Changes

[[File:British_Lancers.jpg|thumbnail|300px250px|left|18th King George’s Own Lancers near Mametz, on the Somme, 15 July 1916]]The Battle of the Somme or the Somme Offensive was a series of battles that occurred during the Summer and Autumn of 1916. It involved British and French forces launching a massive assault offensive on the German lines in an effort to break the stalemate on the Western Front's stalemate. The Battle was primarily a battle between the Germans and the British. The offensive was not effective and achieved very little and both sides suffered heavy casualtiesfor the allies. The British only advanced a few miles , and the German lines held. The stalemate was not broken by the offensive. Historians have argued whether the Somme was a failure or a partial success. It is clear that the British and French did not secure their main objectives during break the battle. Why did the Somme offensive failed to achieve its planners’ primary goals? This failure at the Somme was due to poor leadership, planning stalemate and a stubborn German defenceresulted in massive casualties for both sides.

====Background====Since 1914, Historians have argued whether the war on both the eastern and the western front had become Somme was a war of attrition. Both sides had established failure or a series of defensive lines, involving thousands of miles of trenches and they regularly attacked and counter-attacked each other for little or no strategic or tactical advantagepartial success.<ref> Gilbert, M. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805081275/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0805081275&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=215891b2156d756f1e4b5799a19bf45c The Somme: Heroism British and Horror in French did not secure their main objectives during the First World War]battle. </i> (Henry Holt and Company, 2006), p. 56</ref> The western military and Why did the governments were eager Somme offensive fail to end achieve its planners’ primary goals? Mostly, the war or Allies failed at least to be seen as delivering a victory. There were concerns that the public would not tolerate Somme because of poor leadership, planning, and a war indefinitelystubborn German defense.

The resources of France == Why did the Allies decide to attack the Germans at Somme? ==Since 1914, the war on both the Eastern and Britain the Western Fronts had become stretched and they needed a victory to demonstrate that they were winning the war to their publicof attrition. There was Both sides had established a genuine desire to end the stalemate which was costing series of defensive lines, involving thousands of lives per weekmiles of trenches and they regularly attacked and counter-attacked each other for little or no strategic or tactical advantage.<ref> Gilbert, pM. 112 <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805081275/ref> Then there was the strategic situation on both the eastern =as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0805081275&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=215891b2156d756f1e4b5799a19bf45c The Somme: Heroism and the western front. The Russians had been planning their own assault on the Austro-Hungarians in the east, an attack from the west would mean that the Germans could not come to the aid of their allies Horror in Vienna. Then there were the almost simultaneous massive battles taking place in VerdunFirst World War].<ref/i> Gilbert(Henry Holt and Company, 2006), p. 11356</ref> The Germans western military and the French governments were engaged in eager to end the war or at least to be seen as delivering a bloody battle for the fortress of Verdunvictory. The French army had found itself hard pressed and many feared There were concerns that they the public would break and this could result in the Germans driving not tolerate a wedge between the British in the north and the French armies in the south. The Somme was seen as necessary to alleviate the pressure on the French and to assist the Russian offensivewar indefinitely.

====Strategy====[[File: Somme 2.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|left|German Soldier at the Somme]]General Sir Douglas Haig assumed command of the British army in early 1916. He wanted France and Britain's resources had become stretched, and they needed a victory to launch demonstrate that they were winning the offensive nearer the English Channel war to be closer their public. There was a genuine desire to end the British supply linesstalemate which was costing thousands of lives per week. However<ref> Gilbert, the French pressured the British to have the offensive in the Somme regionp. When 112</ref> Then there was the Verdun offensive started strategic situation on both the Somme area saw eastern and the withdrawal of many German unitswestern front. The Germans Russians had little reserves been planning their assault on the Austro-Hungarians in the area and it seemed east, an attack from the west would mean that the Somme was Germans could not come to the perfect locationaid of their allies in Vienna.<ref>Keegan, J.<i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375700455/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0375700455&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=05f6a7874da643b9c91e35ee4c241268 The First World War] </i>.(London: Random House, 1998), p. 12</ref>

