How devastating was the Battle of Verdun?

The terrain itself is still devastated, with much of the detritus of combat still scattered around. Many trenches and bunkers still exist. On a human level, the devastation is STILL palpable. read more

The French alone suffered anywhere from 300,000 to 500,000 casualties with 150,000 of those being dead as well as straining the nation itself. The Germans suffered almost as many deaths and casualties. read more

Germany’s preparations for the Battle of Verdun involved one of World War I’s largest buildups of men and equipment. Using rugged terrain and a huge air presence to screen their movements, Falkenhayn’s men spent seven weeks constructing new railway lines, assembling heavy concrete bunkers to house troops, and stockpiling more than 1,200 artillery pieces. read more

The Battle of Verdun resulted in more than a quarter of a million battlefield deaths and at least half a million wounded. Verdun was the longest battle and one of the most devastating in World War I and more generally in human history. A total of about 40 million artillery shells were exchanged by both sides during the battle. read more