Fort de Marchovelette The Fort de Marchovelette is one of nine forts built as part of the fortifications of Namur in the late 19th century in Belgium . It was built between 1888 and 1892 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 . In 1914 the fort was heavily bombarded by German artillery in the Battle of Namur . Malonne was upgraded in the 1930s to become part of the fortified position of Namur 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 . The fort is presently used as a military and police training facility . Description . The Fort de Marchovelette is located about northeast of the center of Namur at the intersection of three villages : Marchovelette , Champion and Bonnine . The fort forms a triangle in plan . A deep by ditch encircles the fort . 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 principal armament was concentrated in the central massif , closely grouped in a solid mass of concrete . 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 Namur ) , with lesser protection than the front and " 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 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 . Marchovelette ' s main armament was concentrated in the central massif and included : 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 neighboring forts . The guns were fired using black powder rather than smokeless powder , producing choking gas in the confined firing spaces that spread throughout the fort . Manning . In 1914 the Fort de Marchovelette was under the command of Captain - Commandant Duchâteau , whose garrison amounted to about 300 artillerymen and 100 infantry . First World War . Marchovelette first opened fire on German forces on 20 August 1914 . The fort was directly attacked the next day . The fort surrendered after suffering heavy bombardment by guns of up to 420mm caliber . On 23 August the fort suffered an explosion in a powder charge , incapacitating Captain - Commandant Duchâteau , and precipitating its surrender shortly thereafter . The garrison suffered 20 dead . The captured prisoners were sent to Munster . Fortified Position of Namur . Marchovelette ' s armament was upgraded in the 1930s to become part of the Fortified Position of Namur , which was planned to deter a German incursion over the nearby border . The 21 cm turret was replaced with a twin 75mm turret , the 15 cm turret was replaced by a turret with machine guns and grenade launchers , and the 57mm turrets were replaced with retractable turrets , each with a single 75mm gun . Machine guns were installed for local protection and for air defense , and an air intake - observation tower was built some distance away from the fort . Protection was substantially increased . This was accompanied by improvements to ventilation , protection , sanitary facilities , communications and electrical power . The garrison in 1940 amounted to 250 men under the command of Captain - Commandant de Lombaerdt . Second World War . In 1940 during the Battle of Belgium Marchovelette was attacked by German forces on 11 May , and surrendered on 18 May after German troops became enlodged on the central massif . The garrison suffered three dead . Present . The fort ' s site has been used as a military and police training ground . The air intake tower remains visible at the edge of the woods .