Editing Battle of Verdun (section)

===German plan===
The 5th Army divided the attack front into areas, ''A'' occupied by the [[VII Reserve Corps (German Empire)|VII Reserve Corps]], ''B'' by the [[XVIII Corps (German Empire)|XVIII Corps]], ''C'' by the [[III Corps (German Empire)|III Corps]] and ''D'' on the [[Woëvre]] plain by the [[XV Corps (German Empire)|XV Corps]]. The preliminary artillery bombardment was to begin in the morning of 12 February. At {{nowrap|5:00 p.m.}}, the infantry in areas ''A'' to ''C'' would advance in open order, supported by grenade and flame-thrower detachments.{{sfn|Foley|2007|p=211}} Wherever possible, the French advanced trenches were to be occupied and the second position reconnoitred for the artillery to bombard on the second day. Great emphasis was placed on limiting German infantry casualties by sending them to follow up destructive bombardments by the artillery, which was to carry the burden of the offensive in a series of large "attacks with limited objectives", to maintain a relentless pressure on the French. The initial objectives were the Meuse Heights, on a line from Froide Terre to Fort Souville and Fort Tavannes, which would provide a secure defensive position from which to repel French counter-attacks. "Relentless pressure" was a term added by the 5th Army staff and created ambiguity about the purpose of the offensive. Falkenhayn wanted land to be captured from which artillery could dominate the battlefield and the 5th Army wanted a quick capture of Verdun. The confusion caused by the ambiguity was left to the corps headquarters to sort out.{{sfn|Foley|2007|pp=211–212}}

Control of the artillery was centralised by an ''Order for the Activities of the Artillery and Mortars'', which stipulated that the corps Generals of Foot Artillery were responsible for local target selection, while co-ordination of flanking fire by neighbouring corps and the fire of certain batteries, was reserved to the 5th Army headquarters. French fortifications were to be engaged by the heaviest [[howitzers]] and [[Enfilade and defilade|enfilade]] fire. The heavy artillery was to maintain long-range bombardment of French supply routes and assembly areas; counter-battery fire was reserved for specialist batteries firing gas shells. Co-operation between the artillery and infantry was stressed, with accuracy of the artillery being given priority over rate of fire. The opening bombardment was to build up slowly and {{lang|de|[[Barrage (artillery)|Trommelfeuer]]}} (a rate of fire so rapid that the sound of shell-explosions merged into a rumble) would not begin until the last hour. As the infantry advanced, the artillery would increase the range of the bombardment to destroy the French second position. Artillery observers were to advance with the infantry and communicate with the guns by field telephones, flares and coloured balloons. When the offensive began, the French were to be bombarded continuously, with harassing fire being maintained at night.{{sfn|Foley|2007|pp=213–214}}