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[[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 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 offensive did not break the stalemateand resulted in massive casualties for both sides.

Historians have argued whether the Somme was a failure or a partial success. It is clear that the The British and French did not secure their main objectives during the battle. Why did the Somme offensive fail to achieve its planners’ primary goals? Mostly, the Allies failed at the Somme because of poor leadership, planning, and a stubborn German defense.

====Background==Why did the Allies decide to attack the Germans at Somme? ==Since 1914, the war on both the eastern Eastern and the western front Western Fronts had become a war of attrition. Both sides had established 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 advantage.<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 and Horror in the First World War]. </i> (Henry Holt and Company, 2006), p. 56</ref> The western military and the governments were eager to end the war or at least to be seen as delivering a victory. There were concerns that the public would not tolerate a war indefinitely.

The resources of France and Britain 's resources had become stretched, and they needed a victory to demonstrate that they were winning the war to their public. There was a genuine desire to end the stalemate which was costing thousands of lives per week.<ref> Gilbert, p. 112</ref> Then there was the strategic situation on both the eastern and the western front. The Russians had been planning their 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 in Vienna. Then there were the almost simultaneous massive battles taking place in Verdun.<ref> Gilbert, p. 113</ref> The Germans and the French were engaged in a bloody battle for the fortress of Verdun. The French army had found itself hard pressed and many feared that they would break and this could result in the Germans driving 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 offensive.

====Strategy====[[File: Somme 2.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|left|German Soldier at the Somme]]General Sir Douglas Haig assumed command of Then there were the British army almost simultaneous massive battles taking place in early 1916Verdun. He wanted to launch the offensive nearer the English Channel to be closer to the British supply lines<ref> Gilbert, p. However, 113</ref> The Germans and the French pressured the British to have the offensive engaged in the Somme regiona bloody battle forVerdun'se fortress. When The French army had found itself hard-pressed, and many feared that they would break and this could result in the Verdun offensive started Germans driving a wedge between the Somme area saw the withdrawal of many German units. The Germans had little reserves British in the area, north and it seemed that the French armies in the south. Somme was seen as necessary to alleviate the French's pressure and assist the perfect location.<ref>Keegan, JRussian offensive.<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 ==What was to break the Allied Strategy for the Battle of the Somme? ==[[File: Somme 2.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|left|German lines and achieve a breakthrough that would allow Soldier at the allies to drive a wedge between Somme]]General Sir Douglas Haig assumed command of the Germans armies British army in Franceearly 1916. The British after a five-day bombardment was He wanted to launch a massive infantry assault; once the Germans had fled from their trenches, offensive nearer the English Channel to be closer to the British cavalry would push forward and seize key objectives such as railroads and bridges in the Sommesupply lines.<ref>Keegan, p. 56</ref> However, the French pressured the British had failed to understand have the offensive in the nature of Somme region. When the German defenses on Verdun offensive started, the Somme. They had added a third line area saw the withdrawal of defense, had established a telephone system and had dug even more trenches. The many German defenses did have some deficiencies, but they proved to be formidableunits. The British underestimated Germans had little reserves in the German defensesarea, and this it seemed that the Somme was to prove costly during the coming battlesperfect 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 116. 12</ref>

====Battles Tactics 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,’ 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>

New military technologies were also employed at the battle of the Somme. The British intended using airplanes 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 airplanes could gather intelligence on the movements of German troops' movements.  However, the British High Command was to fail to use these new weapons effectively. 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 defenses. 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 defenses.<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 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 use the machine gun nests and order up their artillery to fire on no-mans-land. The Germans picked off the British at will even though they had ‘inferior numbers and less firepower.’ <ref> Wilson, p. 115</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 minimal gains at a considerable cost. It was clear after the first day that the British had not achieved tactical surprise and that the German 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 attack all through the summer and the early autumn.

The Germans mainly adopted a defensive posture. They 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.

===What was the Outcome of the Somme=? ==The Somme was one of the bloodiest and perhaps least effective battles of the war. The estimates for casualties are inexact and only educated guesses. The British and French suffered approximately 600,000 killed and wounded. The Germans suffered about 500,000 casualties. The Anglo-French armies did manage managed to make real and significant gains, especially after the offensive's initial phases of the offensive. At the end of the battle in November, the British and French forces had penetrated some 6 miles into German-occupied territory. The offensive had recaptured more territory than any other battle since the Battle of the Marne in 1914but they still only went 6 miles.  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 defense lines. They had retreated in good order, and they had been able to maintain their lines, and there was no general Allied breakthrough. However, the only benefit to Allies was that they caused 500,000 German casualties. The Germans suffered significant losses, and it may have contributed to their eventual collapse in 1918.<ref>Prior, p. 211</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. == How did Poor Planning cripple the Allied Offensive during the Somme? ==The planning for the Somme offensive was rushed. Haig had only been in his role since the previous December. He wanted the British army to attack further north, but political considerations meant that he had to heed the French's opinions. The planning was accelerated because the British needed to come to the aid of the French at Verdun. Additionally, the British wanted to coordinate their attack with Russia during their offensive. This meant that there was a failure to coordinate the British units effectively. Many have argued that the Somme offensive would have had a better chance of success if it had not been rushed. However, it was not only rushed planning that was a problem.

