Fort de Barchon The Fort de Barchon 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 . Barchon was upgraded in the 1930s to become part of the fortified position of Liège in an attempt to forestall or slow an attack from Germany . It saw action in 1940 during the Battle of Belgium , and was captured by German forces . It is preserved as a museum and may be visited by the public . Description . The Fort de Barchon is located about northeast of the center of Liège , just off the E40 highway . The fort forms an isosceles triangle whose base is long and whose sides measure . 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 . It is one of the larger forts of Liège . 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 . Barchon ' s armament included a two rotating Grüsonwerke turrets with a single 21 cm gun , a15cm Creusot turret with twin guns and two 12 cm Châtillon - Commentry turret with two guns , all for distant targets . Four retractable 57mm Grüsonwerke gun turrets were provided for local defense . The fort also mounted an observation turret with a searchlight . nine rapid - fire 57mm Grüsonwerke guns were provided in casemates for the defense of the ditches and the postern , as well as two mobile guns . 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 . The fort was manned by 300 artillerymen and 90 infantry , commanded by Captain - Commandant Hannefstingels . First World War . Barchon first came under attack on 5 August 1914 , a day before the city first came under fire . On the 6th German forces seeking to infiltrate between Barchon and the Meuse were forced to retreat . Because the Liège fortifications had proved to be unexpectedly stubborn , the Germans brought heavy siege artillery to bombard the forts with shells far larger than they were designed to resist . Barchon was heavily bombarded starting 8 May with 21 cm artillery . The fort ' s surrender was demanded under a flag of truce : once refused , the bombardment recommenced . Much of the fort ' s armament was damaged , and the air became unbreathable . Barchon surrendered at 1600 hours , the first of the Liège forts to do so . Twenty - two of the garrison had been killed . In 1915 the Germans undertook an improvement program for Barchon and other Liège positions , modifying the entrance , adding concrete cover and adding metal decking under concrete ceilings . Non - structural improvements included forced ventilation and moving latrines , kitchens and the bakery into the main fort . Fortified Position of Liège . Barchon ' 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 21 cm turrets were replaced with longer - range 15 cm turrets , the 15 cm turret was replaced by a turret with machine guns and grenade launchers , and the 12 cm turrets were replaced with turrets containing twin 105mm guns . Twin twin 120mm mortars were added . These new weapons were German in origin . Five 75mm turrets were added as well as an anti - aircraft battery of machine guns . Protection was substantially increased . This was accompanied by improvements to ventilation , protection , sanitary facilities , communications and electrical power . A fortified air intake tower was provided to improve ventilation . New barracks were built at this time for peacetime accommodation . The fort also featured a pigeon loft for carrier pigeons . The fort was manned by 221 men , 53 non - commissioned officers and 11 officers , under the command of Captain - Commandant Pourbaix . Second World War . Barchon opened fire on the morning of 10 May in support of Fort Eben - Emael with 15 cm guns . The anti - aircraft battery shot down a German aircraft . Belgian Army field forces withdrew on 11 May , leaving the Liège forts to fight alone . Barchon continued to support Eben - Emael and Aubin - Neufchâteau . On the 12th the fort was directly attacked by German infantry . The next day Barchon was heavily bombarded by artillery . One of the 75mm guns was overcharged and exploded . Bombardment and infantry attacks continued through the 17th , when the fort was attacked by air . Heavily damaged , the fort fought into the 18th , when the 105mm turret was knocked out . The Germans requested surrender , whereupon the artillery and aerial bombardments resumed . The Germans mounted an infantry assault in the afternoon , supported by flamethrowers , that took the fort at 1800 hours . The garrison suffered four dead and twenty - two wounded . Present . The fort has been restored by and is operated by a preservation organization . The fort ' s air intake tower remains as a prominent landmark .