The Lion of Souville Symbol of resistance at the gates of Verdun; This impressive monument, unveiled on 1 October 1922, stands on the site of the former Sainte-Fine chapel and …
Ten months Battle of Verdun On 21 February 1916, the Germans launched an attack north of Verdun. The heavy fighting of 1916 around this French town on the upper reaches of the Meuse was the longest battle of the war. It lasted a full ten months, from February to December. The Battle of Verdun began with the largest artillery bombardment the world had seen up to that point. The ten months of fighting around Verdun cost an enormous number of casualties: some three-quarters of a million, of whom perhaps 300,000 were dead.
Discover a historic monument that marks the extreme advance and defeat of the German troops during the Battle of Verdun. This site commemorates the key moments of 1916: the occupation of Fort Douaumont on 25 February and Fort Vaux on 7 June, followed by the German attempt to break through the French defence line and reach Verdun. On 12 July, German troops launched an attack on Fort Souville, the last bastion of the fortified line around the city, but were driven back by a brave French garrison.