LES ABRIS

From February 1916 onwards, the enemy increased the number of aerial bombardments on Bar-le-Duc in an attempt to disrupt the flow of new troops, food and ammunition towards Verdun. At first, the inhabitants often stayed in the streets to watch the planes, as if it was an air show. However, they soon discovered the tragic consequences of these bombardments. The need to protect themselves takes over.
The army installs air defence systems. The municipality identified the cellars likely to shelter the population and marked them with inscriptions on the facades of the houses. It also had the lights blacked out at night to reduce the danger of night-time bombing. The sirens of the city's factories were used to signal the arrival of planes or "zeppelins", the German airships.
In total, until 1918, more than 250 alarms sounded, forcing the population to seek protective shelter. But the cellars were not enough. 21 underground galleries were dug into the hillsides, notably under the upper town. 9 concrete shelters were also built, for example on Place Exelmans, Place de la gare and, here, Place Reggio. A photograph shows workers working on the completion of the shelter planned here.

DATAtourisme France