the veteran Field Marshal von Wurmser defeated a French army under Beauharnais. From the year 1797, Germersheim belonged to France, incorporated into the newly created Mont-Tonnerre department in 1798. It was conquered by Bavarian troops in 1814. After being retaken in 1814, Germersheim's Bavarian rulers started to build a fortress in 1831. It was completed in 1855, although excavations for underground passages continued until 1861. By this time, however, the fortress had become outdated, as artillery had improved greatly in the thirty years since work began. The fortress was destroyed in 1921/22 as a result of the Treaty of Versailles. Some parts still exist, such as the "Fronte Beckers", where the town's Music School is today. Germersheim was the scene of several conflicts between French troops and German veteran associations during the occupation of the Rhineland following the First World War. General Hans Graf von Sponeck, who ordered the retreat of his troops from Kerch because they were going to be hopelessly cut off by the Russian landings at Theodosia on the Crimean peninsula, and against express instruction of his superior officer in the winter 1941, was interned here in the fortress after Hitler had commuted his death sentence to six years' detention. In the purge following the failed assassination attempt on Hitler Graf von Sponeck, although not involved, was shot. Today, a street in Germersheim is named Hans-Graf-von-Sponeck-Straße in his honour. Transport There are regular regional train connections to Karlsruhe and Mannheim. Local council Notable people Lothar Fischer (1933–2004), sculptor Frank Hardart, born as Franz Anton Hardardt (1850–1918), American entrepreneur, co-founder of the Horn & Hardart food services company Franz Immig (1918–1955), soccer player Friedrich Krebs (1894–1961), lawyer and politician (NSDAP) Hermann Kriebel (1876–1941), officer, Freikorpsführer, diplomat and NSDAP politician Paul Josef Nardini (1821–1862), theologian Karl Schmitt-Walter (1900–1985), opera singer Franz Sondinger (1896–1939), director, actor, director and writer Otto Freiherr Kreß von Kressenstein (1850–1929), Bavarian general and War Minister Friedrich Kreß von Kressenstein (1855–1920), Bavarian General of the Infantry Eugen von Zimmerer (1843–1918), Governor of Cameroon and minister Honorary Citizens Eduard Orth (1902–1968), politician (CDU), Education minister of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate from 1956 to 1967 Karl Schmitt-Walter (1900–1985), opera singer References External links History of the Germersheim fortress Project Via Rhenana - Roman Road along the Upper Rhine Towns in Rhineland-Palatinate Germersheim (district) Palatinate (region)