Originally Posted by
fusilier
At anyrate, I do think that the weapons, and tactics, did encourage trench warfare. However, I think that aerial reconnaissance was a major factor in strategic "stalemate." Assuming that stalemate at the strategic level doesn't necessarily imply trench warfare.
I also think that there are other factors that need to be looked at. The Eastern Front was more mobile than the Western. Why? They dug trenches there too. I've wondered if it was simply a matter of the ratio of men per unit-length of front lines being lower. If there weren't enough aircraft to prevent the occasional strategic surprise. Did a lack of infrastructure have an effect?
--EDIT--
Wikipedia claims it was the length of the front, and a lack of communications that made defensive lines weaker, and prevented the defender from quickly containing a breakthrough.