Was the Battle of Verdun fought in trenches?
By the beginning of 1916, the war in France, from the Swiss border to the English Channel, had settled into the long slog of trench warfare.
Were there trenches at Verdun?
When news of the loss of Fort Vaux reached Verdun, the Line of Panic was occupied and trenches were dug on the edge of the city.
How did the Battle of Verdun affect ww1?
Ultimately, the French resistance at Verdun proved a turning point, halting the German advance. The heavy German losses at Verdun combined with even greater casualties suffered on the Somme also created a manpower crisis within the German army that would become increasingly difficult to resolve as the war progressed.
Who first used trench warfare in ww1?
In the wake of the Battle of the Marne—during which Allied troops halted the steady German push through Belgium and France that had proceeded over the first month of World War I—a conflict both sides had expected to be short and decisive turns longer and bloodier, as Allied and German forces begin digging the first …
Why did the French feel the need to defend Verdun at all costs?
The fortress of Verdun with its surrounding fortifications along the Meuse River was selected because it threatened the main German communication lines, it represented a salient in the French defenses, and the loss of such a storied citadel would be an enormous blow to French morale.
What lead to the Battle of Verdun?
The battle had begun on February 21, after the Germans—led by Chief of Staff Erich von Falkenhayn—developed a plan to attack the fortress city of Verdun, on the Meuse River in France. Falkenhayn believed that the French army was more vulnerable than the British, and that a major defeat on the Western Front would push…
Why is the Battle of Verdun significant?
Verdun was the site of a major battle, and the longest-lasting, of the First World War. One of the costliest battles in military history, Verdun exemplified the policy of a “war of attrition” pursued by both sides, which led to an enormous loss of life and very large casualty lists.
What happened during the Battle of Verdun?
Battle of Verdun, (February 21–December 18, 1916), World War I engagement in which the French repulsed a major German offensive. It was one of the longest, bloodiest, and most-ferocious battles of the war; French casualties amounted to about 400,000, German ones to about 350,000. Some 300,000 were killed.
Where was the Battle of Verdun?
Battle of Verdun. The Battle of Verdun was one of the most important battles in World War I on the Western Front , fought between the German and French armies from February 21 to December 18, 1916, around the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in northeast France.