Visited there in 1996 while stationed in Germany. Wanted to attend the 80 anniversary, but didn't have the chance too. Along the road back to the town of Verdun, there are small chapels located where the villages/towns train stations were located. There are no open fires allowed. There is no overnight camping allowed. The room with the cross is actually a tomb. When the Germans had taken the fort they were exhausted. Some had flame throwers. Someone had to have a cigarette. So when they lit it, it caused the leaking fuel to explode. They collected the bodies and put a wall up. The wall with the cross on it. It became a tomb.
I was stationed at Ramstein 1996, a year later took a USO? tour bus there and I believe you're right about the the room with the cross is actually a tomb.
I visited in 1986 on a rainy day. After visiting the Cathedral and seeing the chambers full of bones and bone fragments recovered from the battlefields, I visited less developed forested trench and cratered areas. Being the only living person there, knowing the earth still gave up human remains and weapons, added to the spooky atmosphere. The ground appeared to be original, unrestored, overgrown by nature. I found a huge domed fortification covered by overgrowth also appearing untouched but by nature. I wanted to explore but it was dark inside and being alone it was too risky. I heard such forts have been made more tourist friendly. It's probably a good thing that more can experience this atrocious event in history but cleaning up battlefields dilutes the lesson they can teach. These places of unspeakable horror measure mankind's potential for madness and unthinkable extremes and serve as a warning.
great post. it is unfortunate that we have not learned. in this time where people are walking around with supercomputers in their hands, shells still rain down on civilians in Ukraine.
I visited there in '87 or '88. Found a small section of what I believe to have been the lower part of a human jaw bone. I was supposed to turn it into the "bone house" but I left it where I found it. There are still craters, torn up ground - overgrown with forest - small mounds.... And shrapnel still buried. I think some unexploded munitions are buried there too, but still may contain mustard gas.
I visited Verdun a few times on occasions when I have been in that area of France. One of the things that amazed me was how scarred the landscape still is, giving evidence and some feeling of how bad it must have been at the time. The other was something I calculated from information I learned in the nearby museum, which stated that during the 10 month battle a total of between 40 and 60 million artillery shells was fired by the combatants. If we take a middle figure of 50 million shells, over the duration of the battle this averages out at nearly two shells being fired every second, non-stop, every second of every day and night for the entire 10 months.. Given that there must have been long periods when there were lulls in the artillery bombardments, the periods when shells were being fired must have been intense.
I visited Verdun three times. At one visit, I saw a sign near the destroyed village Fleury. The sign said, that shelling was so heavy, making new maps became useless because the whole landscape completely changed every thirty minutes. If there was hell on earth, Verdun was the furnace.
My great uncle, Capitaine Marcel Verzieux commanded 2/13 Company of the 3rd Engineer Regiment, defending Fleury-devant-Douaumont in June 1916. He was wounded, and awarded the Croix de Guerre.
I made my bucket list trip this past summer, starting in Belgium with the Liege forts, the Maastricht forts, then Verdun. Walking across the cratered tops of Fort Douaumont and Fort Vaux, I could, finally, understand how violent the battle was. I also came to really understand what a commanding position Fort Douaumant had over the landscape. Brave, brave men fought on both sides.
I have ancestors who died here (Fort Vaux). The government record literally states “died for France” explained in detail how, took an artillery shell whilst trying to recover a fellow soldier. Couldn’t be more proud of Etienne, France and the whole free world. Freedom truly isn’t free, and I’m very grateful for modern, democratic society. They didn’t die in vain. It’s nice to see some folks pay homage and show proper respect. Especially in this day and age. Great video! Vive La France!
Great video!!! I visited in 1977 as a child. A bunch of excavation was taking place. Actually saw a foot in a boot, and huge mortar. Also visited the hall. It still stands out in my memories. How the bones were displayed.
Nick, your tour of the battlefields has been on my bucket-list for years. Watching your videos just serves to remind me to get there. Old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in... not much has changed fortunately. thanks for the great videos.
