 Vaux had been modernised before 1914 with reinforced concrete top protection like Fort Douaumont and was not destroyed by a German heavy artillery fire, which had included shelling by 16-inch howitzers.The superstructure of the fort was badly damaged but the garrison, the deep interior corridors and stations remained intact, when the fort was attacked on 2 June by German assault troops.The defence of Fort Vaux was marked by the heroism and endurance of the garrison, including Major Sylvain-Eugene Raynal.