British Pathe

Battle of Verdun. France.

Map showing German advance past Douaumont; Vaux & Fleury during period c. February 22 - August 8; 1916). MS French soldiers marching. MS German Army review. French Army reinforcements arrive - shots of French with backpacks; bedrolls; etc. walking across a field; rolling...

Battle of Verdun. France.

Map showing German advance past Douaumont; Vaux & Fleury during period c. February 22 - August 8; 1916). MS French soldiers marching. MS German Army review. French Army reinforcements arrive - shots of French with backpacks; bedrolls; etc. walking across a field; rolling hills still undamaged. They pass other groups of French soldiers who are stopped; resting. Convoy of army trucks transport supplies; pan right showing long line of trucks coming on curving road. Many soldiers stopped; taking off packs; propping up rifles in tripods; etc. Soldiers sitting on ground. Some soldiers gathered round trucks; stopped in road. More shots of marching. French troops entering trench. Various shots soldiers walking single file through trench; some carry parts of guns; etc. CU sign: ...Vers 1Res Lignes. Shots alternate between soldiers standing in well-fortified trench and view from trench: bare broken branches and barbed wire. Shots from behind trench of soldiers going over the top; running away, shots smoke in distance. Troops marching through trench. Then soldiers go over the top a few at a time and run into the brush. More shots of soldiers running through narrow trenches. German artillery team hurries to load and fire gun. Explosion on other side of hill of dirt and rubble. More of artillery in action.

Germans surrender; running across field with arms up. German prisoners jump down into trench as French soldiers stand guard. 3 more taken prisoner: 2 carry a wounded comrade to trench; followed by French soldier; at same time; other prisoners are herded through trench. Then shot French climbing out of a trench. Another German surrenders; trotting towards camera, others in distance captured German artillery team - big gun fires; cut to explosion. Then more shots of surrendering Germans trotting over rough ground of No Man's Land toward French lines. A few light-hearted jokers salute the camera as they pass. German POWs walk in trench followed by French guard with rifle and bayonet.