Verdun, Meuse, France, ( NAID 86708952)Īlthough the fighting had ended, soldiers continued to drill for five hours each week. 1st Battalion Headquarters, 313th Infantry Regt. In particular, he describes a meal of chicken and oysters with other officers, and that some “glee clubs and theatrical troupes have been started, and we are trying to make the time livable as far as possible until the glad news comes.” The “glad news” he refers to is the news that they will return to the United States. The author mentions the status of some mutual acquaintances and how some semblance of normal life has returned to Verdun.
#Battle verdun update#
Snook to give him an update on 313th activities since he left Verdun, a town immediately south of where the Meuse-Argonne Offensive had taken place. 17, 1918, back.Īn unidentified officer in Verdun, France, is the author, and he is writing to Lieutenant Theodore P.
#Battle verdun series#
While working on a project with Record Group 391 in the series Records of the 1st Through 338th and the 559th Infantry Regiment, – (NAID 604387), I came across an interesting letter that described activities of the 313th Infantry Regiment about six weeks after American and French success in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive that culminated in the NovemArmistice that ended fighting on the Western Front in World War I. Philippe Pétain ordered a retreat from the area to reorganise themselves, which is still debated on whether it was a right choice or not.Today’s post is by Jordan Patty, an Archivist in the Textual Records Division at the National Archives in College Park, MD However, Germany managed to keep hold of Fleury, and on 9 August launched an offensive towards Fort Souville, which they captured on 21 August. Fleury was captured and the Germans came within 4 km (2 mi) of the Verdun citadel but in July the offensive was cut back to provide troops, artillery and ammunition for the Battle of the Somme, leading to a similar transfer of the French Tenth Army to the Somme front. The Germans advanced towards the last geographical objectives of the original plan, at Fleury-devant-Douaumont and Fort Souville, driving a salient into the French defences.
The Germans tried alternating their attacks on either side of the Meuse and in June captured Fort Vaux.
In early May, the Germans changed tactics again and made local attacks and counter-attacks the French recaptured part of Fort Douaumont but then the Germans ejected them and took many prisoners. The German offensive was extended to the west bank of the Meuse to gain observation and eliminate the French artillery firing over the river but the attacks failed to reach their objectives. By 29 March, French guns on the west bank had begun a constant bombardment of Germans on the east bank, causing many infantry casualties. Philippe Pétain ordered no retreat and that German attacks were to be counter-attacked, despite this exposing French infantry to German artillery-fire. By 6 March, 20+1⁄2 French divisions were in the RFV and a more extensive defence in depth had been organised. The advance then slowed for several days, despite inflicting many French casualties. Poor weather delayed the beginning of the attack until 21 February but the Germans captured Fort Douaumont in the first three days. The Germans hoped that the French would commit their strategic reserve to recapture the position and suffer catastrophic losses at little cost to the Germans.
Using the experience of the Second Battle of Champagne in 1915, the Germans planned to capture the Meuse Heights, an excellent defensive position, with good observation for artillery-fire on Verdun.
The German 5th Army attacked the defences of the Fortified Region of Verdun (RFV, Région Fortifiée de Verdun) and those of the French Second Army on the right (east) bank of the Meuse. The battle was the longest of World War I and took place on the hills north of Verdun-sur-Meuse. The Battle of Verdun (French: Bataille de Verdun German: Schlacht um Verdun) was fought from 21 February to 21 August 1916 on the Western Front in France. Région Fortifiée de Verdun (RFV) Verdun-sur-Meuse, France Part of the Western Front of the First World Warįile:Battle of Verdun map (Kaiser's Victory).png