French reinforcements arrived just in time and with them General Philippe Pétain, who took command and managed to slow the German advance on Verdun by several French counterattacks. In a war known for its brutality, the Battle of Verdun, (February 21December 18, 1916), was among the longest and most bloodiest conflicts of World War I. From the offensive’s start on February 21, 1916, the Germans advanced with little opposition for four days until they reached Fort Douaumont, which they took. Verdun, therefore, was unprepared when one of the heaviest bombardments of the war rained down on the area. The Germans massed huge amounts of artillery and troops for the attack, which the French knew was coming but believed would occur elsewhere. Alongside the Somme, the name of the fortress town in eastern France is synonymous with the worst horrors of World War One. The French appointed General Petain to defend the city. The 1916 Somme offensive was one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the First World War (1914-18). He began concentrating resources for an attack on the fortress city of Verdun and its surrounding fortifications along the Meuse River. The Battle of Verdun is seen as a German failure for 3 key reasons The German plan of attrition had failed as they had almost as many casualties (350,000) as the French (400,000). The battle, which lasted from 21 February 1916 until 19 December 1916 caused over an estimated 700,000 dead, wounded and missing. German General Erich von Falkenhayn was convinced that the war had to be won in France, chiefly by exhausting the enemy. During the battle the French repulsed a major German offensive. Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Thumbnail © Awcnz62/īattle of Verdun, which took place in France over many months in 1916, was one of the most devastating engagements of World War I.
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