History 482 Discussion Questions
PBS The Great War
Episode 4:  Slaughter
November  4, 2013 

1.     What is the meaning of ‘attrition’ as it applies to the strategy of the war?  Why was such a strategy followed?  

2.     Why was the city of Verdun selected as a target objective by the German army?  Why did the French fight so intensely to defend Verdun? 

3.     Why was the Battle of the Somme begun?  Why did it continue as long as it did.  What did it achieve? 

4.     Why would a commander who had nearly 20,000 men killed on the first day of a battle continue such a battle?