The military strategy primarily used during the trench warfare of World War I was attrition. This strategy focused on wearing down the enemy through continuous assaults, leading to devastating casualties. Soldiers lived in horrendous conditions in deep trenches, which resulted in stalemates on the Western Front. Neither side could achieve significant territorial gains, leading to a war of exhaustion rather than decisive victories. Attrition meant that victory relied on who could outlast the other in manpower and resources, ultimately resulting in enormous loss of life and a long, grueling war.