[jpsb]

Battle of Verdun (Feb. 21-Nov. 26, 1916)Battle of Verdun, an unsuccessful German effort to take the offensive in the west, was one of the longest and bloodiest encounters of the war.

Total casualties have been estimated at about 542,000 French and about 434,000 Germans. About 1 million soldiers plus 25,000- 30,000 civilians. Book says 330,000 and 350,000

France was devastated by ww1 fought largely on French soil, an entire generation of it's bravest sons gone. Do not underestimate the French.

[Owl558]

“Do not underestimate the French.”

You quite rightly cite Verdun as a terrible battle for the French, however, a lot has passed since WWI.

WWII
Algeria
Vietnam (First Indo-China War)
Syria
Lebanon
Madagascar
Morrocco

All lost by the French since WWI, as I remember.

I don’t know that people ARE underestimating the French here. It may just be possible that you’re OVERestimating the French.