The Battle of Verdun, WWI.

The unimaginable loss of life, a gruesome testament to the unyielding carnage on the Western Front during World War I, left a deep, festering wound in the French psyche, one that bled into their military and political decisions for years to come. This haunting trauma became an inescapable force, driving a fearful and defensive stance that would cripple their resolve and doom their engagement at the onset of the nightmare of World War Two. Verdun. 21 Feb - 18 Dec 1916. French Casualties: 542,...