Verdun: The German capture of Fort Douaumont 25 February 1916
The Battle of Verdun which started in February 1916 was intended to 'Bleed France White' - and there were early successes by the attacking Germans. One of these was the capture of the French Fort at Douaumont.
The surprise capture of Fort Douaumont was as much a triumph for the Germans as it was a shock for the French. Its effect on the battlefield was immediate. For the next eight months the Germans fought to hold on to their prize despite constant bombardment, a devastating internal explosion and French assaults.
This presentation - at the WFA's 2023 AGM - by Christina Holstein describes the almost accidental capture of the most important fort in the Verdun system, what purpose it served and what it was like to be inside during eight months of battle.
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