Fort de Leveau The Fort de Leveau , also known as Fort Schouller , is located in the commune of Feignies , France . It is part of the fortifications of Maubeuge , located to the northwest of the city , overlooking the railroad to Mons . The Séré de Rivières system fort was built 1882 - 1884 , one of six forts built at the time . It is maintained as a museum by the town of Feignies . Description . The fort is a typical example of a Séré de Rivières system , with a low wall , surrounded by a ditch , which is in turn defended by caponier s . The roof of the barracks is concreted and supports an artillery platform , or cavalier . The ditch was traversed by a drawbridge , no longer extant . The position was heavily bombarded in 1914 . In 1893 , four 120mm guns were mounted on the cavalier , while additional armament including 90mm guns were added in casemates . A 1914 project added a turret for two 75mm guns . However , the turret was not armed and equipped at the outbreak of World War I . In the 1930s the fort was chosen as a site for fortifications associated with the Maginot Line extension around Maubeuge , part of the " New Fronts " program . An observation post , a casemate and a blockhouse were built on the fort . The casemate was furnished with a 25mm anti - tank gun , a machine gun port and an automatic rifle port . History . In 1870 , France was partly occupied by the Prussian army . As a result of this defeat , the Séré de Rivières system of fortifications was planned and constructed to defend the nation . Maubeuge , located close by the border between France and Belgium , received a complete ring of forts . Construction started in 1882 , completing in 1884 for a garrison of 97 men . The armament was improved in 1893 , and the fort was renovated again in 1914 . In the opening stages of World War I the German army laid siege to Maubeuge , beginning 29 August 1914 . On 7 September , the Fort de Leveau was bombarded by 25 42 cm projectiles and a number of 30 . 5 cm rounds . , heavily damaging the fort , with one shot hitting the barracks and killing up to 120 . At 1400 on the 7th , French forces evacuated the fort , shortly before the general surrender of the Maubeuge fortress . After occupying the fort , the Germans blew up the caponiers , the unfinished 75mm gun turret and other portions of the fort . In the 1930s , France invested in the construction of the Maginot Line , which covered the eastern frontiers of France . The frontier with Belgium was regarded as a lesser priority because France ' s war plan called for the French Army to advance into Belgium and conduct an offensive there . Belatedly , France began construction of a limited series of defenses around Maubeuge in the mid - 1930s . These fortifications were individually assaulted and captured in the opening phases of World War II . The Leveau fortifications were attacked on 18 May 1940 and were subdued that afternoon , with one defender dead . In 1944 the fort saw fighting between Resistance and German forces . The site was acquired by the town of Feignies in 1993 and is administered as a museum by the " Association de Sauvegrade du Fort de Leveau " . In 1998 , excavations recovered the remains of nine soldiers killed in the 1914 siege , who were re - interred at the Assevent cemetery .