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Origin and history

The Vauquois hill, located in the Meuse department, was a strategic place during the First World War. Dominating the plain at 290 metres above sea level, it served as an observatory and a point of reference for artillery. In the autumn of 1914, the Germans made it a fortress, triggering violent fighting. Between February and March 1915, the ruins of the village were disputed, and the mine war became the only alternative after unsuccessful assaults.

Approximately 23 km of underground galleries, dug up to 100 metres deep, allowed the two camps to place explosives under enemy positions. The peak was reached in May 1916 with an explosion of 60 to 80 tons of mines, killing 108 French soldiers. The mine war ceased in March 1918, and Italian troops raised the French in May 1918. The site, ravaged by explosions, was definitely taken over by the Allies in September 1918.

Today, the hill of Vauquois, whose summit is 15 metres lower than in 1914, houses a monument erected in 1925 in memory of the 10,000 dead and missing. The 39 hectares of red area, classified as a historical monument since 1937, are maintained by a volunteer association. The site, open to the public, bears witness to the mine war and the violence of the fighting.

The monument Aux combatants et aux morts de Vauquois, designed by architect Édouard Monestès and sculptor Marius Roussel (31st RI veteran), stands at the site of the former town hall. It represents two soldiers from 1915 under a chestnut tree mutilated by the shells, symbolizing the peace found. The underground galleries, partially accessible, recall the extent of the destruction.

The association Les Amis de Vauquois and its region organises guided tours of the underground on the first Sunday of each month or by appointment. The site, owned by the commune, remains a major place of memory of the Great War, illustrating the fierceness of the battles and their consequences on the landscape and the populations.

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