Facts about Verdun
The longest battle in WWI, spanning almost a year, from February 21, 1916 to December 18, 1916.
Artillery was used extensively.
Verdun is a city in northeastern France. In 1916 it was surrounded by 19 underground forts.
The city threatened German lines of communication.

Beginning of the Battle of Verdun
General Falkenhayn of Germany chose to attack Verdun because it threatened German lines of communication, and he thought that France “would be compelled to throw in every man they have”. That way he could inflict the most casualties on France and bleed them to death.
German artillery bombardment begins on February 21, 1916.
German heavy guns destroy the French trench system, creating isolated pieces of land where small groups of French soldiers fought for their lives with no officers, food, or medics.
Later that evening German infantrymen attack the French.

The German Advance Moves Forward
On February 25, 1916 Germany easily took over Verdun’s largest defensive fort out of the 19, Fort Douaumont.
On June 2 the Germans attacked Fort Vaux. This time the French didn’t go down as easy, as Major Raynal repeatedly fended off the German offensive. But the Germans eventually captured the fort on June 7.
July 12, 1916 Germany makes it to the top of Fort Souville, the last stronghold before Verdun itself. German troops were thinned out considerably by French machine guns, so they ended up retreating.

French Fight Back
After the February 25 takeover of Fort Douaumont French reinforcements arrive.
Under the leadership of General Pétain the French counter the German advance with a series of counterattacks.
Pétain made sure that the Bar-le-Duc road stayed open. It was nicknamed “The Sacred Road” because even though it was under constant artillery attack, it remained open and continued to carry vital supplies like food and water to French soldiers.

Allies Help Out
Pétain was about to evacuate the Meuse River, a river next to Verdun, when the Allies launched an attack on the Somme River, a.k.a., the Battle of the Somme.
This helped to take a lot of pressure off the French at Verdun because Germany had to commit some of their troops to the Somme.

Outcome
The high point for Germany, gaining Fort Souville, was a short lived victory. Since their troops were thinned out by