Britannica Sources used in this answer

What happened during the French counterattack of October 24, 1916, at Verdun?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

French soldiers in uniform rest and eat on a grassy field behind the front lines during the Battle of Verdun in World War I, with gear and rifles stacked nearby. — Battle of Verdun French soldiers resting away from the front line at the Battle of Verdun, 1916.

On October 24, 1916, French forces launched a significant infantry assault at Verdun as part of a broader offensive scheme proposed by General Charles Mangin to liberate the region.1

The operation began on October 21 with a massive artillery barrage across a wide front. On October 24, three French divisions advanced behind a creeping artillery barrage, a tactical method championed by General Robert Nivelle to coordinate infantry movement with heavy fire support.12

The counterattack was highly successful: by the evening of October 24, the French had recaptured the key Fort Douaumont and taken 6,000 German prisoners. This success continued into early November, when the fort at Vaux was also returned to French control. These actions were instrumental in allowing the French to reclaim nearly all the ground that had been lost to German forces over the previous six months.12