The Anglo-French attack was to break Then there were the German lines and achieve a breakthrough that would allow the allies to drive a wedge between the Germans armies in France. The British after a five-day bombardment were to launch a almost simultaneous massive infantry assault, once the Germans had fled from their trenches, the British cavalry would push forward and seize key objectives such as railroads and bridges battles taking place in the SommeVerdun.<ref>KeeganGilbert, p. 56113</ref> However, The Germans and the British had failed to understand the nature of the German defences on the SommeFrench have engaged in a bloody battle forVerdun'se fortress. They The French army had added a third line of defencefound itself hard-pressed, had established a telephone system and had dug even more trenches. The German defences did have some deficiencies but many feared that they proved to be formidable. The would break and this could result in the Germans driving a wedge between the British underestimated in the German defences north and this the French armies in the south. Somme was seen as necessary to prove costly during alleviate the French's pressure and assist the coming battlesRussian offensive.<ref> Keegan, p 116</ref>

==What was the Allied Strategy for the Battle of the Somme? ==Battles Tactics [[File: Somme 2.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|left|German Soldier at the Somme]]General Sir Douglas Haig assumed command of the British army in early 1916. He wanted to launch the offensive nearer the English Channel to be closer to the British supply lines. However, the French pressured the British to have the offensive in the Somme region. When the Verdun offensive started, the Somme area saw the withdrawal of many German units. The Germans had little reserves in the area, and it seemed that the Sommewas the perfect location.<ref>Keegan, J.<i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375700455/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0375700455&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=05f6a7874da643b9c91e35ee4c241268 The First World War] </i>.(London: Random House, 1998), p. 12</ref>  The Anglo-French attack was to break the German lines and achieve a breakthrough that would allow the allies to drive a wedge between the Germans armies in France. The British after a five-day bombardment was to launch a massive infantry assault; once the Germans had fled from their trenches, the British cavalry would push forward and seize key objectives such as railroads and bridges in the Somme.<ref>Keegan, p. 56</ref> However, the British had failed to understand the nature of the German defenses on the Somme. They had added a third line of defense, had established a telephone system, and had dug even more trenches. The German defenses did have some deficiencies, but they proved to be formidable. The British underestimated the German defenses, and this was to prove costly during the coming battles.<ref> Keegan, p 116</ref> == What tactics did the Allies use during the Somme? ==

The British committed hundreds of thousands of men to the fighting. The British troops on the Somme was a mixture of the surviving members of the old regular army, the Territorial Force , and Kitchener's Army, comprised of volunteers including the ‘Pals Battalions’Battalions, ’ that had been recruited from the same towns and villages. <ref> Middlebrook, M. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0141390719/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0141390719&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a43b8bf537d738980065094321836135 The First Day on the Somme]. </i>(London, Penguin, 1971</ref> Many of their reserves were transferred to the area. They stationed thousands of artillery pieces in the region. These were expected to play a crucial role in the coming offensive. The British leadership believed that a concentrated artillery barrage could either force the German defenders to flee or destroy their defenses. Crucially, the British had not mastered the tactic of the creeping barrage. This tactic would have allowed the infantry to advance under cover of shelling. The British failure to do so meant that when the artillery barrage ended that the Germans who survived the artillery onslaught could mow down the advancing soldiers with machine guns.

Many of their reserves New military technologies were transferred to also employed at the area. They stationed thousands battle of artillery pieces in the regionSomme. These were expected to play The British intended using airplanes and tanks in a crucial role in major battle for the coming offensivefirst time. It was believed that a concentrated artillery barrage could either force the German defenders to flee or else to destroy their defences<ref> Prior, R.; Wilson, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300119631/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0300119631&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=69f365fa66cf273dac5cb1fc7b6e7a3b The Somme]</i>. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005), p. Crucially 113</ref> They gave the British had not mastered the tactic of the creeping barrage. This tactic would have allowed the infantry to advance under the cover of shellingmore capabilities. The British failure tanks could be sued to do so meant that when punch through the artillery barrage ended that the Germans who survived German lines, and the artillery onslaught airplanes could mow down the advancing soldiers with machine gunsgather intelligence on German troops' movements.

