![]() Small stones and pine needles were scattered over the moss that blanketed the structure. We were standing on top of the ruins of a bunker. “Be careful,” warned our guide, historian Guillaume Moizan, pointing towards twisted cords of rusted metal that thrust from the ground like roots. Suddenly, the path ended and we reached a small clearing. Today, old cement posts still line some portions of the route, which is at constant threat of being engulfed by the forest. Once, soldiers skittered back and forth along the path carrying messages between bunkers. The path we were walking along was an old communications trench. Yet while these sites deserve attention, it wasn’t until I walked through the trenches in and around Fleury-devant-Douaumont that I started to feel the true magnitude of the war. Located on a hill that cascades from the necropolis and ossuary, a cemetery contains a sea of more than 15,000 white headstones – Christian, Jewish and also Muslim, reminders that French colonial forces were instrumental in defeating the Germans at Verdun. Just a few minutes drive away, the Douaumont National Necropolis and Ossuary contains the skeletal remains of about 130,000 French and German soldiers. ![]() Inside the zone, south of Fleury-devant-Douaumont, the Mémorial de Verdun (a museum and memorial opened in 1967 by the government) offers stunning exhibits that give visitors a more comprehensive overview of the war. Just outside the Red Zone, a small private museum, Romagne ‘14-‘18, tells the personal stories behind a large collection of war memorabilia. Besides the villages, which are open year-round and deemed safe to visit, a few museums and other sites have been erected to memorialise the soldiers who lost their lives for their countries. Although no-one lives in any part of the Red Zone and much of it is still considered too dangerous for visitors, French law recognises the destroyed villages as municipalities – there are even designated mayors who receive government money to receive guests and preserve the memory of what’s left. How Crete changed the course of World War TwoĪfter the war ended in 1918, the French government deemed 1,200 sq km of non-contiguous land near Verdun too dangerous to inhabit and too costly to rehabilitate.A French village committed to deception.Please note that we cannot refund or return custom framed maps.Black, light walnut, and natural frame color options to match any room.1.5 inch, 4-ply white mat to accentuate your map.Dry mount to ensure your map is smooth and without wrinkles.We use the Giclee printing method on the finest paper, which produces a clear, extremely detailed, durable map that is perfect to be proudly displayed in your home or office. Your map will be handled with white gloves from start to finish. ![]() The 8 September lines were follow on operations were in the same area as the battle but not considered apart of the Battle of Verdun, which is recognized as ending in December 1916.ĭime nsions (Inches, Width x Height): 24.4x17.8Įach map is printed using the finest materials and methods. This English map shows the original front lines of the battle on 21 February 1916, as well as the lines on 7 March, 12 July, 21 September, 5 November, 16 December, and 8 September (1917). Verdun was one of the longest and deadliest engagements in human history. In 303 days of fighting, over 300,000 French and German combatants were KIA. The Battle of Verdun took place from February to December 1916 just north of the French town of Verdun along the Meuse River.
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