French infantry charge near Fort Vaux, one of the bastions of Verdun. In March 1916, the village of Vaux changed hands 13 times. The fort fell to German forces the morning of June 7.
Illustration by Léon Taa. . . ., 1916.

La Bataille sous Verdun, 1916

Charge d'infanterie, prise du Fort de Vaux



The Battle around Verdun, 1916

Infantry charge near Vaux Fort



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Wednesday, June 7, 1916

"'We do not hear your artillery. We are being attacked with gas and liquid fire. We are in desperate straits.'

Then this one, at nightfall on June 5th:

'I must be set free this evening, and must have supplies of water immediately. I am coming to the end of my strength. The troops, enlisted men and officers, have done their duty to the last, in every case.'

On the 6th came only these few words"

'. . . you will intervene before we are completely exhausted. Vive la France!'

And finally, on June 7th, at half past three in the morning, these last words, whose meaning we could not make out:

'. . . must go on.'"

Quotation Context

Last messages from the Major Raynal and the garrison of Fort Vaux which fell on June 7, 1916 in the Battle of Verdun.

Source

Verdun by Henri Philippe Pétain, page 168, copyright © 1930, publisher: The Dial Press, publication date: 1930

Tags

1916-06-07, Fort Vaux, Vaux, Verdun, Battle of Verdun