Battle of Verdun

E17958

The Battle of Verdun was one of the longest and bloodiest engagements of World War I, symbolizing the brutal attrition warfare on the Western Front between France and Germany in 1916.


Statements (51)
Predicate Object
instanceOf World War I battle
battle
belligerent France
Germany
casualtiesEstimate around 300000 killed
over 700000 total casualties
casualtiesSide heavy French casualties
heavy German casualties
characterizedBy attrition warfare
close-quarters infantry combat
continuous bombardment
trench warfare
commander Erich von Falkenhayn
Ferdinand Foch
German Crown Prince Wilhelm
Philippe Pétain
Robert Nivelle
commemoratedOn French national remembrance ceremonies
conflictIn World War I
countryInvolved France
German Empire
endDate 1916-12-18
followedBy Battle of the Somme
fortificationInvolved Fort Douaumont
Fort Vaux
Verdun fortress system
front Western Front
impact severe weakening of French Army
shift in German strategic initiative
location France
Lorraine
Meuse department
Verdun
memorial Douaumont Ossuary
Verdun Memorial Museum
notableFor being one of the longest battles in history
extreme casualties
symbolizing French national determination
objective German attempt to bleed French Army white
partOf Western Front
precededBy relative lull on Western Front in early 1916
primaryWeaponType artillery
result French defensive victory
strategic stalemate on Western Front
sloganAssociated Ils ne passeront pas
sloganLanguage French
sloganMeaning They shall not pass
startDate 1916-02-21
strategy war of attrition
theater European theatre of World War I
year 1916


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