Verdun, the tortured earth

[Don D.]

I spent a week in France earlier this year visiting battlefeilds from WW1. I spent several days at Verdun with a couple of collector friends. The damage that was done is still visible today. Over 40 million shells were fired in an area approx 10km by 10 km. At least 10% failed to explode, some due to manufacturing defects and others due to the softened state of the earth. As you will see, many are still there today.

1.5 million men fought there. Approx 500,000 died. Many remain unfound to this day. Names of places like the Ravine of Death, and The Dead Man earned their monikers a thousand times over.

The city of Verdun has not changed much in the last 100 years. Take away the cars, traffic lights etc... and it still looks like the Germans could be there at any moment. But up in the hills above the town lies the tortured earth.

To fully apprieciate the damage man has done I'll start the tour with a look at one of the undamaged forts that ringed the city. The Ouvrage de la Falouse is one of the smaller fortifications. It was used as a rest area during the battle with troops rotating out of Fort Vaux for a spell of relief before going back into the storm of shell fire.

[Don D.]

The Ouvrage is typical of the ring of forts built around Verdun after the disasterous defeat of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. We approach it from the "friendly side" from Verdun. Not much is visible until we come to the gate in the wall. Passing thru we enter the court yard, which is also a killing ground, covered by interlocking fire.

[Don D.]

Inside the courtyard you encounter the rear wall of the fort. To the sides and rear are machinegun emplacements and observation posts. The metal tower looking thing is a latrine. The latrines in the fort were only used if they had to button up.

[Don D.]

Looking back at the gate at the long run an attacker would have to make to get to the entrance.

[Don D.]

The entrance has a series of defensive positions with machinegun embrasures and grenade chutes.

[Don D.]

After getting thru that guantlet an attacker would run into a locked, guarded gate, behind which is stored the ready ammo for the defenses. From there is is into the main corridor.

[Don D.]

I recommend that anyone visiting Verdun stop here first to see how the forts looked and the soldiers lived prior to the battle.

[Don D.]

Fort Douaumont

The name is synonamous with suffering and courage. The Germans virtually walked in unopposed. That was a great blow to French pride and they spent 200+ days. Having captured it, the Germans were equally determined to keep it. The scars of this fight are still visible today.

[Don D.]

The fort was pounded with heavy artillery from both sides yet it is remarkably intact. The outside bears the scars.

[Don D.]

The Germans entered the fort down from the north, into the moat and thru an embrasure in the machinegun postions that cover the moat with fire. Fortunately for them the guns were not manned at the time.

[Don D.]

After gaining entrance three independent groups moved about the fort, securing it and taking the garrison prisoner.

[Don D.]

They rounded up the gun crew that was servicing these guns and locked them away.

[Don D.]

That act shut down this turret and ended their limitted contribution to the battle. The view back then was unimpeded by trees.

[Don D.]

For the Germans, this became a major hub for troops and supplies as the battle continued.

[Don D.]

Troops would seek the safety of the fort for protection from the intense shelling. As the earth topside was pummelled the sound iside the fort was unbearable.