Vauquois, once it was a pictorial village, situated idyllic on a hill, only a view miles away from the Argonne forest. Today this place is likewise symbol for the fights at the edge of the Argonne. The hill of Vauquois shows till this day the horrible wounds, which were inflicted him in the years 1914 – 1918. He is crossed with huge big craters, resulted through numerous underground explosions from the mine war. Tough Vauquois is more than 25 miles away from Verdun, the hard fighting hill shows the common destiny of the fortress Verdun.

 With the target of the encirclement of Verdun, German troops conquered, already at 25th September 1914, after 3 days hard fighting, the small village on top of a hill, Vauquois. The hill of Vauquois was for both sides of strategic importance, because who was on the hill, could overlook the whole area eastward the Argonne forest and thus he had also insight over supply routes and the rear of the enemy. The German troops extended the place into a fortress. Since the 7th January 1915 the area was fortified by the pioneers of the 1./ Pionierbataillons 30 from Koblenz which moved to the 33rd German Infantry Division.

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After 3 unsuccessful attacks it succeeded to the French at 01st March 1915 to gain ground. German counter attacks at 05th and 15th March could be refused. So it came that the French occupied the southern and the German the northern part of the hill. In order to provide combat ready troops in case of further French attacks, the Germans built in the northern part of the hill underground barracks in deep galleries. Now everyone wanted to push the other from the hill.

No more successes could be achieved soon over the ground. So the battle was to continued under the earth. Attack galleries were driven under the 1st adverse line and then blown up. To prevent this, defence tunnels were built, to wit if as a result of listening posts an attack tunnel was located, a tunnel would be driven sidewise or under the tunnel and blown up. The enemy was thus squeezed and the work of weeks was of no earthly use.

The whole garrison of Vauquois, whether French or Germans, had to live permanently with the thoughts to be blown up. Especially at the beginning of the mine war, as listening units and defence tunnels were not so deployed.

After 52 months war the village was razed, not even the rests of the cellars were seen. The French in the Aire valley are of the opinion that no other village in the Great War was so destroyed as Vauquois was, it is literal blown up in the air. Enormous craters take over his place. This is the result of the underground mine war, who reached since springtime 1915 a mad dimension. 536 explosions had happen on the hill.

Please follow us to the history of the fights of Vauquois

In December 1918 a couple of refuge inhabitants wanted to return to Vauquois. Because the fighting area was full of ammunition, war material and corpses, the American troops, which fought at last around Vauquois, forbade any access. The small group moved into abandoned barracks closed by and tried over and over, to put through their sake. Only as the summoned General Deprez, who lived earlier himself on Vauquois, could wrest the Prefect the authorisation, to build up a small settlement at the foot of the south slope of Vauquois.

The visitor, who is the first time on the height, wonder what has happened here, which mysteries are on that hill.

When he hears, what has happened here, how the men could stand their lives, he gets into amazement which swings sometimes into fascination.

Most people want to learn more over Vauquois and the Great War, want to understand, why Vauquois was a unique position in the war. The underground mine war took also place at other battlefields at the western front, but never at a place, where a village stood and never with a doggedness on such a little space.

The knowledge of Vauquois will pass by the guides at organised visits of the galleries. The association “Les amis des Vauquois et de sa Region” was put in charge with administration and care of this historical monument.

Guided tours are offered at every 1st Sunday of the month. If you are interested contact  us by mail.

Les amis de Vauquois et de sa région

Marie, F-55270 Vauquois

Deutsches Erinnerungskomitee Argonnerwald 1914 – 1918

Am Hessenstein 19
D-55743 Idar Oberstein

The height of 304 attaches directly west to the dead man and was likewise a favourable observation post for the artillery. Likewise heavy contests show themselves still today the old position systems.

The height 304 was the highest point on the left bank of the Maas and gave excellent possibilities for surveillance and as position for artillery. A path which seperate the lots 221 and 222, direct to the first german line. But it is difficult to recognize these.

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The name Dead Man is standing for one of the most violently contested heights at the western bank. One still finds numerous trenches and shelters in this with funnels and craters covered area. This height, which was suitable outstanding as point of observation and position of the artillery, was scene of long and hard fights over a few months in dirt and mud in poor funnel positions.

