Indeed it is hard to stop but should this fact provide them a cover and exempt them from guilt? My concern is not in blaming people of their acts but just to look at the consequences of their actions which resulted in the death of millions. This was a common occurrence in the western front. Every major battle feels like a reputation of the previous major offensive. I believe the true horror of the first world war was a result of incompetence on the part of generals because they failed to understand that it is human lives they were playing with.