Editing Battle of Verdun (section)

====20 October – 2 November====

[[File:French counter-offensive at Verdun, 24 October 1916.png|thumb|{{centre|First Offensive Battle of Verdun, 24 October – 2 November 1916}}]]
On 20 October 1916, the French began the First Offensive Battle of Verdun ({{lang|fr|1ère Bataille Offensive de Verdun}}), to recapture [[Fort Douaumont]], with an advance of more than {{cvt|2|km|order=flip}}. Seven of the {{nowrap|22 divisions}} at Verdun were replaced by mid-October and French infantry platoons were reorganised to contain sections of riflemen, grenadiers and machine-gunners. In a six-day preliminary bombardment, the French artillery fired {{nowrap|855,264 shells,}} including more than half a million {{nowrap|75 mm}} field-gun shells, a hundred thousand {{nowrap|155 mm}} medium artillery shells and three hundred and seventy-three {{nowrap|370 mm}} and {{nowrap|400 mm}} super-heavy shells, from more than {{nowrap|700 guns}} and howitzers.{{sfn|Holstein|2010|p=99}}

Two French [[Saint-Chamond (manufacturer)|Saint-Chamond]] [[railway guns]], {{cvt|13|km|order=flip}} to the south-west at Baleycourt, fired [[Obusier de 400 Modèle 1915/1916|{{cvt|400|mm|order=flip}}]] super-heavy shells, each weighing {{cvt|1|ST}}.{{sfn|Holstein|2010|p=99}} The French had identified about {{nowrap|800 German}} guns on the right bank capable of supporting the [[34th Division (German Empire)|34th]], [[54th Infantry Division (German Empire)|54th]], [[9th Division (German Empire)|9th]] and [[33rd Reserve Division (German Empire)|33rd Reserve]] divisions, with the [[10th Division (German Empire)|10th]] and 5th divisions in reserve.{{sfn|Pétain|1930|p=221}} At least {{nowrap|20 of}} the super-heavy shells hit Fort Douaumont, the sixth penetrating to the lowest level and exploding in a pioneer depot, starting a fire next to {{nowrap|7,000 hand-grenades.}}{{sfn|Holstein|2010|pp=102–103}}

[[File:La reprise de Douaumont, le 24 octobre 1916.PNG|thumb|{{centre|French infantry recapturing Douaumont}}]]
The 38th Division (General Guyot de Salins), 133rd Division (General Fenelon F.G. Passaga) and 74th Division (General Charles de Lardemelle) attacked at {{nowrap|11:40 a.m.}}{{sfn|Pétain|1930|p=221}} The infantry advanced {{cvt|50|m|order=flip}} behind a creeping field-artillery barrage, moving at a rate of {{cvt|50|m|order=flip}} in two minutes, beyond which a heavy artillery barrage moved in {{cvt|500|–|1000|m|order=flip}} lifts, as the field artillery barrage came within {{cvt|150|m|order=flip}}, to force the German infantry and machine-gunners to stay under cover.{{sfn|Doughty|2005|p=306}} The Germans had partly evacuated Douaumont and it was recaptured on 24 October by French marines and colonial infantry; more than {{nowrap|6,000 prisoners}} and fifteen guns were captured by 25 October but an attempt on Fort Vaux failed.{{sfn|Michelin|1919|pp=19–20}}

The Haudromont quarries, Ouvrage de Thiaumont and Thiaumont Farm, Douaumont village, the northern end of Caillette Wood, Vaux pond, the eastern fringe of Bois Fumin and the Damloup battery were captured.{{sfn|Michelin|1919|pp=19–20}} The heaviest French artillery bombarded Fort Vaux for the next week and on 2 November, the Germans evacuated the fort, after a huge explosion caused by a {{nowrap|220 mm shell.}} French eavesdroppers overheard a German wireless message announcing the departure and a French infantry company entered the fort unopposed; on 5 November, the French reached the front line of 24 February and offensive operations ceased until December.{{sfn|Doughty|2005|pp=306–308}}