The hell that was Verdun | DW Documentary
Today, the hellish Battle of Verdun is a symbol of the horrors and futility of the First World War. There are now 40 French and 30 German military cemeteries across the former battlefield, and a total of 170,000 dead are buried there.
On February 21, 1916, the German 5th Army launched an attack on the French positions at Verdun. By the end of the year, the Germans had been forced back to their starting position. The ten-month struggle for Fort Douaumont was one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War. Without the support of their allies, France and Germany clashed head-on at Verdun and paid a heavy price. More than 300,000 soldiers lost their lives in the murderous fighting.
Today, over a century later, Europe is confronted by a new conflict – one also based on front lines that barely move. Russian and Ukrainian forces face each other across a war scarred landscape and the number of those killed on both sides rises every day.
The Battle of Verdun claimed almost the same number of lives on both sides without achieving any militarily viable result. But to the German and French soldiers who were there, it was anything but pointless. Why were they prepared to sacrifice their lives?
Our documentary looks at the political motives of both countries and the daily life of the soldiers on the front. Why were the Germans and French fighting each other. Archive images give us an idea of this titanic confrontation. The reconstructed scenes were shot in color to distinguish them from contemporary documents. Numerous computer animations illustrate the topography of the battlefield and the course of the fighting.
[This documentary has been reuploaded due to technical issues.]
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20 comments
“BEFORE THEY TURN THEIR SIGHTS ON THE BRITISH”; THAT IS WHERE THE GERMAN WORLD TOUR ALWAYS GETS CANCELLED. What the hell is wrong with the rest of Europe is a mystery.
Little German boy isn’t too happy – sees the premonition of WW2
Germany always manages to find a way to destroy the world. Going back to the Roman Empire.
Sound is working
Thanks DW for fixing the sound! You guys are okay.
Hey. People love what they do or get paid fat. Don't fall for the emotional tray. It will destroy you more than wars.
Battlefield 1 anyone?
How many lifes had been lost to restore peace: countless.
Amazing ! Tks !!
I wish I could see more. This one was absolutely super interesting
thanks dw for the reupload!
Look today a german channel with this allied sided propaganda. So sad my germanic brothers and sisters. May you all be critical and intelligent enough to see through all this regarding our world and its history.
Again, Outstanding presentation ! not enough history is placed on the Great War !
I have watched many films on Verdun and the Somme, this was a very good documentary.
Dear viewers, due to technical issues, this documentary has been reuploaded. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. Thanks for watching!
everybody should watch; They Shall Not Grow Old, 2018 by BBC and Peter Jackson – Documentary, with restored old videos colorized, aspect ratios and frame rates adjusted by modern CGI.
thank you for reuploading it DW! millenial obsessed with WWI here
My Dad, David, served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
War is different these days, the number of actual people making up a force is no longer important and a larger military is actually an economic disadvantage and risk to national security.
War is awful😢😢😢