Anzeling - June 1940.

[tigre]

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The assault on the fortification of Anzeling - June 1940.

Located 25 km east of Metz, just south of Highway Metz - Bouzonville. The fort consisted of 6 blocks:

Block 1 - Infantry - machine-gun turret - bunker
Block 2 - Infantry - machine gun turret
Block 3 - Artillery - Mortars 81 mm
Block 4 - Artillery – 75 mm turret
Block 5 - artillery turret and bunker 135 mm
Block 7 - Artillery - 75 mm turret.

At about 300 meters behind:

Block 9 Infantry - machine gun turret - bunker
Blocks access personal 1/2 bunker
Entry supplies 1/2 bunker

Crew: 679 men (officers and soldiers) of 162 ° RIF and a detachment of 163 ° RAF

In addition, approximately 200 men of all arms are resting on the rear, ensuring turnover.

The chief was the commander of Battalion 162 ° Ernest Guillebot of RIF.

Sources: Fotoalbum eines Leutnant der 78_ Sturmdivision !!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 17_03_08 223736 MEZ)
Geschichte der 95 ID.
http://camp-de-bockange.chez-alice.fr/contents4.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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The assault on the fortification of Anzeling - June 1940.

Before May 16, 1940 the fort had no contact with the enemy nor conducted fire missions against it, the activities were limited to organizing and training field.

On Saturday May 18, 1940 the fort's artillery opened fire on Beckerholz, from there the situation stabilized until June 10, 1940.

Saturday June 10, 1940 New withdrawals of outposts and detachments of the infantry division.

On Thursday June 13, 1940 the Commander of the fort received from the commander of the sector that the interval troops would fall back to the south after midnight and the troops of the fortifications were masking the movement. The withdrawal of the fortified areas was planned for later.

Sources: Fotoalbum eines Leutnant der 78_ Sturmdivision !!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 17_03_08 223736 MEZ)
Geschichte der 95 ID.
http://camp-de-bockange.chez-alice.fr/contents4.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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The assault on the fortification of Anzeling - June 1940.

On Friday June 14, 1940 the enemy sought contact and reached the GLAM (advanced line) by 08:00hours; at 13:00 hours Hoemerich and between 16:00 and 20:00 hours Bucheltz and the bois d' Anzeling. At midnight the Germans were in front of Anzeling and the southeast edge of town.

On Saturday June 15, 1940 in the morning the Fort fired at ​​Remelfang and Hoemerich on an enemy observation post which was taken as target. After noon were carried out fire missions on the town of Freistroff. From 17:00 hours onwards the enemy infiltrated from the Bois d'Anzeling to the town. During the night retreated the Platoon of F.V. Mercklin and the crews of the interval forts. The fortification was left to fight for itself.

Sources: Fotoalbum eines Leutnant der 78_ Sturmdivision !!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 17_03_08 223736 MEZ)
Geschichte der 95 ID.
http://camp-de-bockange.chez-alice.fr/contents4.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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The assault on the fortification of Anzeling - June 1940.

On Sunday, June 16, 1940 it was a quiet day - very few targets. At 20:30 hours, Colonel Cochinard, Sector Commander, arrived at Fort Anzeling with his command staff, forced by the advancing Germans, which had already crossed the line in the area of the ponds. (Town).

It was ordered not to evacuate the fort. The destructions were halted. It seems that the Fort Bousse has not understood this order, because it shot at 04:00 hours and then stayed in silent. Quiet night, but the enemy kept in touch.

Sources: Fotoalbum eines Leutnant der 78_ Sturmdivision !!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 17_03_08 223736 MEZ)
Geschichte der 95 ID.
http://camp-de-bockange.chez-alice.fr/contents4.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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The assault on the fortification of Anzeling - June 1940.

Monday June 17, 1940, relatively calm day with fire missions on targets of little importance. In the Afternoon enemy's actions against the village of Gomelange, where they managed to infiltrate the northern sector.

After 17:30 hours the enemy tried to occupy the railway triangle in front of the fortification of Bousse and penetrate the top of the fortifications. It was taken under effective fire of block No. 1 (infantry) and No. 5 (artillery). On the night of 17 to 18 of JUne 1940, it was very agitated because the enemy detached patrols towards blocks No. 1 and No. 3 (edge) and block No. 9 and access of material (first manifestation in the rear).

Sources: Fotoalbum eines Leutnant der 78_ Sturmdivision !!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 17_03_08 223736 MEZ)
Geschichte der 95 ID.
http://camp-de-bockange.chez-alice.fr/contents4.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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The assault on the fortification of Anzeling - June 1940.

Tuesday June 18, 1940.

The fortress of Berenbach reported that in the wooded valley of Berenbach (between this fort and the Anzeling) the enemy sought to infiltrate during the night between both forts.

The day and the night of Jun 18 1940 elapsed in calm.

