Battle of Verdun

The Battle of Verdun began on 21 February 1916 after a nine-day delay due to snow and blizzards. After a massive eight-hour artillery bombardment, the Germans did not expect much resistance as they slowly advanced on Verdun and its forts.[13] However, heavy French resistence was countered by the introduction of flamethrowers by the Germans. The French lost control of almost all of their forts, including Fort Douaumont. However, the French reinforcements halted the German advance by 28 February.

The Germans turned their focus to Le Mort Homme to the north from which the French were successfully shelling the Germans. After some of the most intense fighting of the campaign, the hill was taken by the Germans in late May. After a change in French command at Verdun from the defensive-minded Philippe Pétain to the offensive-minded Robert Nivelle the French attempted to re-capture Fort Douaumont on 22 May but were easily repulsed. The Germans captured Fort Vaux on 7 June and, with the aid of the gas phosgene, came within 1 km (1,200 yards) of the last ridge over Verdun before stopping on 23 June.

Over the summer the French slowly advanced, with the development of the rolling barrage, that is, artillery fire that advanced along with the attacking forces providing cover fire, the French recaptured Fort Vaux, and by December 1916 they had pushed the Germans back 1.3 km (2 miles) from Fort Douaumont.