When And Where Did The Somme Occur?
The Battle of the Somme
When and where did the battle occur?
The Battle of the Somme lasted for over 4 months, between 1 July and 16 November 1916. It was fought on both sides of the Somme river in Northern country France near the current border of France and Germany. It was fought at a part of the Western front at the time.
Why was the battle fought?
In 1916, the Allied forces of Russia, Italy, France and Great Britain had a joint strategy of attack against Germany and its allies. The Russians were to attack Germany in the East, Italy would attack Austria, and France and Great Britain would fight Germany in the West. This would stop the Central Power from moving between fronts, as they would constantly be caught up in battle.
Slightly before the Battle of the Somme, the Germans launched a …show more content…
surprise attack on France at Verdun. This had two repercussions. Firstly, the French were preoccupied with this attack at Verdun, and couldn't help out as much at any other attacks, such as the planned attack at the Somme River, and secondly, many French were dying at this battle. This meant that the battle was important for two reasons. Primarily, it was to gain German occupied land and kill Germans in the process, and secondly, it was to help the French at Verdun.
Remembering the dissatisfaction by ministers at the end of 1915, because the operations had not come up to their expectations, the General Staff took the precaution to make quite clear beforehand the nature of success which the Somme campaign might yield. The necessity of relieving pressure on the French Army at Verdun remains, and is more urgent than ever. This is, therefore, the first objective to be obtained by the combined British and French offensive. The second objective is to inflict as heavy losses as possible upon the German armies.
Sir William Robertson, Chief of the Imperial General Staff
In a way, the attack at the Somme was both an offensive and a defensive. It could both gain German land on the offensive, while relieving pressure on the French, which is more of a defensive decision.
Notable features
One of the most significant outcomes of the Battle of the Somme was the severe amount of people who were killed.
During the course of the battle, over 1 million people died. It was one of the most horrific battles of World War One, and involved one of the highest casualty rates. Over 420,000 Britons and people from British colonies died, including Australians. More than 200,000 French were killed, and at least 500,000 Germans lost their lives. There was a hardly conceivable amount of soldiers from both sides killed in this battle. It truly was a massacre.
The next morning (July 2nd) we gunners surveyed the dreadful scene in front of us......it became clear that the Germans always had a commanding view of No Man's Land. (The British) attack had been brutally repulsed. Hundreds of dead were strung out like wreckage washed up to a high water-mark. Quite as many died on the enemy wire as on the ground, like fish caught in the net. They hung there in grotesque postures. Some looked as if they were praying; they had died on their knees and the wire had prevented their fall. Machine gun fire had done its terrible work.
George Coppard, a machine gunner at the
battle
Normal tactics at the time of the battle were for the British to launch an intense artillery bombardment before any attack commenced. In accordance with these tactics, there was a week long artillery bombing of the German ground at the Somme, and in total, 1,738,000 shells were fired. This had two disadvantages. Firstly, it was hardly of any benefit to the battle, and probably just made it harder for the British to cross No-Man’s land. In reality, the Germans were not affected. Secondly, it meant that the German’s knew where an attack was about to happen, and so could prepare accordingly.
The enemy's position to be attacked was of a very considerable character, situated on high, undulating tract of ground. (They had) deep trenches....bomb proof shelters......wire entanglements forty yards broad often as thick as a man's finger. Defences of this nature could only be attacked with the prospect of success after careful artillery preparation.
Field Marshall Haig, explaining the use of artillery
Furthermore, military thinking at the time was extremely orthodox. The extent to which military tactics were so backward minded is evident in the fact that there was a cavalry regiment on standby for the battle. In a 20th century battle involving machine guns, tanks and trenches, British generals still believed that a regiment of cavalry was necessary.
Outcome and significance
In reality, the outcome of the Battle of the Somme was barely anything. The Allies only advanced 8km over the course of the whole battle and over 1 million lives were lost in the process. The only success the Allies actually achieved was in relieving pressure on the French at Verdun. The true significance of the battle was the amount of casualties. The Battle of the Somme was full of death and turmoil, and was one of the most deadly battles of World War One.
Somme. The whole history of the world cannot contain a more ghastly word.
