The fort is surrounded by a pentagonal bastioned rampart 200 metres (660 ft) on a side, in the manner of Vauban.

Thirty Fontenaysiens were killed, and the Germans withdrew from the fort[1] after shelling the train depot.

In 1961 nearly 200 officers, including those of the 1st REP (1st Foreign Parachute Regiment), who participated in the Algiers putsch were placed under "fortress arrest."

The leadership of the Regiment was arrested and tried but the non-commissioned officers, corporals and Legionnaires were assigned to other Foreign Legion formations.

They left the barracks singing the song "Non, je ne regrette rien", which has now become part of the Foreign Legion heritage and is sung when they are on parade.