Troops were put to work laying gravel and making repairs to the roadway, and a fleet of 3, military and civilian trucks was marshaled to serve as transport vehicles.
During just one week of operations, more than , French troops and 25, tons of munitions, food and supplies were ferried to the front. Petain also used the road to rotate more than 40 divisions in and out of the Verdun sector, which kept the French troops fresh and helped combat the effects of shell shock.
View of Verdun after eight months of bombing. Of the , casualties at Verdun, an estimated 70 percent were caused by artillery. The Germans launched two million shells during their opening bombardment—more than in any engagement in history to that point—and the two sides eventually fired between 40 and 60 million shells over the next 10 months. Rumbles from the barrages were heard as far as miles away, and soldiers described certain hills as being so heavily bombed that they gushed fire like volcanoes.
Those lucky enough to survive were often left with severe shell shock from the constant drumroll of falling bombs. Credit: U. All told, Lafayette pilots chalked up some three-dozen aerial victories, most of them during five months of intermittent service at Verdun. The Battle of the Somme is one of the few World War I engagements that matched Verdun for sheer bloodshed, but it may have relieved pressure on the French at a time when their forces were on the verge of collapse.
The Germans continued attacking Verdun all the same, but following a failed final assault that July, they ceded the initiative to the French, who responded with a ferocious counterattack.
By the time the battle finally sputtered out in late-December, the French had regained their lost forts and effectively pushed the Germans back to where they started. A sign marks where the main street once passed on the site of the former village of Bezonvaux. Outside of a few scattered bits of rubble, all that remains of most of them today are signs that show where main roads and buildings were once located.
Douaumont Ossuary. Credit: Dennis K. They had taken every precaution; their resources were immense, their adversary had grown careless. They could not fail. But once more Germany had counted without the mettle and adaptability of the French soldiers—their genius for improvisation and their spirit of self-sacrifice.
With such thorough preparation, the Germans felt that the contest would be a short one. As a matter of fact, the Battle of Verdun lasted no less than ten months, — from February 21 to December 16, — and in its course various phases were developed which the Germans had scarcely foreseen.
First of all, came the formidable German attack , with its harvest of success during the first few days of the frontal drive, which was soon checked and forced to wear itself out in fruitless flank attacks, kept up until April 9. After this date the German programme became more modest: they merely wished to hold at Verdun sufficient French troops to forestall an offensive at some other point.
It then became the object of the French, in their turn, to hold the German forces at Verdun and prevent their transfer to the Somme. The first German onslaught was the most intense and critical moment of the battle. The violent frontal attack on the plateau east of the Meuse, magnificently executed, at first carried all before it. This success was due to the thoroughness of the preparations, the admirable strategy, and also to weaknesses on the part of the French.
The commanders at Verdun had shown a lack of foresight. For more than a year this sector had been quiet, and undue confidence was placed in the natural strength of the position.
There were too few trenches, too few cannon, too few troops. These soldiers, moreover, had had little experience in the field compared with those who came up later to reinforce them; and it was their task to face the most terrific attack ever known. On the morning of February 21 the German artillery opened up a fire of infernal intensity. This artillery had been brought up in undreamed-of quantities. French aviators who flew over the enemy positions located so many batteries that they gave up marking them on their maps; the number was too great.
A deluge of shells fell on the French positions, annihilating the first line, attacking the batteries and attempting to silence them, and finding their mark as far back as the city of Verdun. On the 22d the French left was driven backwards for a distance of about four kilometres. The following day a terrible engagement took place along the entire line of attack, resulting toward evening in the retreat of both French wings; on the left Samognieux was taken by the German; on the right they occupied the strong position of Herbebois, which fell after a magnificent resistance.
The situation developed rapidly on the 24th. The Germans enveloped the French centre, which formed a salient; at two in the afternoon they captured the important central position of Beaumont, and by nightfall had reached Louvemont and La Vauche forest, gathering in thousands of prisoners. On the morning of the 25th the enemy, taking advantage of the growing confusion of the French command, stormed Bezonvaux, and, after some setbacks, entered the fort of Douaumont, which they found evacuated.
