The rulers of the Central Powers stumped by Verdun. Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary, Mohammed V of Turkey, Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, and Czar Ferdinand of Bulgaria puzzle over a map labeled "Verdun." The ink and watercolor drawing is dated March 4, 1916. By R. DLC?The German assault on Verdun began on February 21, 1916 and continued through August.
Illustrated map labeled "Verdun." Drawing dated March 4, 1916. By R. DLC?
"Sunday, March 26, 1916.The frightful struggle at Verdun is still continuing.Notwithstanding the extreme cold and heavy snowfalls the Russians are trying to help us by attacks on the Dvina front. Yesterday they gained substantial successes in the Jacobstadt sector and west of Lake Narotch."
Entry for March 23, 1916, from the memoirs of Maurice Paléologue, French Ambassador to Russia. The German assault on and siege of Verdun had been underway for over a month. The Russian offensive at Lake Narotch, begun in unsuitable weather and at the French request for support, was foundering. The 'successes' were less than the Ambassador had been led to believe.
An Ambassador's Memoirs Vol. II by Maurice Paléologue, page 220, publisher: George H. Doran Company
1916-03-26, 1916, March, Battle of Lake Narotch, Lake Narotch, Narotch, Sancha
