The Eastern Front, 1916

Strengthened by increased industrial productivity, the Russians planned to launch an offensive in the summer of 1916. However, because of the emergency at Verdun, the French pressed the Russians into an attack before they were fully prepared.

In the north, Russian commanders halfheartedly attacked in the Kurland and Vilna regions, with negligible results. In the south, however, General Brusilov achieved a stunning success against the Austrians, causing them to withdraw some of their forces from the Italian front for defense on the eastern front. The Germans diverted some of their reserves from Verdun to Austria.

The reason for Brusilov's success was his tactics. He trained elite shock troops to capture enemy strongholds, with the aid of short, pinpoint artillery support. Though the artillery fire forewarned the enemy of the exact location of the attack, it did not last long enough for them to prepare their defenses. These tactics enabled the masses of infantry to advance with fewer casualties. Brusilov's results were spectacular. Attacking along a 300-mile (480-km) front, in 10 weeks his forces advanced 30 to 60 miles (48 to 96 km). The Austrians and the Germans suffered 750,000 casualties.

In September and October, Brusilov tried to exploit his summer success by attacking with large numbers of troops. He abandoned his earlier tactics and the offensive became a battle of attrition. In November, hampered by inclement weather and by ammunition shortages, he ordered his troops to entrench and prepare for another winter of defensive warfare.