[The left-hand side of the plan above]
[The right-hand side of the plan above]
THE BATTLE OF VERDUN
A battle which was destined to last much longer than the entire Franco-German war of 1870–1871, and which absorbed the efforts of Germany throughout the year, began on February 21st, 1916.
The choice of this battlefield was perhaps less paradoxical than has been said. For the German High Command to take Verdun was to crush the French right, capture an important strategical position and secure an immense moral effect. Moreover, the enemy feared an Allied offensive and was disturbed by the continued increase of their strength in men and material. To forestall this offensive was to make it fail and keep the initiative of the operations. Moreover, the Germans desired to impress the public opinion of the world, which had begun to doubt their ultimate victory. Greece and Roumania seemed inclined to abandon their neutrality, and the time appeared ripe to prove by a crushing blow that German force had not diminished. Lastly, they were influenced by home political considerations; the rationing of the population had depressed the public morale and provoked dissension between the political parties and the states; the prestige of the Crown Prince, after his failure in the Argonne, had considerably declined; a great victory was necessary to strengthen German morale, appease dissension and, by rehabilitating the Crown Prince, enhance the prestige of the Imperial family.
GENERALS JOFFRE AND PÉTAIN AT THE G.H.Q. OF THE 2ND FRENCH ARMY AT
SOUILLY, IN FEBRUARY, 1916.