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The Western Front (also known as the Belgian Front in military documents) was one of the main theatres of war during the First World War. Following the Invasion of Greece, and the subsequent escalation of the war, the French Army marched into Belgium before declaring war on the German Empire. The initial French invasion was successful, but their advances ended in the First Battle for Brussels, where the BEF partook in their first major European battle of the war.

Following the Race to the Sea, both sides dug massive networks of trenches and other fortifications, mainly around major settlements or geographical features.

The front was characterised by massive infantry offensives, often supported by so-called wonder weapons, with varying degrees of success. Frontlines rarely changed, as defensive technologies and tactics far outpaced offensive methods.

Artillery was the chief killer in the war, with disease second. Both were slow killers, and rarely decisive, and so frontlines scarcely moved.

Certain towns and cities were disproportionately hit by the effects of the war, with some cities going through 6 or 7 battles between 1916 and 1922.

Combat between 1916 and 1920 were characterised by deadly infantry battles in forests or swamps, often supported by heavy artillery or tanks. Aircraft played a limited role until 1919, when the 80-day offensive broke French lines for the first time, and reconnaissance was then necessary. 1920 brought the first modern tank, and mechanised warfare grew in use. The war ended in November 1922, with the collapse of French lines around Calais towards Paris, and the signing of the Armistice for Peace.

By the end of the conflict, there would be over 32 million military casualties on the Western Front alone, with massive civilian casualties in France, Germany and especially Belgium, where the population halved.