The German victory now seemed assured. In less than five days the assaulting troops sent forward over the plateau had penetrated the French positions to a depth of eight kilometres, and were masters of the most important elements of the defense of the fortress. It seemed as if nothing could stop their onrush.
Verdun and its bridges were only seven kilometres distant. Most luckily, on this same day there arrived at Verdun some men of resource, together with substantial reinforcements. General de Castelnau, Chief of the General Staff, ordered the troops on the right bank to hold out at all costs.
It was at this moment that the 39th division of the famous 20th French Army Corps of Nancy met the enemy in the open, and, after furious hand-to-hand fighting, broke the backbone of the attack. That was the end of it. The German tidal wave could go no farther. There were fierce struggles for several days longer, but all in vain. Starting on the 26th, five French counter-attacks drove back the enemy to a point just north of the fort of Douaumont, and recaptured the village of the same name.
For three days the German attacking forces tried unsuccessfully to force these positions; their losses were terrible, and already they had to call in a division of reinforcement. After two days of quiet the contest began again at Douaumont, which was attacked by an entire army corps; the 4th of March found the village again in German hands.
The impetus of the great blow had been broken, however; after five days of success, the attack had fallen flat. Were the Germans then to renounce Verdun? After such vast preparations, after such great losses, after having roused such high hopes, this seemed impossible to the leaders of the German army. In this way the scheme so judiciously arranged would be accomplished in the appointed manner. Instead of adding the finishing touch to the victory, however, these wings now had the task of winning it completely—and the difference is no small one.
These flank attacks were delivered for over a month March 6-April 9 on both sides of the river simultaneously, with an intensity and power which recalled the first days of the battle. But the French were now on their guard. The German successes of the first days were not duplicated. These new attacks began on the left of the Meuse.
The Germans tried to turn the first line of the French defense by working down along the river, and then capture the second line. After several days of preparation, they fell suddenly upon one of the important elements of the second line, the hill of Le Mort Homme, but failed to carry it March Repulsed on the right, they tried the left. On March 20 a body of picked troops just back from the Russian front—the 11th Bavarian Division—stormed the French positions in the wood of Avocourt and moved on to Hill , where they obtained foothold for a short time before being driven back with losses of from 50 to 60 per cent of their effectives.
At the same time the Germans were furiously assaulting the positions of the French right wing east of the Meuse. From the 8th to the 10th of March the Crown Prince brought forward again the troops which had survived the ordeal of the first days, and added to them the fresh forces of the 5th Reserve Corps.
The results were negative, except for a slight gain in the woods of Hardaumont. The 3d Corps had lost 22, men since the 21st of February—that is, almost its entire original strength. The 5th Corps was simply massacred on the slopes of Vaux, without being able to reach the fort. New attempts against this position, on March 16 and 18, were no more fruitful. The battle of the right wing, then, was also lost.
The Germans hung on grimly. One last effort remained to be made. After a lull of six days March savage fighting started again on both sides of the river. On the right bank, from March 31 to April 2, the Germans got a foothold in the ravine of Vaux and along its slopes; but the French dislodged them the next day, inflicting great damage, and drove them back to Douaumont. Their greatest effort was made on the left bank. There was terrific fighting, the heaviest that had taken place since February 26, and a worthy sequel to the original frontal attack.
The artillery preparation was long and searching. The hill of Le Mort Homme, said an eye-witness, smoked like a volcano with innumerable craters. The assault was launched at noon, with five divisions, and in two hours it had been shattered.
New attacks followed, but less orderly, less numerous, and more listless, until sundown. The checkmate was complete. Infantry, artillery, sappers, and aviators of the Second Army have vied with one another in heroism. Courage, men: on les aura!
And, indeed, this great attack of April 9 was the last general effort made by the German troops to carry out the programme of February—to capture Verdun and wipe out the French army which defended it. They had to give in. The French were on their guard now; they had artillery, munitions, and men. The defenders began to act as vigorously as the attackers; they took the offensive, recaptured the woods of La Caillette, and occupied the trenches before Le Mort Homme. The German plans were ruined.
