The Soetrich site was surveyed by CORF, the Maginot Line's design and construction agency, in 1930. Work by the contractor Degaine-Dubois began the same year, and the position became operational in 1935, at a cost of 86 million francs. Soetrich stands just to the east of the Thionville-Luxembourg road. A military road and a 60 cm narrow-gauge railway link the entrance blocks to the rear supply areas. The railway continues through the ouvrage to the combat blocks. The combat and support areas are separated by only, and the total length of the main gallery is.
Description
The ouvrage comprises two entries and six closely grouped combat blocks:
Personnel entry: shaft, one GFM cloche and one JM/AC47 embrasure.
Block 1: Infantry block with one machine gun turret, one machine gun cloche and one GFM cloche.
Block 2: Infantry block with one machine gun turret, one observation cloche and one GFM cloche.
Block 3: Infantry block with one JM/AC47 embrasure, one JM embrasure, two 81mm mortar embrasures and two GFM cloches.
Block 4: Artillery block with one 135mm gun turret and one GFM cloche.
Block 5: Artillery block with one 75mm gun turret and one GFM cloche.
Block 6: Artillery block with one 75mm gun turret, one GFM cloche and one grenade launcher cloche.
Casemates, observation points and shelters
The Observatoire de la Route du Luxembourg is just to the west to the ouvrage, on the other side of the main road to Luxembourg. It was equipped with an observation cloche and a GFM cloche. Just to the south is the Abri de la Route du Luxembourg, which sheltered a section of infantry that supported the observatory and the flank of the ouvrage. Several other casemates, observatories and infantry shelters are located around Soetrich, including
Observatoire de Boust: One observation cloche and one GFM cloche.
Casemate de Boust: Single block with one JM/AC37 embrasure, one JM embrasure, and two GFM cloches.
Abri Helmriech: Sub-surface shelter for two infantry sections and a command post, with two GFM cloches.
Abri Barrungshof: Surface shelter for two infantry sections, two GFM cloches.
None of these are connected to the ouvrage or to each other. All were built by CORF. The Casernement de Hettange-Grande provided peacetime above-ground barracks and support services to Soetrich and other ouvrages in the area.
Manning
Under the orders of Commandant Henger, the garrison comprised 583 men and 20 officers of the 169th Fortress Infantry Regiment and the 151st Position Artillery Regiment. The units were under the umbrella of the 42nd Fortress Corps of the 3rd Army, Army Group 2.
History
Soetrich came under bombardment by German forces in June 1940, without much effect. Soetrich surrendered with other positions on its sector as a result of the Second Armistice at Compiègne. No significant action is recorded concerning Soetrich during the Lorraine Campaign of 1944. After the war, most of the gros ouvrages were reconditioned for continued service. However, the 75mm turrets in Soetrich's blocks 5 and 6 were removed in 1953. In 1960 Rochonvillers and Molvange were offered to NATO for use as secure command centers. Soon after, Soetrich was added to the offer. Soetrich was renovated for this purpose at a cost of 54 million francs, using its ammunition magazine and underground barracks spaces for the purpose and largely abandoning the combat blocks. The ouvrage is no longer used by the French Army and the entries are now buried to prevent unauthorized entry.
