The Battle of Verdun was waged between France and Germany in 1916. It stands the test of time as one of the longest and also most brutal battles of World War I. It went on for almost 10 months and quickly became immortalized as a symbol of both endurance and terrifying devastation. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers fought it out in vicious trench warfare. Here are 20 vintage photos that capture just a bit of the Battle of Verdun.
1. French solider, in the “fort de Veaux”, during the battle of Verdun, 1916
The colorization really amplifies the drama in this shot.
2. German troops marching to the front at Verdun
Those marches must’ve been all kinds of adrenaline-charged.
3. French soldiers at Verdun, 1916
This shot looks like it’s right out of a fever dream.
4. French Soldiers in a trench at Verdun, aka “The Devil’s Anvil”, 1916
Yes, this does look otherworldly in the worst way possible.
5. French soldiers evacuation by train during the Battle of Verdun
The panic that must’ve encircled that train evacuation is unimaginable.
6. French soldiers with a captured German machine gun at Fort Vaux, during the Battle of Verdun, 1916
Look at that stache go.
7. French flamethrowers in Verdun, 1916
The flames are the stuff of horrors.
8. Expended artillery shells at Verdun: During the battle, more than 14 million shells were fired
One of those images that just gives you a semblance of an idea about the sheer scale of the catastrophes being experienced at the battle of Verdun.
9. French minister of war, George Clemenceau, visiting the trenches in Verdun, 1917
He seems to be having a long day.
10. These guys look understandably down to fumes of energy.
Yeah, it’s going to be another very long day.
11. Looks to be another long and gritty day at the Battle of Verdun
One can’t really even begin to imagine how terrifying those days must’ve been.
12. Just imagine how endless walking through those trenches could end up being
No kidding though, they must’ve felt like nightmarish mazes.
13. The amount of destruction wrought by the Battle of Verdun was unprecedented
It probably felt like the world itself was crumbling down around you.
14. The silence following some of those moments at the Battle of Verdun must’ve been heartbreaking
It had to have been a piercing silence in every sense.
15. Their legs must’ve been in shambles by the end of the battle
Trench warfare took its toll in every which way.
16. The walls everywhere were left in ruins at the Battle of Verdun
Those walls never really stood a chance.
17. One has to wonder if it was ever possible to even have a moment of feeling safe at the Battle of Verdun
Honestly though, probably not.
18. That guy was not feeling like having his photograph taken
And really, can you blame him?
19. The levels of exhaustion sustained at the Battle of Verdun must’ve been on a level never seen before
The wartime exhaustion was a different ballgame.
