Chapter 484 Douaumont Fortress

Fort Douaumont is an extremely important support point on the Douaumont Line of Defense. It is located right in the middle of the trench and the terrain is low and flat for several miles nearby.

As long as Fort Douaumont is occupied, the artillery and machine guns in it can suppress the firepower of the trenches within a few kilometers on the east and west sides.

Whoever occupies Fort Douaumont owns the Douaumont Line of Defense.

(The khaki line in the above picture is the Douaumont Line of Defense)

This is also the reason why the German army immediately sent an infantry battalion and an artillery battalion to the fort after occupying Fort Douaumont.

Colonel von Gnaden was the commander of the fort. After taking over, he immediately ordered the artillery to dismantle the artillery and transport it to the fort for defense.

But he soon discovered the problem: "You idiots, the 150MM artillery should be placed on the flanks instead of the front."

The artillery battalion commander objected: "But the enemy is in the front, Colonel!"

"Use your brain." Gnaton glared at the artillery battalion commander: "What can the enemy threaten us? Is it rifles, machine guns or their 75 guns?"

The artillery battalion commander immediately realized that he was wrong.

The artillery battalion hid in the fortress, and the 77 guns were enough to suppress the 75 guns of the French army in the front. They could ignore all attacks from the enemy.

The 150MM artillery with a longer range was placed on the flanks, which could not only provide cover for friendly forces more than ten kilometers away from the east and west trenches, but also bomb the enemies who rushed into the trenches from a high position once the trenches were lost.

"Yes, Colonel!" The artillery battalion commander responded and hurriedly ordered the 150MM artillery to be placed on the flanks.

Colonel Gnaton was very satisfied with his deployment. He believed that this line of defense was impeccable.

Douaumont Fortress was a knot that the French army could not untie. They did not have large-caliber long-range cannons, and all they could do was charge in dense formations, and then be knocked down in large numbers by the German machine guns and artillery!

However, the situation that night made Colonel Gnaton uneasy.

That day, Gnaton was standing outside the fortress holding a telescope to observe the attack of the Seventh Army in front. He felt that the offensive tonight was unusual.

Before, the artillery fire should have extended deep into the enemy, but now it was always flashing near the offensive line, not advancing an inch.

Is the attack not going well?

Colonel Gnaton was puzzled.

"Colonel!" At this time, the signalman reported: "They said that there are too many wounded soldiers retreating from the front line, and some of them need to be transported to the fortress."

Gnaton said "um" without thinking.

The space outside the fortress is large, the land is flat, and there are sufficient material reserves. It is a good place to temporarily place the wounded.

Especially since these wounded soldiers are only "a part", Gnaton has no reason to refuse.

However, when this "part" of the wounded was brought up, Colonel Gnaton was stunned.

There were at least 500 of them, plus stretcher bearers and medical staff, and they blocked the fortress in the blink of an eye, and they were still crowded in.

"No, no." Colonel Gnaton stopped several soldiers who wanted to carry the wounded into the fortress: "You can't go in, it will cause trouble for our defense."

But immediately a military doctor came up and said: "They are seriously injured, Colonel, and need to undergo surgery immediately. Do you want us to turn on the flashlight to cut the wounded in the outside environment?"

Colonel Gnaton was stunned. This was indeed not appropriate. There was smoke and dust everywhere outside, and the bright light of the flashlight would also expose the target.

But...

Seeing that Colonel Gnaton was still hesitating, the military doctor added: "One day in the future, your troops will also have casualties, Colonel."

There was a bit of threat in the words, as if to warn Colonel Gnaton: Don't offend the military doctor if you offend anyone.

Colonel Gnaton nodded helplessly and let them in. Anyway, the defense demand for the fortress was not great, and the French were still far away.

However, once this hole was opened, it could not be stopped.

All the seriously wounded who needed surgery were carried into the fortress. Soon the fortress became a temporary hospital. The wounded went in one by one and were carried out one by one. However, they were alive when they went in, but most of them were dead when they came out.

Colonel Gnaton hoped that all this would end quickly and return to normal.

Although he had empathy for the wounded, the wounded had seriously affected the defense of Fort Douaumont.

The artillerymen in the fortress were even ordered by military doctors to become assistants in surgery. They were not holding shells, but barrels of limbs and arms cut off from the wounded.

Colonel Gnaton reported to his superiors several times by phone, but the reply he got was: "Don't worry, Colonel, that's just a temporary resettlement point, they will be transferred soon."

Colonel Gnaton hoped so, but he did not see a decrease in the number of wounded at all, but more and more complicated.

Some of the stretcher bearers were carrying Lebel rifles.

Wait, Lebel rifle? !

Colonel Gnaton's pupils dilated, and he chased after him and shone his flashlight. Yes, that was the Lebel rifle that only the French had!

"Hey, catch him." Colonel Gnaton shouted, "An enemy has sneaked in..."

Before he finished speaking, a gunshot was heard behind him. Colonel Gnaton was shocked and stared blankly at the blood oozing from his chest. Then his feet softened and he fell to the ground.

When Colonel Gnaton was still conscious, he heard gunshots inside and outside the fortress. The German army was in chaos, and there were screams and cries everywhere.

...

This was a raid arranged by Charles.

He originally didn't want to take over Fort Douaumont because it was unrealistic. It was good enough to stabilize the French defense line. He also wanted to take over Fort Douaumont, which was heavily guarded and occupied a favorable geographical location?

It was no different from a moth flying into a flame.

However, when the directional mines played a role and caused heavy casualties to the German attacking forces, it became possible.

"Major Jules." Charles turned his head and called out.

Major Jules was sorting out the intelligence while chewing bread. He had not eaten for a whole day.

He always felt guilty and felt sorry for Colonel De Leon and his comrades. The casualty rate of the 19th Infantry Regiment was 90%, and only 94 people survived.

In such a cruel battle, he actually quarreled with Joffre in La Gedden and almost failed to successfully convey the intelligence.

He was a shameful deserter. He should go to the battlefield and die with his comrades.

It would be better to have such an opportunity now, otherwise he would never forgive himself for the rest of his life!

At this time, he heard Charles' call, and he immediately put down the bread and ran to Charles: "Yes, General."

"Are you familiar with the terrain of Fort Douaumont?" Charles asked.

"Of course, General." Major Jules answered confidently: "The 19th Infantry Regiment has been stationed there for almost a year, and we want to give every stone there a name."

"Yes." Charles nodded and asked: "If I give you an infantry battalion, can you take it back?"

Major Jules was stunned for a while, tears suddenly burst out, and he choked and answered:

"Yes, General, I promise!"

"Thank you, General! Thank you very much!"