Follow the trail at the parking place, after a few hundred meters you will find on the left side a remaked trench with explanation boards.

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This is a little more far away, but an interesting place around the battle from Verdun.
The Caures forest is shaped by the history of lieutenant colonel Driant and its 1200 riflemen. They supplied themselves in the first days of 21.02 – 23.02.1916 embittered engagements with the attacking Germans. In the Caures forest there is the grave of Driant and his monument.

The city Verdun is shaped by its historical townscape. An extensive tour should confirm this: Princerie museum, cathedral and much more besides. The old citadel is, as a part of the city fortress, recommendable. A part of 6 km channels are developed as a museum, in which one can drive oneself through on small cars and be able to summon the history of the battle in sound and vision.

February and March 10:00 – 12:00 / 14:00 – 17:00h
April 09:00 – 17:30h
May and June 09:00 – 18:00h
July and August 09:00 – 19:00h
September 09:00 – 18:00h
October and November 09:30 – 12:00 / 14:00 – 18:00h
December 10:00 – 12:00 / 14:00 – 17:00h

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There is not much to see on the Ouvrage de Thiaumont, but there is no other place to recognize nearly still the unchanged moon and crater landscape, which lead from months-long bombardment of all calibers. At the edge of the work you will find the two violently contested command posts PC 118 and PC 119.

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This fortress work lies somewhat faraway in the western range of the battleground. It was build to reinforce the infantry. The French built the fortress with one gun turret and two machine gun turrets. The fortress was conquered only briefly by the Germans, can be committed partly also from the inside.

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Opening hours:

February 04 – 28 / 14 – 17h
March 01 – 31 / 09 – 12h and 14 – 17.30h
April 01 – 30. April / 09 – 18h
May 01 – 31. August / 09 – 18.30 h
September 01 – 30. September / 09 – 12 und 14 – 18h
October 01 – 31. October / 09 – 12 und 14 – 17.30h
November / 09 – 12 und 14 – 17h
December / 14 – 17h

Out of hours the ossuary is closed.

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The place, where once the village Fleury with farmyards, houses and chapel existed, shows today still traces of the embittered fights which took place there. Several times the place changed the owner in shortest time. After the war, by being formally pulverized, it was not more rebuild and divides his fate with eight further villages. Where in former times the railstation of Fleury stood, stands today the Memorial, memorial place and museum in once. The memorial is a good introduction for the battle of Verdun.

The museum is has two levels: the upper gallery includes large window displays of uniforms, weapons, photographs, pictures and civilian and military objects; the lower gallery is based around themes. The galleries are built around a large reconstruction of a battle field trench.  On the central wall, the battle is described with the help of animated maps, archive films and a commentary in six languages (French, German, English, Spanish, Italian and Dutch).

The film In the soldier’s footsteps is projected with multilingual subtitles. It shows the terrible conditions of the soldier’s lives in the two camps on the battle field of Verdun. Through the images, their physical suffering (mud, thirst, gas attacks, deafening noise, wounds, fleas) is presented along with their emotional suffering (solitude and visions of death, not only of fallen soldiers and of the self, but also of the death threatening everyone); so many common enemies to the soldiers who, through the months became comrades in suffering.

Opening hours:

From 1st februar to 22 april : 9am – 12pm and 2pm – 6pm

From 23 april to 30 june and september : 9am to 6pm

From july to august : 9am to 6.30pm

From october to november : 9am – 12.30pm and 2pm – 5.30pm

In december : 9am – 12pm to 2pm – 5 pm

Closed : late December to late January

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The Fort Vaux, a similar fortress work as Douaumont, only far smaller can be visited just as from the inside. It captivates likewise by its history, there took place terrible fights in the close lugs for the rule of the Forts.

Opening hours:
February 01 -March 31 / 10 – 12 am and 01- 05 pm
April 01 – August 31 / 09 am – 06 pm
September 01 – October 31 / 09 – 12 am and 01 – 05.30 pm
November 01 – December 23 / 01 – 05 pm

Out of hours the fort is closed.

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