OUVRAGE DE FROIDETERRE

Froideterre's intermediate work is the key element of the entrenched camp of Verdun. Indeed, placed on the coast of Froideterre, at an altitude of 345 m, it locks the northern part of the battlefield between the Meuse valley and the heights of Douaumont.
Its construction took place between 1887 and 1888 and was completed between 1902 and 1905.
Particularly well equipped with artillery pieces, it could flank the neighbouring works of Thiaumont and Charny and ensure its close defence while supporting combat units. In particular, it had the following equipment:
- a casemate of Bourges with two 75mm guns;
- an eclipse turret with two 75-guns;
- a machine-gun eclipse turret with a bulwark dugout;
- one machine gun eclipse turret with a battleship observatory:
- two armoured guardhouses
the structure was surrounded by a ditch, a 3 m high counterscarp wall and a 20 m wide wire network and had a 60 m x 16 m reinforced concrete barracks on masonry for 142 men lying down and 200 men sitting.
Its action was complemented by infantry position troops in charge of defending the intervals. Concrete parapets and battle shelters with reinforced concrete vaults effectively protected the Poilus from artillery fire. Their role proved decisive during the fierce fighting in June 1916. As were all the protected logistics premises located not far from the structure.
These served as refuges for the units charged with defending the ridge. The cave shelter of the four chimneys, placed under 8 m of marl and rock and which almost fell into enemy hands on 23 June 1916, is the most famous, as is the ravine of Les Vignes, opposite it, which was criss-crossed by multiple communication hoses beaten by enemy artillery fire.
The French resistance on Froideterre in the summer of 1916 marked a turning point in the course of the Battle of Verdun, as it made it possible to halt the enemy advance on the heights of the right bank of the Meuse towards Verdun.
In October, Froideterre was used as a starting base for General Mangin's great offensive, which pushed it back several kilometres

DATAtourisme France