Battle of Flirey The Battle of Flirey ( ) was a First World War battle fought between the 19th of September and 11 October 1914 . It resulted in a German victory against the French Army . The battle cut most of the roads and railways to the strategically important fortified city of Verdun , and was to have a large effect on the course of the war . Background . The Woevre Plain stretches from the city of Luxemburg , south to the French city of Toul , and was a common route of attack between Germany and France . The plain is flanked on the eastern side by a series of mountain ranges ( the " Hauts de Meuse " ) alongside the Meuse River , and along the western side by the a series of mountain ranges alongside the Moselle River . Pre - war , a series of German fortifications were built along the Moselle River ( especially around the city of Metz ) , while across the border , a matching set of French fortifications was established along the Meuse River around Verdun and Toul . In the first months of the First World War , the German High Command were the first ones to realise the increased effectiveness that artillery and machineguns gave to the defense , and as a result seized various terrain features that would be easy to defend . As a result , recognising that it is easier to defend the heights alongside the Meuse River ( as opposed to the plain between the Moselle and Meuse rivers ) , a German attack was planned to seize these heights , and so deny access to the Woevre Plain to the Allies . In addition , this would isolate the fortified city of Verdun and reduce the ability of the French to attack German territory . The battle . The attack commenced on the 19th of September , with German cavalry from Metz skirmishing with the French defenders in the Dieulouard - Martincourt area . Flirey , the woods around the village and Seicheprey were quickly captured . French reinforcements arrived on the 22nd , but could not stop the Germans from advancing . The German advance then changed direction , moving from the previous southerly direction , to a south - westerly direction . By September 24 , the village of Saint - Mihiel was captured , despite the French villages of Flirey , Seicheprey and Xivray being recaptured . More French reinforcements arrived on the 27th , but as the Germans were now firmly entrenched , French counterattacks ( between Flirey and Apremont ) resulted in little change in the front line . French counterattacks continued until October 11 . Aftermath . The battle resulted in a salient ( the " St . Mihiel Salient " ) being projected into the French lines south of Verdun . Of the two roads and one railway that led to Verdun , all bar one minor road were rendered impassable by the Germans . This imposed a serious logistical handicap to the French defenders around Verdun . In addition , it resulted in Verdun being encircled on three sides , and effectively neutralised Verdun as a base to any French offensives . The area was to see much fighting over the rest of the war . However , despite numerous attempts by the French to reduce the salient ( such as the First Battle of Woevre ( ) ( 5 April to 5 May 1915 ) and the First and Second Offensive Battle of Verdun ) , the salient wasn ' t reduced until the Franco - American attack in September 1918 ( the Battle of Saint - Mihiel ) .