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The Battle of the Somme. 1916. 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. Joint British-French attack Drain the German reserves Gain territory
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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
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
French – Joseph Joffre British – Sir Douglas Haig Commanders
Commander – Von Falkenhayn Ordered Verdun offensive Wanted to “Bleed France white” The German Plan
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
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
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
Germans took refuge in concrete bunkers during shelling Shelling served as a warning of an attack German Defense
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
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
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
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
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
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
A controversial commander Flawed tactics caused large losses of life Was he forced by the larger circumstances? Sir Douglas Haig