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.
Author Biography
William Martin served in Naval Intelligence for many years and now living in Charente, France, where he devotes his time to military history and cognac. A regular contributor to a number of military and current affairs journals, he is now writing a new biography of Marshal Petain. This is his first book for Osprey.
