Château d’Aulnois – Auler-Stellung

Between the villages of Ville-en-Woëvre and Fresnes-en-Woëvre, the Germans built a switch line (Riegel-Stellung) in the course of 1916. In front of this position, the German front line ran through the villages of Manheulles, Fresnes-en-Woëvre and Champlon, then across the Combres Heights (Les Éparges) onto the Côtes Lorraines and from there into the St. Mihiel salient. The switch line was given the name Auler-Stellung. It was named after the former instructor of the engineers in the Turkish army and commander of the 5. Landwehr-Infanterie-Division (5th Landwehr Infantry Division), Generalleutnant Carl Auler-Pascha. Several strong points formed part of the switch line, among them the farm and the Château d’Aulnois north of Fresnes-en-Woëvre. In terms of command structure, the area belonged to the V. Armee-Korps (V Army Corps) until 1917 and was thus part of the Armee-Abteilung Strantz (Army Detachment Strantz) deployed in the St. Mihiel salient.

In the Middle Ages, a fortified castle of the bishops of Verdun existed in the area of Château d’Aulnois. In 1342, the property was sold by Heinrich von Apremont, himself bishop of Verdun until 1350, to the Saint-Maur d’Hattonchâtel collegiate foundation founded in 1328, from which it was transferred to the “des Armoises” family. This family was the origin of the impostor Jeanne des Armoises, who lived in the first half of the 15th century. In major medieval cities such as Cologne, Metz, Arlon, and Paris, she posed as Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Orleans), thereby deceiving even siblings of the real Jeanne d’Arc. She is therefore referred to in historiography as “the second Jeanne d’Arc”. Long after her death, some historians held the view that she was the true Maid of Orleans. In Château de Jaulny, her last residence, a mural of her still exists.

By the 18th century, the former castle complex had fallen into ruin and remained unused for a long time. The existing buildings were largely dismantled and the recovered stones used in the construction of houses in the surrounding villages. Incorporating the remaining building fabric, a luxurious château was erected toward the end of the 18th century. In 1810, the corner tower, parts of which still exist today, was added by the then-owner Henry family from Fresnes-en-Woëvre. The castle was remodeled again in 1910 and thoroughly renovated. Ultimately, the complex was completely destroyed during the First World War and was not rebuilt afterward.

The area of the Woëvre plain around the Château and the Ferme d’Aulnois was held by French troops until the beginning of the Battle of Verdun in February 1916. Along with the surrounding villages of Fresnes-en-Woëvre, Marchéville, Pinthéville, Riaville, Manheulles, and Ville-en-Woëvre, it lay at the interface between the German Crown Prince’s 5. Armee (Fifth Army) and the Armee-Abteilung Strantz (Army Detachment Strantz). This specific position influenced the fighting there until the end of 1915, which was characterized by the heavy engagements around the Combres Heights (Les Éparges) as well as the French attempts beginning in the spring of 1915 to cut off the St. Mihiel salient. From February 1916, German attacks in tactical conjunction with the Battle of Verdun determined the combat operations. In the night of February 27–28, 1916, the area around the Château and the Ferme d’Aulnois was occupied by Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 65 (65th Landwehr Infantry Regiment).

Subsequently, the facility, quickly destroyed by artillery, served as a German outpost. The approach and relief of the German troops proved very dangerous and also involved heavy casualties. The vaults and ceilings of the predominantly surviving cellars were partially concreted. The position was permanently under French artillery fire. At the end of 1916, the area was further fortified as part of the Auler-Stellung and expanded into a machine gun stronghold. In the final days of the war, Château d’Aulnois was once again the scene of heavy fighting between elements of the 33rd Division and the 13. Landwehr-Division (13th Landwehr Division). On September 7/8, 1918, the American units, primarily the 130th Infantry, conducted an assault detachment operation against the position and captured a number of members of Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 60 (60th Landwehr Infantry Regiment), while the majority of the garrison was wiped out. The position was not finally captured by the Americans until the morning of November 11, 1918, on the very last day of the war.