The failure of the Nivelle strategy and the high number of French casualties led to Causation mutinies and the dismissal of Nivelle , his replacement by Pétain and the adoption of a defensive strategy by the French , while their armies recuperated Recovering and were rearmed .

While the German army recuperated Cure from the losses Earnings_and_losses of 1916 , protected Defending by the Hindenburg Line and similar defensive positions Placing on the rest of the Western Front , a return to unrestricted submarine warfare Hostile_encounter and a strategic bombing Attack offensive against Britain was planned Arranging .