AFP GETTY More than 3,000 schoolchildren ran across the war graves

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Images of the children running riot at Verdun, the scene of one of the bloodiest battles in human history, have been circulated around the world. The chaos of Verdun was such that casualty figures differ but military historians put the human toll at between 714,000 and 1 million French and German troops over 303 days in 1916. German filmmaker Volker Schlondorff organised the ‘commemorative run’ as French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid tribute to the fallen.

The run violated the honour of our ancestors and displayed immense contempt for the unknown soldiers Marion Maréchal-Le Pen

Some 3,400 children from France and Germany ran among the graves at Douaumont, a village that was completely destroyed during the Battle of Verdun. Mr Schlondorff insisted he was trying to depict the chaos of the battle with his stunt. But National Front MP Marion Maréchal-Le Pen said it “violated the honour of our ancestors” and displayed “immense contempt” for the unknown soldiers in the area.

Miss Maréchal-Le Pen was joined by politicians from both Left and Right who complained about the “bad taste” and “lack of respect for the heroes of Verdun”. The Verdun battle was one of the longest in World War I, lasting more than 300 days from February to December 1916, and its commemoration has come to signify the reconciliation between Germany and France after decades of hostility and distrust following two world wars.

AFP GETTY People were horrified by what they saw as the desecration of the graves

AFP GETTY Up to one million troops died during the battle

AFP GETTY Children from France and Germany ran among the graves at Douaumont

AFP GETTY German filmmaker Volker Schlondorff organised the stunt

Angela Merkel and François Hollande marked the 100th anniversary by laying a wreath at the cemetery in northeastern France. Thousands of British people, including members of the Royal Family, will arrive in France in July to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

AFP GETTY German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande paid tribute to the fallen