<– Part 83 – February 20, 1916 | Part 84 – February 27, 1916 | Part 85 – March 5, 1916 –>
After a ten hour artillery bombardment, in which one million shells were fired, a massive German offensive was launched February 21 towards the city of Verdun. Having been delayed 8 days by winter weather, the German troops, expecting to easily brush aside French opposition, instead found that that time had been put to use establishing strong and multi-layered defensive lines. Nonetheless, the Germans charged forward with troops armed with “flamethrowers”, devices that shoot liquid flame, followed immediately by “storm troopers” armed with rifles and hand grenades. Despite the stronger than expected lines, a complete penetration of French lines was successful for over 3 miles, with minimal casualties. After brushing aside counterattacks and continuing their own assault for several days, the Germans captured the severely-undermanned Douaumont fortress, the first on their way to capturing the city of Verdun. Finally, after nearly a week of advance, the German assault seems to have run out of steam, and no progress has been made today in the face of a thaw turning the ground to a swamp, exhausted soldiers, and French reinforcements.
In North Africa, the British army finally caught the Senussi at Agagia on February 27. The attack began at 9:30, and after their trenches were captured, the Senussi began evacuating mid-afternoon. A cavalry contingent sent to cut off their retreat was successful, and after advancing on the rearguard firing from horseback, the British cavalry charged the final 50 yards with drawn sabers, upon which the Senussi broke. All told, though nearly equivalent in manpower forces (1,500 Senussi to 1,400 British) the Senussi suffered 500 losses, to the British 275 (mainly wounded).
In Persia, several towns fell to the Russian advance on February 26. There are rumors that the highest levels of the United States military have begun examining plans in case of a “complete rupture” with Germany. In the Balkans, Serbian troops await evacuation on Allied transports.
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