The Battle of Verdun

The Battle of Verdun

They Shall not Pass

Military History and Battlefield Tours

10th - 14th September 2024
(5 Days)

Expert Historian : Dr Bruce Cherry

Tour price: £2,195

click here to book

The Battle of Verdun

They Shall not Pass

Military History and Battlefield Tours

Your Holiday Essentials

10th - 14th September 2024
(5 Days)

4-star hotels, meals as indicated, drinks with dinner, all entrance fees, tour manager and expert historian throughout, all internal travel and optional travel from UK.

Activity Level: 2

Expert Historian: Dr Bruce Cherry

Prices:

Standard price: : £1,895

Incl. travel from UK: £2,195
Room sole occupancy supplement: £250
Non-refundable deposit: £300

Booking open

click here to book

Interested in this tour but not ready to book? Register your interest using the link below and we will keep you updated on the progress of the tour.

click here to register your interest

Tour Introduction

The Verdun battlefield is dramatically and physically different to those on the Western Front. It straddles both sides of the River Meuse, which flows through wonderful scenery, and we gain some magnificent views from the dominating ridge lines that surround Verdun. This is a tour that explores many of the forts – destroyed and otherwise, miles of underground tunnels and gun positions, trenches and museums. We will discuss the valiant feats of French soldiery such as the not so prescient Colonel Driant’s defence at the Bois de Caures, the desperate fight to recapture the easily relinquished Fort Douaumont, the keystone of the Verdun defences and Major Reynal’s month-long isolated defence of Fort Vaux. We will of course also experience French culture and cuisine of the area.

This tour is immediately followed by our ‘Doughboys turn the tide’ tour and the two tours can be taken as a 9-day/8-night package. Contact us for further details.

Background

On 21st February 1916, the German high command launched a battle not to take ground or to capture for strategic advantage but solely to destroy the French army, to ‘bleed France white.’ The attrition Battle of Verdun lasted ten months, the longest of the Great War and during that time nearly all of the French Army’s 100 divisions served there, emerging shattered but undefeated. But the German plan misfired and consequently they suffered equally: by November the ‘Mill on the Meuse’ had caused over 700,000 French and German casualties. Neither army gained an advantage, and neither would recover fully.

Highlights

  • Maginot Line fortifications
  • The wonderful landscape surrounding the River Meuse
  • Colonel Driant’s defence
  • The ‘Trench of Bayonets’
  • Forts Vaux, Douaumont and Souville
  • Mort Homme and Hill 304
  • Subterranean Verdun citadel
  • Go underground at the Butte de Vauquois
  • Combine with our ‘Doughboys turn the tide’ tour.

"A congenial group skilfully brought together by Bruce, who seemed to cleverly cater for our individual needs without detriment to others - very well managed in fact."

Itinerary

Day 1: Outward
Eurostar train from London St Pancras to Lille Europe or join tour at Lille Europe. Travel by coach to Verdun, our base for five nights. En-route we make a brief stop at Souilly and the Voie Sacrée Monument to appreciate the significance of the road. Pre-dinner drinks and introductory talk. (D)

Day 2: Right Bank
We’ll begin by looking at the German preparations, with visits to the wonderfully preserved camp Marguerre, the long range gun pits at Spincourt and the Duzey German 380mm Artillery Base, Maginot Line fortifications and the interesting German cemetery at Hautecourt. (B,D)

Day 3: Right Bank
The battle begins at Col Driant’s command post in the Bois de Caures, where we will take a walk to see German jump-off positions, the remains of French defences and the spot where Driant fell. Thence to the heart of the defence, dominated by the French national cemetery and the ossuary: the evocative Tranchée des Baïonnettes, the destroyed village of Fleury and Forts Vaux, Douaumont and Souville. (B,D)

Day 4: Left Bank and Butte de Vauquois
We examine the German assaults on the Left Bank of the Meuse on numerous French fortifications and defences such Falouse Fort, Mort Homme and Hill 304, the furthest point of German advance. At the Butte de Vauquios incredible evidence abounds of the perpetual mining war. Exploring what is most probably the most breath-taking site on the whole of the Western Front we wander amidst the broken ground of craters and trenches and enter a myriad of tunnels and bunkers. (B,D)

Day 5: Verdun and home.
Explore the shafts and galleries of Verdun’s underground citadel and enjoy the immersive virtually reality presentation. Either drive to Lille for the return Eurostar journey back to London or spend a free afternoon in Verdun and join our “Doughboys turn the tide” tour. (B)

Recommended Reading List

Dr Bruce Cherry

Dr Bruce Cherry

A former university lecturer with his PhD in military history, Bruce has been guiding on the Western Front since the late 1980s. Indeed for many years he operated a range of First and Second World War tours out of Lille. Amongst other titles, he is the author of ’They Didn't Want to Die Virgins; a study of Sex and Morale on the Western Front'. As an academic, his tours very much emphasise the learning aspect that is to be gained from battlefield touring.

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Your Holiday Essentials

10th - 14th September 2024
(5 Days)

4-star hotels, meals as indicated, drinks with dinner, all entrance fees, tour manager and expert historian throughout, all internal travel and optional travel from UK.

Activity Level: 2

Expert Historian: Dr Bruce Cherry

Prices:

Standard price: : £1,895

Incl. travel from UK: £2,195
Room sole occupancy supplement: £250
Non-refundable deposit: £300

Booking open

click here to book

Interested in this tour but not ready to book? Register your interest using the link below and we will keep you updated on the progress of the tour.

click here to register your interest

Tour Review

Take a look at some independent reviews of this tour by previous participants here

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