spconnolly007 Posted 7 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 7 November , 2012 If only I had a tooth brush ....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 7 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 7 November , 2012 After 3 months of ownership, the single greatest loss of life at Douaumont was to take place on the 8th May. The 2nd Battalion of the 24th Brandenburg Infantry were in reserve at the time, when news broke that the French had blown up the fort. Emerging from their dugouts, they were shocked to see men streaming down the ravine with blackened faces and tattered uniforms. The 3rd Battalion, which had moved into the fort on the previous day, had been awoken by three enormous explosions. Men ran screaming through corridors, trampling the wounded as they went, in an attempt to reach fresh air. Doors became blocked with bodies in the confusion. With the fort full of smoke and fumes, it was some days before the final casualty list was realised. Nearly 700 men had lost their lives and a further 1,800 were injured. Wishing to bury their comrades in the regimental cemetery, men were sent to bring back the bodies of those lost in the explosion. Faced with a 'man high' stack of charred and unidentifiable remains, the decision was made to bury the bodies inside the two artillery shelters at the rear of the barracks. The entrance was blocked, and here they remain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 7 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 7 November , 2012 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 7 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 7 November , 2012 Between 25th February and 24th October 1916 the determinatioin to hold or to retake Fort Douaumont dominated the campaign at Verdun, and drove both sides to the limits of endeavour and endurance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 7 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 7 November , 2012 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 7 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 7 November , 2012 . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 7 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 7 November , 2012 . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 7 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 7 November , 2012 This is where we leave Fort Douaumont. Our next stop will be Memorial de Verdun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 As we have seen, the continual bombardments of 1916 would leave the village of Fleury in ruins. Their railway station, a scene of intense fighting at times, would suffer the same fate. After the war, the French government ordered that the village should not be rebuilt and returning villagers were refused permission to stay. The site on which the Fleury railway stood now sits The Memorial Museum... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphed Posted 8 November , 2012 Share Posted 8 November , 2012 A great thread and good pics. I've never really looked in to the events at Verdun and have yet to make a visit but i think having seen this it could be sooner rather than later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Chap Posted 8 November , 2012 Share Posted 8 November , 2012 Fantastic. I can only confirm what has already been said, great thread and great photo's. Regards, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 Thankyou both for your kind comments. If time permitting this evening, we shall have a tour of the museum Regards Sean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 A French 155. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 A German 170mm Minenwerfer, buried in clay at Hill 304 for 60 years when it was excavated in 1976. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 A collection of German Minenwerfers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 One of the museums diorama's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 French Artillery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 A German field-kitchen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 French and German rifles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 French and German grenades and flare-guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 French and German helmets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 German 'protective breastplate'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spconnolly007 Posted 8 November , 2012 Author Share Posted 8 November , 2012 Panzerabwehrgewehr, 1918 model. 13mm anti-tank rifle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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