With severity and viciousness
enemy bombing was setting in
shells crackle to the ground
penetrate the remaining rooftops
another explosion with enormous impact
the surroundings tremble, all light extinguished
pillars of smoke, 40 meters high
rising from the ground
they shoot a new caliber

five days under constant fire
a dreadful quest for survival
before darkness, a short break
then through the night, furious assault
soon they proceed to gas-attacks
and blew the chlorine against us
from twelve at night to noon they send
wave after wave, only masks protecting
behind the smokescreen they align
try breaking our front, but in vain
seven days of static war, afraid to move
the trenches ploughed up

barrage over our positions
with outrageous fierceness
immense detonation
they've dug the tunnels, now blow us up
we were certain that
the ground attack was to come
after the cloud of dust passed
they stormed our way

out of the countless holes and shelters
we emerged
red flare bombs rising
machine guns appearing
a hail of bullets
only resistance to the assaulting enemy

the hell of verdun, the battle of the somme
constant renewal of forces to level out the losses
uncertain future for so many young soldiers
marching into doom to meet their maker soon
the hell of verdun, the battle of the somme
constant renewal of forces to level out the losses
nothing is gained, only human souls are lost
generations wiped out, no proportion to the cost