"When German generals decided on a strategy of attrition to methodically wear down the French Army in the middle of the First World War (1914-18), the Battle of Verdun was the result, an engagement that spiralled out of control and cost both sides much more than they ever imagined. Desperate to hold on to the prestigious fortress complex of Verdun, the French rotated divisions in its defence so that 75% of the nation's army fought in this gigantic struggle."
"The longest of WWI and one of the deadliest, the Battle of Verdun (February-December 1916), as with so many others in the Great War, resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties but very little strategic gain for either side. The French held out, and Germany was so exhausted in men and material that it could not launch another major offensive until 1918."
German high command adopted an attrition strategy aimed at wearing down the French Army by attacking a specific point on the Western Front. The Germans targeted the fortified complex at Verdun to "bleed France white" and expected French determination to defend the fortress to draw in and exhaust French manpower. French forces rotated divisions in Verdun's defense, with roughly 75% of the nation's army participating in the struggle. The Battle of Verdun lasted from February to December 1916, produced hundreds of thousands of casualties, achieved little strategic gain, and left Germany too depleted in men and materiel to mount another major offensive until 1918.
Read at World History Encyclopedia
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]