A General's Inability to Admit Failure

France's General Nivelle thought his new formula would produce a successful offensive against the Germans. He declared that if he didn't produce a breakthrough within the first 48 hours of battle he would end the offensive rather than shed more blood. But it was too big for him. He couldn't bring himself to admit failure. He continued with his offensive into the following month and lost 187,000 men as casualties, and his troops rebelled.