If there is one unique feature of the Alsatian detachment of the 6^th Equipment Regiment (6^th RMAT), it is the two tracks that connect it to the civilian rail network. The service members of this unit, based in Gresswiller, a town of 1,700 residents near France’s border with Strasbourg, specialize in operational support and have nicknamed these tracks the Voie-Sacrée, or “Sacred Way,” platform. This name pays homage to the vital logistical route that, during the 1916 Battle of Verdun in World War I, allowed troops, munitions and supplies to reach the front line. Beyond the railway line, mechanics, technicians and logisticians work in enormous hangars where equipment is stored, ready to be tested, repaired and shipped to French forces. In a way, it serves as the military’s version of Amazon – a logistics hub where convoys can enter or leave through two gates opening directly onto the national railway tracks.

This connection to the civilian rail network has proved a valuable asset. Since 2022, military command staffers have learned the lessons of the war in Ukraine, particularly from the failure of Russia’s lightning offensive on Kyiv, which stemmed from shortcomings in fuel supply. With the prospect of a Russian military advance beyond Ukraine, into a country belonging to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), having an effective logistical support chain to deploy troops to the eastern flank of Europe once again became a top priority.

You have 92.05% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.