The Battle of the Somme

1. The Battle of the Somme 1916

2. The Somme • July 1, 1916 – November 18, 1916 • Attack along a 30 km front • 58,000 British casualties on first day • One of the bloodiest battles of the war

3. Joint British-French attack Drain the German reserves Gain territory Majority of fighting to be done by the French Begin on August 1 The Allied Plan

4. French – Joseph Joffre British – Sir Douglas Haig Commanders

5. Commander – Von Falkenhayn Ordered Verdun offensive Wanted to “Bleed France white” The German Plan

6. The Allies • Attack moved to 1 July • Verdun offensive required French troops to meet the German threat • British assume the lead at the Somme • Intended to draw Germans away from Verdun • Haig hoped to force a breakthrough to Cambrai and Douai and split German line

7. Initial Bombardment • Shelling of German trenches for 8 days • Creeping barrage to precede infantry attack • Shelling would continue ahead of the infantry as they took consecutive trenches • 1500 British guns and a similar number from the French • Underground cables for communication

8. The Attack begins • 27 Allied divisions versus 16 German • 80% of allies were British and Commonwealth • French army will attack to the south • Main attack was preceded by a series of 17 mines exploded under German defences • Many British shells were defective and did not explode

9. Germans took refuge in concrete bunkers during shelling Shelling served as a warning of an attack German Defense

10. Early Results • BEF makes little progress in early fighting • Soldiers were heavily laden with equipment and supplies • They were slowed down and made easy targets • French troops achieved most of their objectives • The Germans did not expect them to attack

11. The Battle Continues • 11 July 1916 • General Rawlinson’s Forces take first line of trenches • Germans transfer forces from Verdun to strengthen their line • Two Australian divisions take Pozieres • Germans re-organize their defenses • German First Army led by von Gallwitz

12. Through the Summer • Each side believes that a breakthrough is imminent because the other side is tired and weakening • Fighting will continue on into the fall

13. 15 September, 1916 Battle of Flers-Courcelette First use of tanks 24 of 50 were able to be used Canadians capture Courcelette Scots capture Martinpuich A New Weapon

14. British: Battle of Morval Battle of Thiepval Ridge Transloy Ridge Ancre Heights Battle of the Ancre – Capture fortress Beaumont-Hamel French: Chaulnes East of Morval Allied Assaults during the Fall

15. Final Results • British and French gain 12 km of ground • British casualties total 420,000 • French casualties total 200,000 • German casualties estimated at 500,000

16. A controversial commander Flawed tactics caused large losses of life Was he forced by the larger circumstances? Sir Douglas Haig