Verdun was an ancient city that had been among the last to fall during France’s humiliating defeat in 1870-71’s Franco-Prussian War, and it had since been built into one of the most heavily fortified strongholds along the border with Germany.
The attack was aimed right at a sacred part of the French defensive line and was conceived by General Erich von Falkenhayn. The Battle of Verdun began on 21 February 1916 at 7.15 am when the German army began pounding the forts and trenches with artillery fire.
100,000 shells poured into Verdun every hour, Wilhelm's intention being to kill the majority of the French defenders before the infantry even started their advance into the fortress. Five days into the battle, German forces captured Fort Douaumont, the largest and highest of the 19 forts protecting Verdun.
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. The Germans tried to capture the town one last time, on 11 and 12 July, but they failed again.
The battle closed down on 15 December, as winter conditions and results of fighting on the Somme made further activity impossible. French casualties amounted to about 400,000, German ones to about 350,000. Some 300,000 were killed.
Battle of Verdun
