European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 22, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Killed three French soldiers inside. Moments later other explosions rocked the top of the Block As members of a special German assault unit Sto Strupp Cermer set off explosive charges disabling the Block s weapons and filling the Interior with deadly fumes and smoke. The men of Block 2 scrambled for the stairwell Shaft. They escaped into the gallery and ran toward Block 1. There the situation was just As difficult. The assault troops had attacked Block 1 during the night disabling three of the four cupolas. The last one was destroyed around Dawn on May 19. The men of Block 1 had also retreated Down to the gallery away from the fumes and smoke. The Telephone operator at be Chenois reported the last communication with la fert6 around 5 . When German assault troops finally opened la Ferte and descended to the gallery they found All 104 men dead piled one on the other. They had suffocated in the narrow passage after the filtration system failed. The Leader of the German assault unit Oberle utlant Alfred Germer was later awarded the Knight s Cross for commanding the successful attack. A recovery unit of the French 16th army was Able to go Back up to la Ferte in Early june. They pulled the bodies out and hurriedly buried them. After the War when the temporary Graves were excavated there was a mystery As to the whereabouts of 17 of the French dead including the fort commander it. Maurice Bourguignon. It was not until july 9,1973, that the mystery was solved. The remains of the final 17, including those of it Bourguignon were recovered  separate grave in front of Block 2. Some of the men of la Ferte Are buried in the cemetery across the Highway from the fortress a Monument with a statue of a French Soldier in repose is at the Side of Block 2. Despite its simplicity the tour through la fert6 fortress is memorable because of the Crew s tragic Fate. The escorted walk begins in the firing chamber of Block 1. The shattered cupola Interior provides evidence of the German bombardment. One of la Ferte s few remaining weapons a 47mm anti tank Cannon can be mane Vered into firing position along the supporting rail. The View 115 feet Down the stairwell s seemingly endless flights is dizzying. The walk through the gallery where the men of la Ferte perished is a solemn experience. Water flows in Runoff gutters on both sides of the narrow Walkway and dim lights weakly illuminate the Low concave gallery roof and Dingy sidewalls. At the other end following the Long walk up a second stairwell you reach the Block 2 firing level. The Turret for the twin machine guns is rusting. But you can climb an Iron rugged ladder into the raised Turret for a look at the scrap Metal remains. A few Steps from the Turret is the observation cupola Shaft where the three French soldiers were killed. The tour continues outside with a climb atop Block 2. The French Tricolour flies a few Yards away above the memorial to the men of la Ferte. The cemetery across the Highway is the final stopping Point on the walking circuit. It. Bourguignon s grave is at the Back of the cemetery on the left. How to get there to reach la Ferte take the Metz Paris autoroute. Exit at Duboue West of Metz. Take the n43 to brie then Long Yon and Margut. At Margut take the d44, then right on d52 to la Ferte the fortress is open daily in july and August from 2 to 4.30 . The remainder of the year it is open sundays 0m 2 to 4 30 . And on French National holidays. Admission is .12 francs per person. Special group prices ate available. Tour guide Christophe prud homme Maneu vers an anti tank gun along its rail support into firing position. At left a visitor inspects a weapons Turret that jammed in the open position and was blown Askew by the German invaders during the final assault on May 19, 1940. Steel train rails were buried around the fortresses As tank traps. The rails were buried up to 10 feet deep and placed at various Heights. At left a visitor examines a Shell Hole left by a direct hit by German artillery in the Block 2 cupola. Three French soldiers inside were killed and the rest scrambled for safety in an underground Tunnel where they eventually suffocated. November 22, 1990 stripes Magazine 7