The Entrenched Camp of Verdun

This entrenched camp was built on the new Franco-German border after the defeat of 1870. Some of the 28 structures that make up the camp, which form an outer belt of 43 km, were rehabilitated around 1900, but the work was not completed in 1914. The main innovation consisted in covering the top of the forts with a layer of concrete in places between 1 and 2 m thick; shelters for the infantry were also built and double turrets of 155mm and 75mm cannons and machine guns were installed. Artillery batteries were installed between the forts.