Fort d ' Embourg The Fort d ' Embourg is one of twelve forts built as part of the fortifications of Liège in the late 19th century in Belgium . It was built between 1881 and 1884 according to the plans of General Henri Alexis Brialmont . Contrasting with the French forts built in the same era by Raymond Adolphe Séré de Rivières , the fort was built exclusively of unreinforced concrete , a new material , rather than masonry . The fort was heavily bombarded by German artillery in the Battle of Liège in World War I and again at the opening of World War II . It has been preserved and is operated as a museum . Description . The Fort d ' Embourg is located about southeast of the center of Liège , on the heights above the community of Chaudfontaine , overlooking the Vesdre valley . The fort was built as an irregular rectangle , in contrast to most Brialmont forts , which were triangular . A deep by ditch encircles the fort . The principal armament was concentrated in the central massif . The ditches were defended in enfilade by 57mm guns in casemates resembling counterscarp batteries , firing at shot traps at the other end of the ditch . The fort is one of the smaller Liège forts . Embourg is more elevated above the surrounding country than most of the Liège forts , overlooking the Ourthe and Vesdre valleys and controlling the road from Liège to Spa . With the exception of the Fort de Loncin , the Belgian forts made little provision for the daily needs of their wartime garrisons , locating latrines , showers , kitchens and the morgue in the fort ' s counterscarp , a location that would be untenable in combat . This would have profound effects on the forts ' ability to endure a long assault . The service areas were placed directly opposite the barracks , which opened into the ditch in the rear of the fort ( i . e . , in the face towards Liège ) , with lesser protection than the two " salient " sides . The Brialmont forts placed a weaker side to the rear to allow for recapture by Belgian forces from the rear , and located the barracks and support facilities on this side , using the rear ditch for light and ventilation of living spaces . In combat heavy shellfire made the rear ditch untenable , and German forces were able to get between the forts and attack them from the rear . The Brialmont forts were designed to be protected from shellfire equaling their heaviest guns : 21 cm . The top of the central massif used of unreinforced concrete , while the caserne walls , judged to be less exposed , used . Under fire , the forts were damaged by 21 cm fire and could not withstand heavier artillery . Armament . Embourg ' s armament included a Grüsonwerke turret with a single 21 cm Krupp gun , a15cm Creusot turret with twin guns and a 12 cm Châtillon - Commentry turret with two Krupp guns , all for distant targets . Four Grüsonwerke 57mm gun turrets were provided for local defense . The fort also mounted an observation turret with a searchlight . Nine rapid - fire 57mm guns were provided in casemates for the defense of the ditches and the postern . The fort ' s heavy guns were German , typically Krupp , while the turret mechanisms were from a variety of sources . The fort was provided with signal lights to permit communication with the neighboring Fort de Loncin and Fort de Liers . The guns were fired using black powder rather than smokeless powder , producing choking gas in the confined firing spaces that spread throughout the fort . First World War . Liège first came under attack on 6 August 1914 . When the Liège ' s fortifications proved unexpectedly stubborn , the Germans brought heavy siege artillery to bombard the forts with shells far larger than they were designed to resist . Embourg was heavily bombarded starting 12 August . The fort surrendered the next day after 48 hours of bombardment . Occupying the fort during the remainder of the war , Germans made a number of improvements to the fort in 1914 and 1915 . Fortified Position of Liège . Embourg ' s armament was upgraded in the 1930s to become part of the Fortified Position of Liège II , which was planned to deter a German incursion over the nearby border . The armament was upgraded with new guns in the turrets and an anti - aircraft battery . This was accompanied by improvements to ventilation , protection , sanitary facilities , communications and electrical power . An infantry shelter with an automatic rifle cloche was built at this time , as well as a remote air intake tower some distance to the west of the fort , linked to the fort by an underground tunnel . In 1940 the fort ' s garrison comprised 323 men , mostly reservists , with four officers . Second World War . Embourg first came into contact with German forces during the Battle of Belgium on 12 May 1940 . The fort was surrounded on the 13th , occupying areas around the rear of the fort including the air intake tower . The neighboring Chaudfontaine provided supporting fire against German infantry , who mounted an infantry attack at 2200 hours . On the 14th the Germans continued artillery fire against Embourg while Embourg fired in support of Chaudfontaine . On the 15th , aerial bombardment started at 1400 hours , lasting until the night . The next day the aerial bombardment resumed while German units infiltrated the area around the fort . On the 17th the fort was attack by bombers , artillery and infantry . Embourg called for artillery support from surrounding forts , which they could not provide , but did provide support for a while to Chaudfontaine . Shortly thereafter the 75mm gun turrets were knocked out of action . After sabotaging the fort ' s equipment , the garrison surrendered . Present . A commemorative association was established in 1946 , which has erected monuments and maintained a museum in the fort . The fort has been preserved and may be visited by the public .