14. Falkenhayn was relieved over the failure of his strategy at Verdun
Erich von Falkenhayn believed that the attack at Verdun would destroy the French Army through attrition, with the French committing division after division until there were none left to continue the fighting. He was thwarted by the rotation system implemented by Petain. Likening it to a noria, a type of waterwheel, Petain ordered divisions to remain fighting until they were reduced to 50% or less of their original strength. They were then rotated out for refitting and receiving new recruits while another division took their place. In this manner, nearly 75% of the entire French Army saw action during the 303 days of the Battle of Verdun.
Falkenhayn was also brought down as Chief of Staff for his failure to consider the Eastern Front, which both von Hindenburg, his successor, and Erich Ludendorff believed should have been the focus of the German war effort. Once the Verdun operation was revealed to have been a strategic failure, and the British and French assault on the Somme was underway, Falkenhayn was dismissed from his position as Chief of Staff. A major offensive by the Russians on the Eastern Front added to his woes, and Romania declared war on Germany and Austro-Hungary. Meanwhile the meatgrinder at Verdun ground on, with the French moving to regain lost territory.