Verdun 1916: The 300-Day Hell of World War I

In 1916, the hills of eastern France became the site of the longest and most brutal battle in human history. Over 300 days, the Battle of Verdun claimed 300,000 lives and left 400,000 wounded in a "duel before the universe". This documentary, directed by Serge de Sampigny, uses rare colorized archives and 3D terrain modeling to plunge you into the heart of the "Meuse Slaughterhouse." From the secret German offensive led by the Crown Prince to the heroic French defense under Philippe Pétain, witness the strategic blunders, the industrial scale of the killing, and the raw courage of the men who shouted: "They shall not pass!". In this video: The Secret Plan: How the Germans planned to "bleed the French white". The Sacred Way: The 24/7 logistical miracle that saved Verdun. Life in the Trenches: Moving personal accounts from soldiers on both sides. The Legacy: How Verdun shaped future leaders like Charles de Gaulle and Paul von Hindenburg 00:00 - 1916: The Longest Battle of the Great War 01:04 - Kaiser Wilhelm II’s Secret Offensive 06:13 - February 21st: The Steel Hurricane Unleashed 10:26 - The Fall of Fort Douaumont: A French Humiliation 15:05 - Pétain and the Logistics of the "Sacred Way" 20:06 - Dead Man’s Hill: The Bloody Duel for the Heights 25:05 - The Home Front: Famine vs. Carefree Living 32:42 - Industrial and Technological Warfare Out of Control 37:21 - The Heroic Siege and Fall of Fort Vaux 42:04 - The Final Reconquest and the Heavy Human Toll