• For information on WW1 artillery: Artillery of the Great War

Liege: 8-16 August. The Liege fortification was a ring of 12 forts. Realizing the strategic importance of the Liege position, the German Army of the Meuse attacked the forts in the opening days of the war while the rest of the German Army mobilized. In a nine day battle, German Army attacked the forts with infantry assault and bombardment by 21cm howitzers which had little effect, and then with 28 and 42cm siege howitzers that demolished the forts one by one. The 28cm howitzers bombarded Fort Evegnée into surrender, while the 42cm howitzers bombarded Forts Fleron, Pontisse, and Loncin. The impact of the battle on the future course of the war remains an open question. For more information: The Battle of Liege

Liege's Fort Loncin: The 42cm howitzers' handwork














Fort Loncin: Another view of the destruction














Namur: 21-25 August 1914. Nine forts ringed Namur. Using lessons learned at Liege, both 30.5cm and 42cm howitzers were used to systematically destroy the forts. Six of the nine forts were bombarded.

Fort Malonne: Captured on 26 August 1914 by Leutnant v.d. Linde and four soldiers. Not all forts had to be bombrded into submission.

An Austrian-Hungarian 30.5cm howitzer fires on Antwerp















The bombardment of Antwerp: 15cm howizters in action; 28 Sep 1914 and the following days.

The attack on Antwerp: A destroyed inner ring fort














Fort Lierre: The results of German 30.5cm and 42cm artillery. The heavy artillery was accurate enough to consistently hit the armoured turrets













Fort Wavre: Another fort destoryed by 42cm howitzers.

After the Franco-Prussian War, France built an extensive frontier defensive system named after General Séré de Rivières, Chief of Engineers. Most of the forts were organized into defensive areas - Maubeuge, Rheims, Verdun, Toul, Epinal, Belfort, Paris - and "curtains" or barriers - Lille to Maubeuge, Verdun to Toul, and Epinal to Belfort, and La Fere to Rheims. A few isolated forts were built as "spoiling forts" - Hirson, Charlemont, Les Ayvelles, Montmedy, Longwy, and Manonviller - meant to break the momentum of a German offensive. From 1898 onwards some of the forts were upgraded by adding addtional concrete protection; however, at the outbrak of the war, many of the forts were in disrepair or obsolete.

Maubeuge: 25 August-8 September 1914. The first French fortress attacked by the Germans was Maubeuge along the French-Belgian border. The two week siege slowed the German advance into France. For more I\information: Siege of Maubeuge


Bombardment of Maubeuge: Not all artillery bombardment was performed by siege artillery.

A Maubeuge Fort: Armored turret destroyed by a 42cm shell














Destroyed armored turret of an unidentified fort; probably at Maubeuge













Fort Manonviller: 25-27 August 1914. Located east of Nancy, Fort Manonviller was captured by the German Army after two days of bombardment by 42cm and 30.5cm howitzers during the Battle of the Frontiers.

Fort Manonviller: A modern isolated fort reduced by German heavy artillery

Longwy: The garrison's herioc two day stand delayed the German advance















Verdun: 21 February 1915 - 18 December 1916. The most famous WWI battle involving permanent fortifications was Verdun. Verdun was France's own battle; forever symbolizing their part of the war. Several forts were heavily bombarded and fought over, but arguably were not decisive to the outcome of the battle. For more information: The Battle of Verdun 1916

Verdun: The quintessential artillery battle (depicted in a

artist's rendition of German heavy artillery)












Another artist's rendering of the bombardment of Verdun














Fort Vaux: On the receiving end of German artillery