#Battle of Verdun

[captain-price-unofficially]

A French soldier at Fort Vaux, Verdun, 22 November 1916

[illustratus]

The Ravine of Death at Verdun by Ferdinand-Joseph Gueldry

[herprivateswe]

The surrender of Fort de Vaux. A German company stands to attention as their CO accepts the Fort’s surrender. Major Raynal’s arm can be seen poking out of a firing port, clutching his officer’s sword, which signifies the surrender of the fort.

[thearmedchairhistorian]

Hi lot, I’ve been at the battle of Verdun

[selkiesstories]

Military History Now

[strictlyhistorical]

Trip to Verdun

23 février 2023

[daperdoe311]

The Battle of Verdun: A Saga of Valor and Horror

Introduction The air over Verdun hangs heavily with the stench of war as Germany, undeterred by previous offensives, aims to bleed France white. The French, steeled in resolve, stand ready to defend every inch of the River Muse amidst the grim realities of World War I.

Setting the Stage at Verdun Situated approximately 250 km northeast of Paris, Verdun held immense strategic importance for both France and Germany. The fortified region of Verdun, with its intricate network of forts, became the focal point of a harrowing saga of valor and horror.

The German Offensive and Strategic Significance As German forces pressed in from three sides, the German aim to capture Verdun was not only to demoralize the French army but also to gain a tactical advantage on the Western Front. Verdun's symbolic importance as a pathway to Paris made it a crucial battleground in the First World War.

The French Defense and Challenges Despite Verdun's historical significance, French leadership under Chief of Staff Joseph Joffre faced challenges in adequately fortifying the region. A lack of appreciation for the fortifications' importance led to undermanning and inadequate equipment, leaving the defenses vulnerable.

The German Assault and Leadership Dynamics Driven by a mix of motivations, Chief of General Staff Erich von Falkenhayn spearheaded the German assault on Verdun. The appointment of Crown Prince Wilhelm as the commander of the Fifth Army aimed to intertwine Royal prestige with military strategy in an effort to bolster German forces.

The Battle Unfolds The German offensive commenced in February 1916 and unfolded with relentless artillery bombardments and probing assaults. The subsequent months saw intense fighting, strategic shifts in leadership, and the ebb and flow of control over key positions such as Fort Douaumont and Fort V.

The French Counteroffensive and Victory In a dramatic turn of events, French forces launched successful offensives that saw them reclaim key positions lost earlier in the battle. By December 1916, the French had pushed German forces back, capturing thousands of prisoners and guns, marking a significant turning point in the battle.

Conclusion The Battle of Verdun, spanning nearly ten months, stood as one of the longest and most harrowing battles of World War I, with over 350,000 casualties on both sides. The valor and resilience displayed by both French and German forces amidst the horrors of war at Verdun underscored the enduring impact of this pivotal conflict.

[warpedia]

What happened at the Battle of Verdun

#warpedia, #BattleofVerdun, #WWI, #history

What happened at the Battle of Verdun – Warpedia The Battle of Verdun, fought between the German and French armies from February to December 1916, stands as one of the most significant and brutal battles of World War I. Located in northeastern France, Verdun held immense strategic importance due to its proximity to key transportation routes and its symbolic value to both sides. This blog post…

[bochedogmeat]

Be my mirror, my sword and shield, my missionary in a foreign field

[captain-price-unofficially]

Bombardment during the Battle of Verdun, 1916

[biblioflyer]

The Clones and Colonial Troops

I had an epiphany just now. This is probably not an original thought, but the completely asinine tactics on display by the Jedi leading the Grand Army of the Republic at Geonosis is incredibly reminiscent of early World War 1 tactics. Generals who vastly underestimated the lethality of modern warfare led troops in battle ranks against machine guns and artillery. They would largely keep doing this for much of the war trying to figure out a way to go on the offensive and break the stalemate of trench warfare.

Then factor in the usage of troops from colonial possessions and the lower classes whose lives could be frittered away without a lot of sentimentality and Geonosis takes on a different dimension.

This isn’t a “the Jedi are the bad guys” screed, but on a meta level it’s accidentally genius to be depicting an elite bought into a warrior aesthetic with no practical experience fighting on that scale being handed legions whose lives they could spend without a lot of introspection about whether those lives matter or not. At least not until the Jedi have had time to get to know the Clones as individuals and that their conditioning and the circumstance of their births are not the only relevant things about them.

At the Watsonian level, this is genius on the part of Palpatine. Make the Jedi responsible for learning war on the job, make their inevitable failures come at a heinous cost in lives, and watch it start to eat at the Jedi, their judgment, and their ability to sense evil and foresee better futures through the malaise of suffering and guilt.

Also given Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith had anti-War on Terror / anti-military industrial complex messaging, I kind of wonder now how intentional it was to cast a non-white actor as Jango Fett and the template for the Clones given the historical treatment of “territorial regiments” and present day US military recruiting patterns. Which would add another layer to the callous and stupid wasting of lives at Geonosis.

[herprivateswe]

French motorised transport at Verdun, 1916. The “voie sacree” or sacred path kept the French Army supplied during the battle. I believe something like 2/3 of the French army rotated in and out of the battle and they all used this route.

[grubhubgamingofficial]

Pride Month is NOT ending. Fuck that. Keep shining on, you crazy diamonds.

[dietmar44]

Deux rares wagons de la Grande Guerre viennent d ´arriver au Musée des 2 Guerres de Meaux (77) , Seine et Marne, Ile de France (France)

Un wagon de transport de troupes et un rarissime wagon d ´artillerie qui était couplé avec des pièces de très gros calibre installé sur rails.

[femrobespierre]

can't think too long about ww1 or i'll start losing. in france 900 to 1 000 soldiers died in average each day. each day. 8 million men went to battle when france only had 40 million inhabitants. i can't wrap my head around it.

What does so much violence do to society ? how do peaple deal with coming home from the battle field (that has no common mesure with previous battlefield) ? how do people deal with their loved ones traumatised, when they barely (if at all) have the words to described the trauma?

I don't even think you can have a peaceful political climate after war to such a scale

[strictlyhistorical]

Best 25€ spent