Verdun was the bloodiest battle between the French and German Forces during the First World War. Until Stalingrad, Verdun was a byword in Germany for senseless slaughter. It could fairly be said to have equivalent emotional resonance as the Somme in Britain. French attitudes are becoming similar, but Verdun was and is, symbolic of France's resistance. Some 300,000 Frenchman died at Verdun, but they stopped the German invasion. It is salutary to note that with dozens of books in print on the Somme there is but one popular account of Verdun available in English. And that is nearly 30 years old.

Illustrated by: Howard Gerrard