Redoute du moulin

Gazing up at the Redoute du Moulin de Saquet, one can almost hear the echoes of history whispering from its earthen ramparts. The Redoute du Moulin de Saquet, sometimes called Redoute Moulin-Saquet or simply Moulin Saquet, stands as a silent testament to a turbulent past. It was one of the supplementary structures of the first belt of forts around Paris. Situated in Vitry-sur-Seine, the Redoute du Moulin de Saquet was strategically placed between Fort d’Ivry and the Redoute des Hautes-Bruyères in Villejuif. It commanded a view of the Seine from atop a hill, accessible by a specially constructed military road, now known as Rue du Génie. The Redoute’s name, Moulin de Saquet, comes from a nearby farm and windmill. The windmill itself was demolished in 1857. Interestingly, a road connecting Villejuif and Vitry in the 18th century was also called “voie de Saquet.” Though the farm met its end in 1965, the name lives on in Avenue du Moulin-de-Saquet and Rue du Moulin-de-Saquet. Following the windmill’s demolition, the farm was repurposed into a military shelter. It was equipped with artillery to control the Seine. The Franco-Prussian War in 1870 saw the Redoute du Moulin de Saquet hastily completed, as an earthen structure rather than the initially planned stone fort. This allowed for a quicker build to defend against the approaching German troops. During the Paris Commune, the Communards occupied the Redoute, along with other forts, to defend Paris until their defeat in May. The Redoute was part of a network of four redoubts in Vitry: Redoute du Moulin de Saquet, Redoute du Port à l’Anglais, Redoute du Bord de l’eau, and Redoute de la Pépinière. All played a crucial role in defending the area. The Redoute du Moulin de Saquet witnessed intense action during the Siege of Paris. Two thousand men and twenty-eight artillery pieces reinforced the Redoute. Trenches were dug, Prussian patrols skirmished around the structure, and artillery fire exchanged between the Redoute, Fort d’Ivry, and Prussian positions. During the Commune, the Redoute was briefly captured by Republican troops, who seized ten cannons before the Communards regained control. This loss sparked controversy and ultimately led to the resignation of Félix Pyat from the Committee of Public Safety. The Redoute finally fell to regular troops in May 1871, shortly before the fall of the forts of Bicêtre and Ivry. Soon after, the Redoute du Moulin de Saquet was destroyed, leaving behind only its story etched in the landscape. As we stand here, imagine the soldiers, the battles, and the echoes of history that resonate from this once vital defensive position.