ABSTRACT
On December 28, 1915, it had been decided that every effort was to be made to prepare for carrying out offensive operations in the spring in the Western theatre, but final sanction had not been given for the offensive to be undertaken. For some time there were some members of the Supreme Command who hoped that the great assault would not be undertaken. Next to Russia, Italy was the ally whose supplies caused the Supreme Command in the greatest concern. The machines were known as 'tanks for Russia' and had this written on them in English and Russian. The whole of people's efforts during the first half of 1916 were dominated by one idea, namely the concentration of all available resources on what was termed the 'decisive theatre of war' in accordance with the principles laid down on December 28, 1915.