However, 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 had failed to take many of their objectives such as Peronne and Bapume. It could be argued into account the fact that the Battle Germans had been building extensive lines of defenses before the Somme did not end as offensive began. Then there was the British resumed their attacks in the area in 1917. The Somme did not deliver a death blow planners’ failure to coordinate the Germansoffensive's various aspects; they were forced back proved unable to their second and third lines of defense. They had retreated in good order, and they had been able to maintain their lines, and there was no general Allied breakthrough. However, coordinate the only benefit to Allies was that they caused 500,000 German casualties because artillery barrage with the Germans suffered such significant losses and it may have contributed to their eventual collapse in 1918infantry’s advance.<ref>Prior, p. 211135</ref> This contention is debatable because Germany was able to move a significant number of troops to the Western front after Russia's collapse and replenish the front lines.

====Poor Planning====The planning for Furthermore, the Somme offensive was rushed. Haig British generals had only been very conservative in their battle tactics. This can be seen in his role since the previous Decemberorders they gave to walk across no man's land and their continued belief in cavalry's effectiveness. He wanted If the British army to attack further north but political considerations meant that he High Command had to heed planned the opinions offensive better, it could have been a true success instead of the Frenchbeing at best only a partial success. The planning Then there was accelerated because the fact that the British needed to come High Command was reluctant to change the aid of tactics. They persisted using the French at Verdun. Additionallysame tactics from July to November, and after the British wanted first day, their enemy knew what to corrodinate their attack with Russia during their offensiveexpect and planned accordingly. This meant that there was a failure to coordinate the British units effectively. Many have argued that the Somme offensive would have had a better chance of success if it had Allies did not been rushedsecure all their stated objectives. However<ref> Wilson, it was not only rushed planning that was a problemp. 221</ref>

The British High Command was guilty == Why were German Defenses so effective during the Somme?==One 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 major reasons why the Germans had been building extensive lines of defenses before able to limit the Allied offensive beganfrom July to November was their defenses. They had managed to develop a very sophisticated defensive line. Then there was This line allowed them to emerge after the British planners’ failure barrages and allowed them to defend their positions against superior numbers. The Germans proved to coordinate be very resilient under the various aspects of brutal Allied onslaught. Their units and the men on the offensive; they ground had proved unable to coordinate be able to adapt to the artillery barrage with terrible conditions of the infantry’s advancebattle, which Adolf Hitler called ‘not war, but Hell.’” <ref> PriorVictor, 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. 13528</ref>

Furthermore, although they had far fewer guns, the British generals Germans had been them organized very conservative effectively in their battle tacticsso-called ‘barrage sectors, this can be seen in the orders they gave which allowed them to walk across no man's land and their continued belief in inflict devastating casualties at the effectiveness of cavalrySomme. If This was not expected, which meant that the British High Command had planned Allies did not achieve the offensive better, it could have been a true success instead of being at best only a partial successbreakthrough they hoped. Then there was the fact that German soldiers during the British High Command was reluctant to change the tactics battle had been better prepared for example they persisted using did not find themselves loaded down with equipment like the same tactics from July British who had 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 objectivescarry almost eight pounds into battle.<ref> WilsonMiddlebrooks, p. 221116</ref>Furthermore, German units proved to be more flexible and could respond better to the dynamic battlefield situation. For example, the Germans proved to adapt to the tanks' threats and found ways to disable and neutralize them.

===German Defences=Conclusion==One The Battle of the major reasons why the Germans had been able to limit the Allied offensive from July to November Somme was their defences. They had managed to develop a very sophisticated defensive line. This allowed them to emerge after not the barrages but also allowed them to defend their positions against superior numbersfailure it is often portrayed. The Germans proved to be very resilient under It did play an important role in the brutal Allied onslaught. Their units eventual German defeat in 1918 and did allow the men on the ground had proved to be able to adapt allies to recapture some strategic territory. However, given the terrible conditions of losses, the battledid not achieve much, which Adolf Hitler called ‘not war, but Hell’ and the Germans did not suffer any major strategic defeats.” <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 They proved capable of Evil]</i>. (Washington, DC, Brassey's Inc. 2008) pcontinuing the fight on the western front for another two years. 28</ref>

FurthermoreThe Allies' failure to achieve their main objectives despite the massive losses was due to several factors, the Germans although and they had far fewer guns had them organised in a very effective way in so-called ‘barrage sectors’ include poor and this allowed them to inflict devastating casualties at the Sommerushed planning. This was not expected and that These meant that there were deficiencies in the Allies did not achieve planning process, and this hampered the breakthrough that they expectedallies' advance. Then the German soldiers during the battle had been better prepared for example Germans proved adept in defending their positions, and they did not find themselves loaded down with equipment like the British who had to carry almost eight pounds into battleestablished massive defensive lines.<ref> MiddlebrooksThe British Generals in particularly placed too much faith in their new weapons, p. 116</ref> Furthermore, German units proved especially their tanks and artillery's ability to be more flexible dislodge and could respond better to the dynamic battlefield situationdestroy defenders in networks of trenches. For example, These all ensured that the Germans proved Somme largely failed to be able to adapt to the threat posed by decisive victory that its planners had hoped for in the tanks and they found ways to disable and neutralise themSpring of 1916.

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

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