Kœnigsmacker Fort

During the World War II the fort was occupied by the German Army. The 74th Volksgrenadier-Regiment of the 19th Volksgrenadier-Division was assigned there in 1944. On November 9, 1944, no fewer than 1,299 B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers dropped 3,753 tons of bombs, weighing between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds, on fortified works and strategic points in the IIIrd Army's combat zone. As most of the bombers dropped their bombs without visibility, at over 20,000 feet, military objectives were often missed. In Metz, the 689 bomb loads intended to hit seven forts designated as priority targets only caused collateral damage. In Thionville and Saarbrücken, the result was equally inconclusive, proving once again the inadequacy of massive bombing raids on military objectives.

The fort of Kœnigsmacker was attacked at dawn on November 9, 1944 by a battalion of the 358th Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division, Third United States Army. The battle lasted three days. The Americans, using explosives, succeeded in capturing the casemates after pouring gasoline into the fortification's air ducts. 111 American soldiers perished in the fighting.
Source Wikipedia

During the World War II the fort was occupied by the German Army. The 74th Volksgrenadier-Regiment of the 19th Volksgrenadier-Division was assigned there in 1944. On November 9, 1944, no fewer than 1,299 B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers dropped 3,753 tons of bombs, weighing between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds, on fortified works and strategic points in the IIIrd Army's combat zone. As most of the bombers dropped their bombs without visibility, at over 20,000 feet, military objectives were often missed. In Metz, the 689 bomb loads intended to hit seven forts designated as priority targets only caused collateral damage. In Thionville and Saarbrücken, the result was equally inconclusive, proving once again the inadequacy of massive bombing raids on military objectives.The fort of Kœnigsmacker was attacked at dawn on November 9, 1944 by a battalion of the 358th Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division, Third United States Army. The battle lasted three days. The Americans, using explosives, succeeded in capturing the casemates after pouring gasoline into the fortification's air ducts. 111 American soldiers perished in the fighting.Source Wikipedia