Sources: Fotoalbum eines Leutnant der 78_ Sturmdivision !!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 17_03_08 223736 MEZ)
Geschichte der 95 ID.
http://camp-de-bockange.chez-alice.fr/contents4.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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The assault on the fortification of Anzeling - June 1940.

Wednesday June 19, 1940, at 12:00 hours gunfire (calibers 105 and 155 mm) on the block 9 and the access of materials for batteries placed in the east. A patrol sent between 14:00 hours and 16:00 hours found that fort Bousse was evacuated. The enemy could not break into it and had suffered losses on June 17, 1940 (big trail of blood at the entrance of the fort).

At 17:00 hours, a vehicle approached from the rear to block 9, it came up to the barriers and turned around.

At 20.00 hours, it was observed a motorcycle traveling at high speed along the road to Boulay.

At 21:40 hours a motorized column passed from Boulay to Bockange and face the barbed wire obstacle blocking the access of personnel and was taken under fire by the 37 mm cannon and machine guns. The 81 mm mortar was active on the road east of Galgeberg.

Sources: Fotoalbum eines Leutnant der 78_ Sturmdivision !!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 17_03_08 223736 MEZ)
Geschichte der 95 ID.
http://camp-de-bockange.chez-alice.fr/contents4.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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The assault on the fortification of Anzeling - June 1940.

Thursday June 20, 1940: the enemy shot at block No. 9 during the afternoon. Calm day, fire support on the evening towards forts Denting and Bovenberg.

Friday June 21, 1940: artillery fire against block No. 9 and personnel access. The day and the next night passed quietly in particular, lack of targets.

Saturday, June 22: At 09:00 hours an enemy emissary reached the access of material - he said he come from Burtoncourt sent by his Colonel in order to demand the surrender of the fortress. This surrender was rejected. At the same time, the fort of Mont des Welsches requested artillery fire support from Anzeling, which was executed.

Between 11:00 to 12:00 hours violent bombardment of enemy artillery on Anzeling - no damage.

Sources: Fotoalbum eines Leutnant der 78_ Sturmdivision !!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 17_03_08 223736 MEZ)
Geschichte der 95 ID.
http://camp-de-bockange.chez-alice.fr/contents4.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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The assault on the fortification of Anzeling - June 1940.

Sunday, June 23 1940: During the night of 22 to 23, the Germans announced the future armistice by the Bockange sector (shouting, rockets ......). These events ceased when the gun of 75 mm of Block 4 opened fire on the area.

At 02:00 hours the German patrols carried out a reconnaissance against the observatory of fort Berenbach - infantry weapons of the fort fired upon them, with effective results.

09:30 hours Intermittent firing of artillery at the front of the fort - the rest of the day remained calm.

Sources: Fotoalbum eines Leutnant der 78_ Sturmdivision !!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 17_03_08 223736 MEZ)
Geschichte der 95 ID.
http://camp-de-bockange.chez-alice.fr/contents4.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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The assault on the fortification of Anzeling - June 1940.

Monday, June 24 1940: quiet day - the camp of Bockange was evacuated by the enemy - A plane flew over the fort at 17:00 hours.

At 22:00 hours, prolonged fire missions of the artillery in support of the fort of Mont des Welsches.

Tuesday, June 25 1940: at 00:35 hour ceasefire - the enemy halted all activities.

A German parliamentary come at 10:00 hours in order to announce the signing of the armistice.

Colonel Cochinard, Commanding Officer in the sector, got in contact with General Greff, Commander of the 45 CA, the latter considers the garrisons as prisoners - His opinion was rejected under the orders of the French government.

Troops surrounded the fort belonged to the 95 ID commanded by General von Arnim - in particular the IR 280 the command of Oberst Müller-Derischweiler.

Sources: Fotoalbum eines Leutnant der 78_ Sturmdivision !!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 17_03_08 223736 MEZ)
Geschichte der 95 ID.
http://camp-de-bockange.chez-alice.fr/contents4.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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The assault on the fortification of Anzeling - June 1940.

Finally, after the armistice, the fort was evacuated and handed over to the German troops on July 3, 1940.

Sources: Fotoalbum eines Leutnant der 78_ Sturmdivision !!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 17_03_08 223736 MEZ)
Geschichte der 95 ID.
http://camp-de-bockange.chez-alice.fr/contents4.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

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The assault on the fortification of Anzeling - June 1940.

Discussing the terms of the armistice - Summer of 1940.

Sources: Fotoalbum eines Leutnant der 78_ Sturmdivision !!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 17_03_08 223736 MEZ)
Geschichte der 95 ID.
http://camp-de-bockange.chez-alice.fr/contents4.html

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; the end...................

The assault on the fortification of Anzeling - June 1940.

Sources: Fotoalbum eines Leutnant der 78_ Sturmdivision !!! bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 17_03_08 223736 MEZ)
Geschichte der 95 ID.
http://camp-de-bockange.chez-alice.fr/contents4.html

It's all folks. Cheers. Raúl M .