VERDUN

[Canuck]

Yesterday was the anniversary of the battle of Verdun. Check it out.

Battle of Verun
http://www.historyinanhour.com/2012/...tle-of-verdun/

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Yet another reminder, if we need one, of the vast number of men on both sides who were sacrificed for little real purpose.
Rob.

[csadn]

Yet another reminder, if we need one, of the vast number of men on both sides who were sacrificed for little real purpose.
Rob.

Don't f***ing get me started....

[gully_raker]

Yet another reminder, if we need one, of the vast number of men on both sides who were sacrificed for little real purpose.
Rob.

Yes Verdun was a great excercise in futility!

[Baldrick62]

Yes Verdun was a great excercise in futility!

GR,
I'm not quite so sure about that, as it achieved the German operational aim to FIX the French and write down their combat power in an attritional battle - 'bleeding them white' - which contributed to the lowering of French morale later in the war. However, what the German High Command had not correctly calculated was their own losses to achieve that operational aim, resulting in a fatal loss of their own combat power to sustain further offensives in the West.
That said, there was great futility in the final outcome; a status quo ante and the loss of huge numbers of lives.
BofB

[Hunter]

Yet another reminder, if we need one, of the vast number of men on both sides who were sacrificed for little real purpose.
Rob.

You got that right!

[Attila57]

Yet another reminder, if we need one, of the vast number of men on both sides who were sacrificed for little real purpose.
Rob.

I agree

[gully_raker]

GR,
I'm not quite so sure about that, as it achieved the German operational aim to FIX the French and write down their combat power in an attritional battle - 'bleeding them white' - which contributed to the lowering of French morale later in the war. However, what the German High Command had not correctly calculated was their own losses to achieve that operational aim, resulting in a fatal loss of their own combat power to sustain further offensives in the West.
That said, there was great futility in the final outcome; a status quo ante and the loss of huge numbers of lives.
BofB

Correct Baldrick! That is what I ment by its futility.