The Battle of Verdun

The battle of Verdun, which started 100 years ago today, was one of the great battles of the first world war, fought between France and Germany. One of the costliest and most brutal battles of the war, Verdun exemplified the 'war of attrition' pursued by both sides and led to 542,000 French casualties and to 434,000 on the German one. The French General Pétain ensured that the road from Bar-le-Duc to Verdun - the only one to survive German shelling - remained open throughout the battle. It became known as La Voie Sacrée ('the Sacred Way') because it continued to carry vital supplies and reinforcements into the Verdun front despite constant artillery attack. Today the old road is still marked with regular white markers each topped with a bronze French military helmet.

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