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Verdun 1916

1916 · 16 articles · about 95 min of reading

On 21 February 1916 the Germans attacked at Verdun after a bombardment from more than 1,200 guns, and on 25 February they entered Fort Douaumont almost without a fight. The battle, meant to last a few weeks, turned into a struggle of attrition: the Germans went on to take Fort Vaux and reached Fort Souville, but never took the city. In the autumn the French under Nivelle and Mangin retook Forts Douaumont and Vaux, and on 18 December the longest battle of the war came to an end. Neither side achieved its aim, but Verdun became for the French a symbol of the whole war. The series runs from the first bombardment through Douaumont, Vaux, Thiaumont and the relief on the Somme to the autumn counter-offensives, Nivelle's promotion and the end of the battle.

The whole story in one article · 11 minBattle of Verdun21 February – 18 December 1916From 21 February to 18 December 1916 Germans and French fought for the heights above the Meuse. After ten months the front was back almost on the old lines.

1916

  1. 0121 February 1916EventKey moment10 minStart of the Battle of VerdunThe starting point of the series: a bombardment from more than 1,200 guns opens a battle that, with pauses, lasted until December 1916.On 21 February 1916 more than 1,200 German guns opened fire on the French positions at Verdun. A battle began that lasted until December 1916.
  2. 0225 February 1916Event4 minGermans capture Fort DouaumontVerdun's largest fort falls without a fight, but that same day the French decide to hold the right bank of the Meuse, and Pétain takes over the defence.On 25 February 1916 a few dozen Brandenburgers walked without a shot into Fort Douaumont, the largest fort of Verdun, held by a handful of Frenchmen.
  3. 0312 March 1916Event4 minThird Chantilly ConferenceVerdun changes the Allies' plans: at Chantilly they agree that the joint offensive must start as soon as possible to take the pressure off Verdun.On 12 March 1916 at Chantilly Allied commanders resolved that a joint offensive would start soon to relieve Verdun, and that the Salonika army would stay.
  4. 0418 March 1916Event2 minStart of the Lake Naroch offensiveVerdun echoes on the Eastern Front: the Russians attack to relieve the French and on the very first day suffer heavy losses for no gain.On 18 March 1916 the Russian 2nd Army attacked the Germans at Lake Naroch to relieve Verdun. On the first day it lost more than 15,000 men and gained nothing.
  5. 051 April 1916Event3 minEnd of the "Fokker Scourge"The battle in the air: over Verdun German aircraft blind the French artillery, and it is here that the French are the first to wrest superiority from them.In spring 1916 new Allied fighters and flying in formation robbed the Fokkers of their superiority over the Western Front. The date of 1 April is notional.
  6. 062 June 1916Event4 minGermans take Fort VauxThe last fort the Germans take, after a fight in its corridors: with Vaux fallen they stand a few kilometres from the city, before the last heights.On 2 June 1916 the Germans broke into Fort Vaux at Verdun. Major Raynal's garrison held out underground until 7 June, when the water ran out.
  7. 0723 June 1916Event4 minGermans capture ThiaumontThe most dangerous day of the battle since February: the French halt the attack, and Nivelle issues the order that gives rise to "Ils ne passeront pas".On 23 June 1916, after a night bombardment with shells of a new gas, the Germans took the Thiaumont work and Fleury, a few kilometres from Verdun.
  8. 081 July 1916EventKey moment13 minFirst day on the SommeThe relief promised at Chantilly arrives: the great Somme offensive opens, meant above all to relieve the French at Verdun.On 1 July 1916 the British and French attacked on the Somme. The French and the British right succeeded, but the British Army lost 57,000 men.
  9. 0929 August 1916EventKey moment4 minHindenburg becomes Chief of the General StaffThe author of the attack is dismissed: Falkenhayn's plan has collapsed, because Verdun did not fall and the Allies struck on the Somme and in the east.On 29 August 1916 Wilhelm II dismissed Falkenhayn. Hindenburg became Chief of the General Staff of the Field Army, with Ludendorff as his deputy.
  10. 1031 August 1916Event3 minEnd of the French defence at VerdunThe line between defence and attack: the French retake Fleury, and the Germans stop seeking a decision on the Meuse.31 August 1916 is the nominal end of the defensive phase of Verdun. In August the French retook Fleury and the Germans stopped seeking a decision on the Meuse.
  11. 1124 October – 18 December 1916BattleKey moment11 minFirst Offensive Battle of VerdunThe autumn counter-offensive in one text: the two carefully prepared blows by Nivelle and Mangin with which the French brought the battle to a close.24 October – 18 December 1916. The French under Nivelle and Mangin retook Forts Douaumont and Vaux and in December drove the Germans several km from Verdun.
  12. 1224 October 1916EventKey moment5 minThe French recapture Fort DouaumontThe turn of the battle: the fort lost in February returns to the French, and a short attack behind a creeping barrage makes heroes of Nivelle and Mangin.On 24 October 1916 three French divisions attacked in fog at Verdun. The colonial regiment from Morocco retook Fort Douaumont, lost eight months earlier.
  13. 133 November 1916Event4 minThe French recapture Fort VauxThe roles are reversed: the Germans abandon the cut-off fort, and the French in practice recover the positions of the fourth day of the battle.Early on 3 November 1916 the French entered the empty Fort Vaux at Verdun. The day before, the Germans had abandoned it, blowing up part of the works.
  14. 1412 December 1916Event6 minNivelle becomes commander-in-chiefVerdun's effect on the high command: the victor of Douaumont replaces Joffre, convinced that his method can be applied on a much larger scale.On 12 December 1916 Briand reshaped his government and set up a five-man war committee. Nivelle replaced Joffre in command of the French armies in France.
  15. 1518 December 1916EventKey moment6 minEnd of the Battle of VerdunThe end and the reckoning of the war's longest battle: neither side achieved its aim, and Verdun became for the French a symbol of the whole war.On 18 December 1916 Zouaves retook Les Chambrettes farm, ending Mangin's December attack and the Battle of Verdun, under way since February, the war's longest.