20 Facts About Brusilov offensive

Brusilov offensive, known as the "June advance", of June to September 1916 was the Russian Empire's greatest feat of arms during World War I, and among the most lethal offensives in world history.

The offensive takes its name after the commander in charge of the Southwestern Front of the Imperial Russian Army, General Aleksei Brusilov.

At a war council held with senior commanders and the Tsar in April 1916, General Aleksei Brusilov presented a plan to the Stavka, proposing a massive offensive by his Southwestern Front against the Austro-Hungarian forces in Galicia.

Brusilov offensive's plan aimed to take some of the pressure off French and British armies in France and the Italian Army along the Isonzo Front and, if possible, to knock Austria-Hungary out of the war.

The Brusilov offensive aimed to capture the cities of Kovel and Lviv; the Central Powers had recovered both these cities in 1915.

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Brusilov offensive chose Kaledin's Eighth Army to spearhead the capture of Lutsk and Kovel.

Brusilov offensive amassed four armies totaling 40 infantry divisions and 15 cavalry divisions.

Brusilov offensive faced 39 Austrian infantry divisions and 10 cavalry divisions, formed in a row of three defensive lines, as well as German reinforcements that were later brought up.

Brusilov offensive, knowing he would not receive significant reinforcements, moved his reserves up to the front line.

Brusilov offensive extended his army's trenches forward as far as possible, in some cases to within 100m of the Austro-Hungarian positions.

Brusilov offensive's troops had overrun both the first and second lines of enemy defences, and had inflicted heavy losses on the Austro-Hungarian Fourth army.

Brusilov offensive moved to protect his northern flank, while all of his armies continued to maintain pressure all along his Southwest Front.

Brusilov offensive met the German attacks on the Lutsk salient flanks by attacking in turn the German flanks.

From 27 June to 3 July 1916, Brusilov carried out, on his own initiative, the deportation of 13, 000 German civilians from the Volhynian areas that had been conquered during the offensive.

The Brusilov offensive was essentially over, according to Buttar, "Attacks continued on until the autumn rains turned the roads to mud, but other than add to the already terrible casualty list, nothing was achieved.

Brusilov offensive's operation achieved its original goal of forcing Germany to halt its attack on Verdun and transfer considerable forces to the East.

The early success of the Brusilov offensive convinced Romania to enter the war on the side of the Entente, which led to the failure of the 1916 campaign.

The Brusilov Offensive was the high point of the Russian effort during World War I, and was a manifestation of good leadership and planning on the part of the Imperial Russian Army coupled with great skill of the lower ranks.

Brusilov offensive commanded by Brusilov himself went very well, but the overall campaign, for which Brusilov's part was only supposed to be a distraction, because of Evert's failures, became tremendously costly for the Imperial army, and after the offensive, it was no longer able to launch another on the same scale.

The Brusilov offensive is considered one of the most lethal offensives in world history.