| What event marked the beginning of the Battle of Verdun? | The Germans launched a massive artillery bombardment on February 21, 1916, starting the battle. |
| When did the Germans capture Fort Douaumont? | The Germans captured Fort Douaumont on February 25, 1916, without much resistance. |
| Who was in command of the French forces during the battle, and what system did he implement to maintain morale? | General Philippe Pétain was in command, and he instituted a rotation system for troops. |
| When did the Germans launch offensives at Le Mort Homme and Hill 304? | The Germans launched offensives at Le Mort Homme and Hill 304 between April 9-12, 1916. |
| When did the Germans attempt to capture Fort Vaux? | The Germans attempted to capture Fort Vaux on June 1, 1916. |
| When did Fort Vaux finally fall to the Germans? | Fort Vaux fell to the Germans on June 7, 1916. |
| Which battle began on July 1, 1916, relieving some pressure on Verdun? | The Battle of the Somme began on July 1, 1916. |
| When was German Chief of Staff Erich von Falkenhayn dismissed? | Erich von Falkenhayn was dismissed on August 29, 1916. |
| When did the French recapture Fort Douaumont? | The French recaptured Fort Douaumont on October 24, 1916. |
| When did the French recapture Fort Vaux? | The French recaptured Fort Vaux on November 2, 1916. |
| When did the French launch their final offensive at Verdun? | The French launched their final offensive on December 15, 1916. |
| When did the Battle of Verdun officially end? | The Battle of Verdun ended on December 18, 1916. |
| Who led the German forces during the attack on Verdun, and what was the German strategy? | The Germans were led by Falkenhayn, and their strategy was to draw the best French troops to Verdun, destroy them, and then carry out a final offensive to win the war. |
| How many men did the French and Germans lose during the Battle of Verdun, and what was the result for both sides? | The French lost about 315,000 men, and the Germans lost over 280,000 men. Despite the heavy losses, neither side made significant territorial gains. |
| What was the German strategy behind the attack on Verdun during World War I? | The Germans, under Falkenhayn, hoped to draw the best French troops to Verdun, destroy them, and then carry out a final offensive to win the war. |
| What was the outcome of the Battle of Verdun for both the French and German forces? | The French successfully defended Verdun, but at great cost, losing about 315,000 men. The Germans also suffered over 280,000 casualties and made no territorial gains. |
| What historical significance did Verdun have before the start of World War I? | Verdun had been a fortress since Roman times, with its defenses strengthened by Vauban in the 17th century, Napoleon III, and most recently in 1885. |
| Why were the fortifications at Verdun considered outdated by 1914? | By 1914, after the fall of Liege and Namur to German artillery, the French lost faith in fortifications, and Verdun's fortress guns were removed. |
| What was Verdun's status as a sector by February 1916? | Verdun had become a "quiet sector" by February 1916, with a reduced garrison of three divisions, including local reserve units. |
| Who commanded the French defensive position at Bois des Caures during the Battle of Verdun? | Lieutenant Colonel Emile Driant, a local politician and military officer, commanded the foremost French defensive position at Bois des Caures. |
| What forces did German General Falkenhayn assemble for the offensive at Verdun in early 1916? | Falkenhayn assembled ten divisions and 542 heavy guns, including massive 420mm and 305mm howitzers, for the offensive at Verdun. |
| What was the main objective of Falkenhayn's battle plan during the attack on Verdun? | Falkenhayn's plan aimed to wear down the French in a battle of attrition by forcing them to defend a crucial but narrow front. |
| What was the key feature of the situation on the Western Front leading up to the Battle of Verdun? | The situation on the Western Front was marked by a stalemate, where neither side could achieve decisive victory, leading to trench warfare and high casualties. |
| Why did General Falkenhayn believe that the French army was the weakest in the Triple Entente during World War I? | Falkenhayn believed the French army was the weakest because they had suffered horrific casualties during the first two years of the war, and the nation was near breaking point. |
| Why was Verdun of high symbolic value to the French during World War I? | Verdun was of high symbolic value to the French because it represented national pride and a key defensive point, making it a location that France could not afford to lose. |
| What caused the delay of the German offensive, initially set for February 10, 1916, at Verdun? | The German offensive was delayed due to bad weather but began with a massive bombardment on February 21, 1916. |
| How did the French forces at Bois des Caures manage to withstand the initial German attack on February 21, 1916? | The French position at Bois des Caures was bombarded with 80,000 shells, but Lieutenant Colonel Driant's defenses held until February 22. |
| What event on February 25, 1916, led to panic among the French troops at Verdun? | On February 25, 1916, the fall of Fort Douaumont, a key French fortress, occurred when a lone German sergeant captured it, leading to panic among the French troops. |
| What decision did General de Castelnau make upon arriving at Verdun on February 25, 1916? | General de Castelnau decided to hold the forward positions at Verdun, viewing the battle as a test of France's resolve. |
| What role did Philippe Pétain play in the French defense of Verdun? | Philippe Pétain took command and focused on coordinating artillery and securing a supply line through the "Voie Sacrée," a vital road for transporting supplies. |
| How did the French artillery affect the German advance at Verdun? | The Germans were subjected to relentless French artillery bombardment, which slowed their advance despite initial gains. |
| What strategic shift did the Germans make on February 29, 1916, during the Battle of Verdun? | On February 29, after limited success on the east bank of the Meuse, Falkenhayn and the Crown Prince broadened the offensive to the west bank. |
| What were Mort Homme and Cote 304, and why were they significant in the Battle of Verdun? | Mort Homme and Cote 304 were strategic heights on the west bank of the Meuse, fiercely contested throughout the battle, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. |
| How did the nature of the Battle of Verdun change by April 1916? | By April 1916, the battle had become largely an artillery duel, with both sides learning that even outdated fortifications could withstand bombardments if properly defended. |
| What was the state of German casualties by the end of April 1916? | By the end of April 1916, German casualties exceeded 100,000, while the French rotated their divisions more frequently to reduce losses. |
| What happened during the German siege of Fort Vaux in June 1916? | In early June 1916, the Germans surrounded Fort Vaux, and it was forced to surrender on June 7 due to a lack of water. |
| How did the Germans attempt to break the French defenses on June 22, 1916? | On June 22, 1916, a German assault was preceded by a gas bombardment that temporarily crippled French artillery, but the German advance stalled. |
| By the end of June 1916, how many casualties had both sides suffered in the Battle of Verdun? | By the end of June 1916, over 200,000 men had been killed or wounded on each side, and the Germans had failed to break through. |
| What was the outcome of the French counterattacks that began in October 1916? | The French began counterattacks in October 1916, recapturing Fort Douaumont on October 24 and regaining much of the lost ground by December. |
| How did the Battle of Verdun affect the forces ahead of the Battle of the Somme? | The Battle of Verdun weakened both German and French forces ahead of the Battle of the Somme. |
| What role did Verdun play in French national sentiment during World War I? | Verdun became a symbol of French resilience and national pride. |
| How did the prolonged nature of the Battle of Verdun impact German morale? | The battle strained German morale as it dragged on without a decisive victory. |
| How did the defense of Verdun affect General Pétain’s standing in France? | The defense of Verdun solidified Pétain’s reputation as a French hero. |
| What was the consequence for Falkenhayn after the failure at Verdun? | The German failure at Verdun led to Falkenhayn’s dismissal as Chief of Staff. |
