The battle of Verdun occured in Verdun, France. The Germans code-named this battle ‘Judgment’. The forces involved in the battle were the Germans fighting against the French armies. This is the longest single battle during the entire World War I. It lasted for ten months.
On February 21, 1916 a German Krupp gun was set off. This thirty eight-centimeter long-barreled gun hit a cathedral in Verdun, France. This caused the firing of many guns around an eight-mile perimeter. This shot from Germany was planned by German Chief of General Staff, General der Infanterie Erich von Falkenhayn. Falkenhayn’s plan was not to take over Verdun, but to “bleed France white”. This means that he wanted to make France surrender by launching this attack on Verdun. He choose this because in the area around the city, is protected by sixty forts. These forts are crucial to the French. All of their forts are currently weak …show more content…
By the end of the first week, the Germans were easily able to take possession of Fort Douaumont. In the beginning of the attack there were 140,000 German troops. They were supported by 1,200 artillery guns. Along with this, Germans also had air supremacy with 168 planes located in the area, they even resorted to using phosgene gas. Meanwhile the French only had 30,000 troops, and for the first time in the war, flamethrowers were used in large quantities to help Germans get to Verdun. By February 25th, the Germans captured 10,000 French prisoners, and within the first four days the percentage of French casualties were 60%. Also the most powerful fort, Douaumont, was falling. The fort was manned by just fifty-six elderly part-time gunners who gave the German attackers no resistance. Also by the beginning of June, the Germans took possession of Fort Vaux. Then the French decided to make General Philippe Pétain in charge of defence of
On February 21, 1916 a German Krupp gun was set off. This thirty eight-centimeter long-barreled gun hit a cathedral in Verdun, France. This caused the firing of many guns around an eight-mile perimeter. This shot from Germany was planned by German Chief of General Staff, General der Infanterie Erich von Falkenhayn. Falkenhayn’s plan was not to take over Verdun, but to “bleed France white”. This means that he wanted to make France surrender by launching this attack on Verdun. He choose this because in the area around the city, is protected by sixty forts. These forts are crucial to the French. All of their forts are currently weak …show more content…
By the end of the first week, the Germans were easily able to take possession of Fort Douaumont. In the beginning of the attack there were 140,000 German troops. They were supported by 1,200 artillery guns. Along with this, Germans also had air supremacy with 168 planes located in the area, they even resorted to using phosgene gas. Meanwhile the French only had 30,000 troops, and for the first time in the war, flamethrowers were used in large quantities to help Germans get to Verdun. By February 25th, the Germans captured 10,000 French prisoners, and within the first four days the percentage of French casualties were 60%. Also the most powerful fort, Douaumont, was falling. The fort was manned by just fifty-six elderly part-time gunners who gave the German attackers no resistance. Also by the beginning of June, the Germans took possession of Fort Vaux. Then the French decided to make General Philippe Pétain in charge of defence of