1939; Alfred A. Knopf publishers, New York; "translated from the French by Gerard Hopkins"; hardbound with vibrant purple boards and gilt lettering; book very good condition with clean pages and tight binding; "old-styly" rough cutting of paper edges; dust jacket good condition with a little fading.
 
Description -
Verdun is well known for giving its name to a major battle of the First World War.  The Battle of Verdun, fought from 21 February to 18 December 1916, was the largest and longest battle of the First World War on the Western Front between the German and French armies. The battle took place on the hills north of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France. The German 5th Army attacked the defences of the Fortified Region of Verdun and those of the French Second Army on the right bank of the Meuse.
 
Inspired by the experience of the Second Battle of Champagne in 1915, the Germans planned to capture the Meuse Heights rapidly, because this was an excellent defensive position with good observation for the artillery to bombard Verdun. The Germans hoped that the French would commit their strategic reserve to recapture the position and suffer catastrophic losses in a battle of annihilation, not costly for the Germans because of their tactical advantage.