The Battle of Verdun was a turning point in the First World War, which marked the fall of Germany's military offensive capability from the peak and the gradual transfer of the initiative in the war to the allied forces.

The deployment of both sides' forces in the Battle of Verdun

France: 75 divisions, about 1,140,000 people.

Germany: 50 divisions, about 1 250,000 people.

German deployment: The 7th, 18 and 3rd armies (6 and a half divisions, 879 artillery pieces, including 522 heavy artillery pieces and 202 mortars) carried out a major assault on the front of the area from Kongsanwa to Orne River 15 km wide, and the 5th army covered its left flank; 15 Army carried out auxiliary assault 6 kilometers south of the Orn River, and the 6th Army took containment action on the west bank of the Meuse River.

In the main direction, France has only two divisions. German infantry is twice that of France, and artillery is 3.5 times that of France. The gun density reaches 50- 1 10 guns per kilometer. In order to realize the suddenness of the battle, the Germans carried out a series of feints on the western front in June 5438+the same year 10.

Deployment of French army: the base of Verdun, the French army, spans the banks of the Meuse River, with the front width of 1 12km and the depth of15 ~18km; There are four defensive positions, the first three are field defensive positions, and the fourth is a solid position consisting of the permanent fortifications of the fortress and two fortified areas. It is condescending, easy to defend but difficult to attack.

France's 3rd Army (with 1 1 division and more than 630 guns, under the command of General F. El; Later, it increased to 69 divisions, accounting for about two-thirds of the total strength of the French army. Five divisions defended northern Verdun, three divisions defended eastern and southeastern Verdun, and the other three divisions were deployed as reserves on the west bank of the Meuse River in southern Verdun.

Analysis of casualties in Verdun campaign

France: 400,000-542,000, of which156,000 was killed.

Germany: 355,000-434,000, of which143,000 was killed.

This battle is a typical positional war and war of attrition. The two sides participated in the war with many troops and suffered heavy casualties. The French army lost 543,000 people and the German army lost 433,000 people, so the service was called the "meat grinder".