For those that want to see the battle through the eyes of the battle hardened painted soldiers on the ground disregard the superscripts. For those that want to understand the battle in game terms go to the end and read what the superscripts refer to. Anyone who does not fall in either category read whatever you want as each, the battle report and the superscript report supports each other.

Pre-Battle

Corporal Zwein looked over the muzzle of his MGK machinegun and adjusted the sights one more time. His unit, the MG section of the 7th Infantry Regiment, had seen as much action as any other within the 10th Infantry Brigade. Now it was to be in the defense of Fort Douaumont. There were far fewer German soldiers than at the start of the war; far fewer than anyone could have imagined and in taking the fort they had been decimated beyond belief. That they had been fighting for over a two years hardly mattered. What mattered was that they had to find a way to breakthrough the French defenses in front of them. But not right now . . . now was the time to wait, regroup and dig in and hope that an artillery shell did not have your name on it.

The French waited to seize back their fort. No one knew how it had been wrestled out of French hands. Some said it was handed over by traitors, some said that the Germans used French uniforms to trick the garrison. Others said that the Germans moved so quick the poorly garrisoned fort could not defend itself. It did not matter how it had fell. The 5th Infantry Division, newly arrived and up to strength, would take it with the bayonet. It was their destiny. General Mangin would lead the division to victory. How could he not . . . he had never lost a battle in a war where most Generals had never won one.

Inside the Fort the Commander waited. Oh, the French attack would come. They were not fooling anyone but deep inside the bowels of the fort the German defenders of what was built to be a French fort were impervious to their shells. So let them fire on the fort. They would simply waste their ammunition.

Corporal Zwien noticed the sky was overcast; another crummy day. He was in a strongpoint with his machinegun crew tied into the trench system used for defense in front of the fort. He was in the frontline, which was the most dangerous spot on the line, but they had plenty of protection as one of the few deep shelters were inside the strongpoint. The monotony of the days were broken by the pounding of the artillery but an all out attack after the last few months no one wanted. His ears listened to the stillness that a veteran of the campaign knew all too well and then he yelled to his comrades to run for the shelter. The artillery would be coming in less than 20 seconds. In less than a minute it was clear the whole mountain was being bombarded. It was endless.

Henri Manet hated this moment. Oh, bombarding the enemy with hundreds of artillery pieces was all well and fine but there was a fine line between leaving for the assault and the artillery hitting the enemy and not friends. Everyone knew of soldiers that never came back because they were caught in the sights of their own friendly gunners. It was a chancy piece of work to be done.

The hill that held the fort was enveloped in smoke and ruin. How anyone could live up there no one could know. The rolling barrage was to start but when? They had been briefed on it but no one could be sure it had started. Manet heard the whistles and moved to the attack with his unit. His 74th Regiment was in line with the 274th Regiment to his right. There were elements of the African Division to his left and after a break there was the whole of the 12th Brigade moving to assault the hill on the far left.

General Mangin looked through his binoculars from the top of Fort de Souville (about 2 miles to the rear) and liked what he saw. No extended order for his soldiers! As ordered they would assault in close order and elan and the bayonet would bring victory. His 300 artillery pieces were doing their job but where was that rolling barrage. It was late. Fortunately, his Brigade Commanders had learned well and were jumping off for the attack. France would make him a Corps commander at the very least. [1]

Battle Start:

The Commander of the German 2nd Reserve Regiment looked out of the bunker and saw carnage all around. The French assault must be soon but when. Move too soon and get chewed up by the blistering artillery . . . move too late and get overrun by the bayonet. His green regiment did not have the training or experience that the regulars to his right had. What was that - no sound. Major Lattermann saying something but it is impossible to hear. The staff has said it is time to move to the defense and as Commander I will lead that defense. Rally the men! We have taken their worst! We have had more artillery fall on us than in any other part of the defense. I see our men moving to their trench positions. It is hard to move in the trenches but the 2nd Regiment is showing it’s metal. Even the regulars only have a few men manning the trenchline. What is this? More infernal artillery! Take cover soldier …

The Commander of the German 1st Reserve Regiment did not see much from his bunker position. Yes the shelling had been severe initially but nothing fell of late. The position was secure, men were at their dugouts and weapons were ready. The only shelling that the Commander could detect was aimed not at his soldiers but at the barbed wire to his front. That was fine with him. Let them blow the wire up. There was plenty of it and wire only delays Frenchmen it does not kill them . . . his soldiers would be better at that then wire.

Major Lefebvre-Dibon leading the 3rd Bn 74th Infantry Regiment was moving at a plodding speed. Order was being kept and few men had gone down. The only real obstacle that might stand in the battalions way was the heavy machinegun which was focused on them. Hopefully, the artillery will silence them or another battalion will eliminate them. Lefebvre-Dibon could see that casualties were being taken but the attack kept making progress. [2]

Major Schaefffer, with the French 65th Regiment, could hear the noise of the men in the attack as the attack continued all along the line in a deliberate fashion. It was slow however and there was nothing left to do but grind onward until they could get into the trenches. Still, to this point losses had been light. He was heartened at least that none of his battalions had stopped to shoot back. That was useless and only took men away from the assault. So far there had been no enemy artillery but that could not continue indefinitely. The most concerning point was that where he had the battalion going he could not gage any French artillery hitting the trenches. If that was so it would be a very difficult day! [3]

Corporal Zwien could smell the gunpowder from the machinegun as round after round went down toward the Frenchmen. Who did they think they were that they would take this part of the trench. Morons! They would just die. Brave they were but they were moving so slow it was like shooting ducks in a pond; especially using a machinegun. Where were those ammo runners? The artillery was coming down all over the area but they were experienced and the ammo bunker was not very near. Still, this break in the firing might allow the machinegun to not overheat. Every minute without fire the enemy gets closer and closer. [4]

Captain Einholz of the German 2nd Reserve Regiment looked down the trench and saw his soldiers firing. He could not see all the other soldiers but he could hear the constant firing and the yelling for more ammunition. Fortunately, no artillery shell had pierced the ammo bunker and there was a constant flow of men getting more ammunition. His losses so far were hardly mentionable but he could see the grave loss of men to the enemy. Still they came and were now in close range for his rifles. Only one thing was of concern and it was not about the commander and his staff’s elimination. Word had spread of his demise but the men held and the Captains had maintained control along with the few seasoned NCOs. His concern was that the wire was being stripped from this sector. This would provide no obstacle to the enemy. What was occurring was that the enemy was exposed and the fire was being poured in by the Regiment as half of the Regiment was not being attacked in their front. His unit was the limit of where the assault was to be. A personal feeling that this was a survivable day rushed over him; he was not in the heart of the meat grinder and he and his men would be victorious.

The Commander of the German 1st Reserve Regiment looked out and saw a wave of Frenchmen move up the hill. It was slow going for them and they were being hit in the face by his men’s rifle fire. It was a close range now. There were gaps in the wire which would still serve to channel the attack but those channels were steadily getting wider. That sound, a new one brought a smile to his face. Finally, our artillery. It had been conspicuously absent. What were they doing back there, having gluvine with their meal. Now it would take its toll and not a moment too late. [5]

Note: Footnotes not included in this part.--RL