Andre Maginot, a native from Lorraine, was a hero during the Great War, he was then Minister of the War from 1922 to 1924 and from 1929 to 1932. He is the origin of the line which now bears his name.

Moselle offers one of the strongest concentrations of modern fortifications from the 20th century. Our department has been invaded for a long time. This situation explains the number of military works that are part of the landscape. Now a peaceful area, this concrete and stone construction was built between the 2 world wars with the Maginot Line.

The Simserhof has become the tourist « flagship” of the military deployment, but other constructions have captured the attention of associations, volunteers and retired people who are fighting to avoid the abandonment and the ruin. Around Thionville, there is the Guentrange fortress, the shelter in Zeiterholz, the small building in Immerhof, and the three artillery blocks in Michelsberg and Hackenberg, where there is a huge building with 17 bunkers spread out over 160 hectares of forest with its overwhelming "parasouffle" door.
All this can be visited on an electric train over 3,5km. Not far from Simserhof, the "Fort Casso” is much smaller but it is particularly well kept thanks to the work of the local association that watches over it.