Ouvrage Einseling is a lesser work (''petit ouvrage'') of the Maginot Line. Located in the Fortified Sector of Faulquemont, the ouvrage consists of one infantry block (''béton armé''), and is located between ''petits ouvrages'' Bambesch and Laudrefang, facing

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. Einseling faced a determined German attack on 21 June 1940, during the Battle of France. Unlike its less fortunate neighbors to the west, Einseling was able to resist the attack with help from Laudrefang, its neighbor to the east. The ''ouvrage'' survives in a heavily battered state, with its lower levels flooded.

Design and construction

The site was surveyed by CORF (''Commission d'Organisation des Régions Fortifiées''), the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, and was approved for construction in April 1932. It was completed at a cost of 7 million francs by the contractor Borie of Paris.Mary, Tome 1, p. 52 The ''petit ouvrage'' was planned for construction in two phases. The second phase was to add an 81mm mortar turret block and a separate entrance block.Mary, Tome 3, p. 113

Description

Einseling is built as a single infantry block. The casemate-like ''ouvrage'' is armed with two automatic rifle cloches (GFM), two machine gun cloches (JM), one retractable machine gun turret, and one machine gun/anti-tank gun embrasure (JM/ AC47). Work for the unbuilt second phase included a separate entry blocks and an 81mm mortar turret block. The gallery system was to include underground barracks, ammunition storage and a utility area at a depth of about .

Casemates and shelters

In addition to the connected combat blocks, a series of detached casemates and infantry shelters surround Bambesch, including * Casemate d'Einseling Nord: Armored block with one 81mm mortar, one GFM-A and one GFM-A/B cloche. * Casemate d'Einseling Sud: Armored block with one 81mm mortar and two GFM cloches. The two casemates flank the main block a few hundred meters to either side. A project to link the casemates to the central block was never started. * Casemate de Stocken: Artillery casemate with two 75mm guns and one GFM cloche, located well to the rear.

Manning

The 1940 manning of the ''ouvrage'' under the command of Lieutenant Vaillant comprised 68 men and 1 officer of the 156th Fortress Infantry Regiment. The units were under the umbrella of both the 3rd and 4th Armies, Army Group 2. The Casernement de Zimming provided peacetime above-ground barracks and support services to Kerfent and other positions in the area.

History

:''See Fortified Sector of Faulquemont for a broader discussion of the Faulquemont sector of the Maginot Line.'' Einseling2

Following the 15 June 1940 breakthrough by German forces through the Saar gap, the Germans advanced along the rear of the Maginot Line. The German 167th Infantry Division approached Kerfent, Bambesch, Einseling and Téting on 19 June. On the 20th the Germans successfully assaulted Bambesch, which was not within the reach of heavy French artillery. The following day the

Wehrmacht The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the '' Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previo ...

attacked Einseling, which was more fortunate, as it was within range of Laudrefang's 81mm mortars. Laudrefang's fire, along with accurate fire from Einseling's lighter weapons, broke up a German artillery attack. The ''ouvrage'' survived until the

Second Armistice at Compiègne The Armistice of 22 June 1940 was signed at 18:36 near Compiègne, France, by officials of Nazi Germany and the Third French Republic. It did not come into effect until after midnight on 25 June. Signatories for Germany included Wilhelm Keitel, ...

took effect on 25 June, when it surrendered.Mary, Tome 3, p. 210 After World War II, Einseling was in poor condition and was not chosen for renovation.Mary, Tome 5, p. 163 The surface of the ''ouvrage'' has been cleaned up by local residents and may be visited. The lower levels are flooded with water.

Notes

References

Bibliography

*Allcorn, William. ''The Maginot Line 1928-45.'' Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2003. *Kaufmann, J.E. and Kaufmann, H.W. ''Fortress France: The Maginot Line and French Defenses in World War II'', Stackpole Books, 2006. *Kaufmann, J.E., Kaufmann, H.W., Jancovič-Potočnik, A. and Lang, P. ''The Maginot Line: History and Guide'', Pen and Sword, 2011. *Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. ''Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 1.'' Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2001. *Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. ''Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 2.'' Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2003. *Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. ''Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 3.'' Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2003. *Mary, Jean-Yves; Hohnadel, Alain; Sicard, Jacques. ''Hommes et Ouvrages de la Ligne Maginot, Tome 5.'' Paris, Histoire & Collections, 2009.

External links

Article on Einseling
at Cahiers du Pays Naborien
Einseling
at wikimaginot.eu {{DEFAULTSORT:Einseling, Ouvrage EINS Maginot Line World War II museums in France