I came across two pictures of Fort Douaumont, key target during the Battle of Verdun. The first was taken in 1915 the other in 1916. I think its obvious wich one is the later.

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/5603/douaumontgroot9ca.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/8705/fotodouaumont020ir.jpg

Thats ... lots of crater. Big Bertha at work i guess. It was seen as the strongest Fort at the time at least before the war started.

This picture about sums up the Battle of Verdun, too, and the German strategy: bleed the enemy to death.

Even more depressing is the fact that casemate structures originally several meters below soil level are now above the ground.
The Battlefields of Verdun, especially Douaumont, the Bone House and cmetery, and those crater hills are really worth a visit. Nothing heroic up there (unlike the citadel of Verdun e.g.) - just pure slaughter.
One of the ultimate arguements against war, much like the Hiroshima hospital. Should be featured a lot more in the media, not stuff like Omaha beach...

Holy crap! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Holy crap! :eek: :eek: :eek:
People are still getting killed by unexploded shells left over from back then...