Fort de Roppe, also known as Fort Ney, was built between 1875 and 1877. It is part of the
second ring of fortifications around the city of
Belfort
Belfort (; archaic , ) is a city in northeastern France, situated approximately from the Swiss border. It is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Territoire de Belfort.
Belfort is from Paris and from Basel. The residents of the city ...
in northeastern
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
. This set of forts was built as part of the
Séré de Rivières system
The system was an ensemble of fortifications built from 1874 along the frontiers, ridges and coasts of France. The fortifications were named after their architect, Brigadier-General Raymond Adolphe Séré de Rivières. The fortresses were obso ...
and incorporated improvements to deal with the improvement in efficacy of artillery in the late 19th century.
Description
The Fort de Roppe is located at the summit of a hill near the town of
Roppe, to the north of Belfort. It was sited to control the road to
Colmar
Colmar (; ; or ) is a city and commune in the Haut-Rhin department and Alsace region of north-eastern France. The third-largest commune in Alsace (after Strasbourg and Mulhouse), it is the seat of the prefecture of the Haut-Rhin department ...
in co-operation with the fort at
Giromagny
Giromagny () is a Communes of France, commune in the Territoire de Belfort Departments of France, department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in northeastern France.
Geography
Climate
Giromagny has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification ...
, as well as the road to
Basel
Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...
, to protect the
Fort de Bessoncourt's flank, and to support
Fort du Salbert
Fort du Salbert, also known as Fort Lefebvre, was built between 1874 and 1877. It was named after General François Joseph Lefebvre. It forms part of the Séré de Rivières system fortifications in the fortified region of Belfort in northeaster ...
.
The rectangular fort initially mounted fifty artillery pieces and was garrisoned by more than 650 men. The guns were mounted in the open air on top of the ramparts and in a
casemate
A casemate is a fortified gun emplacement or armoured structure from which guns are fired, in a fortification, warship, or armoured fighting vehicle.Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary
When referring to antiquity, the term "casemate wall" ...
. Three more batteries were located in the immediate vicinity of the fort.
The armament of the fort varied considerably from year to year. In 1886 the fort mounted four 155mm long guns, five 138mm guns, nine 120mm long guns, two 220mm mortars, and several smaller weapons.
The fort's water needs were met by a well and a cistern. The magazine could hold 154 tons of powder. Initial construction cost was 1,875,917 francs d'or.
Improvements
In 1889 an underground troop shelter was constructed just outside the perimeter to the southwest.
From 1893 the fort was linked to other forts around Belfort via the
Chemins de fer du Territoire de Belfort strategic railroad. Underground galleries shielded with concrete were built beneath the fort during the
First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
. These galleries connected various portions of the fort to the troop shelter, which was itself concreted. Additional improvements included a 155 mm gun turret, three machine gun turrets, an additional casemate and shelters on the ramparts. The neighborhood of the fort received more batteries, a 75 mm turret, infantry shelters and a battery with two 155 mm gun turrets, the last never completed. The new gun turrets, located to the east of the main fort,
were connected to the main fort by extensions to the underground galleries.
World War II and present status
In 1940 the fort was manned by the 7th Battery of the 159th Position Artillery Regiment (RAP), part of the
fortified region of Belfort under the French 8th Army, Army Group 3. From 16 March 1940 the RF Belfort became the 44th Fortress Corps (CAF).
In June during the
Battle of France
The Battle of France (; 10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign (), the French Campaign (, ) and the Fall of France, during the Second World War was the Nazi Germany, German invasion of the Low Countries (Belgium, Luxembour ...
, 400 men sought shelter at Fort de Roppe, staying for three days before surrendering.
The fort remains the property of the French Army. Although abandoned, it still remains in good condition. Public access is prohibited.
See also
*
Fortified region of Belfort
References
External links
Other fortifications around Belfort: Fort de Roppeat Chemins de mémoire
at Fortiff' Séré
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roppe, Fort de
Fortifications of Belfort
Fortified region of Belfort
Séré de Rivières system
Military installations established in 1877
1877 establishments in France