Final answer:
WWI on the Western Front was a war of attrition, marked by the use of trenches and the difficulty of frontal assaults due to defensive technologies like machine guns and artillery. Major battles like Verdun and the Somme had high casualties with little gain, leading to a drawn-out conflict.
Step-by-step explanation:
WWI on the Western Front was a War of attrition, where each side tries to wear down the other with constant attacks. This form of warfare was characterized by extensive trench networks that stretched from the English Channel to the Swiss Alps. The entrenched defensive positions, complemented by artillery and machine guns, made offensive maneuvers exceedingly difficult and costly. Despite numerous assaults, known as "going over the top," wherein thousands of soldiers charged across no-man's-land towards the enemy trenches, neither side could secure a decisive advantage for long periods.
Significant battles, such as those at Verdun and the Somme, exemplified this war of attrition, with both resulting in massive casualties while yielding minimal territorial gains. In these conflicts, the aim was not to win through tactical brilliance but rather to deplete the enemy's manpower and resources through continual pressure and high casualty rates.
The stalemate on the Western Front and the difficulty in achieving breakthroughs with existing military technology ultimately led to a prolonged and grueling conflict, which would only be resolved with the advent of newer strategies and technologies, such as tanks and aircraft, and the accumulated exhaustion and depletion of resources by the warring nations.