When War Became a Slaughterhouse: The Battle of Verdun's 700,000 Casualties - February 21, 1916 episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 21, 2026 · 15 MIN

When War Became a Slaughterhouse: The Battle of Verdun's 700,000 Casualties - February 21, 1916

from The Daily History Chronicle · host Richard G Backus

On February 21, 1916, Germany launched history's longest battle not to win ground, but to kill Frenchmen. 302 days and 700,000 casualties later, the front lines hadn't moved. Richard Backus explores how the Battle of Verdun became a symbol of endurance, strategic calculation, and the horrifying mathematics of industrial warfare. Discover why this ten-month slaughter at Verdun still shapes how we think about war, sacrifice, and what nations ask of their citizens.

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When War Became a Slaughterhouse: The Battle of Verdun's 700,000 Casualties - February 21, 1916

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