The Battle of the The Battle of the SommeSomme

19161916

The SommeThe Somme

July 1, 1916 – November 18, 1916July 1, 1916 – November 18, 1916 Attack along a 30 km frontAttack along a 30 km front 58,000 British casualties on first day58,000 British casualties on first day One of the bloodiest battles of the One of the bloodiest battles of the

warwar

The Allied PlanThe Allied Plan

Joint British-French Joint British-French attackattack

Drain the German Drain the German reservesreserves

Gain territoryGain territory Majority of fighting Majority of fighting

to be done by the to be done by the FrenchFrench

Begin on August 1Begin on August 1

CommandersCommanders

French – Joseph French – Joseph JoffreJoffre

British – Sir British – Sir Douglas HaigDouglas Haig

The German PlanThe German Plan

Commander – Von Commander – Von FalkenhaynFalkenhayn

Ordered Verdun Ordered Verdun offensiveoffensive

Wanted to “Bleed Wanted to “Bleed France white”France white”

The AlliesThe Allies

Attack moved to 1 JulyAttack moved to 1 July Verdun offensive required French Verdun offensive required French

troops to meet the German threattroops to meet the German threat British assume the lead at the SommeBritish assume the lead at the Somme Intended to draw Germans away from Intended to draw Germans away from

VerdunVerdun Haig hoped to force a breakthrough to Haig hoped to force a breakthrough to

Cambrai and Douai and split German Cambrai and Douai and split German lineline

Initial BombardmentInitial Bombardment

Shelling of German trenches for 8 daysShelling of German trenches for 8 days Creeping barrage to precede infantry Creeping barrage to precede infantry

attackattack Shelling would continue ahead of the Shelling would continue ahead of the

infantry as they took consecutive infantry as they took consecutive trenchestrenches

1500 British guns and a similar number 1500 British guns and a similar number from the Frenchfrom the French

Underground cables for communication Underground cables for communication

The Attack beginsThe Attack begins

27 Allied divisions versus 16 German27 Allied divisions versus 16 German 80% of allies were British and 80% of allies were British and

CommonwealthCommonwealth French army will attack to the southFrench army will attack to the south Main attack was preceded by a series Main attack was preceded by a series

of 17 mines exploded under German of 17 mines exploded under German defencesdefences

Many British shells were defective Many British shells were defective and did not explodeand did not explode

German DefenseGerman Defense

Germans took Germans took refuge in concrete refuge in concrete bunkers during bunkers during shellingshelling

Shelling served as Shelling served as a warning of an a warning of an attackattack

Early ResultsEarly Results

BEF makes little progress in early BEF makes little progress in early fightingfighting

Soldiers were heavily laden with Soldiers were heavily laden with equipment and suppliesequipment and supplies

They were slowed down and made easy They were slowed down and made easy targetstargets

French troops achieved most of their French troops achieved most of their objectivesobjectives

The Germans did not expect them to The Germans did not expect them to attackattack

The Battle ContinuesThe Battle Continues

11 July 191611 July 1916 General Rawlinson’s Forces take first General Rawlinson’s Forces take first

line of trenchesline of trenches Germans transfer forces from Verdun Germans transfer forces from Verdun

to strengthen their lineto strengthen their line Two Australian divisions take PozieresTwo Australian divisions take Pozieres Germans re-organize their defensesGermans re-organize their defenses German First Army led by von GallwitzGerman First Army led by von Gallwitz

Through the SummerThrough the Summer

Each side believes that a Each side believes that a breakthrough is imminent because breakthrough is imminent because the other side is tired and weakeningthe other side is tired and weakening

Fighting will continue on into the fallFighting will continue on into the fall

A New WeaponA New Weapon 15 September, 15 September,

19161916 Battle of Flers-Battle of Flers-

CourceletteCourcelette First use of tanksFirst use of tanks 24 of 50 were able 24 of 50 were able

to be usedto be used Canadians capture Canadians capture

CourceletteCourcelette Scots capture Scots capture

MartinpuichMartinpuich

Allied Assaults during the Allied Assaults during the FallFall

British:British: Battle of MorvalBattle of Morval Battle of Thiepval Battle of Thiepval

RidgeRidge Transloy RidgeTransloy Ridge Ancre HeightsAncre Heights Battle of the Ancre Battle of the Ancre

– Capture fortress – Capture fortress Beaumont-HamelBeaumont-Hamel

French:French: ChaulnesChaulnes East of MorvalEast of Morval

Final ResultsFinal Results

British and French gain 12 km of British and French gain 12 km of groundground

British casualties total 420,000British casualties total 420,000 French casualties total 200,000French casualties total 200,000 German casualties estimated at German casualties estimated at

500,000500,000

Sir Douglas HaigSir Douglas Haig

A controversial A controversial commandercommander

Flawed tactics Flawed tactics caused large losses caused large losses of lifeof life

Was he forced by Was he forced by the larger the larger circumstances?circumstances?