Verdun

October 12, 2019

"Battle in the Trenches" You've heard the term, its a football analogy which coaches use when the offensive line and defensive line hit each other on each play. Whoever wins the battle in the trenches wins the game say football pundints. The term "Battle in the Trenches" came from World War I because the war was fought in the trenches. Germany and their desire to take over the world went head to head with France. Key battles were fought all over France on the Western Front. One important battle was the Battle of Verdun.

The Battle of Verdun started in 1916. The Germans implemented their blitzkrieg attacking strategy firing at will at the French. In no time, the Germans captured Fort de Douaumont. Fast forward to today. As we arrived in the parking lot, you could feel the history. The Fort is nestle on the side of the hill. Barbed wire, I assume original barbed wire lay surrounding the fort. Admission into the fort was €10 for the family. The place is dark and damp. You could feel the intensity in the fort. I tried to imagine the constant bombing and firing in the area. The place was cold too, imagine in the winter when temperatures were near 0F°. Near Douaumont just across the street were some trenches. This is what I've been waiting for. It started raining and everyone wanted to stay in the car. But I told the kids that we probably won't come back, so we are going. I did some fake exercises in the trenches. It is also fall right now and the tree leaves were turning color.

Along the battlefield road was the memorial. It reminded of Arlington Cemetery in Virginia. Thousands of graves line up in rows, the soldiers name on the crosses. I remember watching the movie All Quiet on the Western Front, a movie made in the 30s about World War 1 and the battle in the trenches. All the people who died during this crazy war. The Battle of Verdun alone had over 350,000 casualties. All in one year. That is just too much people who lost their lives for this war.

The French eventually were able to hold off the Germans and along with the British & Russian won World War 1.