Adolphe ROUSSELOT Mort Pour La France Verdun le 18 mai 1916

Bras-sur--Meuse was the only village on the left of the river completely destroyed when during the fury of war killed so many numbers of soldiers that the mont du Mort Homme (   dead Man's hill) not far from there would be stuck with this name......................their so great sacrfice!

The battle of Verdun fought from 21 February – 18 December 1916, was one of the largest battles of the war between the German  and French armies. The battle took place on the hills north of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France. The German 5th Army  attacked the defences of the Région Fortifiée de Verdun (fortified region) and those of the Second Army garrisons on the right bank of the Meuse, intending to rapidly capture the Côtes de Meuse (Meuse Heights), from which Verdun could be overlooked and bombarded with observed artillery fire.
In early May, the Germans changed tactics and made local attacks and counter-attacks, which gave the French an opportunity to begin an attack against Fort DOUAUMONT. Part of the fort was occupied, until a German counter-attack recaptured the fort and took numerous prisoners. The Germans changed tactics again, alternating their attacks on both banks of the Meuse and in June captured Fort VAUX. The Germans continued the offensive beyond Vaux, towards the last geographical objectives of the original plan, at Fleury-devant-Douamont and Fort Souville. German attacks drove a salient into the French defences, captured Fleury and came within 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) of the Verdun citadel.
Wikepedia

"From May 4th to 24th the Germans attacked furiously around Mort-  
Homme. On the 4th they captured the northern slopes of Hill 304, where 
desperate combats took place on the 5th and 6th. By a powerful attack 
on the 7th they forced the French to abandon the crest of Hill 304, which, 
however, they were unable to occupy on account of the violence of the 
bombardment. Cumières and Caurettes fell on the 24th. 

In the meantime, the battle had started a fresh on the Douaumont / Vaux 
front. On May 22nd, at 11.50 a.m., the French 5th Regiment of Infantry. attacked and
 recaptured the fort of Douaumont which was the scene of 
desperate hand-to-hand fighting. The French were driven out on the 24th, 
but maintained their positions in the immediate vicinity. 

The battle continued without respite or quarter and an hour passed 
without a surprise of some sort being attempted. The Germans were deter- 
mined to advance, but at every step they were checked by the unflinching 
will of the French not to let them pass. 
Extract from the Battle of Verdun 1914-1918 published by Michelin & Cie Clermant Ferrand 1919 
 

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