Fort Douaumont
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Fort Douaumont was the largest and highest fort on the ring of 19 large defensive works which had protected the city of Verdun, France, since the 1890s. By 1915, the French General Staff had concluded
Aerial view early in 1916 before major destruction in the Battle of Verdun. North is approximately at top
Main communication passage, Fort Douaumont
Captain Hans-Joachim Haupt, Lieutenant-Colonel von Oven, Captain Cordt von Brandis
Aerial view towards the end of 1916, showing trenches and shell craters. North is approximately at top
42 cm Gamma howitzer
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The 42 cm kurze Marinekanone L/12, or Gamma-Gerät, was a German siege gun built by Krupp. The Gamma-Gerät's barrel diameter was 42 cm, making it one of the largest artillery pieces ever fielded. The G
Fort Douaumont
…1890s. By 1915, the French General Staff had concluded that even the best-protected forts of Verdun could not withstand bombardments from the German 420 mm (16.5 in) Gamma guns. These new super-heavy howitzers had easily taken several large Belgian forts out of action in August 1914. Fort Douaumont and other Verdun forts were…
A Gamma-Gerät in 1914
A 42cm projectile in 1918
42cm shell crater at the Fort de Boussois