![]() ![]() When France recaptured Douaumont, the German forces recognised the end was nigh. Though they had some initial victories, the success was not maintained. ![]() The Battle of Verdun was a fierce attempt by the German forces to break through the Western Front. It also houses a military museum where visitors can see authentic armaments from both sides. The memorial remembers French and German soldiers as well as the civilians who lost their lives during the battle. It was constructed in the 1960s and has been open for the public to visit since 1967. The Verdun Memorial is situated on the battlefield not far from the site of Fleury-Devant-Douaumont, a village completely destroyed by the battle. It remains one of the most violent and bloody battles in world history and the losses had a significant impact on the trajectory of the whole of the First World War. Nearly 75% of the French army was involved in the Battle of Verdun, with colonial forces also playing their part. Historians have since argued the figures should be over 500,000 and Germany, of course, had significant losses too. Official records show that France lost 162,440 soldiers and a further 216,337 were wounded. In France, the battle came to symbolise the determination of the French Army and the destructiveness of the war.Read more about: Sport Walter Tull: The Tottenham Hotspur trailblazer and WW1 hero In 2014, William Philpott wrote of 976,000 casualties in 1916 and 1,250,000 in the vicinity of Verdun. In 2000, Hannes Heer and Klaus Naumann calculated that the French suffered 377,231 casualties and the Germans 337,000, a total of 714,231 and an average of 70,000 a month. The battle lasted for 302 days, one of the longest and costliest in human history. In September and December, French counter-offensives recaptured much ground on the east bank and recovered Fort Douaumont and Fort Vaux. The offensive was reduced further but to keep French troops away from the Somme, ruses were used to disguise the change. From 23 June to 17 August, Fleury changed hands sixteen times and a German attack on Fort Souville failed. ![]() Fleury was captured and the Germans came within 2.5 mi (4 km) of the Verdun citadel but in July the offensive was cut back to provide troops, artillery and ammunition for the Battle of the Somme, leading to a similar transfer of the French Tenth Army to the Somme front. The Germans advanced towards the last geographical objectives of the original plan, at Fleury-devant-Douaumont and Fort Souville, driving a salient into the French defences. The Germans tried alternating their attacks on either side of the Meuse and in June captured Fort Vaux. In early May, the Germans changed tactics again and made local attacks and counter-attacks the French recaptured part of Fort Douaumont but then the Germans ejected them and took many prisoners. The German offensive was extended to the west bank of the Meuse to gain observation and eliminate the French artillery firing over the river but the attacks failed to reach their objectives. By 29 March, French guns on the west bank had begun a constant bombardment of Germans on the east bank, causing many infantry casualties. Philippe Pétain ordered there to be no retreat and that German attacks were to be counter-attacked, despite this exposing French infantry to the German artillery. Unlike Mosier, he does not claim the battle lasted from 1914 to 1918, but actually. By 6 March, 20 + 1 ⁄ 2 French divisions were in the RFV and a more extensive defence in depth had been organised. Then there is Jankowskis VERDUN: The Longest Battle of the Great War. The advance then slowed for several days, despite inflicting many French casualties. Poor weather delayed the beginning of the attack until 21 February but the Germans captured Fort Douaumont in the first three days. ![]()
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