Former Headquarters French and American Army

This town hall served as French army headquarters during the Battle of Verdun in 1916.

The plaque is located in a town hall and commemorates the night of February 25–26, 1916.
Pétain's Role:
General Pétain, then commanding the Second Army, established his headquarters here and took charge of the defense of Verdun.
Successive Commanders:
From May 1, 1916, to September 21, 1918, the Second Army was successively commanded by Generals Nivelle, Guillaumat, and Hirschauer.
Historical Significance:
The Battle of Verdun was one of the longest and bloodiest battles of World War I. Pétain's leadership during the initial stages of the battle earned him the reputation of "Hero of Verdun."

The American First Army occupied this building from September 21, 1918, until the end of hostilities. Major Operation:
From this headquarters, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, one of the largest operations of World War I, was led.
Significance of the Offensive:
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the largest and bloodiest operation of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I.

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Source

• Text: Kaj Metz + Adri Kramer
• Photos: Adri Kramer