Scan barcode
msgtdameron's review against another edition
4.0
A really great read. In depth, and written far enough back in time that some of the heroic participants, both the French and German, were still alive and added their personal memoirs. Learned a lot. After reading this work I would say that Peitain's coffin should be moved the Verdun Osciarry and inturned with the soldiers he led 104 years ago. Also a great look at one of the worlds major turning points.
It was the post Verdun reaction by France that infected French thought that led to the Fall of France in 1940. The instance that wars would not be mobile again and that the static defense of France would stop the Germans in 1940. The disregard for modern weapons, tanks and aircraft, in favor of the Maginot Line was a Hugh error and cost France. Also the use of the French tanks in penny packets led to the French mobile forces being destroyed piecemill. It was not for a lack of armour, but it's lousy employment that cost France. If Petains student, De Gaull, had been allowed to use the French armor in mass formations, maybe France would have been saved. But, it was Verdun that guided French strategy from 1916 till 1944.
There possibly has never been a single battle that has affected so many people and killed so many people in history. I say this as the emotional and military strategic thinking of France in 1940 was so wrapped up in what had happened in 1916 in Verdun. The French Command and Politicians never got over what had happened in 1916. This lack of understanding of the modern war of movement led to the Fall of France and the Fall of France led to the rest of the war. Maybe Hitler would have been stopped in France and WWII would have ended in 1941 with the route of the German forces?
It was the post Verdun reaction by France that infected French thought that led to the Fall of France in 1940. The instance that wars would not be mobile again and that the static defense of France would stop the Germans in 1940. The disregard for modern weapons, tanks and aircraft, in favor of the Maginot Line was a Hugh error and cost France. Also the use of the French tanks in penny packets led to the French mobile forces being destroyed piecemill. It was not for a lack of armour, but it's lousy employment that cost France. If Petains student, De Gaull, had been allowed to use the French armor in mass formations, maybe France would have been saved. But, it was Verdun that guided French strategy from 1916 till 1944.
There possibly has never been a single battle that has affected so many people and killed so many people in history. I say this as the emotional and military strategic thinking of France in 1940 was so wrapped up in what had happened in 1916 in Verdun. The French Command and Politicians never got over what had happened in 1916. This lack of understanding of the modern war of movement led to the Fall of France and the Fall of France led to the rest of the war. Maybe Hitler would have been stopped in France and WWII would have ended in 1941 with the route of the German forces?
komet2020's review
5.0
A comprehensive, well-written history of one of the First World War's most bloodiest battles, which raged from February to December 1916. Codenamed 'Unternehmen Gericht' (Operation Judgment), Germany attacked the fortress town of Verdun in its bid to break the backbone of the French Army and so demoralize France that it would feel compelled to sue for peace.
More...