The Battle of Verdun
The Battle of Somme
Battlefield Verdun
The City Verdun (France)
Was a symbol of Frances Power.
 Strongest city in France had 19 forts
with lots of guns.
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German’s Plan
February 1916 the Germans bring 1400
big guns.
 The Germans sent over 2 million shells
at the city and forts.
 Then they attacked the French trench
lines.
 The French Generals and Politicians
argue over saving the city of Verdun.
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German Troops
The French Stay to Fight
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The politicians tell the Generals to stay and
fight.
The French only had one road to get all the
supplies into Verdun, called the “Sacred Way”.
The battle lasted 5 months. The French
saved Verdun but at a major cost.
315,000 French troops died and the city
destroyed.
The Germans lost 282,000 men and failed to
break the western front.
French Troops
Somme Battlefield
The Battle of the Somme
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British and French divisions started a offensive
along the River Somme.
They bombed the Germans for 5 days with
little impact. (Germans had know for weeks)
After the bombardment the British sent
200,000 men “over the top” on July 1st 1916.
The Germans were prepared, 58,000 British
men were dead or wounded the first day.
More men……
The British General (Haig) kept sending
more and more men. Thinking the more
people we attack with the better the
results will be.
 BAD IDEA!!!!
 The British did gain 15km, it cost them
620,000 men.
 The Germans suffered heavy casualties
as well. 450,000 German’s died.
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