La Salmagne Ouvrage

En un regard

Le château en bref

La Salmagne Ouvrage is a small Maginot Line fortification near Bersillies and Vieux-Reng, in the Maubeuge fortified sector. Approved in 1934 and built between 1934 and 1938 at a cost of 6.2 million francs, it was installed on a Séré de Rivières fort (1884–1895) that had surrendered on 5 September 1914. It has two blocks connected by a gallery. In May 1940, after the fall of the Boussois ouvrage on 22 May, the Germans concentrated their fire on La Salmagne: Block 2 was evacuated, the AM cupola of Block 1 was destroyed with explosives, and the garrison under Captain Brichard capitulated at 8.30 p.m. The work is well preserved and is managed by the association Les Amis de la Forteresse du secteur fortifié de Maubeuge, and it opens to the public on weekends in summer.