Merkel and Hollande meet on the stage of one of the greatest battles in history.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande participated in a joint ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Verdun, laying a wreath at a cemetery in northeastern France for the 300.000 soldiers killed in one of the bloodiest battles in history.
Reuters German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande participated in a joint ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Verdun, laying a wreath at a cemetery in northeastern France for the 300.000 soldiers who died.
The two leaders are expected to have lunch together and then make a joint statement later in the day. Hollande said earlier that discussions at the start of this week will focus on the future of Europe, including the migrant crisis, security, and the rise of populist movements.
The Battle of Verdun was one of the longest battles in the First World War, lasting approximately 300 days from February to December 1916.
The commemoration of the battle came to signify the strengthening of relations between Germany and France. Only in 1984 did the neighboring countries hold a joint ceremony to mark the Battle of Verdun, another step towards ending decades of residual hostility and mistrust after two world wars.