A key characteristic of World War I was a military strategy in which belligerents attempted to win a war by wearing down the enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in personnel and materiel. The conflict’s static trench warfare, particularly on the Western Front, fostered conditions ripe for this type of prolonged struggle, where capturing territory became secondary to inflicting unsustainable casualties on the opposing force. The Battle of Verdun, a protracted engagement with massive losses on both sides, exemplifies this approach.
The significance of this approach during World War I lies in its immense human and economic cost. The focus on attrition led to unprecedented levels of death and destruction, reshaping the geopolitical landscape and contributing to widespread social unrest. It highlighted the limitations of prevailing military doctrines and prompted critical reassessments of strategic planning. The strategy’s impact on national resources also played a role in shaping post-war economic and political realities.
