Ouvrage Soetrich
| Ouvrage Soetrich | |
|---|---|
| Part of Maginot Line | |
| North-East France | |
The usine of Soetrich, May 2004 | |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | France |
| Open to the public | No |
| Condition | Abandoned, buried |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 49°25′48″N 6°10′09″E / 49.43011°N 6.16928°E |
| Site history | |
| Built by | CORF |
| Materials | Concrete, steel, deep excavation |
| Battles/wars | Battle of France, Lorraine Campaign |
| Ouvrage Soetrich | |
|---|---|
| Type of work: | Large artillery work (Gros ouvrage) |
| sector └─sub-sector | Fortified Sector of Thionville └─Hettange-Grande |
| Work number: | A11 |
| Constructed: | 1930-1935 |
| Regiment: | 169th Fortress Infantry Regiment + 151st Position Artillery Regiment |
| Number of blocks: | 8 |
| Strength: | 583 enlisted + 20 officers |
Ouvrage Soetrich is a gros ouvrage of the Maginot Line in north-eastern France. Soetrich is located between petits ouvrages Immerhof and Bois Karre, facing the France-Luxembourg border near the town of Hettange-Grande, part of the Fortified Sector of Thionville. Compared with other gros ouvrages, Soetrich is compact in arrangement, with the entries and underground ammunition magazines and barracks in close proximity to the combat blocks, accessed through underground galleries at an average depth of 30 metres (98 ft). Its primary purpose was to cover the main road to Luxembourg, just to the west. Along with its neighbours, Ouvrage Rochonvillers and Ouvrage Molvange, Soetrich was used during the Cold War as a secure command centre for NATO forces.