Verdun is an interesting comparison. There are more differences than similarities between Bakhmut and Verdun regarding why the battle was fought. It is clear that the Russians actually do want to take Bakhmut. The Germans OTOH specifically did NOT want to take Verdun. Verdun was chosen for it's symbolic value. It had no real strategic significance. The Germans knew that the French would defend Verdun at all costs and beyond. Verdun also lacked good communications with the rest of the French forces, being supplied by a single road. That road was also in a valley, so the Germans could fire down onto it. The plan was to put enough pressure on the French that they would have to keep feeding forces into the meat grinder, but not so many forces that Germany would suffer anywhere near the same attrition. Unfortunately for the Germans, their Generals simply couldn't help but fight to "win". Even more so the troops. So, while France did loose disproportionately more men, it wasn't nearly as big a delta as originally planed or expected.
I do somewhat fear that Ukraine is playing the role of the Germans here. They didn't plan this battle in Bakhmut. It has no great significance in the history of Ukraine. Russia blundered into a meat grinder and didn't have the sense to stop. Now however, I do worry that Ukraine can't "let go". They may be repeating the German mistake at Verdun of thinking they actually needed to win this battle, when in reality the attrition of Russian forces was the win, not holding a meaningless town.
That is not to say that I think I know better than the guys planning Ukraine's strategy. They may know what they are doing. It is however very easy to want to continue a battle to ensure your "comrades have not died in vain". Hopefully, everybody is still keeping the eye on the "prize". One article I have see makes me wonder a bit. https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukrainian-sol...41199.html
The guys on the front lines always have a local, parochial point of view. However, hearing about National Guard troops being committed with no battle experience is a bit concerning. Possibly both Russia and Ukraine are running a training operation as well as ongoing battles, and choices have to be made that aren't optimal.
I do somewhat fear that Ukraine is playing the role of the Germans here. They didn't plan this battle in Bakhmut. It has no great significance in the history of Ukraine. Russia blundered into a meat grinder and didn't have the sense to stop. Now however, I do worry that Ukraine can't "let go". They may be repeating the German mistake at Verdun of thinking they actually needed to win this battle, when in reality the attrition of Russian forces was the win, not holding a meaningless town.
That is not to say that I think I know better than the guys planning Ukraine's strategy. They may know what they are doing. It is however very easy to want to continue a battle to ensure your "comrades have not died in vain". Hopefully, everybody is still keeping the eye on the "prize". One article I have see makes me wonder a bit. https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukrainian-sol...41199.html
The guys on the front lines always have a local, parochial point of view. However, hearing about National Guard troops being committed with no battle experience is a bit concerning. Possibly both Russia and Ukraine are running a training operation as well as ongoing battles, and choices have to be made that aren't optimal.