The Battle of Verdun PDF

## The Battle of Verdun The Battle of Verdun was one of the bloodiest battles of World War 1. It took place between February 21 and December 18, 1916, on the Western Front. The German army had a plan to "bleed France white" by launching attacks on the French fortress at Verdun. ### The German...

## The Battle of Verdun The Battle of Verdun was one of the bloodiest battles of World War 1. It took place between February 21 and December 18, 1916, on the Western Front. The German army had a plan to "bleed France white" by launching attacks on the French fortress at Verdun. ### The German Army Attack The German offensive began on February 21. The first several days saw initial success for the German army. The French defenders were taken by surprise. On February 25, the Germans occupied Fort Douaumont easily after a heavy bombardment. The fighting was intense and horrific. Men fought over every meter of ground. The Germans bombarded a small area (less than 2 square kilometers) with 500 guns for 36 hours. The French counterattacked on May 22, and on June 7, they captured Fort Vaux. The Germans, however, attacked again and retook the fort on June 8. ### The "Meat Grinder" The Battle of Verdun became a "meat grinder" for both sides. The Germans suffered heavy losses and they never managed to capture the fortress. In three months of intense fighting, the Germans lost almost 300,000 soldiers, and the French lost over 300,000. ### **The Impact** The Battle of Verdun was a major defeat for the Germans. The war was not decided quickly, or decisively, by this battle. It was, however, a major victory for the French and, ultimately, contributed to the weakening of the German army, as its soldiers were exhausted. #### Phase I - German Offensive (February 21 - March 4) - Bombardment of French Positions - German Infantry attacks - Capture of Fort Douaumont #### Phase II - Battles for Le MortHomme and Hill 304 (March 6 - May 21) - Intense fighting for Fort Vaux - German capture of Fort Vaux - May 8, 1916 - French counterattack and recapture - May 22, 1916 - German recapture of Fort Vaux - June 7, 1916 #### Phase III - Fighting for Fort Vaux (March 8 - June 23) - Germans attack Fort Vaux - March 8, 1916 - Germans occupy Fort Vaux - June 7, 1916 - French counterattack - June 8, 1916, but fail to recapture fort #### Phase IV - The Last German Offensive (June 23 - September 6) - German artillery bombardment - June 22, 1916 - Attacks on French Forts - June 23,1916 - Capture of Fleury - July 12,1916 - Intense fighting and many changes in frontline - German offensive ends - September 2,1916 #### Phase V - French Counter Offensive (October 21 - December 15) - Large-scale bombing of German positions - French recapture of Fort Douaumont - French re-enter Fort Vaux #### The Importance of the Battle of Verdun - The Battle of Verdun was a major turning point in World War I. It showed that the Germans were not invincible. - The ferocity of the fighting and the high number of casualties demonstrated the horrors of modern warfare. - The battle also had a significant impact on the morale of both sides, as French resistance was so stubborn. #### Key Figures of the Battle: - **Erich von Falkenhayn**, the German Chief of Staff, devised the plan to bleed France white at Verdun. - **Philippe Pétain**, the French General who took charge of the defense of Verdun, after the initial German success. #### The Lasting Impact of the Battle of Verdun: The Battle of Verdun had a profound impact on the course of the war, and its memory is still felt today. It serves as a reminder of the cost of war and the importance of peace. The Battle of Verdun is also remembered for its cultural impact, particularly its role in shaping the development of battlefield medicine and the use of chemical weapons. ==End of OCR==