Ouvrage Boussois
| Ouvrage Boussois | |
|---|---|
| Part of Maginot Line New Fronts, Séré de Rivières system | |
| Northern France | |
Ouvreage Boussois
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 Ouvrage Boussois
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| Coordinates | 50°17′47″N 4°03′11″E / 50.29628°N 4.05304°E |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Town of Boussois |
| Controlled by | France |
| Condition | Abandoned |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1934-1938 |
| Materials | Concrete, steel, deep excavation |
| Battles/wars | Siege of Maubeuge, Battle of France |
| Ouvrage Boussois | |
|---|---|
| Type of work: | Small artillery work (Petit ouvrage) |
|
sector └─sub-sector |
Fortified Sector of Maubeuge └─Thiérache |
| Regiment: | 84th Fortress Infantry Regiment (RIF) |
| Number of blocks: | 3 |
| Strength: | 5 officers, 195 men |
Ouvrage Boussois is a petit ouvrage of the Maginot Line, built as part of the "New Fronts" program to address shortcomings in the Line's coverage of the border with Belgium. Like the other three ouvrages near Maubeuge, it is built on an old Séré de Rivières fortification, near the town of Boussois. The fortification surrendered to the Germans twice, in the First World War on 6 September 1914, and in the Second World War on 22 May 1940. The site is now abandoned.
The Fort de Boussois, also known as the Fort de Kilmaine, was built between 1881 and 1883 as part of the Séré de Rivières system of fortifications. It overlooks the valley of the Sambre. The pentagonal fort is surrounded by a ditch defended by caponiers and counterscarps. The fort featured a Mougin turret with two 155mm guns. A cavalier, or elevated surface for artillery, surmounts the reinforced barracks. Underground galleries link the salients, caponiers and counterscarps to the central portions of the fort.
The Fort de Boussois came under fire in 1914 during the opening phases of World War I, during the Siege of Maubeuge. On 31 August a shell killed 60 men when it hit the powder magazine. The Mougin turret jammed the same day. The fortifications of Maubeuge were by now far in the rear of the German lines. The fort surrendered to the Germans on 6 September, who blew up the caponiers and the turret at the end of the month.
The Maginot-era site was approved in 1934. Work by the contractor Caroni cost 8.26 million francs. A planned second phase was to add an artillery block and support facilities. The rise in tensions between France and Germany in the late 1930s prevented the second phase from being pursued.
Boussois comprises three combat blocks, featuring a new combination 25mm gun/50mm mortar turret. The ouvrage was built within the walls of the old Fort de Boussois. A compact underground gallery links the three blocks and contains utility spaces, barracks and magazine space. Construction was complicated by the presence of old mines beneath the fort.
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Wikipedia