Fort de Vaux

Battered exterior wall after heavy bombardment by German artillery.

Interior corridor of the fort, soldiers resting after its recapture in early November, 1916.

Remnants of a destroyed eclipsing turret and casemate on top of the fort.

Fort de Vaux was constructed in 1881 on the right bank of the Meuse, located roughly 9 kilometers to the northeast of the city of Verdun. Next to Douaumont, Vaux was arguably the second most strategically important fortification, as well as one of the best equipped having had its armament upgraded as late as 1914, and its roof reinforced with concrete. It was the site of heavy fighting throughout the duration of the battle and was the second French fortress to fall into the hands of the advancing Germans. The defending French garrison faught courageously to keep it out of enemy hands, in some cases even resorting to close quarters combat inside the corridors, however a lack of fresh water eventually forced them to surrender on June 7th, 1916. Fort Vaux remained in German possession until the 2nd of November when a robust French counterattack succeeding in retaking the fortress, which by that time had become a shell of its former self from constant artillery bombardments.