Activities to create an all-American squadron shifted into high gear. Then, on February 21st, 1916, the Germans launched a major offensive at Verdun. Verdun was protected by a ring of underground forts like Fort Douamont, shown here in an aerial photograph. The German general who planned the attack thought capturing Verdun would be a bonus, if it could be done. His main objective was to force the French to throw every man they had into the defense of Verdun. By massing the largest artillery concentration ever seen opposite Verdun and committing only a small number of German troops, his primary objective was to “bleed the French Army white.” As long as he kept attacking, the French would throw more troops into the battle where his artillery could annihilate them. (Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fort_Douaumont_Anfang_1916.jpg)