France Leopold Fortress, France - October 2017

[The_Raw]

This fortress was constructed by the Germans from 1907-1914. It served German soldiers during the First World War but saw little action. Then it was occupied by the French between 1919 & 1940, where it was incorporated into the maginot line for WW2. After the departure of French troops in June 1940, the German army took back the fort. On September 2, 1944, it was declared a fortress of the Reich by Hitler. The stronghold must therefore be defended until the last extremity by German troops, whose chiefs all took an oath to the Führer. In October 1944, the fort was captured by the American 3rd Army in the Battle of Metz.

Definitely one of the best military sites I've visited yet. Amazing to think it served both WW1 & WW2 yet remains in such good condition today. There are dozens of murals dating back over a century, and 1,700m of tunnels connecting various sections. I had to be dragged away as I could have spent a week in here. Visited with @Maniac @extreme_ironing and @Andy.

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"Flourish German fatherland"​

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 "Cameroon child in Munich" / "Man does not agree"​

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 "Booze kills, so do not drink so much!" (or something to that effect....)​

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"Beautiful is the recruit life"​

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"Whoever quarrels or rushes gets the hell out of it"​

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"May God punish England" ​

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Thanks for looking y'all​

 

[Lenston]

Lovely mate

 

[DirtyJigsaw]

Interesting stuff. I just googled that quote from your last pic....

Gott strafe England" was a slogan used by the German Army during World War I. The phrase means "May God punish England". It was created by the German-Jewish poet Ernst Lissauer (1882–1937), who also wrote the poem Hassgesang gegen England (lit. "Hate song against England", better known as "Hymn of Hate").

 

[Andy]

Great set! It was definitely a very interesting military site.

We were lucky that the farmer was not with his horse in the pasture in the woods.   

 

[Dubbed Navigator]

What a site, great walk through time. Your pics are great too.

 

[Ghost-Scooter]

oh wow. seems I have to research.

 

[hamtagger]

Damn, what a place!! They certainly liked their murals too; i like that one wit the doors painted like it was a coastal view   Cracking report  

 

[The_Raw]

Great set! It was definitely a very interesting military site.

We were lucky that the farmer was not with his horse in the pasture in the woods.   

We were way too ninja for any farmers! Thanks for your comments everyone ?

 

[ASOM]

Great set - these bunkers are often a bit boring inside but amazing to see so much and in such good nick. Nice shots too - can't have been the easiest to get right.

 

[The_Raw]

Great set - these bunkers are often a bit boring inside but amazing to see so much and in such good nick. Nice shots too - can't have been the easiest to get right.

Thanks mate, not seen you pop up for a while! 

 

[Hydro]

Thats cool as fuck! Great set too mate

 

[The_Raw]

Thats cool as fuck! Great set too mate

Cheers dude, long time no see!