The Battle of Verdun was the longest single battle of WWI.
Started in February of 1916, it lasted until December of that same year.
With many casualties on both sides, blood stained the ground for the months to come.
Started in February of 1916, it lasted until December of that same year.
With many casualties on both sides, blood stained the ground for the months to come.
The Original Plan:
- The original plan created by General Falkenhayn of Germany was to launch a massive German attack on Verdun, France.
- However, to get to Verdun, they would have to bypass the 60 tents surrounding it: 20 major and 40 smaller ones.
- Falkenhayn believed that by costing France so many soldiers, the battle would change the course of the war.
- The Germans believed that the French would be an easy opponent and would end up with the only major casualties.
- The battle of Verdun started on February 21st, 1916, with a bombing that lasted 9 hours.
- Four days after they started the attack, the Germans acquired the most important french fortress on the defense line: Douaumont.
- By February 25th, the Germans had captured 10,000 french prisoners.
- The French, on the other hand, had now put General Philippe Petain in charge.
- Petain asked for more and more soldiers from another french general, Joseph Joffre, but seeing as Joffre wanted to save his men for the battle of the Somme, he refused.
- Since Petain was accused of wasting french lives, a man named General Nivelle replaced him.
- On June 1st, the Germans launched a huge attack at Verdun. They got within 2.5 miles of Verdun itself, but, they then faltered. They had given all they had and now had nothing more to give.
- By October of 1916, the french had recaptured their forts of Vaux and Douaumont.
- On December 11th, the French decided to push the Germans back to their starting positions, and although they had lost vast amounts of soldiers, they succeeded.
- On December 19, 1916, the Germans finally admitted defeat having been pushed back to the starting place.
Germany:
Weapons:
France:
Weapons:
So although the Germans went into it thinking there would be major casualties only for France, it ended up being a blood bath for all.
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Weapons:
- At the beginning of the war, Germany had 1,200 artillery guns, 2,500,000 shells, and 1,300 ammunition trains needed to supply these guns.
- They also had 168 planes.
- By the end of April, the Germans had lost 120,000 men.
- By the end, this number had increased to about 340,000 men.
France:
Weapons:
- At the beginning of the war, it is unclear as to how many weapons France had. However, it is known that 25,000 tons of supplies were moved into Verdun using a path the French nicknamed "Sacred Way."
- By the end of April, the French had lost 133,000 men
- By the end of the battle, they had lost 360,000 men
So although the Germans went into it thinking there would be major casualties only for France, it ended up being a blood bath for all.
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