Well done, Great history lesson.. I plan to go to the Somme next summer to tour some areas where my Canadian great-uncle died in 1916 and to the areas of St Mihel and Meuse-Argonne where my grandfather served as a lieutenant in the combat engineers. I went through his WW1 foot locker and it is full of pictures, military orders and has several maps (one is a German topographical battle map of the area near Verdun--crazy level of detail. A friend from France had a grandfather that survived the war. His grandfather had 7 brothers. He was the only one to survive the war and he ended dying in the 1960’s from the effects of being gassed. It wiped out complete generations - the loss of life is incomprehensible.
Very good video! I commend you for not showing the bones of the 130,000 men displayed in the building. I think that was a real touch of class on your part! Keep up the good work, I look forward to more of your videos.
Thank you so much for this great, informative video. I only live a couple of hours away from Verdun but never visited. It's definitely on my bucket list now. It's unimaginable what horrors happened during this battle. So much devastation, death and loss, it must have been hell on earth. The poor souls that lost their lives should never be forgotten and be a cautionary tale for humanity.
Your video is very excellent. Thank you for respecting those gathered in the Douaumont Ossuary. I was just there, and the sight is terrible. Still, brings home exactly what war is: death and destruction, not glory. I learned a lot about Fort Douaumont and Fort Vaux.
You have to check out the forts for sure! The city of Verdun itself is also definitely worth exploring. The area of the stand of Colonel Driant is a place I would’ve loved to visit but wasn’t able too unfortunately. Honestly you can’t go wrong with just exploring and seeing what you come across. Thanks for watching! Safe travels!
Thank you for this fascinating and sensitive account. You never lost side of the human side. For the record: details on the plaques that start at 9' 24: "Le Halle" was a hackney coach driver (a fiacre was a horse-drawn four wheeled vehicle). and, it seems, a tobacconist. "Grizon" was a telegrapher. He'd be in the Post office receiving and sending telegraph messages. Of course he'd also be a telephonist. Also, the monument shown around 11'15: is a memorial to the soldiers from the island of Réunion, in the Indian Ocean, who died in that war. Réunion is today part of France, its inhabitants are French citizens like Martijnique, Guadeloupe, French Guyana. Just in case this is not obvious: I am myself French.
There is no disrespect in showing the mortal remains the fallen. That's the reason the little windows were provided for in the ossuary. Respect comes along the attitude and yours was truly commendable.
Good video on a battle site well worth seeing. Like others I couldn't believe the massive cratering in the country-side. The Ossiary and cemetaries are just sad. Did you visit the city of Verdun, and if so was the Cotton Club still there on the river front?
I was there twice and remember that some germans made some coffee besides ammunition that exploded and killed 700 which are now behind the wall with the cross.
Nick, my wife and I have made seven trips to the Western Front over the years. Verdun is always the high point of our trip. To me this is where Europe made it’s final decision to commit “collective suicide”. The greatest tragedy of the last century. It’s ramifications are till being felt throughout our modern world.
In respect to those men, you should have shown those bones because it is a lesson for all that these men be not forgotten for their sacrifice for the peace we seek today.
This video waa very informative, thanks for this video and your information. Im visiting Verdun this weekend, so im trying to gather some information. Our schools in the Netherlands dont teach us a lot about the first world war. Primarily because our country stayed neutral during this war.
Yes. The intent was to give the soldiers a resting place. Yet, doesn';t feel restful. Now I see a difference between the cemeteries such as Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., and the WW1 and WW2 cemeteries. The last two provide places for soldiers who all died about the same time, in the same area. This provides a way to begin to understand the scope of the carnage and suffering.
They would probably have wanted people to see their bones. It's a lesson that needs to be learned - this is what blind obedience to authority leads to.
The French gov't can't do much with the land - allow it to be farmed or developed with construction - because there are so many unexploded artillery shells buried there. Some estimate that 20% of the fired shells did not explode and remain on site. The Verdun battlefield is considered a "Red Zone" because of the continuing danger it represents.
