Casemate 84

The author is a local historian whose grandfather and uncle served in Fort Pontisse, one of the ring of Brialmont forts defending Liège. Starting with the rationale for the forts, he describes their design and construction. In 1914, the Liège defences were faced with the full might of the German army, and flaws soon became apparent.

The first was the failure to fortify the intervals so that when the interval troops were withdrawn, the Germans were able to reach the city centre. The second was the lack of communication between forts; when the HQ was moved from the city because of the German infiltration, the forts became effectively isolated. The absence of observation posts was also a handicap, somewhat compensated for by reconnaissance sorties.

Nevertheless, the forts held out well, and their armoured cupola artillery was very effective in denying the German army crossing points over the Meuse. Also surprisingly effective were the fort searchlights which survived longer than might be expected, but with the arrival of the 420mm howitzers, damage to the forts became unsustainable. Poor ventilation and structural disruption were the main failures. Surrender became inevitable.

After the Great War, the forts lingered on, Liers becoming an ammunition store in 1933. Modernization began at Pontisse and lessons learnt from the war were applied, including re-arming the fort with cupolas salvaged from Antwerp, deep underground galleries lined with corrugated steel to limit concrete dust were dug to shelter troops, ammunition and machinery.

A new air intake to ensure a fresh air supply was built some distance from the fort; it was subjected to attack from Pak guns in 1940. Communications were now possible between forts and forward OPs built in the 1930s, as part of the new Position Fortifiée de Liège. It was not initially intended to re-arm the left bank forts, but on reflection it was thought that they might prove useful in denying enemy forces crossing points over the Meuse. And so it proved. Three days after the airborne attack on Fort Eben-Emael, its observers were still requesting artillery support for themselves, and interdiction fire against German pontoon bridges. Accurate fire destroyed these as it did conventional bridges the Germans were trying to use. Following requests from Fort Barchon across the river and observers elsewhere, useful counter-battery fire was also provided. The guns of Pontisse were even used in an anti-aircraft role to protect Barchon from the Stuka attacks which finally spelt doom for both forts.

The book has a rather grey look to it as all the photographs are b/w, but this should not deter a potential reader. All illustrations are relevant and interesting and the (French) text is extremely well written: we share the tensions leading up to both wars and experience at first-hand how these old forts gave a bloody nose to the invaders. It gives us a wonderfully even-handed account of the strengths and weaknesses of Brialmont's designs. As a bonus, there are several contemporary war diaries (including the commanders') re-printed in full which make fascinating reading.

Fort Liers is currently an out-of-bounds military establishment, but Pontisse (a donkey sanctuary) can be visited. If you wish for an absorbing read about a Belgian fort from inception to the present day, then this is it.