Blogs from Verdun, Lorraine, France, Europe - page 2

Geo: 49.159, 5.384 After leaving Metz, we headed for Paris, stopping off to visit Verdun, the scene of the First World War Battle of Verdun between France and Germany. This battle is considered the greatest and lengthiest in world history. Never before or since has there been such a lengthy battle, involving so many men, situated on such a tiny piece of land. The battle, which lasted from 21 February 1916 until 19 December 1916 caused over an estimated 700,000 casualties (dead, wounded and missing). The battlefield was not even a square ten kilometres. The battle degenerated into a matter of prestige of two nations literally for the sake of fighting.We visited a First World War Museum in the middle of the former battlefields. Most of the ground in the area is unchanged from First World ... read more

Saturday, Day 12 We started the day in Verdun. We wanted to see the battlefields and then drive down to Reims, France. This is the location of one of the deadliest battles in World War I. It lasted more than 300 days in 1916. The battle was basically a stand off but Germany lost more men. In total more than 500,000 men died here. We drove around the battlefields and saw many of the original bunkers and trenches. There were also forts around the town that were captured, first by the Germans, then later recaptured by the French. The most moving part was the huge cemetery and memorial building in honor to those that died. In the basement of the memorial was a terrible scene. It housed thousands of bones of bodies that were never identified. ... read more

The next day we started early again. We drove all the way to Verdun, to be more exact: To the battlefields of Verdun. We first visited the small museum, where we learned all about the war, well at least what we didn't know yet. After watching a small movie - which was very one-sided and not well made at all - in the museum cinema, we left the building and went to the real battlefield. We went underground to see a fort, where the soldiers stayed and where the longest and most devastating gas attack happened. The cold down there was very refreshing and you can get lost in the long and confusing alleys. It was a very wierd feeling to be down there, where there are only bats, and sometimes some visitors. After we came ... read more

The girls were studying WW1 in school and Kee was really fascinated that she was going to see the trenches and forts that were used in the war. Excitement was replaced by sadness as we relived the horrors of the war. The fortifications were impressive, but we could only see the parts of them that were above the ground - and for me that was not enough. I wanted to go inside, but Ben said it was not allowed and besides now with the snow it was just too dangerous:( I was really disappointed! But Ben said there was a fort that was turned into a musuem and he would take us there so we could get an impression of what it was like inside the fort - but no such luck - the fort/museum was ... read more

After having arrived in Verdun, France...we immediately had a four course lunch at Le Picotin. Wonderful food: Bienvenue a la France. Next, we toured the Battlefields of Verdun; the American equivalent being Gettysburg. The Battle of Verdun was the longest battle in recorded history lasting 11 months! Due to the military strategy of the day, the French and the German operated with trench warfare in WWI and thus the goal was instead of to advance and conquer, was to maintain and bleed the other army dry. Whoever decided enough had died would surrender. The Germans thought that the French would surrender the outdated and understocked fort of Verdun somewhat easily...but for the French, Verdun had become a national image of unity, of France, and to be defended at all cost. France won the battle...after 400,000 Frenchmen ... read more