The Great War, as it was

Members of a German World War One historical association prepare for a walk by the wiped-out village of Bezonvaux, near Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

Members of French and German historical associations, who gather annually, together visited the battlefield of Verdun in France, the site of a bloody World War One battle that dragged on for around 10 months in 1916, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives and destroying many villages.

Wearing historical uniforms, they attended a ceremony in the village of Bezonvaux, which was wiped out in the fighting, and took part in a 9-mile walk through the forest of Verdun. The year 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

France

Members of a German World War One historical association, dressed in vintage army uniforms, picnic at Fort de Vaux at the end of a 9-mile walk near Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

French (in blue) and German members of World War One historical associations march into a trench near the bunker of Bezonvaux in the national forest of Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

Members of French association "Le Poilu de la Marne,"dressed in vintage army uniforms, pass by a road sign as they leave the wiped-out village of Bezonvaux, near Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

A French (L) and a German member of World War One historical associations lay a wreath for soldiers from both sides who were killed near the wiped-out village of Bezonvaux, near Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

Philipp (C), 11, member of German World War One historical association "IG 18" from Trier, marches in front of Fort de Vaux at the end of a 9-mile walk near Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

Members of a German World War One historical association sit on the remains of a French long-range cannon in the wiped-out village of Bezonvaux, near Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

Florent, a member of French association "Le Poilu de la Marne", dressed in vintage army uniform as a "poilu" (French soldier in World War I), takes part in a 9-mile walk through the national forest of Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

Members of French association "Le Poilu de la Marne," dressed in vintage army uniforms, take a break at Fort de Vaux at the end of a 9-mile walk near Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

Members of German World War One historical associations, dressed in vintage army uniforms, take part in a 9-mile walk through the national forest of Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

A member of a German World War One historical association, dressed in a vintage uniform, takes part in a 9-mile walk through the national forest of Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

French (in blue) and German members of World War One historical associations march into a trench near the bunker of Bezonvaux in the national forest of Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

Members of German World War One historical associations, dressed in vintage army uniforms, leave the wiped-out village of Bezonvaux, near Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

Members of a German World War One historical association, dressed in vintage army uniforms, visit Fort de Vaux at the end of a 9-mile walk near Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

Members of a German World War One historical association stand in front of a bunker at Bezonvaux, near Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

French (in blue) and German members of World War One historical associations pose near the pond of Vaux, near Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

Members of World War One historical associations attend a ceremony at the wiped-out village of Bezonvaux, near Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

Members of the French association of "Le Poilu de la Marne" (in blue) and members of German World War One historical associations, dressed in vintage army uniforms, take a break in front of the pond of Vaux in the national forest of Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.

France

French (in blue) and German members of World War One historical associations take part in a 9-mile walk through the national forest of Verdun, eastern France, March 29, 2014.