In World War I, battle strategies prominently featured trench warfare, characterized by the construction of extensive trench systems along the Western Front. Soldiers dug in to protect themselves from enemy fire, leading to a static form of combat marked by horrific living conditions, high casualties, and minimal territorial gain. The stalemate created a new type of warfare focused on attrition, often resulting in catastrophic offensives such as the Battle of the Somme and Verdun. New technologies, including machine guns, tanks, and chemical weapons, were developed and adapted to this static warfare, significantly changing military tactics and the nature of combat during the war.