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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.
Reverse:
Postmarked Bern, Switzerland, March 7, 1916 7.III.16.)

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.

Image text

Illustrated map labeled "Verdun." Drawing dated March 4, 1916. By R. DLC?

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Wednesday, July 12, 1916

"Another massive attempt to get the advance moving again on 11–12 July, when more diphosgene shells were ready, briefly reawakened hops. Souville was almost cut off from French support and the gas cloud behind it stretched down to the streets of Verdun, as it had in June. A few troops managed to get on the roof of the fort, like Mangin's men at Douaumont in May, but, like Mangin's men, they were brushed off."

Quotation Context

The Battle of Verdun, begun on February 21, 1916, continued. The Germans had first used the suffocating poison gas diphosgene in a June 22 attack at Fleury, but did not have enough shells to resume the next day. On July 11 they did, and again mounted a major assault on Verdun. One of the greatest of the forts defending the city, Douaumont had fallen on February 25. French General Mangin had fruitlessly tried to retake it in May, when his men made it atop the massive structure, but were soon wiped out.

Source

The Road to Verdun by Ian Ousby, page 296, copyright © 2002 by The Estate of Ian Ousby, publisher: Anchor Books, publication date: 2003

Tags

1916-07-12, 1916-07-11, 1916, July, Verdun, Battle of Verdun