After the fall of Metz, Verdun, besieged by 15,000 men with 140 heavy guns, in addition to field artillery, surrendered on November 8th with the honours of war.
The town had been bombarded three times. On August 24th it received about 2,000 shells; on September 26th the Citadel received 1,000 to 1,200 shells in five hours; on October 13th, 14th and 15th 20,000 to 25,000 shells fell in the town, severely damaging the upper part and the Citadel.
The name of the German Prefect who governed Verdun and the Meuse province was Von Bethmann Hollweg.
Abbreviations: Q.G., _General Headquarters_; P.C., _Post of Commandment_.
=German= army corps are indicated by Roman figures followed by the letters “C” for the _active_ and “R.C.” for the _reserve_.
=French= army corps are indicated by arabic figures followed by the letters “C.A.”
=German= infantry divisions are indicated by their number followed by the letters “D” for the _active_, “R.D.” for the _reserve_, “D.L.” for the “_Landwehr_,” and “E.D.” for the “_Ersatz_.”
=French= infantry divisions are indicated by their number followed by the letters “D.I.”
Verdun played an essential part in the great war.
In 1914, during the battle of the Marne, the army under General Sarrail, resting on Verdun, formed the pivot for Marshal Joffre’s manœuvre (_see the Michelin Guide_: “=The Battle of the Marne=,” part III., “_The Revigny Pass_”).
[Illustration: VERDUN—PIVOT OF THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE.]
After the battle of the Marne, the Crown Prince established his positions of resistance north of the fortress, on the line Malancourt—Brabant—Haumont—Maucourt. On September 15th, General Sarrail slipped in from this side the 6th C.A. and 72nd R.D., which were sent beyond the advance forts. The enemy sought to isolate and approach Verdun at the same time. The combats which occurred successively on the initiative of each side were indecisive on the north, but not on the S.E.
On September 20th the IIIrd Bavarian Corps attacked the 75th R.D. at Vigneuilles-les-Hatton châtel, and after forcing it to retreat, reached the Meuse Heights. The 6th Corps was hastily transferred to this region, where it checked the German advance. Further to the right, at St. Mihiel, the enemy succeeded on the 25th in forcing the passage of the Meuse and occupied Chauvoncourt.