The author of the book was the commander of the French armies during the imperialist war, which repelled the German offensive on Verdun in 1916 - this most important strategic point on the Western Front. The author unfolds a living and vivid picture of the persistent struggle and the extraordinary material, physical and moral effort that was required not only from the troops and command, but from all of France to bring this struggle to a successful end. The book is also interesting because Pétain thoroughly reconsiders the issue of long-term fortifications, smashing the theories that appeared at the beginning of the world imperialist war about the uselessness of long-term fortifications in modern war.