From when I was there, I seem to remember reading that they dig up something like 200 tons of unexploded shells every year. These are collected and detonated where they are found by the military. We heard one such blast go off.
How can you say that with any measure of rational logic when you have no way of knowing how subsequent events would have unfolded if any war that is only ever subsequently claimed to be 'stupid' was not in fact fought. This is the fundamental deficiency with all such forms of revisionist assessment, it is founded entirely upon assumption and the absurd premise that events would have evolved in the exact same manner without the war being fought as it when it has been which is the very essence of stupidity in itself.
After reading The Guns of August and The Sleepwalkers, I completely agree with you. More than anything, people must study the family squabbles amongst Victoria's grandkids, which hurt and killed millions.
C pas comme Auswicht, je suis Français, et je sais que c'était pire: A chaque assaut 1000 homme partent, à peine 200 ou 150 reviennent, et cela toute les semaines pendant des années... 🇨🇵😪 J'avais 4 arrières grand-père et seul 1 en est revenu avec des éclats d'obus partout dans le corps...
Visited there in 1996 while stationed in Germany.
Wanted to attend the 80 anniversary, but didn't have the chance too.
Along the road back to the town of Verdun, there are small chapels located where the villages/towns train stations were located.
There are no open fires allowed.
There is no overnight camping allowed.
The room with the cross is actually a tomb.
When the Germans had taken the fort they were exhausted.
Some had flame throwers.
Someone had to have a cigarette.
So when they lit it, it caused the leaking fuel to explode.
They collected the bodies and put a wall up.
The wall with the cross on it.
It became a tomb.
I was stationed at Ramstein 1996, a year later took a USO? tour bus there and I believe you're right about the the room with the cross is actually a tomb.
I visited in 1986 on a rainy day. After visiting the Cathedral and seeing the chambers full of bones and bone fragments recovered from the battlefields, I visited less developed forested trench and cratered areas. Being the only living person there, knowing the earth still gave up human remains and weapons, added to the spooky atmosphere. The ground appeared to be original, unrestored, overgrown by nature. I found a huge domed fortification covered by overgrowth also appearing untouched but by nature. I wanted to explore but it was dark inside and being alone it was too risky. I heard such forts have been made more tourist friendly. It's probably a good thing that more can experience this atrocious event in history but cleaning up battlefields dilutes the lesson they can teach. These places of unspeakable horror measure mankind's potential for madness and unthinkable extremes and serve as a warning.
great post. it is unfortunate that we have not learned. in this time where people are walking around with supercomputers in their hands, shells still rain down on civilians in Ukraine.
And Donbass for 8 years.
I visited there in '87 or '88. Found a small section of what I believe to have been the lower part of a human jaw bone. I was supposed to turn it into the "bone house" but I left it where I found it. There are still craters, torn up ground - overgrown with forest - small mounds.... And shrapnel still buried. I think some unexploded munitions are buried there too, but still may contain mustard gas.
@@Useaname You believe Putin propaganda, oh dear, nothing learned.
@@SWRural-fk2ub by yourself, yes
I visited Verdun a few times on occasions when I have been in that area of France. One of the things that amazed me was how scarred the landscape still is, giving evidence and some feeling of how bad it must have been at the time. The other was something I calculated from information I learned in the nearby museum, which stated that during the 10 month battle a total of between 40 and 60 million artillery shells was fired by the combatants. If we take a middle figure of 50 million shells, over the duration of the battle this averages out at nearly two shells being fired every second, non-stop, every second of every day and night for the entire 10 months.. Given that there must have been long periods when there were lulls in the artillery bombardments, the periods when shells were being fired must have been intense.
I visited Verdun three times. At one visit, I saw a sign near the destroyed village Fleury. The sign said, that shelling was so heavy, making new maps became useless because the whole landscape completely changed every thirty minutes. If there was hell on earth, Verdun was the furnace.
