For every nation, there are battles whose names for one reason or another mean more to their people than most. For Americans, ...

The battle of Verdun was the longest and costliest battle in world history, lasting from February 21 to December 18, 1916. Almost a year!

Germany accumulated huge losses and gained little territory, leading it to throw more and more men into the conflict: Verdun soon became a battle of prestige for the Germans, as well as the French.

For a number of months the French had been taking severe losses at Verdun to the East of Paris ... and ready to fire within two minutes. The Battle started on 1 July 1916 and on that day the ...