Foley: Verdun Flashcards
What was Verdun?
A strategically crucial French fortress in north-west France, across the River Meuse. It was surrounded by some 16 French forts and 12 batteries.
Who was the German Chief of the General Staff at the time of Verdun? Hint: It was no longer Helmuth von Moltke the Younger, who was replaced after the German defeat in the Battle of the Marne in September 1914.
Erich von Falkenhayn.
When did the battle of Verdun start? With what?
FEBRUARY 21ST, 1916, with an artillery barrage of several million rounds in the first few days.
Who initiated the Battle of Verdun?
The German Fifth Army, commanded by Crown Prince Wilhelm with his chief of staff, Konstantin Schmidt von Knobelsdorf,
What advantage did Erich von Falkenhayn hope to gain?
If he could quickly and easily capture of the eastern (right) bank of heights of the River Meuse, he would be able to inflict huge casualties on any French counter offensives at little cost to the German soldiers.
What was the value of focusing on the ability to inflict huge casualties on any French counter-offensives?
The strategic goal of Falkenhayn was to ‘bleed white’ the French people via the attrition of its youthful army.
Since the failures of both the Central Powers and the Entente to achieve victory through traditional means. Verdun represents the war’s first deliberate battle of attrition.
What was the key advantage Erich von Falkenhayn believed Germany had over France?
Manpower. Unlike Germany, France faced a declining birth rate, and therefore an aging population, so it had to conscript a higher percentage of young men (85% versus 50%)
What technical advantage did Germany possess?
They had more howitzers, which could fire at a higher trajectory, while the Entente still relied more on field artillery which had a flatter trajectory. The higher trajectory was better suited to trench warfare and penetrating earthworks.
What was Erich von Falkenhayn’s strategic objective? How would the Battle of Verdun support it?
He sought to break up the Entente. “IN THE WAKE OF THE FAILURE of his offensive in Flanders in 1914, Falkenhayn pressed the German Chancellor, Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg, to use diplomacy to detach one of Germany’s enemies from the coalition: ‘So long as Russia, France, and England stay together… we run the risk of slowly exhausting ourselves.’” After he failed to detach Russia, if he could ‘bleed France white’, maybe he could force France’s exit.
Did the German Fifth Army achieve its goal of seizing the commanding heights on east bank of the Meuse? Why not?
No. For two reasons. (1) Because the strategy was to inflict more casualties on the French than the Germans would suffer, Erich von Falkenhayn denied the Fifth Army large reserves to press the attack. (2) The defense of the French Second Army.
Who led the French Second Army? What were some of his tactics?
Philippe Petain. (1) He massed artillery on the West Bank of the Meuse to fire upon the Germans. (2) He rationalized the defensive lines (3) He rotated units to ensure each unit retained some experienced troops (4) All with the goal of General Order Number One read: ‘The mission of the Second Army is to stop at any price the enemy effort on the Verdun front. Every time the enemy wrests a parcel of terrain from us, an immediate counter-attack will take place.’
Were the Germans successful in Verdun?
Ultimately no. While they did inflict more casualties (and the French army was never able to replace their casualties, while the Germans were able to), the Germans were unable to force France’s exit from the war. And the French re-took much of their lost territory in counter-offensives by the end of 1916.
What might be some reasons the Germans persisted in the battle?
Reputations: (1) The German Fifth Army was committed (in part to preserve the reputation of Crown Prince Wilhelm) (2) It was clear that a loss at Verdun would pave the way for Falltenhayn’s rivals, Paul von Hindenburg or Erich Ludendorff, to take his place as Chief of the General Staff. (3) Kaiser Wilhelm II stated on April 1st that: ‘The decision of the war of 1870 took place in Paris. This war will end at Verdun.’
Was Verdun the main symbolic battle of WWI?
Yes, for the Germans and the French. (The Battle of the Somme was for the British).
