Fort de Vaux - Battle of Verdun Shattered 75mm turret bears witness to weight of shell-fire which fell upon Fort Vaux. Built in 1881 and improved at the beginning of the 20th century with a steel reinforced concrete layer laid over a shock barrier of sand it was a garrison for 250 men. In March 1916 the Germans bombarded it with a 420mm Big Bertha and inflicted severe damage but was still in French hands in June when it was under perpetual bombardment. On June 7th Major Raynal the CO surrendered as the French had run out of water.