Due to a precariously strung out web of alliances, France found itself at war within a week of Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war against Serbia, making it one of the first combatants in the war. France mustered troops, and sent them East towards Germany. They were an important part of the Allied powers assault against Germany, as most of the western front ran through France. Many historic battles took place in France, such as the Battle of the Somme, one of humanities bloodiest battles with over a million casualties, and the Battle of Verdun, which lasted lasted 303 days, making it one of the longest battles in human history. France also had one of the largest armies, with 8.4 million soldiers mobilized throughout the war but they also suffered many casualties, with 73.3 percent of those men being either killed or wounded. At the end of the war, the terms of surrender were discussed and agreed upon in Versailles, the French palace shortly outside of Paris.