The HELL of Verdun or how they earned them; Part 4

[JensF.]

Now to the really sad part! Gentleman, war is not only beautiful medals, it is THIS! A human bone in the Chapitre-Forest; maybe a thigh.

[JensF.]

A german water bottle lying nearby.

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Not far away the mess tin.

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In this area we found a lot of grenade holes with the equipment of german soldiers still inside. This one here with stick grenades and the tin of the "iron ration". There were also leather parts of boots!

[JensF.]

Ten thousands died or were wounded in the Chapitre-Forest! Here another hole with a mess tin and stick-grenades.

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More stick-grenades, model 15 and 16. Some have still parts of the stick! Don't touch them, the filling is toxic and you can get a lot of trouble with the french authorities!

[JensF.]

Last picture! This is a french shooting range for small arms and, yes... Mirage fighters north of the Fort Douaumont. It is still in use today. Watch for the signs before entering this area!

[JensF.]

I'll be in Verdun this weekend again. I'll try to make a picture of the well known "Panzerturm Ost" of Fort Douaumont. It was occupied by the french on may 22, 1916 and the germans used the 24 cm Minenwerfer to capture it back.

[JensF.]

Just back from the second visit to Verdun this year. Prepare for the first pictures of a german GAS grenade and some pics of the german cemeteries at Azannes and Consenvoye!!!

[JensF.]

Here are the first pics of the cemetaries. More to come soon!

This is the german cemetary at Azannes. Here are the graves of 4750 german soldiers.

[JensF.]

This is one of the biggest german cemetaries around Verdun. In Consenvoye are the graves of 11148 german soldiers. In 1984 the german chancellor Helmut Kohl and the french president Francois Mitterand put down a wreath together. It was the first official visit of a french president to a german cemetary.

In the valley below the crosses you can see the river meuse (Maas).
During our visit last weekend we had temperatures around 35 degrees there.