The year 1916 became a symbol of industrialized slaughter. At Verdun, French and German forces fought one of the longest and most punishing battles of the war, with enormous casualties on both sides.

On the Somme, British and French forces launched a massive offensive intended to break the deadlock. Instead, the battle became another vast contest of attrition. On the first day alone, the British Army suffered catastrophic losses.

Artillery dominated the battlefield, and the human cost of war became even more visible. 1916 showed how modern warfare could consume lives on a massive scale without delivering quick victory.

Key themes for 1916:

• Verdun becomes a symbol of endurance and destruction
• The Somme turns into a huge battle of attrition
• Artillery dominates the battlefield
• Casualties reach enormous levels on all sides
• Commanders struggle to break the stalemate
• 1916 becomes the year of industrialized slaughter