Learning on the Western Front

Abstract

This chapter provides a basic overview of the tactical dilemma facing the British, French, and German armies on the Western Front. It investigates how the troop-to-space ratio and the imbalance between strategic and tactical mobility — combined with firepower contributed to the stalemate on the Western Front. Beyond these daunting firepower and organizational challenges, the chapter also looks at a number of coordination problems being faced by the commanders during the war: infantry–artillery coordination, the challenge around achieving surprise, and logistics. It also examines the two unenviable trade-offs encountered by the commanders which revolved around depth and breadth. The chapter then shifts to discuss the challenges of the defenders and how they had to constantly adapt during the war. It identifies the optimal doctrine for ending the stalemate. Finally, the chapter analyzes the British, French, and German armies' set of solutions to these problems and challenges: assault tactics, combined-arms, and elastic defense in depth.