Let’s not forgot with Petain he was a colonel on the brink of retirement in Aug 1914, and less than 3 years later commander-in-chief of the French Army. However was not the talent some people hold him too, Shone best when not on the attack….
Verdun script was already written for him my de castelnau

Thank you for the kind words!

Thanks Mike, glad you liked it

25th September is the worst day on the Western Front for the allies. Over 31,000 French and British died on that day.

27k August - just does not stack up, latest indexed date says 19,225 , some indexed sources put it at 21k

25th September 21,265, some sources put it at 23k