Bayonet Trench, War memorial in Douaumont, France.
The concrete memorial features a monumental entrance leading to long steps ascending to a trench where rifles with bayonets protrude from the ground.
Following the Battle of Verdun in June 1916, Colonel Collet discovered a trench containing French soldiers with their rifles pointing upward through the earth.
The memorial, financed by American George Rand and designed by architect André Ventre, stands as a testament to French soldiers who perished during World War I.
Visitors can reach the memorial by parking at the Douaumont Necropolis lot and walking for 5 to 10 minutes along a marked path.
Seven unidentified French soldiers remain buried within the trench, while fourteen identified bodies were transferred to the Fleury Cemetery after excavation.
Location: Douaumont-Vaux
Architects: André Ventre
Official opening: December 8, 1920
Part of: Funerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front)
GPS coordinates: 49.21390,5.42528
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:42
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