GW9: Verdun

In this episode Sean and James examine the Battle of Verdun, the first of 1916’s colossal offensives and one of the longest and bloodiest battles in world history. They discuss German commander Erich von Falkenhayn’s plan to “bleed France white” by attacking the fortress city of Verdun, and how General Philippe Pétain’s leadership and innovations kept the French from collapse. The hosts trace the battle’s brutal back-and-forth fighting, staggering casualties, and the ultimate failure of the German strategy. Finally, they explore Verdun’s lasting symbolic power as the embodiment of both the horrors and the endurance of the First World War.

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