European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 22, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Four a Hau refused to surrender Merent parts of the fortresses permitted troops to move around without being exposed to the enemy. At left the stoves and ovens of the four a Chaux Kitchen. Stories by Mark wonders staff writer the four a Chaux fortress at Lembach on the Cerman Jcj by order is one of the most Complete and compact of All the fortresses on the Maginot line. The quarters at four a Chaux were designed to feed and House 25 officers 75 sergeants 500 enlisted soldiers and a number of civilians during wartime. The fortress was completely self supporting with electric generators air filtration system and munitions and provisions for at least three months. W when you enter the Structure you step into another a Dank chill that goes right through you is the first above the Sauer Valley in Alsace causes most visitor to experience mixed feelings of isolation and Claustrophobia. Half a Century ago in 1940, the soldiers of four a Chaux were at the Center of the German assault in the Alsace Region. The biggest attack took place on june 19, Only Days before the armistice which ended the Battle of France. The fortress withstood German artillery 420mm mortar rounds and Stuka dive bombers. The armistice went into effect on june 25, but the four a Chaux soldiers refused at first to surrender. Only on july 1 a after receiving written orders from the French High command did they finally give in. The germans occupied the fortress from 1940 until the end of the War using it As a training ground to attack similar structures. But after that period the fortresses were neglected until 1951. Then extensive repairs and upgrades were made on the structures by the French military. In the mid-1960s the French military gave up maintenance on the fortress and most others in the Maginot line. During the mid-70s robbers gutted parts of the Interior for scrap Iron. After years of trying to get control authorities in