Malinowski, Alain Le Chemin des Dames. La Caverne du Dragon

The Dragon's Den, one of the main sites of the Battle of Verdun, is at the centre of this book. At the beginning of the war, in September 1914, the front north of the Aisne stabilised. The Germans established themselves on the heights along the Chemin des Dames. The first battles in autumn 1914 were of rare ferocity. The sector around the Ferme d'Hurtebise became one of the most difficult on the entire front. On 25 and 26 January 1915, the Germans launched an attack and captured one of the most important French positions, the Dragon's Den. They held on there for more than two years. During the Nivelle offensive on the Chemin des Dames in April 1917, the French attempts initially failed at the cave. But on 25 June, the French finally succeeded in gaining a foothold there. The battle in this sector continued until autumn 1917. In May 1918, the German offensive conquered the entire length of the Chemin des Dames, including the Dragon's Cave. The Germans then advanced as far as Château-Thierry and even beyond. It was only during the general counter-offensive that the Allies recaptured this sector. This book describes the events of the battles based on numerous witness statements. It is illustrated with rare and unpublished photographs.