Fort de Guentrange on the northwest side, Fort de Koenigsmacker to the northeast, and the Fort d'Illange to the south. Each position was surrounded by several ditches, with shelters and observation cupolas. A large barbed wire belt defended by machine guns completed the defensive system. Following the armistice with Germany ending the First World War, the French army entered Diedenhofen in November 1918 and the city was transferred to France by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, after it again became Thionville. During the Second World War, Lorraine was placed under a German civilian administration and was thus once again officially part of the German Reich (though unrecognized by the Western Allies). In 1944, US troops entered Thionville, which has belonged to France since then. In the winter of 1944-45, the Displaced Persons Camp No. 8 was established here. In the following years it was home to the thousands of former concentration camp prisoners and POWs. After experiencing, along with all of France, an economic upswing during the postwar decades (trente glorieuses), the heavy industry of Thionville suffered setbacks beginning in the 1970s. The city and the entire region have faced hardships and structural unemployment since then. Jean-Marie Demange, who had served as the town's mayor for thirteen years, committed suicide in 2008 after killing his mistress with two gunshots in the head. Economy The area around Thionville has relied on heavy industry, most notably since the end of the 19th century, due to the presence of iron ore in the area. The first large steel mill in Thionville was opened in 1898. Since the steel crisis of the 1970s, several steel mills have been closed, and only a few have remained active. A growing number of residents of Thionville commute to nearby Luxembourg (Thionville is 15 kilometres from the border). Transport The Gare de Thionville railway station offers connections with Luxembourg, Metz, Nancy, Paris, Strasbourg, Brussels, Zürich, and several regional destinations. The A31 motorway connects Thionville with Luxembourg and Metz. Twin towns Gao, Mali Varallo Pombia, Italy Urbana, Illinois, United States Administration Incorporations: Veymerange, in 1967 Volkrange, in 1970 Garche (exclave of the commune), Kœking and Œutrange in 1970 Guentrange Elange Metzange Beuvange-sous-Saint-Michel Since the French canton reorganisation which came into effect in March 2015, Thionville is divided over the cantons of Thionville and Yutz. Neighboring communes Algrange Basse-Ham (by Garche) Entrange Escherange Cattenom (by Garche) Hayange Hettange-Grande Florange