La Bataille de Verdun: un mythe mémoriel contemporain porteur de signification et d’espoir
The Battle of Verdun: a Contemporary Memorial Myth Carrying Meaning and Hope

Summary/Abstract: The Battle of Verdun, which lasted between February 21st and December 18th, 1916, is emblematic to World War 1, just as the Battle of Sedan is to the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) or the Battle of Stalingrad to World War 2. The study focuses on the unfolding and consequences of the Battle of Verdun and especially on the elements that turned it into a symbol not only for the French, but also for other combatants. The first such element is the impressive number of troops that took part in the battle, numbering over 2.5 million, and for whom the confrontation represented an inferno. Second, for tacticians and doctrinaires alike, Verdun represented the paralysis of manoeuvre, the role of the artillery as the queen of the battle, the supremacy of in-depth preparation of the terrain and the important role of stocks and fluxes of supplies. Third, for the politicians, journalists and opinion leaders from the two belligerent sides, the battle on the river Meuse signifies the affirmation of military and political power. Fourth, at least in what the strategists are concerned, Verdun continues to be an enigma, an open book that is difficult to analyse. Fifth, this time from the point of view of the antimilitarists, the enormous number of casualties (700 000 dead) from both sides represents a terrible illustration of the destructive nature of war. For the supporters of European unity of today, Verdun – with its ossuary that contains the remains of 130 000 soldiers who died in battle – demonstrates the viability of the Franco-German reconciliation in the post-war period, a binomial that laid the foundation of what was to become the European Union. In conclusion, the Battle of Verdun was total and was fought with paroxysm, unleashing all the horrors that war is capable of.

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