Turning Point - Sekigahara: Toyotomi's Global Expansion and its Consequences

Phase 28 - Great War (5)

While fierce battles raged in the heartland of North America, the ground warfare on the Western Front had become so intense that no one had anticipated. A new strategy and concept called "war of attrition" emerged, and it became the stage for the Battle of Verdun.

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The war of attrition was initiated by the German central command as a new type of tactic and strategy. However, most of the German forces, unaware of this, launched fierce attacks, believing in their homeland's victory. France, in response, also engaged in a desperate defense, risking its very existence.

The battle, which began in February 1916, lasted for nearly 10 months and resulted in a total of around 700.000 soldiers being killed or wounded. It was on this battlefield that aircraft, a new weapon, became the target of attrition warfare for the first time in history. Numerous aircraft from both sides filled the skies and often met their demise on the ground. This period also saw the emergence of magnificent "ace" pilots. However, during this era, there were no parachutes, so being shot down or crashing almost always meant death. Perhaps this is why the romanticized notion of "chivalry" prevailed during that time.

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From July of the same year, the Entente launched its almost first full-scale offensive on the Western Front, taking place in the region of the Somme, where fierce battles unfolded.

The distinctive feature of this battlefield is often attributed not only to the simple war of attrition but also to the introduction of a new weapon, the "tank." However, the early tanks used by the British forces had many technical issues and their tactics were somewhat rudimentary, so they did not prove very effective.

In the end, the offensive led by the British, lasting until around mid-November, ended in failure, and after a protracted battle for a small amount of territory, the Entente and Germany had a combined total of 600.000 casualties on one side and 450.000 on the other, closing this chapter. The overall casualties on both sides exceeded those of the Battle of Verdun. However, battles like Verdun and the Somme became more common on the Western Front thereafter.

Meanwhile, on the Eastern Front, Romania joined the Entente in August 1916. Romania's entry into the war was driven by hopes of the Russian summer offensive in 1916 and the goal of reclaiming territory (such as Transylvania) from Austria-Hungary. However, within just a little over four months of the beginning of the war, Romania suffered continuous defeats at the hands of the Alliance, losing three-quarters of its entire army and most of its territory. It was a complete disaster, with a vast difference in military strength and industrial capabilities between the German and Romanian armies, illustrating the stark contrast in military power between a first-class nation and others. This was a common occurrence in conflicts, as seen in the battles between the Japanese and Qing armies, highlighting the military power disparity between major modernized nations and others. Total war was a luxury only granted to highly industrialized major nations.

And then there was the battle for the Unredeemed Italy between Italy and Austria, a battle between near-equals. However, due to the nature of the disputed territory, the mountainous terrain was the main battlefield, and there was little movement on the front lines. The Italian army, determined to reclaim its territory, suffered losses without making significant progress. They then redirected their efforts towards the East Adriatic coast, another unredeemed land, but this offensive was also far from successful. From a strategic perspective, it can be said that Italy's actions did little more than engage the Austrian army. The various fronts across Europe held by the Entente all shared a similar situation.

Total war and attrition warfare are battles where victory or defeat is not easily determined until one side exhausts its strength.

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