My great uncle, Capitaine Marcel Verzieux commanded 2/13 Company of the 3rd Engineer Regiment, defending Fleury-devant-Douaumont in June 1916. He was wounded, and awarded the Croix de Guerre.
I made my bucket list trip this past summer, starting in Belgium with the Liege forts, the Maastricht forts, then Verdun. Walking across the cratered tops of Fort Douaumont and Fort Vaux, I could, finally, understand how violent the battle was. I also came to really understand what a commanding position Fort Douaumant had over the landscape. Brave, brave men fought on both sides.
I have ancestors who died here (Fort Vaux). The government record literally states “died for France” explained in detail how, took an artillery shell whilst trying to recover a fellow soldier. Couldn’t be more proud of Etienne, France and the whole free world. Freedom truly isn’t free, and I’m very grateful for modern, democratic society. They didn’t die in vain. It’s nice to see some folks pay homage and show proper respect. Especially in this day and age. Great video!
Vive La France!
Great video!!! I visited in 1977 as a child. A bunch of excavation was taking place. Actually saw a foot in a boot, and huge mortar. Also visited the hall. It still stands out in my memories. How the bones were displayed.
Nick, your tour of the battlefields has been on my bucket-list for years. Watching your videos just serves to remind me to get there. Old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in... not much has changed fortunately. thanks for the great videos.
Thank you for watching!!
Another excellent, insightful and respectful documentary. Superb content and presentation
Well done, Great history lesson.. I plan to go to the Somme next summer to tour some areas where my Canadian great-uncle died in 1916 and to the areas of St Mihel and Meuse-Argonne where my grandfather served as a lieutenant in the combat engineers. I went through his WW1 foot locker and it is full of pictures, military orders and has several maps (one is a German topographical battle map of the area near Verdun--crazy level of detail. A friend from France had a grandfather that survived the war. His grandfather had 7 brothers. He was the only one to survive the war and he ended dying in the 1960’s from the effects of being gassed. It wiped out complete generations - the loss of life is incomprehensible.
Again, excellent. You deserve way more subs. Thank you.
Very good video! I commend you for not showing the bones of the 130,000 men displayed in the building. I think that was a real touch of class on your part! Keep up the good work, I look forward to more of your videos.
Excellent video and presentation
Thank you so much for this great, informative video. I only live a couple of hours away from Verdun but never visited. It's definitely on my bucket list now. It's unimaginable what horrors happened during this battle. So much devastation, death and loss, it must have been hell on earth. The poor souls that lost their lives should never be forgotten and be a cautionary tale for humanity.
Your video is very excellent. Thank you for respecting those gathered in the Douaumont Ossuary. I was just there, and the sight is terrible. Still, brings home exactly what war is: death and destruction, not glory. I learned a lot about Fort Douaumont and Fort Vaux.
Just came across these videos of yours, great work man thanks. I hope to visit these places some day
You have a very clear narrative..
I'm planning on visiting in early January.. Maybe a 2 day visit would let me see most of the important points...
You have to check out the forts for sure! The city of Verdun itself is also definitely worth exploring. The area of the stand of Colonel Driant is a place I would’ve loved to visit but wasn’t able too unfortunately. Honestly you can’t go wrong with just exploring and seeing what you come across. Thanks for watching! Safe travels!
Thank you. Another brilliant video!!
Thank you for this fascinating and sensitive account. You never lost side of the human side.
For the record: details on the plaques that start at 9' 24:
"Le Halle" was a hackney coach driver (a fiacre was a horse-drawn four wheeled vehicle). and, it seems, a tobacconist.
"Grizon" was a telegrapher. He'd be in the Post office receiving and sending telegraph messages. Of course he'd also be a telephonist.
Also, the monument shown around 11'15: is a memorial to the soldiers from the island of Réunion, in the Indian Ocean, who died in that war.
Réunion is today part of France, its inhabitants are French citizens like Martijnique, Guadeloupe, French Guyana.
Just in case this is not obvious: I am myself French.
There is no disrespect in showing the mortal remains the fallen. That's the reason the little windows were provided for in the ossuary.
