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What is a creeping artillery barrage in World War I warfare?

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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.

A creeping barrage, also known as a rolling barrage, was a tactical method used during World War I to support infantry advances. In this technique, artillery fire was directed to land just ahead of the advancing troops, creating a protective "curtain" of shells that moved forward at a set pace.12

By timing the movement of the artillery fire to coincide with the infantry's advance, commanders aimed to suppress or destroy enemy defenses—such as machine-gun nests and trench lines—immediately before the soldiers reached them. This provided the infantry with mobile cover, allowing them to move across open terrain while keeping the enemy pinned down or unable to effectively man their defensive positions.2

During the Battle of Verdun, for example, French forces successfully employed this tactic during their October 1916 offensive to retake the fort at Douaumont, with infantry divisions advancing closely behind the moving wall of artillery fire.2