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| Verdun: France and Germany mark centenary with EU unity call | Verdun: France and Germany mark centenary with EU unity call |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| France and Germany have marked the 100th anniversary of the World War One battle of Verdun in north-eastern France with a call for European unity. | France and Germany have marked the 100th anniversary of the World War One battle of Verdun in north-eastern France with a call for European unity. |
| France's Francois Hollande and Germany's Angela Merkel used Verdun as a symbol of both reconciliation between their nations and of EU integration. | France's Francois Hollande and Germany's Angela Merkel used Verdun as a symbol of both reconciliation between their nations and of EU integration. |
| Mr Hollande warned against "forces of division" in Europe. Mrs Merkel said nationalism "would throw us backwards". | Mr Hollande warned against "forces of division" in Europe. Mrs Merkel said nationalism "would throw us backwards". |
| The two stood side by side in memory of the 300,000 soldiers killed at Verdun. | The two stood side by side in memory of the 300,000 soldiers killed at Verdun. |
| The 10-months battle that began in February 1916 was the longest and one of the bloodiest in World War One. France eventually emerged victorious. | |
| Verdun: France's sacred symbol of healing | Verdun: France's sacred symbol of healing |
| The main ceremony was held at the Douaumont Ossuary, which contains the bones of 130,000 German and French soldiers. | The main ceremony was held at the Douaumont Ossuary, which contains the bones of 130,000 German and French soldiers. |
| The French president and the German chancellor jointly lit a flame in the building. | The French president and the German chancellor jointly lit a flame in the building. |
| Some 4,000 French and German children also took part in a re-enactment of a battle choreographed by German filmmaker Volker Schloendorff. | Some 4,000 French and German children also took part in a re-enactment of a battle choreographed by German filmmaker Volker Schloendorff. |
| Addressing the children, Mrs Merkel said: "Hardly older than you was the French Lieutenant Alfred Joubert as he, 100 years ago, not far from here, lay in a trench. He confided to his diary: 'Not even hell could be this awful.'" | Addressing the children, Mrs Merkel said: "Hardly older than you was the French Lieutenant Alfred Joubert as he, 100 years ago, not far from here, lay in a trench. He confided to his diary: 'Not even hell could be this awful.'" |
| She went on to say that the EU proved its "ability to compromise to unite" and to condemn "pure nationalist state thinking and behaviour [that] would throw us backwards." | She went on to say that the EU proved its "ability to compromise to unite" and to condemn "pure nationalist state thinking and behaviour [that] would throw us backwards." |
| President Hollande said: "The forces of division, of closure and withdrawal are at work again. They cultivate fear and instil hatred." | President Hollande said: "The forces of division, of closure and withdrawal are at work again. They cultivate fear and instil hatred." |
| He said France and Germany had a special responsibility to "end conflicts at our doorstep" and to "welcome the people who flee tragedy and massacre. | He said France and Germany had a special responsibility to "end conflicts at our doorstep" and to "welcome the people who flee tragedy and massacre. |
| "Europe is capable of overcoming the greatest difficulties if it shows solidarity and responsibility", he said, citing the eurozone crisis as an example. | "Europe is capable of overcoming the greatest difficulties if it shows solidarity and responsibility", he said, citing the eurozone crisis as an example. |
| The ceremonies started early on Sunday, with the two leaders visiting the military cemetery at Consenvoye, north of Verdun, where 11,000 German soldiers are buried. | The ceremonies started early on Sunday, with the two leaders visiting the military cemetery at Consenvoye, north of Verdun, where 11,000 German soldiers are buried. |
| At Verdun city hall, Mr Hollande focused on Franco-German relations, saying that Mrs Merkel's presence showed that Verdun was not a symbol of suffering but one of hope. | At Verdun city hall, Mr Hollande focused on Franco-German relations, saying that Mrs Merkel's presence showed that Verdun was not a symbol of suffering but one of hope. |
| In her speech there, Mrs Merkel said: "Only those who know the past can draw lessons and build a good future." | In her speech there, Mrs Merkel said: "Only those who know the past can draw lessons and build a good future." |
| Remembering the famous 1984 image of former leaders Francois Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl holding hands at Verdun, she said: "We have reconciled and reached agreement; we have become friends." | Remembering the famous 1984 image of former leaders Francois Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl holding hands at Verdun, she said: "We have reconciled and reached agreement; we have become friends." |
| The battle of Verdun, 21 February - 15 December 1916 | The battle of Verdun, 21 February - 15 December 1916 |
| What caused Verdun to be the longest battle of WW1? | What caused Verdun to be the longest battle of WW1? |