Page "Battle of Verdun" Paragraph 13

In choosing Verdun, Falkenhayn had opted for a location where material circumstances favored a successful German offensive: Verdun was isolated on three sides and railway communications to the French rear were restricted.

Conversely, a German controlled major rail head lay only to the north of their positions.

In a war where materiel trumped élan, Falkenhayn expected a favorable loss exchange ratio, as he believed that the French would cling fanatically to what would become a death trap.