Erich von Falkenhayn, Chief of the
German General Staff(
Oberste Heeresleitung OHL) since 14 September, concluded that a decisive victory could not be achieved on the
Western Front and that it was equally unlikely in the east. Falkenhayn abandoned
Vernichtunsstrategie (strategy of annihilation) and attempted to create the conditions for peace with one of Germany's enemies, by
Ermattungsstrategie (strategy of exhaustion), to enable Germany to concentrate its resources decisively to defeat the remaining opponents.