New military technologies were also employed at the battle of the Somme. The British intended using aeroplanes and tanks in a major battle for the first time.<ref> Prior, R.; Wilson, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300119631/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0300119631&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=69f365fa66cf273dac5cb1fc7b6e7a3b The Somme]</i>. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005), p. 113</ref>. They gave the British more capabilities. The tanks could be sued to punch through the German lines and the aeroplanes could gather intelligence on the movements of German troops. However, the British High Command was to fail to use these new weapons in an effective wayeffectively. The planners at the Somme also expected the infantry to make spectacular gains. The common soldier or ‘Tommy’ was expected to take trenches using only his gun, bayonet , and grenades. The British High Command was simply expecting too much of their soldiers, especially given the heavy and sophisticated German defencesdefenses. The British's inability of the British to properly employ and coordinate their forces and their unrealistic expectations was to cost many soldiers their lives and to limit limited the advances made during the offensive.<ref> Wilson, p. 116</ref>.

===The What happened during the Battles of the Somme=? ==[[File: Somme three.jpg|thumbnail|300px250px|left|British troops at the Somme]]The first day of the Somme offensive started after the five-day barrage had ended. For five days , the British had blasted the German lines. Hundreds of thousands of shells landed on the German trenches. The British believed that they had obliterated the German defencesdefenses.<ref> Keegan, p. 134</ref> On the first of July , the British and the French ‘went over the top’, that is , they left their trenches and entered into no man's land. The British were ordered to advance at a walking pace. However, some officers on the ground ordered their men to rush across no man's land.

Contrary to Haig and the rest of the German High Command’s expectations, the Germans had largely survived the barrage.<ref> Middlebrooke, p. 211</ref> They had sustained many casualties , and many soldiers had been driven mad during the five days of shelling. The Germans, once the barrage ended, were able to man operate the front line. Critically they were able to man use the machine gun nests and order up their own artillery to fire on no-mans-land. The Germans picked off the British at will despite the fact that even though they had ‘inferior numbers and less firepower’ firepower.’ <ref> Wilson, p. 115</ref>.  The British as a result failed to take many German trenches and instead suffered catastrophic casualties. The order to advance at a walking pace over no man's land probably cost many brave men their lives. The first day on the Somme was also the worst day in the history of the British army, it suffered almost 60,000 casualties, mainly on the frontline between the Albert–Bapaume road and Gommecourt.<ref> Wilson, p. 234</ref>

The French did achieve some significant results , and they ejected large elements of the German 2nd Army from their positions south of the Somme. The British in total only made very limited minimal gains at a huge considerable cost. It was clear after the first day that the British had not achieved tactical surprise and that the German defences defenses were stronger than expected. However, the British and the French High Command continued with the offensive. The Somme offensive was to become a series of set pitched battles mainly between the British and the French. Historians had identified some thirteen significant battles between the Anglo-French armies and the Germans during the Somme offensive. The British were on the offensive attack all through the summer and the early autumn.

The Germans mainly adopted a defensive posture. They largely mostly stayed in the trenches and waited for the British to attack.<ref> Keegan, p 178</ref> The tactics of the first day of the Somme was Sommeweres repeatedly repeated again and again with only limited results. The Germans did not have the reserves to stage any counter-attacks during the offensive as they needed all their men for their Verdun's siege of Verdun. The British introduced tanks to help them break the deadlock , but they proved unable to coordinate their advance with the infantry. Furthermore, the tanks proved unreliable and often broke down. The fighting continued until early November when the onset of winter and especially the rain meant that the British could not simply continue.<ref> Keegan, p. 179</ref>

