Mass German grave in Fort de Douaumont - Verdun

On May 8th 1916 - a grenade caused a fire which detonated a store of shells and 679 German soldiers (mainly Brandenburgers) were killed. Their bodies are walled up in the gallery behind this memorial chapel. Built in 1884 and improved to withstand developments in artillery due to a failure in command the fort had been largely de-manned prior to the battle and was only garrisoned by about 80 gunners. It was captured by a patrol of the 24th Brandenburgers on April 26th and it became the focus of the battle for the following months. It was not until 24th October that the fort was re-captured

Battlefields Brandenburgers Caused Detonated Developments Douaumont Failure Focus Garrisoned Grenade Gunners Improved Largely Manned Maur Sheil Shells Verdun Walled Withstand

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