History
- See Fortified Sector of Boulay for a broader discussion of the Boulay sector of the Maginot Line.
In June 1940, as German units bypassed Maginot fortifications to the east, French commanders ordered garrisons in the Boulay and Falquemont sectors to prepare for withdrawal to avoid their isolation by German units operating behind the lines. As it became clear that retreat was impractical, the orders were countermanded. A poorly-understood telephone call from Ouvrage Anzeling on the 15th caused the reservists manning Bousse to evacuate the position between 1600 and 2100 hours. Before departing they sabotaged their equipment, including their telephone switchboard, preventing them from receiving the counter-order to remain in place. After three days' march, the garrison was captured at Pange near Metz on the 18th. Block 2 was damaged by covering fire from its neighbor, ouvrage Aumetz, a unique occurrence.
Bousse played no significant role in the Lorraine Campaign of 1944. After the Second World War it became part of the Mòle de Boulay, a strongpoint in the northeastern defenses against Soviet attack. Bousse remained under Army control until after 1971, when it was declassified and sold.
Read more about this topic: Ouvrage Bousse
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