On July 1, the Somme Offensive was launched primarily by Britain to divert German resources from Verdun in the defense of the Somme. #6 The Somme Offensive was launched to relieve the French at Verdun French soldiers move to attack from their trench during the Battle of Verdun This was their furthest point of advance. On June 23, 1916, The German line was just in front of Fort Souville, 2.5 miles from Verdun itself. Petain also insured that the Germans suffered almost as much losses as the French. Their advance was hindered by small-scale counter-attacks made by the French under the able leadership of General Philippe Petain. Germany continued to advance till June 23, 1916, albeit slowly. #5 Germany reached within two and a half miles of Verdun by June 23 On 25 February, the Germans occupied the huge fort at Douaumont, considered one of the most powerful forts in the world. Although this gave France time to construct defensive lines and send reinforcements, yet the French were hugely unprepared when bombardment began on the morning of Feb 21. The German offensive in Verdun was scheduled to begin on 12 February but due to poor weather it was delayed till 21 February, 1916. #4 The German offensive in Verdun was delayed due to bad weather
Falkenhayn plan was for Germany to inflict comparatively much more damage to France and he was certain that the French losses would ultimately change the course of World War I in Germany’s favor. He intended the Verdun offensive to be an attrition battle to bleed France to death. #3 Battle of Verdun was intended to be an attrition battleįalkenhayn believed that the French would ‘throw in every man they have’ to retain Verdun to prevent national humiliation. Verdun was of greater value to France symbolically than strategically and Germany wanted to exploit this. Verdun lay vulnerable to attack from three sides and it would have been much practical to defend the woods immediately behind it. #2 Verdun was chosen for its historical significanceįalkenhayn chose Verdun as the focus of the German offensive because it was historically important to the French as its forts had been key assets in wars since ancient times. Hence he wanted to launch a massive German attack on France to kill so many of their men that it would open an opportunity to defeat Britain or to force them to negotiate. He believed Britain formed the foundation of the Allied effort but it lay behind the shield of the French army and could be defeated only after this shield was broken. German Chief of General Staff, Erich von Falkenhayn, came up with the plan to attack Verdun in France. Yet fighting continued around Verdun until 1918.#1 The chief architect of the Battle of Verdun was Erich von Falkenhayn German Chief of General Staff – Erich von Falkenhayn There were more than 700,000 victims – 305,000 killed and missing and 400,000 wounded (approximately), with almost identical losses on both sides. The 1916 battle ended after ten months of bitter fighting. It was empty – the Germans had already left.įrom 15 to 18 December, the French attacked again, retaking almost all the land they had lost since 21 February. On 24 October 1916, they recaptured Fort Douaumont and, a few days later, they entered Fort Vaux. In the autumn of 1916, the French counter-attacked. The Germans tried to capture the town one last time, on 11 and 12 July, but they failed again. On 1 July, the British and French launched a major offensive on the Somme, relieving some of the pressure being put on the French troops by the Germans in Verdun.
In all, some 4,000 trucks, 2,000 cars, 800 ambulances, 200 buses and numerous vans passed along it.įrom 6 March 1916, the Germans also attacked on the left bank of the River Meuse yet despite furious fighting on Le Mort-Homme in March and April they were unable to breach the French front line.Īt the end of June, having taken Fort Vaux, they launched a massive attack which failed – but only just. He increased the volume of traffic along the Bar-le-Duc to Verdun road, later known as the “Sacred Way”, the only route taking men and munitions up to the battlefield. General Pétain then took command of the troops. Despite heavy shelling, the French infantrymen (known as “ Poilus”) clung on to their positions and the Germans were unable to advance any further. The French High Command was anxious to retake the fort because of its dominant position high above the battlefield. During the first few days, the Germans breached the French front lines and captured Fort Douaumont without a fight on 25 February 1916.
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