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A French soldier looking at the remains of a leg that still has a boot on during the Battle of Verdun, 1916

 A French soldier looking at the remains of a leg that still has a boot on during the Battle of Verdun, 1916. 108 years ago today, the Battle of Verdun, one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War I, came to an end. The battle lasted for 10 months and resulted in over 700,000 casualties, including some 300,000 killed.

The Germans designed Verdun to be a battle of attrition. The German Chief of Staff, General Erich von Falkenhayn, planned to "bleed the French white" and lure them into a battle where they would suffer heavy casualties, hoping to break their will to fight.

The Germans targeted Verdun because it was a heavily fortified stronghold, and its fall would be a blow to French morale. Despite extensive German preparations, the French were largely unprepared for the offensive. The initial bombardment allowed the Germans to advance and overrun the first French defensive lines.

German forces captured Fort Douaumont, the largest and highest fortification on the rings of forts protecting Verdun, without a shot being fired. But despite being caught off guard initially, the French quickly rallied and fought tenaciously to hold their ground.

The French troops heavily relied on a single road known as "La Voie Sacrée" (the Sacred Way) for the transportation of troops, munitions, and supplies. Despite constant enemy bombardments and logistical challenges, the French managed to ferry large numbers of troops and essential provisions to the front lines using this vital lifeline.

The battle witnessed devastating artillery barrages as both sides bombarded each other relentlessly. Artillery caused 70% of the casualties at Verdun. The two sides eventually fired between 40 and 60 million shells from February to December 1916.

Two major Allied offensives in the summer of 1916, the Battle of the Somme and the Brusilov offensive, combined with other assaults, forced the Germans to divert resources away from Verdun.

This relieved pressure on the French and allowed them to counterattack. The battle ended in a French victory on December 18, 1916. Intensive shelling during the battle resulted in the complete destruction of several nearby towns.

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