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What does Verdun mean in German?
• VERDUN (noun) Meaning: A battle in World War I (1916); in some of the bloodiest fighting in World War I the German offensive was stopped. Classified under: Nouns denoting acts or actions.
How did Verdun get its name?
Verdun (Verodunum, a latinisation of a place name meaning “strong fort”) was founded by the Gauls. It has been the seat of the bishop of Verdun since the 4th century, with interruptions.
What does Verdun symbolize?
The British have the Somme. For the French it is the 10-month battle of Verdun. For both countries, these two epic confrontations came to symbolise the suffering and endurance of the common fighting man.
Is Verdun a word?
a fortress city in NE France, on the Meuse River. a city in S Quebec, in SE Canada. …
Why was Verdun symbolic to the French?
Significance to France: Verdun was a fortress city on the River Meuse, and a strategically-vital link in the French sector of the Allied line on the Western Front. To the French people, Verdun was also a symbolic fortress and a national treasure. The loss of such a citadel would be an enormous blow to French morale.
What was the aim of the battle of Verdun?
It was originally planned by the German Chief of General Staff, Erich von Falkenhayn to secure victory for Germany on the Western Front. The aim was to crush the French army before the Allies grew in strength through the full deployment of British forces.
What is the Verdun battlefield?
Battle of Verdun, (February 21–December 18, 1916), World War I engagement in which the French repulsed a major German offensive. It was one of the longest, bloodiest, and most-ferocious battles of the war; French casualties amounted to about 400,000, German ones to about 350,000. Some 300,000 were killed.
What does bleed the French white mean?
He wanted to “bleed France white” by launching a massive German attack on a narrow stretch of land that had historic sentiment for the French – Verdun. By fighting to the last man, Falkenhayn believed that the French would lose so many men that the battle would change the course of the war.
Who fought the Battle of Verdun?
French
Battle of Verdun, (February 21–December 18, 1916), World War I engagement in which the French repulsed a major German offensive. It was one of the longest, bloodiest, and most-ferocious battles of the war; French casualties amounted to about 400,000, German ones to about 350,000.
Why is Verdun so important?
Verdun has become the representative memory of World War One for the French, much like the Battle of the Somme in the UK. The battle symbolises the determination of the French Army and the destructiveness of the war.
What lead to the Battle of Verdun?
The battle had begun on February 21, after the Germans—led by Chief of Staff Erich von Falkenhayn—developed a plan to attack the fortress city of Verdun, on the Meuse River in France. Falkenhayn believed that the French army was more vulnerable than the British, and that a major defeat on the Western Front would push…
Why is the Battle of Verdun significant?
Verdun was the site of a major battle, and the longest-lasting, of the First World War. One of the costliest battles in military history, Verdun exemplified the policy of a “war of attrition” pursued by both sides, which led to an enormous loss of life and very large casualty lists.
What happened during the Battle of Verdun?
Battle of Verdun, (February 21–December 18, 1916), World War I engagement in which the French repulsed a major German offensive. It was one of the longest, bloodiest, and most-ferocious battles of the war; French casualties amounted to about 400,000, German ones to about 350,000. Some 300,000 were killed.
What was the Battle of Verdun?
The Battle of Verdun ( French: Bataille de Verdun [bataj də vɛʁdœ̃]; German: Schlacht um Verdun [ʃlaxt ʔʊm ˈvɛɐ̯dœ̃] ), was fought from 21 February to 18 December 1916 on the Western Front . The battle was the longest of the First World War and took place on the hills north of Verdun -sur-Meuse in north-eastern France.