===Outcome of Furthermore, the Somme===The battle was one of the bloodiest of the war tanks proved unreliable and indeed of any other waroften broke down. The estimates for casualties are inexact and only educated guesses. It is widely believed that fighting continued until early November when the British and French suffered some 600,000 killed and wounded. The Germans suffered about 500,000 casualties. The Anglo-French armies did manage to make real onset of winter and significant gains, especially after the initial phases of the offensive. At the end of the battle in November, rain meant that the British and French forces had penetrated some 6 miles into German occupied territory. The offensive had recaptured more grind that at any other battle since the Battle of the Marne in 1914. However, they had failed to take many of their objectives such as Peronne and Bapume. It could be argued that the Battle of the Somme did not end as the British resumed their attacks in the area in 1917. The Somme did not deliver a death blow to the Germans, they were forced back to their second and third lines of defence. They had retreated in good order and they had been able to maintain their lines and there was no general Allied breakthrough. This has led many to see the Somme as a failure. However, some have argued that the Germans suffered significant losses and that this contributed to their eventually collapse in 1918simply continue.<ref>PriorKeegan, p. 211179</ref>

====Poor Planning==What was the Outcome of the Somme? ==The planning for the Somme offensive was rushedone of the bloodiest and perhaps least effective battles of the war. Haig had The estimates for casualties are inexact and only been in his role since the previous Decembereducated guesses. He wanted the The British army to attack further north but political considerations meant that he had to heed the opinions of the and Frenchsuffered approximately 600,000 killed and wounded. The planning was also rushed as the British needed to come Germans suffered about 500,000 casualties. The Anglo-French armies managed to the aid of the French at Verdun make real and also to attack during significant gains, especially after the Russian offensive's initial phases. This meant that there was a failure to coordinate At the end of the battle in November, the British units effectivelyand French forces had penetrated some 6 miles into German-occupied territory. Many have argued that the Somme The offensive would have had a better chance recaptured more territory than any other battle since the Battle of success if it had not been rushed. However, it was not the Marne in 1914 but they still only rushed planning that was a problemwent 6 miles.

The British High Command was guilty of being over-optimistic. They However, they had assumed that the British artillery barrage would be more effective than it was and they failed to take into account the fact many of their objectives, such as Peronne and Bapume. It could be argued that the Germans had been building extensive lines Battle of defences before the offensive began. Then there was Somme did not end as the British planners’ failure resumed their attacks in the area in 1917. The Somme did not deliver a death blow to coordinate the various aspects of the offensive, Germans; they proved unable were forced back to coordinate the artillery barrage with the infantry’s advancetheir second and third defense lines.<ref> PriorThey had retreated in good order, p. 135</ref> Furthermore, the British generals and they had been very conservative in able to maintain their battle tacticslines, this can be seen in the orders they gave to walk across and there was no man's land and their continued belief in the effectiveness of cavalrygeneral Allied breakthrough. If However, the British High Command had planned the offensive better, it could have been a true success instead of being at best only a partial success. Then there benefit to Allies was the fact that the British High Command was reluctant to change their tactics they persisted using the same tactics from July to November caused 500,000 German casualties. The Germans suffered significant losses, and after the first day their enemy knew what it may have contributed to expect and planned accordingly. This meant that the Allies did not secure all their stated objectiveseventual collapse in 1918.<ref> WilsonPrior, p. 221211</ref> This contention is debatable because Germany could move a significant number of troops to the Western Front after Russia's collapse and replenished their front lines on the Western Front.

