Fort de Hollogne
Encyclopedia
The Fort de Hollogne is one of twelve forts built as part of the fortifications of Liège in the late 19th century in Belgium
. It was built between 1881 and 1884 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. The fort was heavily bombarded by German artillery in the Battle of Liège
. Hollogne was never upgraded like the other forts of Liège and retains its character as a Brialmont fort. It is preserved as a museum and may be visited by the public.
, directly adjacent to the Liège Airport
's runway.
The fort forms an isosceles triangle whose base is 200 metres (656.2 ft) long and whose sides measure 225 metres (738.2 ft). A 6 metres (19.7 ft) deep by 8 metres (26.2 ft) ditch encircles the fort. The principal armament was concentrated in the central massif. 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. It is one of the smaller forts of Liège.
With the exception of the Fort de Loncin, the 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 Liège), with lesser protection than the two "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 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 the neighboring Fort de Loncin
and Fort de Liers
. The guns were fired using black powder rather than smokeless powder
, producing choking gas in the confined firing spaces that spread throughout the fort.
The fort was manned by 230 artillerymen and 120 infantry, commanded by Captain-Commandant Cuisinier.
exploded under bombardment at 1720 hours. At 1900 hours a German delegation arrived and offered to take the commandant to see the wreckage of Loncin. The fort's doctor and another officer went to Loncin, reporting back at 2200. A plan was then proposed the evacuate and blow up the fort, which was stymied when the garrison discovered that it was surrounded. German artillery bombardment recommenced the next day; Hologne surrendered at 0730 on the 16th, the next-to-last Liège fort to capitulate.
, remaining essentially as it was built by Brialmont, with a few modifications by the 1914-1917 German occupiers. The Belgian Army used the fort to store munitions. In May 1940 the fort was bombed by Stukas that had mistaken Hollogne for the active Fort de Flémalle
. During the second occupation the fort was proposed as a launching site for V-2 rockets. After the area was liberated in 1944 it was used by American forces as a hospital. Following the conclusion of the war it became a depot for Belgian forces, then became a Belgian Air Force
command post until 1992. It remained Ministry of Defense property until 1997, when it was conveyed to the Ministry of Transport as airport property.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. It was built between 1881 and 1884 according to the plans of General Henri Alexis Brialmont
Henri Alexis Brialmont
Henri Alexis Brialmont was a Dutch-born Belgian military engineer. He was one of the leading fortifications engineers in the 19th century....
. Contrasting with the French forts built in the same era by Raymond Adolphe Séré de Rivières
Raymond Adolphe Séré de Rivières
Raymond Adolphe Séré de Rivières was a French military engineer and general whose ideas revolutionized the design of fortifications in France. He gave his name to the Séré de Rivières system of fortifications constructed after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870...
, the fort was built exclusively of unreinforced concrete, a new material, rather than masonry. The fort was heavily bombarded by German artillery in the Battle of Liège
Battle of Liège
The Battle of Liège was the opening engagement of the German invasion of Belgium, and the first battle of World War I. The attack on the city began on 5 August 1914 and lasted until the 16th when the last Belgian fort finally surrendered...
. Hollogne was never upgraded like the other forts of Liège and retains its character as a Brialmont fort. It is preserved as a museum and may be visited by the public.
Description
The Fort de Hollogne is located about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of the center of LiègeLiège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, directly adjacent to the Liège Airport
Liège Airport
Liège Airport , also called Liège-Bierset, is an important cargo airport in Belgium. It was at the end of 2009 the 8th biggest cargo airport in Europe...
's runway.
The fort forms an isosceles triangle whose base is 200 metres (656.2 ft) long and whose sides measure 225 metres (738.2 ft). A 6 metres (19.7 ft) deep by 8 metres (26.2 ft) ditch encircles the fort. The principal armament was concentrated in the central massif. The ditches were defended in enfilade by 57mm guns in casemates resembling counterscarp
Counterscarp
A scarp and a counterscarp are the inner and outer sides of a ditch used in fortifications. In permanent fortifications the scarp and counterscarp may be encased in stone...
batteries, firing at shot traps at the other end of the ditch. It is one of the smaller forts of Liège.
