The Souville road was still barred. The fort, where so many heroic artillery observers had been buried or blown to pieces by the bombardment, continued to remain the ever-alert sentinel of the battlefield.
The heap of shell cases fired (45,000 in 3 days) by 8 guns, during the battle in front of Souville (June 1916).
The flags of the attacking German regiments, which had been sent up from the depots to the front to be unfurled in captured Verdun, were sent back to the rear by higher orders.
In Souville Fort (March 23rd 1917).—General Corvisart.
But the enemy had not yet finished his attempts to force the barrier. They captured Thiaumont and Fleury, and on July 11th they intended to try, by way of Poudrière and Vignes ravines, to outflank Souville fort on the West while at the same time making a direct attack upon the north slopes ([Plan p. 78]).
In front of Souville, the line was held by the 131st Infantry Division (Duport) and in front of Vaux fort by the 79th (Mordrelle), reinforced by the 128th Infantry Division (Riberpray).