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© Stéphane Compoint
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Saint Mihiel Salient: Remains of Fort of Troyon. During fights of September 1914, which led to the formation of the St. Mihiel Salient, the Fort of Troyon played a decisive role. Bombed from September 8, 1914 by heavy shells (305-320), it was ordered to hold at least 48 hours. This resistance was crucial to prevent the Germans from taking Verdun in a pincer, Fort Troyon located south of Verdun and the Germans already on the other side of the river Meuse. On 9 September 1914, the Germans asked the French to surrender but the French refused and an avalanche of shells fell on Fort of Troyon, who still resist 4 days before the end of the German fire. Of this resistance depended on the following of the war, and especially the victory in the Battle of the Marne. This is the only fort of Lorraine region which resisted to German: 450 men held for 6 days against artillery and a strong division of 10,000 men. In 1918, the Fort of Troyon used as a hospital back to the U.S. troops who liberated the town of Saint-Mihiel (held for 4 years) and of the hill of Montsec (pictures 233 to 235).
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