Verdun .


http://www.worldwar1.com/tgws/rel012.htm

1916 was such a monumental year. You had the Verdun campaign, the Somme Offensive and the naval battle of Jutland. All three had a monumental impact on the future progress of the war.

Not just of that war, but of warfare in general.

Visited Verdun in 2006 it was quite moving reading and hearing about what went on there.

The tour of the underground fortress and museum is one not to be missed.

I visited Verdun twice. First time in 1993 with the history class in my final year in high school, then a year later as a soldier of a J�gerbatallion with the german-french brigade.

We had a brigade exercise in the Camp Mourmelon region which for the 1st time since WW2 saw German troops in France in significant numbers again.

At the end of the 2-week exercise the brigade did a road march to Verdun and met in front of Fort Douaumont for a final muster and a small ceremony. I doubt anyone present at that day will ever forget it.

A sad year in our history. July 1st 1916 forever changed the history of Nfld

Yep, that was a very moving experience Para.
Still finding tens of human remains each year and trying to identify them.
For instance:

http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/...t-allemand.php.

Hans Winckelmann, 19 yo, KIA on 21st or 22nd Feb. 1916 on the very first stage of the battle. This happened while assaulting the French entranchements on the Bois des Caures, after the German artillery pounded the 1300m x 800m sector with 80000 shells between 7-30 AM and 4-30 PM . The survivors of the shelling could hold till the day after , with 90 % losses.
No family has been found for Hans Winckelmann, but his remains lie now with a brother of him also killed in WW1, in a military grave nearby.