Battle of Verdun French Defensive Map
Overview
The battle of Verdun was fought from February 26th-December 18th, 1916. This was a battle that was fought for a continuous 303 days. This battle was fought between French and German forces on the hills north of Verdun-ser-Meuse in France. The German fifth army attacked the RFV (Region Fortifiee de Verdun) and the second army attacked the right bank of the Meuse. They wanted to rapidly capture the Meuse Heights which then could be used to overlook and bombard with artillery fire. The strategy the German army was implementing was to try and entice the French forces to launch counter attacks which could be easily repelled using directed artillery and cause heavy French causalities. Poor weather delayed the German Offensive and allowed the French to continue construction on the defenses. The German offense at Verdun was reduced in order to provide artillery and infantry reinforcements at the Somme front. In August-December the French led counter offensives allowing them to retake the forts the Germans had taken control of. They continually had to reinforce troops at the Somme front which greatly reduced the German offensive. The amount of causalities the French sustained was 162,000 killed, and 542,000 wounded. The Germans had 143,000 killed, and 434,000 wounded. This battle ended with a French victory.
The battle of Verdun was fought from February 26th-December 18th, 1916. This was a battle that was fought for a continuous 303 days. This battle was fought between French and German forces on the hills north of Verdun-ser-Meuse in France. The German fifth army attacked the RFV (Region Fortifiee de Verdun) and the second army attacked the right bank of the Meuse. They wanted to rapidly capture the Meuse Heights which then could be used to overlook and bombard with artillery fire. The strategy the German army was implementing was to try and entice the French forces to launch counter attacks which could be easily repelled using directed artillery and cause heavy French causalities. Poor weather delayed the German Offensive and allowed the French to continue construction on the defenses. The German offense at Verdun was reduced in order to provide artillery and infantry reinforcements at the Somme front. In August-December the French led counter offensives allowing them to retake the forts the Germans had taken control of. They continually had to reinforce troops at the Somme front which greatly reduced the German offensive. The amount of causalities the French sustained was 162,000 killed, and 542,000 wounded. The Germans had 143,000 killed, and 434,000 wounded. This battle ended with a French victory.