| Subject: |
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Re: Galerie de Contremine |
| Name: |
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Caspar Vermeulen |
| Date Posted: |
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Sep 23, 03 - 3:37 PM |
| Email: |
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casparvermeulen@zeelandnet.nl |
| Website |
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http://www.fortweb.net |
| Message: |
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Hello Jörg,
The name "Galerie de contremine" give its function away. It is designed to counter mines. Off course not small landmines, but large explosive charges used to blow a (part of a) fortress. Mines were used much for this purpose during the medieval sieges. Later this type of siege warfare evolved. The defenders started to develop countermeasures in the form of countermine galleries, e.g. Front de Victor (Verdun), Hoge Fronten (Maastricht), but also in the forts of Séré de Rivières, like Uxegney. In case the enemy would try to excavate a mine gallery the defenders would destroy this. This could range from a small charge to cause a collapse of the enemy gallery to a large explosive charge to blow up the enemy. Some vast systems were built in advance, like in Maastricht which has 17 km of galleries. In other cases the countermine system was limited to some small galleries which would be the starting point for a gallery that would be built during the siege.
The countermine galleries of block 3 and 16 of Hochwald, but also block 25 of Hackenberg are an example of the second system. In case the enemy would try to dig a gallery under the block they would start to construct a countermine gallery. You have to realise that counterscarp casemates are very vulnerable for mine galleries. In fact, since these casemates are facing rearwards it is almost the only way to destroy them effectively.
Experiences in WW I showed that mine warfare was still a useful way of blowing up enemy positions, like at Vaucqois and Les Epargnes. Apparantly the French were afraid that the Germans would try the same with the counterscarp casemates and designed a countermine system.
I hopes this helps you to better understand the "Galerie de contremine".
Best regards,
Caspar
www.fortweb.net |
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