Some other scheme had to be thought out. Instead of employing only eight divisions of excellent troops, as originally planned, the Germans had little by little cast into the fiery furnace thirty divisions. This enormous sacrifice could not be allowed to count for nothing. The German High Command therefore decided to assign a less pretentious object to the abortive enterprise. For this reason it was necessary that Verdun should remain a sore sport, a continually menaced sector, where the French would be obliged to send a steady stream of men, material, and munitions.
It was hinted then in all the German papers that the struggle at Verdun was a battle of attrition, which would wear down the strength of the French by slow degrees. This state of affairs lasted from mid-April to well into July, when the progress of the Somme offensive showed the Germans that their efforts had been unavailing. It is true that during this new phase of the battle the offensive vigor of the Germans and their procedure in attacking were still formidable.
Their artillery continued to perform prodigies. The medium-calibre pieces had now come into action, particularly the mm. This veritable logistical HQ is very impressive and is made up of tunnels where the soldiers lived and military equipment was stored.
It has recreations of scenes from everyday life during the battle. This is also where the "unknown soldier" now lying beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris was chosen. The Verdun Memorial reopened in after renovation work and has an exhibition about the battle on three floors.
Verdun offers many tours and circuits at its historic sites, as well as a sound and light show, "From Flames to Light", from June to the end of July. While the memory of the world wars is omnipresent, Verdun also has some urban heritage that is worth a visit: the Cathedral of Our Lady, one of the oldest in Europe; St.
Paul's Gate, a triumphal arch that used to be part of the ramparts; and the 16th-century Princerie mansion that houses Verdun Museum of Art and History.
The old episcopal palace is where you will find the World Centre for Peace, Liberty and Human Rights, a place for exhibitions, meetings and dialogue. The name of Verdun resonates in the history of mankind as one of the greatest and most tragic battles of the 1st world war. To ensure the defense of Verdun, no less than 2 belts of around forty forts, structures, infantry shelters, entrenchments, etc. The most famous of them, the Fort de Vaux and the Fort de Douaumont and the underground citadel tell you through their gallery visits about the lives of soldiers.
The city has recited several commemorative monuments: Monument de la Victoire, Monument to the Children of Verdun… including the most famous, the Douaumont Ossuary, which contains the remains of , men. Episcoscal city, Verdun conceals a rich religious heritage since in the 16th century, it forms with the cities of Toul and Metz the province of the "Three Bishoprics". From the church of Saint-Baptiste or even Saint-Victor via the Saint-Nicolas chapel, you just have to walk through the streets of the upper town and stroll along the Meuse to be convinced.
Excite your taste buds with the famous artisanal dragerie de Verdun. Born in , Maison Braquier offers a wide choice of sugared almonds.
Almonds or chocolates, colored or silver, there will be something for everyone! Created in the aftermath of the First World War, with 36 million trees planted, the state forest of Verdun extends over the battlefield and covers more than 10, hectares. It becomes an exceptional ecosystem for flora and fauna. There are 16 species of bats, 18 species of amphibians including the yellow-bellied toad and the crested newt, and more than twenty wild orchids.
With its natural wealth, it obtained in the label of "Exceptional Forest". Over time, it becomes a life-size playground for mountain bikers, walkers, trailers and all nature lovers. In addition to very pronounced memory tourism, Verdun emphasizes green tourism and sports by offering a choice of activities and sporting events suitable for all.
Whether you are on the water, in the forest, or in town, treat yourself to a good moment of relaxation with family or friends.
Verdun is, among other activities, a concentrate of nature and sport. Meanders of the wild Meuse for canoeing, green spaces for hiking or mountain biking, or the city streets for Nordic walking, there will be something for everyone! Sports city, Verdun hosts many sports running competitions such as the Trench Trail, the Great War half-marathon, or the Remembrance Triathlon.
0コメント