Verdun Medal - Vernier model with ball attachment
One of the most important battles during the Great War was the Battle of Verdun on the Western Front. From February 21 to December 15, 1916, it was fought between the French and German armies, north of the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France. It was the longest battle, indeed one of the worst in the Great War, during which 40 million artillery shells were fired by both armies on hilly terrain and ended indecisively, with a quarter of a million deaths and more than half a million wounded. It popularized the words of General Robert Nivelle on 23 June 1916 – “Ils ne passeront pas” (“They shall not pass”) – addressed to his troops after the last French positions on the way to Fort Souville had been submerged. For all the bloodshed, towards the end of the year the French had merely regained the land lost earlier in that year. The Verdun Medal itself was created on November 20, 1916 by the Municipal Council of Verdun to commemorate the heroism of its defenders. Although it was originally only supposed to be awarded to those on the Verdun Front between February 22 – November 2, 1916, it was finally awarded to all who served anywhere on the Argonne and St. Mihiel sectors between July 31, 1914 and November 11, 1918.
Vernier’s version was the original Verdun Medal and is now the most commonly found, but due to large supplies being needed, others created Verdun Medals too and there are at least 10 versions known, of varying rarity.
One of the most important battles during the Great War was the Battle of Verdun on the Western Front. From February 21 to December 15, 1916, it was fought between the French and German armies, north of the city of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France. It was the longest battle, indeed one of the worst in the Great War, during which 40 million artillery shells were fired by both armies on hilly terrain and ended indecisively, with a quarter of a million deaths and more than half a million wounded. It popularized the words of General Robert Nivelle on 23 June 1916 – “Ils ne passeront pas” (“They shall not pass”) – addressed to his troops after the last French positions on the way to Fort Souville had been submerged. For all the bloodshed, towards the end of the year the French had merely regained the land lost earlier in that year. The Verdun Medal itself was created on November 20, 1916 by the Municipal Council of Verdun to commemorate the heroism of its defenders. Although it was originally only supposed to be awarded to those on the Verdun Front between February 22 – November 2, 1916, it was finally awarded to all who served anywhere on the Argonne and St. Mihiel sectors between July 31, 1914 and November 11, 1918.
Vernier’s version was the original Verdun Medal and is now the most commonly found, but due to large supplies being needed, others created Verdun Medals too and there are at least 10 versions known, of varying rarity.