Fort Douaumont, the cornerstone of the Verdun defences, fell to its German captors with hardly a shot being fired in its defence. This amazing episode, in which isolated German patrols were able to penetrate the very bowels of the fortress and help themselves to a much-needed meal without meeting any opposition.

This article is located in the History of the First World War Volume 3 (REF D522 .H58 1969 V.3).