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The place where the Americans intervened
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In early March, the Germans launched an offensive on the Left Bank.
The objective was to reach two strategically positioned hills, the Mort-Homme and Cote 304.
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From these vantage points, the French artillery was able to prevent the German Infantry from marching on Verdun.
It was the scene of bitter fighting. On the Left Bank as on the Right, the Germans were very strongly armed.
The French were intensively and systematically pounded by the German artillery.
Nevertheless, they dug into the slopes and resisted the German attack.
There was ferocious hand-to-hand fighting.
For months, the area was the stage for deadly combat. Thousands of men lost their lives - but the positions remained unchanged.
In 1917, the hills were finally taken.
In 1918, the Americans intervened.
Two million men landed on French soil.
Marshal Foch gave the American forces the mission of liberating Verdun.
The Americans distinguished themselves, particularly, on the Verdun front, in Argonne and in the area of Saint-Mihiel.
After a number of violent offensives and enormous loss of life, the Americans gained ground and pushed the Germans back as far as Sedan.
After the war, in memory of all the men who lost their lives, the United States built a column in Montfaucon, 58 metres in height, on top of which stands a Statue of Liberty.
In Romagne-sous-Montfaucon - the largest American military cemetery in Europe - lie the bodies of 15 000 soldiers.
On the hill of Montsec, another handsome monument was built in memory of the bravery and sacrifice of these young American soldiers.
