the 1st World War, 4 more forts were added; Aubiin-Neufchateau, Battice, Eben-Emael and Tancrémont.

The fort had a turret with a 210 mm mortar, a turret with two 150 mm guns, two turrets with a 120 mm gun and four turrets with a 57 mm gun. After modernization in 1929, four 75 mm guns were installed and the turrets of these guns could be "retracted."

Unlike other "old" forts like Evegnée, Fort Embourg does not have a ventilation tower. Ventilation was controlled through a separate bunker.

In May 1940 there was heavy fighting around the fort. The fort was surrounded on May 14, 1940, and was then heavily shelled by German artillery and by aerial bombardment. To spare his soldiers, the commander decided to surrender.

Witness to the fierce fighting are the bullet holes still visible in the posts in front of the fort. From the main bunker (photo 4) behind the entrance, shots were fired at the fort's attackers. Steel cables could be inserted between these posts to prevent vehicles from entering the fort.

These poles were usually rails cast in concrete with an enclosure of steel. as also visible in photos 1 and 5.

This fort can be visited.

The fort had two observation bunkers. Bunker EC 1 bis sector Embourg-Chaudfontaine and bunker BE 8 sector Boncelles-Embourg. Both from the 2nd line of La Position Fortifiée de Liège. Bunker EC 1 bis no longer exists. A house has been built over it.

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: Fedor de Vries en Ed Lewandowski
• Photos: Luc van Waeyenberge (1, 2), Ed Lewandowski (3, 4, 5)
• La Position Fortfiée de Liège, les forts de la Meuse modernisés, Coenen & vernier.

< >