Although there wasn't much to visit in the area on the same lines as the large ouvrages to the east, Maubeuge was interesting for several reasons.
- 5 ouvrages exist in the area. They are relatively unknown. Typically, most books claim Villy La Ferte as the last P.O. in the NE.
- A fierce battle took place here over several days and to visit the area is to honor those who fought here.
- The ouvrage are CORF construction and were originally very interesting.

My heartfelt thanks to the AMIFORT S.F. Maubeuge for their time and generosity, and for the beer.

From Maubeuge I returned in time to earlier eras, visiting the Somme battlefields, Crecy and Agincourt. I also visited the Cupole at Wizernes below St. Omer, a V-2 fabrication and launch site, the liquid oxygen manufacturing blockhouse at Eperloques, then to the coast to see Hitler's Atlantic Wall in the Pas de Calais.
Finally on Friday I left the coast at Dunkerque and headed towards the Belgian border by Steenvorde. The most heavily defended section between the coast and the SF Escaut are two hills known as the Mont des Cats and the Mont Noir. Both are dotted with STG casemates and blockhouses.

Although there were many blockhouses on the map, they weren't easy to find. From here I slipped across the border into Belgium.
This brought me to the end of my Maginot Tour 99. The objective had been to visit more than just the major works and museums. The ML is a defensive system - I wanted to see as many of its elements as possible. The line also extended, in a reduced rate, all the way to the English Channel. Although we never hear much about them, there are also ouvrages around Maubeuge and CORF casemates in the Foret de Mormal and the Foret de Raismes below Valenciennes.
The line consists of barracks, firing ranges, telephone coupling chambers, and trenches. I had seen all of these things and more.

My special thanks go to
- Martin Rupp
- Benard Bour
- Phillipe Schmalz
- Jean Pascal Speck
- Jacques Rivant
- Pacalle Mbert
- Jean-Lours Goby
- Jean Puelinckx
- Jo Vermulen
- Paul Chartier
- Fort d'Embourg

A bientot - Until the Next Trip - Spring 2002