The French fortress complex at Verdun was situated in a large salient on the Western Front. In 1916 the German commander on the Western Front, General von Falkenhayn, decided to attack Verdun. He was confident that the French would defend Verdun at all costs because of its symbolic importance to France. Thus, the German strategy was to attack Verdun and `bleed' the French of manpower. This was Germany's attempt to win the `war of attrition'. Falkenhayn described Verdun as a `mincing machine'. The French described Verdun as `hell'.

On 21 February Germany launched its assault, capturing the defensive lines around Verdun in three days. The Germans concentrated many weapons and artillery on the target fortress. Between March and July heavy artillery guns fired 24 million shells on Verdun. At the beginning of this attack, France had thought to abandon Verdun for this would shorten the French lines...