===German Defences=How did Poor Planning cripple the Allied Offensive during the Somme? ==One of The planning for the major reasons why the Germans had been able to limit the Allied Somme offensive from July to November was their defencesrushed. They Haig had managed to develop a very sophisticated defensive lineonly been in his role since the previous December. This allowed them He wanted the British army to emerge after the barrages attack further north, but also allowed them political considerations meant that he had to defend their positions against superior numbersheed the French's opinions. The Germans proved to be very resilient under planning was accelerated because the brutal Allied onslaught. Their units and the men on the ground had proved British needed to be able to adapt come to the terrible conditions aid of the battle, which Adolf Hitler called ‘not war, but Hell’ French at Verdun.” <ref> VictorAdditionally, George, <i>[https://wwwthe British wanted to coordinate their attack with Russia during their offensive.amazonThis meant that there was a failure to coordinate the British units effectively.com/gp/product/1574882287/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1574882287&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=8e7a3aab0d3b57441ff3150d411f96cc Hitler: Pathology Many have argued that the Somme offensive would have had a better chance of Evil]</i>success if it had not been rushed. (Washington However, DC, Brassey's Inc. 2008) pit was not only rushed planning that was a problem. 28</ref>

The British High Command was guilty of being over-optimistic. They had assumed that the British artillery barrage would be more effective than it was and they failed to take into account the fact that the Germans had been building extensive lines of defenses before the offensive began. Then there was the British planners’ failure to coordinate the offensive's various aspects; they proved unable to coordinate the artillery barrage with the infantry’s advance.<ref> Prior, p. 135</ref>  Furthermore, the British generals had been very conservative in their battle tactics. This can be seen in the orders they gave to walk across no man's land and their continued belief in cavalry's effectiveness. If the British High Command had planned the offensive better, it could have been a true success instead of being at best only a partial success. Then there was the fact that the British High Command was reluctant to change the tactics. They persisted using the same tactics from July to November, and after the first day, their enemy knew what to expect and planned accordingly. This meant that the Allies did not secure all their stated objectives.<ref> Wilson, p. 221</ref> == Why were German Defenses so effective during the Somme?==One of the major reasons why the Germans had been able to limit the Allied offensive from July to November was their defenses. They had managed to develop a very sophisticated defensive line. This line allowed them to emerge after the barrages and allowed them to defend their positions against superior numbers. The Germans proved to be very resilient under the brutal Allied onslaught. Their units and the men on the ground had proved to be able to adapt to the terrible conditions of the battle, which Adolf Hitler called ‘not war, but Hell.’” <ref> Victor, George, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574882287/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1574882287&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=8e7a3aab0d3b57441ff3150d411f96cc Hitler: Pathology of Evil]</i>. (Washington, DC, Brassey's Inc. 2008) p. 28</ref>  Furthermore, although they had far fewer guns , the Germans had them organised in a organized very effective way effectively in so-called ‘barrage sectors’ and this sectors, which allowed them to inflict devastating casualties at the Somme. This was not expected and that , which meant that the Allies did not achieve the breakthrough that they expectedhoped. Then the German soldiers during the battle had been better prepared for example they did not find themselves loaded down with equipment like the British who had to carry almost eight pounds into battle.<ref> Middlebrooks, p. 116</ref> Furthermore, German units proved to be more flexible and could respond better to the dynamic battlefield situation. For example, the Germans proved to be able to adapt to the threat posed by the tanks ' threats and they found ways to disable and neutralise neutralize them. ==Conclusion==The Battle of the Somme was not the failure it is often portrayed. It did play an important role in the eventual German defeat in 1918 and did allow the allies to recapture some strategic territory. However, given the losses, the battle did not achieve much, and the Germans did not suffer any major strategic defeats. They proved capable of continuing the fight on the western front for another two years.  The Allies' failure to achieve their main objectives despite the massive losses was due to several factors, and they include poor and rushed planning. These meant that there were deficiencies in the planning process, and this hampered the allies' advance. Then the Germans proved adept in defending their positions, and they had established massive defensive lines. The British Generals in particularly placed too much faith in their new weapons, especially their tanks and artillery's ability to dislodge and destroy defenders in networks of trenches. These all ensured that the Somme largely failed to be the decisive victory that its planners had hoped for in the Spring of 1916.

*[[How Did the German Military Develop What was Blitzkrieg?and Who Created it]]

[[Category:Wikis]]