On June 13, 1940, surprised by the breakthrough of the Guderian armored corps in Champagne, General Weygand, commander-in-chief, gave the order to the large units and interval troops to abandon the crews of the line's works to their fate. Maginot to avoid encirclement.
While the response began, the Saar, a modestly fortified sector of 30 kilometers based on defensive floods, suffered the terrible shock of the Von Witzleben Army: thus began Operation Tiger at dawn on June 14.
In one day, the allied forces inflict an uncompromising defeat on the adversary. Having suffered very severe losses, and close to giving up, the enemy painfully continued its effort. After an almost complete response from the French and Polish units, he managed to break through the next day.
Then, by a rotating movement, a few days before the armistice, he tried to bring down the small CORF infantry works, on the wings of the Maginot line.
Some surrenders will follow, but the result remains mixed. Indeed, any progress in the sector battered by the artillery of works means severe losses. This is the case of the overpowering Simserhof which stopped the Wehrmacht in its tracks in the Rohrbach – Bitche sector.
Once the armistice was signed, at the beginning of July the surrender of many crews who had remained undefeated took place and they would then leave... for prison camps. Incomprehension and humiliation!
This second volume, beginning at Kerfent, near Saint-Avold, brings to life the glorious battles of the fortress troops as far as Bitche.
A text of great rigor, unique original documents redrawn on the computer and more than 500 photos, most of them unpublished, attributing to this work an exceptional memorial vocation.
In an opus in preparation, the battles of the crews of the Northern Vosges and Alsace will subsequently be treated, while continuing along the Rhine, towards Mulhouse.
