Battle of Verdun
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The Battle of Verdun was fought from 21 February to 18 December 1916 on the Western Front in France. The battle was the longest of the First World War and took place on the hills north of Verdun. The
Long Max mounted on its combined railway and firing platform.
Fort Douaumont before the battle (German aerial photograph)
Douaumont after the battle
German soldiers attack Le mort homme
Philippe Pétain
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Henri Philippe Bénoni Omer Joseph Pétain, better known as Marshal Pétain, was a French military officer who commanded the French Army in World War I and later became the head of the Axis-collaboration
Battle of Verdun
…despite inflicting many French casualties. By 6 March, 20+1⁄2 French divisions were in the RFV and a more extensive defence in depth had been organised. Philippe Pétain ordered there to be no retreat and that German attacks were to be counter-attacked, despite this exposing French infantry to the German artillery. By…
Pétain in 1941
Pétain in the 1880s
Pétain in 1915. Autochrome portrait by Jules Gervais-Courtellemont
Pétain, Haig, Foch and Pershing in 1918