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Origin and history

Fort de Vaux, located in the communes of Vaux-devant-Damloup and Damloup near Verdun (Meuse), was built between 1881 and 1884 as part of the Séré de Rivières defensive system. Reinforced in 1888 with a concrete shell and in 1904-1906 by turrets and casemates, it was disarmed in 1915 before becoming a high place of the Battle of Verdun in 1916. Despite his disarmament, he resisted German assaults thanks to his commander Raynal and his garrison, before falling on 7 June 1916 after six days of fierce fighting.

During World War I, fort de Vaux, commanded by Commander Sylvain Eugène Raynal, symbolized the French resistance. Encircled as early as 2 June 1916 by German troops, it was defended by about 500 men, including elements of 142nd and 101st infantry regiments. The fighting, marked by the use of flamethrowers and grenades in narrow galleries, ended with the surrender of survivors, thirsty and exhausted, on 7 June. The Germans, impressed by their heroism, give them honours.

Reprised by the French on the night of November 2 to 3, 1916 after an offensive led by General Mangin, the fort was rebuilt in 1917 with underground galleries and casemates. It becomes a national symbol of the tenacity of the hair, embodying sacrifice and duty. Ranked a historic monument in 1970, it now attracts thousands of visitors, notably thanks to the centenary of the Great War.

The construction of the fort was part of the modernization of the French fortifications after the defeat of 1870. Originally designed in masonry, it is quickly reinforced with concrete to withstand modern shells. In 1887 he was briefly renamed Fort Dillon by Minister Boulanger, before returning to his original name. The 1904-1912 developments, including battled observatories and tanks, reflect the strategic adaptations to the evolution of artillery.

The German attack of June 1916 illustrates Verdun's strategic importance. The enemy forces, superior in numbers and armaments, concentrate their efforts on the fort after the capture of Douaumont. Despite extreme conditions (slow, heat, underground fighting), the French garrison, reduced to 250 survivors, delayed German progress. The surrender, though inevitable, is seen as an act of bravery, reinforcing the myth of the sense of duty of French soldiers.

After its resumption in November 1916, the fort was rehabilitated to serve as an observatory and defensive point until the end of the war. The work of 1917, including 1,500 metres of galleries and a well, improved its resilience. Today, Fort de Vaux, with more than 60,000 visitors in 2017, remains a major place of memory, reflecting the sacrifices made during the Battle of Verdun, the longest and most deadly of the First World War.

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