When Was The Battle Of Verdun ?
The Battle of Verdun was held in the year 1916 and was fought between the French and Germans. The battle started on 21 February 1916 and lasted until 16 December 1916. It is believed that the British started the Battle of the Somme due to the impact and casualties sustained by the French while fighting the Battle of Verdun. |
This battle was the longest battle fought during the First World War, and when it finished, it was instrumental in making General Philippe Petain a national hero in the country.
The Battle of Verdun was the brainchild of von Falkenhayn, who was the Chief of General Staff of Germany. He wanted launch such a big attack on the French, so that it would destroy them completely. Verdun was selected as there were 20 big forts and 40 smaller forts that helped to protect the eastern border of France. Falkenhayn opined that the French troops could bear to see these forts fall, and when they would fall, it would completely humiliate them. Furthermore, Falkenhayn thought that the French would incur heavy losses and casualties and this would help to change the entire course of the war.
This plan was actually quite a good one and the French would put up a fight to prevent the Germans from taking over Verdun. However, there were some flaws while planning the offensive. The Germans assumed that the French would end up being easy opponents and just they would suffer casualties and not the Germans. Furthermore, most of the ammunition from the forts had been relocated to other battle fronts.
The Germans attacked Verdun with 140,000 troops, lots of artillery and even had air support of 168 planes. The French had just 30,000 troops in the region. The German attack was successful in the initial stages. The Germans managed to incur heavy losses on the French troops and take over Fort Douaumont, which was believed to be the strongest fort in the whole world. This fort was situated at a distance of 5 miles from Verdun.
The defense of Verdun was under General Philippe Petain. However, even the Germans suffered losses. Nonetheless, the Germans were nearly successful in taking over Verdun had it not been for the start of the Battle of the Somme.
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The Battle of Verdun is believed to be one of the most expensive battles in the First World War that cost so many soldiers on both sides to lose their lives. The main aim of the Germans was to bleed the French white, as put by General Erich von Falkenhayn. Since the Germans did not succeed in their aim, it can be said that the French won the Battle of Verdun. However, that would be taking an extremely simplistic view on the battle. 