With the exception of the Fort de Loncin, the 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
Counterscarp
A scarp and a counterscarp are the inner and outer sides of a ditch used in fortifications. In permanent fortifications the scarp and counterscarp may be encased in stone...
, 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 Liège), with lesser protection than the two "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.
Armament
Hollogne's armament included a Grüsonwerke turret with a single 21cm gun, a15cm Creusot-Vanekerchove turret with twin guns and a 12cm Châtillon-Commentry/Marcinelle et Couillet turret with two guns, all for distant targets. 57mm gun turrets were provided for local defense. The fort also mounted an observation turret with a searchlight. Seven rapid-fire 57mm Grüsonwerke guns were provided in casemates for the defense of the ditches and the postern, as well as in three turrets.The fort's heavy guns were German, typically Krupp
Krupp
The Krupp family , a prominent 400-year-old German dynasty from Essen, have become famous for their steel production and for their manufacture of ammunition and armaments. The family business, known as Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp, was the largest company in Europe at the beginning of the 20th...
, while the turret mechanisms were from a variety of sources. The fort was provided with signal lights to permit communication with the neighboring Fort de Loncin
Fort de Loncin
The Fort de Loncin is one of twelve forts built as part of the Fortifications of Liège in the late 19th century in Belgium. It was constructed between 1881 and 1884 according to the plans of General Henri Alexis Brialmont...
and Fort de Liers
Fort de Liers
The Fort de Liers is one of twelve forts built as part of the fortifications of Liège in the late 19th century in Belgium. It was built between 1881 and 1884 according to the plans of General Henri Alexis Brialmont...
. The guns were fired using black powder rather than smokeless powder
Smokeless powder
Smokeless powder is the name given to a number of propellants used in firearms and artillery which produce negligible smoke when fired, unlike the older gunpowder which they replaced...
, producing choking gas in the confined firing spaces that spread throughout the fort.
The fort was manned by 230 artillerymen and 120 infantry, commanded by Captain-Commandant Cuisinier.
First World War
Liège first came under attack on 6 August 1914. When the Liège's fortifications proved unexpectedly stubborn, the Germans brought heavy siege artillery to bombard the forts with shells far larger than they were designed to resist. Hollogne was heavily bombarded starting 13 May. On 15 May the neighboring Fort de LoncinFort de Loncin
The Fort de Loncin is one of twelve forts built as part of the Fortifications of Liège in the late 19th century in Belgium. It was constructed between 1881 and 1884 according to the plans of General Henri Alexis Brialmont...
exploded under bombardment at 1720 hours. At 1900 hours a German delegation arrived and offered to take the commandant to see the wreckage of Loncin. The fort's doctor and another officer went to Loncin, reporting back at 2200. A plan was then proposed the evacuate and blow up the fort, which was stymied when the garrison discovered that it was surrounded. German artillery bombardment recommenced the next day; Hologne surrendered at 0730 on the 16th, the next-to-last Liège fort to capitulate.
Second World War
Hollogne was not upgraded in the 1930s as part of the Fortified Position of LiègeFortified Position of Liège
The fortified position of Liège was established following World War I by Belgium to fortify the traditional invasion corridor from Germany through Belgium to France. The Belgian experience of World War I, in which the Belgian Army held the invading force for a week at Liège, impeding the German...
, remaining essentially as it was built by Brialmont, with a few modifications by the 1914-1917 German occupiers. The Belgian Army used the fort to store munitions. In May 1940 the fort was bombed by Stukas that had mistaken Hollogne for the active Fort de Flémalle
Fort de Flémalle
The Fort de Flémalle is one of twelve forts built as part of the fortifications of Liège in the late 19th century in Belgium. It was built between 1881 and 1884 according to the plans of General Henri Alexis Brialmont...
. During the second occupation the fort was proposed as a launching site for V-2 rockets. After the area was liberated in 1944 it was used by American forces as a hospital. Following the conclusion of the war it became a depot for Belgian forces, then became a Belgian Air Force
Belgian Air Force
The Air Component, formerly the Belgian Air Force, is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. Originally founded in 1909, it is one of the world's first air forces, and was a pioneer in aerial combat during the First World War...
command post until 1992. It remained Ministry of Defense property until 1997, when it was conveyed to the Ministry of Transport as airport property.