What was the reason for the battle of Verdun?
What was the reason for the battle of Verdun?
The attack on Verdun (the Germans code-named it ‘Judgment’) came about because of a plan by the German Chief of General Staff, von Falkenhayn. He wanted to “bleed France white” by launching a massive German attack on a narrow stretch of land that had historic sentiment for the French – Verdun.
Who fought in the Battle of Verdun 1916?
French
Why did Erich von Falkenhayn choose to strike Verdun?
It was originally planned by the German Chief of General Staff, Erich von Falkenhayn to secure victory for Germany on the Western Front. The aim was to crush the French army before the Allies grew in strength through the full deployment of British forces.
Why is the battle of Verdun considered the turning point of the Great War on the Western Front?
The Allies had planned to defeat Germany through a series of large coordinated offensives, but the German attack at Verdun drastically reduced the number of French troops available. Britain and its Empire would therefore need to lead the big push on the Western Front.
How many shells were fired at Verdun?
Of the 800,000 casualties at Verdun, an estimated 70 percent were caused by artillery. The Germans launched two million shells during their opening bombardment—more than in any engagement in history to that point—and the two sides eventually fired between 40 and 60 million shells over the next ten months.
Who was to blame for the failure of the Gallipoli campaign?
Winston Churchill
What went wrong at Gallipoli?
The Gallipoli campaign was intended to force Germany’s ally, Turkey, out of the war. It began as a naval campaign, with British battleships sent to attack Constantinople (now Istanbul). This failed when the warships were unable to force a way through the straits known as the Dardanelles.
How many Anzacs died at Gallipoli?
8700 Australians
How many soldiers were killed at Gallipoli?
46,000
How many Anzacs died on the first day?
2000
Did anyone survive Gallipoli?
Only one Dubliner officer survived the landing, while of the 1,012 Dubliners who landed, just 11 survived the Gallipoli campaign unscathed. After the landings, little was done by the Allies to exploit the situation, apart from a few limited advances inland by small groups of men.
How many original Anzacs survived the war?
Indeed, casualties among the initial volunteers were so high, that of the 32,000 original soldiers of the AIF only 7,000 would survive to the end of the war.
How much did the Anzacs get paid?
Troops were paid a minimum of six shillings a day (more than three times the wage of English forces) leading to the phrase ‘six bob a day tourists’. Although slightly below the basic wage, it was still attractive to many because of the tough financial conditions and high unemployment in 1914.