The Influence Of Warfare On The Western Front

Between 1916 and 1918, warfare on the Western Front was drastically revolutionised from the reliance on basic infantry manoeuvres, to dependence on new technology and strategies that emerged since 1916. The evolution of technology on the Western Front enabled both Allied and German forces to gain a significant strategic advantage over each other, dramatically affecting the outcome of the Great War. The use of technology alone was not enough to influence the outcome of the War, but the use of military strategy and tactics in conjunction with technology, to enable forces to destroy enemy positions and objectives. This essay will argue that the dramatic transformation in the manner of warfare on the Western Front between 1916 and 1918 had significantly

These strategies and tactics were formulated in response to the availability of both manpower and resources. Throughout 1916, trench warfare was the preferred style of warfare, encompassing tactics such as one-on-one combat, bayonet charges, artillery bombardment and ‘going over the top’. According to both German and allied forces, “a successful assault demanded a tremendous bombardment of artillery to smash the front line defences, disrupt communications and cow the surviving garrison troops” . General Haig planned that the “preliminary operations were to wear out the enemy and exhaust his reserves” , which would be the strategy utilised with over the top assaults and the invasion of trenches. In conjunction with the constant bombardment of enemy trenches, a popular ‘bite and hold’ strategy were utilised by both forces in many battles throughout 1916. In particular, this strategy was used by troops to hold their position whilst attempting to obtain an objective. Instead of attempting to achieve an objective all at once, troops would obtain half the ground needed to complete the assault, in order to hold their position and restock. Once the position was secure, troops would continue toward the objective, and complete the assault. This was an effective strategy, as forces would not lose a large number of resources or the objective . To achieve success using these strategies, troops would have guns on enemy trenches, “to provide systematic creeping barrages ploughing forward across the battlefield” . Creeping barrages were a tactic, which was constantly utilised by both the Germans and the Allies. This strategy involved waves of infantry, ‘going over the top’ of the trenches into no man’s land, in order to infiltrate enemy trenches and destroy both troops and resources. Once “a position had been taken, a standing barrage of bursting shells had to be laid in front to