Insignia of the 174 eme

During the German invasion of 1940, they operated as a machine gun unit defending the Saarland. The 14th June, 1940 saw them actively defending the municipalities of Holving and Rémering. Unfortunately, due to sustaining heavy losses, they were forced to retreat and cede the ground to the Germans the following day. That same date also witnessed the capture of Paris.

The fortified sector (SF) of the Saarland was located between the SF's of Rohrbach and Faulquemont. Rather than being the more traditional concept of a fortified sector, the Saarland was placed at a major disadvantage. The 1935 Saarland plebiscite saw the return of the prime real estate for fortress construction to Nazi Germany. Thus it fell to the French to make the best of the hand which they had been dealt. Due to the pending plebiscite, no effort had been made towards any defensive construction works; however, once the matter was settled, plans for the defence had to be decided as a matter of extreme urgency. The result was the implementation of a series of 'zones of inundation' (designated areas for deliberate flooding).



This saw the development of a series of dams and reservoirs, defended by bunkers, for the purpose of releasing the waters in time of invasion to render the area impassable. Today there is a dedicated trail for the tourist to discover the various works of this sector. Although this is unlikely to ever rate among the 'sexier' tourist locations of the Maginot Line, to the true devotee of fortifications, this sector is certain to be of great interest.