It is a salient of the French lines, surrounded on several sides, the Meuse complicating the defense of the sector. In the salient, there are several forts including those of Douaumont and Vaux. But since the destruction of the fortifications of Liège, Namur and Maubeuge by German howitzers, the French command no longer believes in strongholds. The guns of the forts of Verdun were withdrawn by decree on August 5, 1915, thus greatly reducing their operational capacity. Joffre needs these guns for the offensive he is planning. Similarly, the garrisons occupying the forts are often reduced to a few dozen fighters.
The defense system is also sometimes reduced to one trench instead of three. The barbed wire is in poor condition. The workforce is reduced and less organized. All this suggests that a German attack would seek to gain ground.
The relative calm enjoyed by the sector in recent months could explain the lack of interest shown by the French command for this section of the front.
To supply the sector, there is only one railway line left linking Bar-le-Duc to Verdun (the capture of Saint-Mihiel by the Germans in 1914 cuts the Verdun - Nancy line). A true twister, it is unsuitable for transporting heavy equipment. Parallel to the railway is a departmental road that Maurice Barrès will call "the sacred way". This lack of communication channels with the rear makes this part of the front even more fragile.