The key to all of these actions was the effect of artillery, particularly heavy artillery. The experience of defending against French attacks in 1915 had also shown that a determined attacker could capture an enemy’s first and second defensive line under the right circumstances. Since the rise of trench warfare, the German army had conducted a number of successful ‘attacks with limited objectives,’ not least the 1st Army attacks at Vailly and Soissons in late 1914 and early 1915. He who possesses the hills of the eastern bank and has captured the fortifications on these heights is also in possession of the fortress….Indeed, even if the forts on the western bank are not occupied at first, the fortress will have lost its value for France when the eastern bank has been taken by us.ĭrawing on the experience of the war to date, the 5th Army believed seizing the French positions on the eastern bank in one quick manoeuvre was well within their ability. Their attack order of 5 January 1916 set the eastern heights as their objective: If Falkenhayn’s goal for the offensive was the ‘ exsanguination’ of the French army and people, the 5th Army’s objectives in early 1916 were more down to earth.
These new tactics were crucial to the plans of both the German Chief of the General Staff, Erich von Falkenhayn, and the unit carrying out the offensive at Verdun, the 5th Army under the command of the German Crown Prince Wilhelm with Constantin Schmidt von Knobelsdorf as his chief of staff. It could, however, draw upon a range of experiences to develop new offensive tactics that would be employed over the course of the battle. Prior to the Verdun offensive in February 1916, the German army had not launched a major offensive on the Western Front since November 1914.
#BATTLE OF VERDUN CASUALTIES SERIES#
This series explores the German strategic, operational, and tactical planning for the battle. Indeed, for France and Germany today, the battle of Verdun is as synonymous with the First World War, as the battle of the Somme is for Britain. Although it is not as well remembered in Britain today, the ‘hell of Verdun’ left an enduring mark on not only on the millions of Frenchmen and Germans who fought there, but also on their societies. This month marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of this battle, which would last, including French counter-offensives, until the end of 1916.
This is the third of three posts covering German planning for Operation Gericht, their offensive at Verdun.
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