Fighting is taking place on both banks of the Meuse
The Kronprinz begs Falkenhayn to attack the left bank to silence the French guns. The Germans attacked around Mort-Homme, on the left bank side, the Bois des Bourrus, the Bois de Cumière and the Bois des Corbeaux. Then they attacked on the right bank around Fort Vaux, the Côte du Poivre and Avocourt. These are always butcheries for both sides. In these places, these men have shown courage, despair, sacrifice and abnegation all at once.
On these positions, the French army is mercilessly worn out and bled white. Many units have to be completely replenished several times in a row or disappear. On March 6, the Germans pounded and attacked Mort-homme on the left bank. But the French fire stops them. This "battle within a battle" will last until March 15. During these 10 days, the area is transformed into a desert. The fighters on both sides know all the suffering there. Simultaneously, on March 7, the Germans launched an offensive on the right bank, from Douaumont. We massacre each other in the ruins of Douaumont which is taken and retaken 13 times. The Verdun salient is transformed into an unspeakable butchery where savagery prevails over any kind of compassion.
Iron, fire and mud form the infernal triad that makes up the life of the "hairy", but also that of the German "feldgrau".
Pétain calls for reinforcements from Joffre. But the latter favored his future offensive on the Somme. This makes Pétain say "The GQG gives me more trouble than the Boches".
On March 20, the 11th Bavarian Division invested Hill 304, which covered Mort-Homme with its fire. Despite these successes, the general German offensive on both banks of the Meuse was stopped by the French. “The furious assaults of the armies of the Kronprinz have everywhere been broken. Courage... we will have them! said Pétain. At the start of the battle, the French forces were 150,000 men. In April, the numbers reached 525,000 men. This human concentration on such a small surface could explain to a certain extent the bloodbath that constitutes Verdun. However, with the Germans stopped, Joffre wants someone more attacking. He appoints Pétain head of the Center and Nivelle Army Group in Verdun.
The latter instructed General Mangin to take back Fort Douaumont. The battle begins with 6 days of shelling of the fort by the French. The infantry set foot on the fort on May 22, but were driven out on the 24.
During this time, 10,000 French fell to guard hill 304 where the Germans were hanging on the slopes. The artillery, the centerpiece of this battlefield, is still in favor of the German side with 2,200 pieces at that time against 1,800 pieces on the French side. It looks like Verdun is acting as a catalyst. The belligerents no longer seem able to give up and are condemned to invest more and more forces on this battlefield which has already cost so much.
Falkenhayn resumed the offensive on the right bank of the Meuse. On a front of 6km, the Germans are 4 against 1. They put the means to win the decision which has been long overdue. 3km south-east of Douaumont is the Fort de Vaux. It is defended by a garrison of 600 men. Water, food and artillery are in short supply. After intense artillery preparation, on June 1, the German infantry launched an attack on the fort. On June 2, they entered the enclosure. However, the place still needs to be “cleaned up”. The fights are fought lane by lane. The garrison must be gassed to reduce it. A relief expedition was wiped out on June 6. Finally, Commander Raynal, head of the place, capitulated. Honors are returned by the enemy to the defenders of the place.
The Germans are very close to Verdun, of which they can see the steeple. Falkenhayn believes victory is within reach. On June 18, he bombarded the area with phosgene shells. But the 70,000 Germans had to wait, guns slung, for the gas to dissipate before attacking. This precious time is used by the French forces to strengthen the position. When the assault took place on June 23, the Germans were contained.