Battle of attrition - Definition and Overview

A battle of attrition is a military engagement in which neither side has any tactical advantage, so that the only result of the fighting is the loss of men and material on both sides. Battles of attrition last a long time and test both sides' ability and willingness to make good their losses.

Notable battles of attrition include:

• Trench warfare in the American Civil War, notably the Siege of Petersburg.
• Trench warfare in World War I, including the Battle of the Somme (1916), the Battle of Verdun and many others.
• Static battles in World War II, including the first phases of the Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of Normandy.
• The War of Attrition between Egypt and Israel.

See also

• War of attrition
• Pyrrhic victory