Question

What is a “war of attrition” and how does this phrase apply to WWI?

Answer 1

A war of attrition in WWI referred to a strategy of winning the war by wearing down the enemy through continuous losses, resulting in immense casualties for small territorial gains and turning nations into complete war economies. The war featured trench warfare with advancements in military technology leading to high defensive advantages, creating prolonged battles where material and human resources were pushed to their limits.

Step-by-step explanation:

A war of attrition is a military strategy in which a belligerent side aims to win a war by wearing down its enemy to the point of collapse through continuous losses in personnel and material. During World War I, this strategy became prominent due to a stalemate where both sides found themselves unable to make significant territorial gains, resulting in protracted trench warfare characterized by appalling casualties and little movement. The war of attrition meant both sides producing more munitions, drafting more men, and committing more civilians to the war effort, with commanders often taking a ruthless stance towards their casualties, viewing them as a necessary sacrifice for an eventual victory.

World War I encapsulated a total war because it mobilized not only armies but entire nations and economies, involving widespread civilian participation and impact. Technological advancements in military hardware such as tanks, airplanes, and chemical weapons exacerbated the sheer scale of the conflict's destructiveness. The Great War's frontline standstill, marked by trench warfare and the devastating power of defensive weaponry, led to immense slaughters for minuscule territorial gains, depicting the quintessential nature of a war of attrition.

The term war of attrition applied to WWI indicates a gruesome contest where the victory was less about strategic brilliance and more about which side could bear the human and material costs the longest. Through this lens, WWI's extended battles and massive casualties reflect the essence of attritional warfare, with nations pushing their material and human resources to the brink in pursuit of triumph.

Answer 2

War of attrition is a style of warfare fought where one side tries to “wear down” the other side, be that mentally, physically or casualty wise.

This is often associated with World War 1 because it was the most common style of fighting that occurred, mainly in the form of trench warfare, where one side would launch attack after attack to try and wear the other side down.

Hope this helps!