page_title: Ouvrage Métrich
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Ouvrage Métrich / History
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: 7,5 cm Kanone, Artilleriewerk Metrich, Block 8, Maginot-Linie
context_page_description: Ouvrage Métrich located in the village of Kœnigsmacker in Moselle, comprises part of the Elzange portion of the Fortified Sector of Thionville of the Maginot Line. A gros ouvrage, it is the third largest of the Line, after Hackenberg and Hochwald. It lies between petit ouvrage Sentzich and gros ouvrage Billig, facing Germany. Located to the east of the Moselle, it cooperated with Ouvrage Galgenberg to control the river valley.
context_section_description: The principal mission of the ouvrage was to cover the east side of the Moselle valley. In 1940 German forces largely bypassed the Moselle, enveloping Thionville from the rear.  Métrich and other ouvrages in the Thionville sector therefore surrendered after the Second Armistice at Compiègne of 22 June. During the Occupation support areas of the ouvrage were transformed by German occupiers into offices and manufacturing facilities. Some of the combat blocks were used by the Germans for testing of explosives. In 1944 Métrich was held by the  74th Volksgrenadier Regiment of the 19th Volksgrenadier Division. Métrich was attacked on 10 November 1944 by the U.S. 90th Infantry Division advancing around he north side of Thionville. After an initial retreat, German resistance was strong. A second, cautious assault was launched on the 11th, and when the ouvrage had been surrounded the main force bypassed the position, leaving a holding force to clear the German defenses, where resistance ended on the 12th.
  Following the war, the Maginot Line was viewed as a means of slowing an advance by Warsaw Pact forces and most of the northeastern positions were renovated and rearmed.  The renovations did not include the command post or the barracks.   However, the program was abandoned, and after a period of routine maintenance, Métrich's status was lowered to inactive reserve, and finally abandoned.
caption: 75mm turret with GFM cloche behind
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