Fort Koenigsmacker was built by the Germans, when the Moselle department was part of their nation, between 1908 to 1914. It was part of a set of fortifications built to protect Thionville. It held a battery of four 110mm guns.
The fort saw little action in World War I and the French took over the fort at the end of the war when the territory again became part of France. In inter-war years it was integrated into the Maginot Line and acted as a headquarters for the Thionville Forts. The French garrison abandoned the fort during the German advance.
The Fort did eventually see action as the Americans in turn advanced across the area in 1944. On November 9 of that year the Americans lost 111 men in retaking the fort. Although it remained in the hands of the French Army post-war, it was largely stripped of firepower and internal plant.