Ouvrage La Ferté

Ouvrage La Ferté
Part of Maginot Line
North-East France
Mixed arms turret, La Ferté
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defense
Controlled byFrance
Open to
the public
Yes
ConditionPreserved as a war memorial
Location
Ouvrage La Ferté
Coordinates49°35′05″N 5°13′59″E / 49.58482°N 5.23293°E / 49.58482; 5.23293
Site history
Built byCORF
MaterialsConcrete, steel, deep excavation
Battles/warsBattle of France
Official nameOuvrage de la Ferté
Designated1980
Reference no.PA00078437
DenominationFortification
Ouvrage La Ferté
Type of work:Small artillery work (Petit ouvrage)
sector
└─sub-sector
Fortified Sector of Montmédy
└─Tête du Pont de Montmédy
Regiment:155th Fortress Infantry Regiment (RIF), 169th Position Artillery Regiment (RAP)
Number of blocks:2
Strength:3 officers, 97 men

Ouvrage La Ferté, also known as Ouvrage Villy-La Ferté, is a petit ouvrage of the Maginot Line, located in the Fortified Sector of Montmédy, facing Belgium. The ouvrage lies between the towns of Villy and La Ferté-sur-Chiers. It possesses two combat blocks linked by an underground gallery. The westernmost position in its sector, it was a comparatively weakly armed fortification in an exposed position that left it vulnerable to isolation and attack. After a sustained attack during the Battle of France, the position was overwhelmed by German forces and was destroyed with its entire garrison killed. The fighting at La Ferté was the heaviest of any position in the Maginot Line. It is preserved as a war memorial.