Respect comes along the attitude and yours was truly commendable.
Great work
imagine the sound of gunfire in those spaces of the fort? they must have been fighting completely deaf trying to clear it
Another moving video - thanks Nick.
Thank you
Good video on a battle site well worth seeing. Like others I couldn't believe the massive cratering in the country-side. The Ossiary and cemetaries are just sad. Did you visit the city of Verdun, and if so was the Cotton Club still there on the river front?
I liked your videos on the Battlefields of World War I
Great video. Too bad you missed the Trench of Bayonets.
Excellent documentary!
I was there twice and remember that some germans made some coffee besides ammunition that exploded and killed 700 which are now behind the wall with the cross.
Nick, my wife and I have made seven trips to the Western Front over the years. Verdun is always the high point of our trip. To me this is where Europe made it’s final decision to commit “collective suicide”. The greatest tragedy of the last century. It’s ramifications are till being felt throughout our modern world.
In respect to those men, you should have shown those bones because it is a lesson for all that these men be not forgotten for their sacrifice for the peace we seek today.
This video waa very informative, thanks for this video and your information.
Im visiting Verdun this weekend, so im trying to gather some information.
Our schools in the Netherlands dont teach us a lot about the first world war. Primarily because our country stayed neutral during this war.
The region is spooky day & night.
Yes. The intent was to give the soldiers a resting place. Yet, doesn';t feel restful. Now I see a difference between the cemeteries such as Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., and the WW1 and WW2 cemeteries. The last two provide places for soldiers who all died about the same time, in the same area. This provides a way to begin to understand the scope of the carnage and suffering.
They would probably have wanted people to see their bones. It's a lesson that needs to be learned - this is what blind obedience to authority leads to.
Please upload some more WW1 suff
very good video
You look like Tsar Nicholas II
The French gov't can't do much with the land - allow it to be farmed or developed with construction - because there are so many unexploded artillery shells buried there. Some estimate that 20% of the fired shells did not explode and remain on site. The Verdun battlefield is considered a "Red Zone" because of the continuing danger it represents.
From when I was there, I seem to remember reading that they dig up something like 200 tons of unexploded shells every year.
These are collected and detonated where they are found by the military. We heard one such blast go off.
Why doesn’t this have more views
Verdun was the limit of what human can endure....the hell.
The bones of the men should have been shown: their sacrifice should show the future generations the real cost of war.
Redundant is also know as the place where the whole entire Roman European empire has been split up in tree parts.
All fun and games until there’s an un-exploded Bomb hiding in the bushes from WW1-WW2 🌚
That battle and the whole war was a complete waste and stupidity like all wars
How can you say that with any measure of rational logic when you have no way of knowing how subsequent events would have unfolded if any war that is only ever subsequently claimed to be 'stupid' was not in fact fought. This is the fundamental deficiency with all such forms of revisionist assessment, it is founded entirely upon assumption and the absurd premise that events would have evolved in the exact same manner without the war being fought as it when it has been which is the very essence of stupidity in itself.
After reading The Guns of August and The Sleepwalkers, I completely agree with you. More than anything, people must study the family squabbles amongst Victoria's grandkids, which hurt and killed millions.
"They must have been mad"
I think I have been too every major Battlefield in Europe But Verdun still feels so sad Its an odd place I just dont like the place
On mass firepower👍✌️🙏🇺🇸
C pas comme Auswicht, je suis Français, et je sais que c'était pire:
A chaque assaut 1000 homme partent, à peine 200 ou 150 reviennent, et cela toute les semaines pendant des années...
🇨🇵😪
J'avais 4 arrières grand-père et seul 1 en est revenu avec des éclats d'obus partout dans le corps...
You look like Czar Nikolau II
And lets not forget it ours (UK) too.
Horrific!
The moment you played the jew card...yawn ...gone.
It is so sad.. But thanks for sharing.
Some footage of Ouvrage de Froideterre would have been nice, it's not far from the Ossuary :)
Next time I’m there!
Thank you