Thursday, Mar 28, 2024 | Last Update : 04:05 PM IST

  Hollande, Merkel mark centenary of Verdun

Hollande, Merkel mark centenary of Verdun

AFP
Published : May 30, 2016, 4:46 am IST
Updated : May 30, 2016, 4:46 am IST

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel lay a wreath at a German cemetery at Consenvoye, north-eastern France, on Sunday during a remembrance ceremony to mark the centenary of the Battle of Verdun — one of the bloodiest battles of World War I. (Photo: AFP)

MERK2.jpg
 MERK2.jpg

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel lay a wreath at a German cemetery at Consenvoye, north-eastern France, on Sunday during a remembrance ceremony to mark the centenary of the Battle of Verdun — one of the bloodiest battles of World War I. (Photo: AFP)

French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel stood shoulder to shoulder on Sunday to mark the centenary of Verdun, one of the bloodiest battles of World War I.

The battle in Northeast France was the longest of World War I, lasting 300 days, and claimed more than 300,000 lives before France emerged victorious.

Verdun is now seen as a key symbol of the reconciliation of France and Germany and Mr Hollande and Ms Merkel are expected to make a call for Europe to pull together to confront its current challenges.

Under persistent rain, the leaders began the commemoration by laying a wreath at the German military cemetery at Consenvoye, just north of Verdun.

They walked between rows of black crosses embossed in white with the names of the dead that stretch down the hill of the cemetery where 11,000 German soldiers are buried.

By visiting the German cemetery, Mr Hollande and Ms Merkel were following in the footsteps of their predecessors Francois Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl.

When Mr Mitterrand and Mr Kohl joined hands there during the playing of the French national anthem in 1984, it underlined how close ties had become between two countries which were once enemies but are now often described as the twin motors of the European Union.

“To be invited to these commemorations shows the extent to which relations between France and Germany are good today,” Ms Merkel said ahead of the ceremony. Both leaders are expected to use the day of remembrance to stress the need for unity at a time when the EU is under pressure from a mass influx of migrants and a possible Brexit.