Friedrich Steinbrecher, a German officer
When and where did the battle occur?
The Battle of the Somme lasted for over 4 months, between 1 July and 16 November 1916. It was fought on both sides of the Somme river in Northern country France near the current border of France and Germany. It was fought at a part of the Western front at the time.
Why was the battle fought?
In 1916, the Allied forces of Russia, Italy, France and Great Britain had a joint strategy of attack against Germany and its allies. The Russians were to attack Germany in the East, Italy would attack Austria, and France and Great Britain would fight Germany in the West. This would stop the Central Power from moving between fronts, as they would constantly be caught up in battle.
Slightly before the Battle of the Somme, the Germans launched a …show more content…
surprise attack on France at Verdun. This had two repercussions. Firstly, the French were preoccupied with this attack at Verdun, and couldn't help out as much at any other attacks, such as the planned attack at the Somme River, and secondly, many French were dying at this battle. This meant that the battle was important for two reasons. Primarily, it was to gain German occupied land and kill Germans in the process, and secondly, it was to help the French at Verdun.
Remembering the dissatisfaction by ministers at the end of 1915, because the operations had not come up to their expectations, the General Staff took the precaution to make quite clear beforehand the nature of success which the Somme campaign might yield. The necessity of relieving pressure on the French Army at Verdun remains, and is more urgent than ever. This is, therefore, the first objective to be obtained by the combined British and French offensive. The second objective is to inflict as heavy losses as possible upon the German armies.
Sir William Robertson, Chief of the Imperial General Staff
In a way, the attack at the Somme was both an offensive and a defensive. It could both gain German land on the offensive, while relieving pressure on the French, which is more of a defensive decision.
Notable features
One of the most significant outcomes of the Battle of the Somme was the severe amount of people who were killed.
During the course of the battle, over 1 million people died. It was one of the most horrific battles of World War One, and involved one of the highest casualty rates. Over 420,000 Britons and people from British colonies died, including Australians. More than 200,000 French were killed, and at least 500,000 Germans lost their lives. There was a hardly conceivable amount of soldiers from both sides killed in this battle. It truly was a massacre.
The next morning (July 2nd) we gunners surveyed the dreadful scene in front of us......it became clear that the Germans always had a commanding view of No Man's Land. (The British) attack had been brutally repulsed. Hundreds of dead were strung out like wreckage washed up to a high water-mark. Quite as many died on the enemy wire as on the ground, like fish caught in the net. They hung there in grotesque postures. Some looked as if they were praying; they had died on their knees and the wire had prevented their fall. Machine gun fire had done its terrible work.
George Coppard, a machine gunner at the
battle
Normal tactics at the time of the battle were for the British to launch an intense artillery bombardment before any attack commenced. In accordance with these tactics, there was a week long artillery bombing of the German ground at the Somme, and in total, 1,738,000 shells were fired. This had two disadvantages. Firstly, it was hardly of any benefit to the battle, and probably just made it harder for the British to cross No-Man’s land. In reality, the Germans were not affected. Secondly, it meant that the German’s knew where an attack was about to happen, and so could prepare accordingly.
The enemy's position to be attacked was of a very considerable character, situated on high, undulating tract of ground. (They had) deep trenches....bomb proof shelters......wire entanglements forty yards broad often as thick as a man's finger. Defences of this nature could only be attacked with the prospect of success after careful artillery preparation.
Field Marshall Haig, explaining the use of artillery
Furthermore, military thinking at the time was extremely orthodox. The extent to which military tactics were so backward minded is evident in the fact that there was a cavalry regiment on standby for the battle. In a 20th century battle involving machine guns, tanks and trenches, British generals still believed that a regiment of cavalry was necessary.
Outcome and significance
In reality, the outcome of the Battle of the Somme was barely anything. The Allies only advanced 8km over the course of the whole battle and over 1 million lives were lost in the process. The only success the Allies actually achieved was in relieving pressure on the French at Verdun. The true significance of the battle was the amount of casualties. The Battle of the Somme was full of death and turmoil, and was one of the most deadly battles of World War One.
Somme. The whole history of the world cannot contain a more ghastly word.
Friedrich Steinbrecher, a German officer