THE WAR OF 1914–1918
Abbreviations: Q.G., General Headquarters; P.C., Post of Commandment.
German army corps are indicated by Roman figures followed by the letters “C” for the active and “R.C.” for the reserve.
French army corps are indicated by arabic figures followed by the letters “C.A.”
German infantry divisions are indicated by their number followed by the letters “D” for the active, “R.D.” for the reserve, “D.L.” for the “Landwehr,” and “E.D.” for the “Ersatz.”
French infantry divisions are indicated by their number followed by the letters “D.I.”
Verdun played an essential part in the great war.
In 1914, during the battle of the Marne, the army under General Sarrail, resting on Verdun, formed the pivot for Marshal Joffre’s manœuvre (see the Michelin Guide: “The Battle of the Marne,” part III.,“The Revigny Pass”).
VERDUN—PIVOT OF THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE.
After the battle of the Marne, the Crown Prince established his positions of resistance north of the fortress, on the line Malancourt—Brabant—Haumont—Maucourt. On September 15th, General Sarrail slipped in from this side the 6th C.A. and 72nd R.D., which were sent beyond the advance forts. The enemy sought to isolate and approach Verdun at the same time. The combats which occurred successively on the initiative of each side were indecisive on the north, but not on the S.E.
On September 20th the IIIrd Bavarian Corps attacked the 75th R.D. at Vigneuilles-les-Hatton châtel, and after forcing it to retreat, reached the Meuse Heights. The 6th Corps was hastily transferred to this region, where it checked the German advance. Further to the right, at St. Mihiel, the enemy succeeded on the 25th in forcing the passage of the Meuse and occupied Chauvoncourt.
During October, November and December, the adversaries harassed one another without intermission. In the vicinity of St. Mihiel the enemy maintained their positions on the left bank of the river.
So far from besieging Verdun, as the Wolff News Agency falsely announced, or entering it, as a postcard circulated throughout Germany, entitled “Combats in the streets of Verdun,” tried to make believe, the Crown Prince was held in check on the general line Vauquois—Malancourt—Brabant—Bois des Caures—Ornes—Fromezey—Hennemont—Combres—Lamorville—Spada—Chauvoncourt. These positions were but slightly modified up to the time of the big attack in February, 1916.
THE VERDUN FRONT, FROM THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE UNTIL THE GREAT
GERMAN OFFENSIVE IN 1916.
In February, 1915, the city was bombed by aeroplanes, while the forts of Douaumont and Vaux were shelled by heavy artillery, including 17-inch guns. The Eparges crest, stubbornly held by the enemy since September, 1914, was definitely taken on April 6th by the 12th D.I. after more than a month of the fiercest fighting. This brilliant action was followed by violent counter-attacks by the Vth German corps, the combats being particularly furious on April 24th and May 5th, after which the fighting was less desperate.
On November 25th–26th the enemy attacked to the N.W. of the city, but despite the liberal use of poison gas, they failed to reach the French lines.
Further attacks by the Germans against Forges on January 12th and at Caures Wood on February 12th, 1916, were unsuccessful.
PLAN OF THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE OF FEBRUARY, 1916.
“Concentrate an all-powerful artillery, cut with gun-fire the only main railway connecting Verdun with France, crush the French defences, isolating their occupants with heavy artillery barrages, then rush the town with huge masses of men, irrespective of losses, crushing the last vestiges of resistance,”—such was the “kolossal” plan which the Germans set out to execute on February 21st, 1916.
[The left-hand side of the plan above]
[The right-hand side of the plan above]