When trench assaults begin, machine gunners rarely survive more than 2 minutes, and front-line trench mortars are usually detected and counterattacked within 5 minutes.
Yet back then, we didn't even have the will to counterattack against Russian heavy artillery.
Because the enemy wasn't just aiming and firing, or stopping after a few shots, but trying to devastate the area with overwhelming artillery power.
So Hindenburg prepared.
While the original plan called for a maximum of 1,700 heavy artillery pieces, he boldly increased this to 2,178.
Meanwhile, the enemy still had around 500 pieces. Considering destroyed gun barrels and ammunition shortages, they couldn't utilize even 400 pieces in the artillery battle.
"Those idiots think offense and defense are separate in this primitive battlefield of slaughter."
If they want to defend quietly, artillery bombardment.
If they want to counterattack, infantry battle just the same.