Fort Vaux

Fort Vaux, in Vaux-Devant-Damloup, Meuse, France, was a polygonal fort built between 1881 and 1884 as part of the ring of 19 large defensive works to protect Verdun. During the Battle of Verdun in 1916, it was the second fort to fall, after Fort Douaumont. The fort was modernised before the battle with reinforced concrete top protection and was not destroyed by German heavy artillery fire. On 2 November 1916, it was recaptured by French infantry after an artillery bombardment. Major Sylvain-Eugene Raynal led the French garrison, which repulsed repeated German assaults until they surrendered. Some damage from the fighting can still be seen today.

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