15. The French army reorganized at Verdun in September
By the end of September, 22 divisions occupied the French positions at Verdun, seven of them replacements which arrived at the RFV that month. With fresh troops at their disposal and the number of German guns facing them reduced by transfer to the Somme, General Nivelle prepared to launch an offensive, rather than resorting to piecemeal attacks by local commanders. The French prepared to assault the German defensive positions and retake the fortress at Douaumont, though it was by then little more than a shattered wreck. The Germans had also taken Fort Vaux earlier in the battle, and the French were determined to retake it as well.
Before moving the infantry forward, the French launched a bombardment from their artillery which lasted six days. Though some of the German artillery had been withdrawn, the French targeted more than 800 pieces of artillery which remained on the right bank of the Meuse River capable of hitting the French infantry as it advanced. Naval guns which were mounted on railway cars and fired a sixteen-inch shell, weighing over a ton, hit the remnants of Fort Douaumont, at least 20 times during the bombardment. The Germans responded in kind, though their heaviest weapons were by then in action against the British along the Somme.