The capture of Douaumont

On the right, the bursting of a 420 mm shell on the fort of Douaumont (you can see its concrete armor very well) at the end of January 1916, one month before the beginning of the battle. In accordance with what had been decided in 1915, the forts were no longer defended but simply guarded and the Germans took Douaumont without a fight on 25 February 1916. The loss of Douaumont was especially important psychologically, which the German propaganda was able to use. The Germans occupied the fort but did not rearm it. They used it as an observatory, barracks, infirmary and depot.