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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 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.  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 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 expecting too much of their soldiers, especially given the heavy and sophisticated German defenses. The British's inability to properly employ and coordinate their forces and their unrealistic expectations cost many soldiers their lives and limited the advances made during the offensive.<ref> Wilson, p. 116</ref> ==What happened during the Battles of the Somme? ==[[File: Somme three.jpg|thumbnail|250px|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 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 British 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>  <dh-ad/> 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 pitched battles 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.

Many of their reserves were transferred to the areaThe Germans mainly adopted a defensive posture. They stationed thousands of artillery pieces mostly stayed in the region. These were expected to play a crucial role in trenches and waited for the coming offensive. It was believed that a concentrated artillery barrage could either force the German defenders British to flee or else to destroy their defencesattack. Crucially the British had not mastered <ref> Keegan, p 178</ref> The tactics of the tactic first day of the creeping barrageSommeweres repeatedly repeated with only limited results. This tactic would The Germans did not have allowed the infantry reserves to advance under stage any counter-attacks during the cover of shellingoffensive as they needed all their men for Verdun's siege. The British failure introduced tanks to do so meant that when help them break the artillery barrage ended that deadlock, but they proved unable to coordinate their advance with the Germans who survived the artillery onslaught could mow down the advancing soldiers with machine gunsinfantry.

New military technologies were also employed at Furthermore, the battle of the Somme. The British intended using aeroplanes tanks proved unreliable 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>often broke down. (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 fighting continued until early November when the aeroplanes could gather intelligence on the movements onset of German troops. However, the British High Command was to fail to use these new weapons in an effective way. 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 winter and grenades. The British High Command was simply expecting too much of their soldiers, especially given the heavy and sophisticated German defences. The inability of rain meant that the British to properly employ and coordinate their forces and their unrealistic expectations was to cost many soldiers their lives and to limit the advances made during the offensivecould not simply continue.<ref> WilsonKeegan, p. 116179</ref>.

===The Battles What was the Outcome of the Somme=? ==[[File: The Somme three.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|British troops at was one of the Somme]]The first day bloodiest and perhaps least effective battles of the Somme offensive started after the five-day barrage had endedwar. The estimates for casualties are inexact and only educated guesses. For five days the The British had blasted the German linesand French suffered approximately 600,000 killed and wounded. Hundreds of thousands of shells landed on the German trenchesThe Germans suffered about 500,000 casualties. The British believed that they had obliterated Anglo-French armies managed to make real and significant gains, especially after the German defencesoffensive's initial phases.<ref> Keegan, p. 134</ref> On At the first end of July the battle in November, the British and the French ‘went over the top’, that is they left their trenches and entered forces had penetrated some 6 miles into no man's landGerman-occupied territory. The British were ordered to advance at a walking pace. However, some officers on offensive had recaptured more territory than any other battle since the Battle of the ground ordered their men to rush across no man's landMarne in 1914 but they still only went 6 miles.

Contrary However, they had failed to Haig take many of their objectives, such as Peronne and Bapume. It could be argued that the rest Battle of the German High Command’s expectations, Somme did not end as the Germans had largely survived British resumed their attacks in the barragearea in 1917.<ref> Middlebrooke, pThe Somme did not deliver a death blow to the Germans; they were forced back to their second and third defense lines. 211</ref> They had sustained many casualties retreated in good order, and many soldiers they had been driven mad during the five days of shellingable to maintain their lines, and there was no general Allied breakthrough. The GermansHowever, once the barrage ended, were able only benefit to man the front line. Critically Allies was that they were able to man the machine gun nests and order up their own artillery to fire on no-mans-landcaused 500,000 German casualties. The Germans picked off the British at will despite the fact that they had ‘inferior numbers suffered significant losses, and less firepower’ it may have contributed to their eventual collapse in 1918.<ref> WilsonPrior, p. 115211</ref>. The British as This contention is debatable because Germany could move a result failed significant number of troops to take many German trenches and instead suffered catastrophic casualties. The order to advance at a walking pace over no manthe Western Front after Russia's land probably cost many brave men collapse and replenished their lives. The first day front lines 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, pWestern Front. 234</ref>

The French == How did achieve some significant results and they ejected large elements of Poor Planning cripple the Allied Offensive during the German 2nd Army from their positions south of Somme? ==The planning for the Sommeoffensive was rushed. The British Haig had only been in total only made very limited gains at a huge costhis role since the previous December. It was clear after He wanted the first day 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 had not achieved tactical surprise and that needed to come to the aid of the German defences were stronger than expectedFrench at Verdun. HoweverAdditionally, the British and the French High Command continued wanted to coordinate their attack with the Russia during their offensive. The Somme offensive This meant that there was a failure to become a series of set pitched battles mainly between coordinate the British and the Frenchunits effectively. Historians had identified some thirteen significant battles between the Anglo-French armies and the Germans during Many have argued that the Somme offensivewould have had a better chance of success if it had not been rushed. The British were on the offensive all through the summer and the early autumn However, it was not only rushed planning that was a problem.

The Germans mainly adopted a defensive postureBritish High Command was guilty of being over-optimistic. They largely stayed in had assumed that the trenches British artillery barrage would be more effective than it was and waited for the British they failed to attack.<ref> Keegan, p 178</ref> The tactics of take into account the first day of fact that the Somme was repeated again and again with only limited results. The Germans did not have the reserves to stage any counter-attacks during had been building extensive lines of defenses before the offensive as they needed all their men for their siege of Verdunbegan. The Then there was the British introduced tanks planners’ failure to help them break coordinate the deadlock but offensive's various aspects; they proved unable to coordinate their advance the artillery barrage 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 continueinfantry’s advance.<ref> KeeganPrior, p. 179135</ref>

===Outcome of Furthermore, the Somme===The British generals had been very conservative in their battle was one of the bloodiest of the war and indeed of any other wartactics. The estimates for casualties are inexact and only educated guesses. It is widely believed that This can be seen in the British and French suffered some 600,000 killed and wounded. The Germans suffered about 500,000 casualties. The Anglo-French armies did manage orders they gave to make real walk across no man's land and significant gains, especially after the initial phases of the offensivetheir continued belief in cavalry's effectiveness. At the end of the battle in November, If the British and French forces High Command had penetrated some 6 miles into German occupied territory. The planned the offensive had recaptured more grind that at any other battle since the Battle of the Marne in 1914. Howeverbetter, they had failed to take many it could have been a true success instead of their objectives such as Peronne and Bapumebeing at best only a partial success. It could be argued Then there was the fact that the Battle of the Somme did not end as the British resumed their attacks in High Command was reluctant to change the area in 1917tactics. The Somme did not deliver a death blow They persisted using the same tactics from July to November, and after the Germansfirst day, they were forced back to their second and third lines of defence. They had retreated in good order and they had been able enemy knew what to maintain their lines expect and there was no general Allied breakthroughplanned accordingly. This has led many to see the Somme as a failure. However, some have argued meant that the Germans suffered significant losses and that this contributed to Allies did not secure all their eventually collapse in 1918stated objectives.<ref>PriorWilson, p. 211221</ref>

====Poor Planning==Why were German Defenses so effective during the Somme?==The planning for One of the major reasons why the Germans had been able to limit the Somme Allied offensive from July to November was rushedtheir defenses. Haig They had only been in his role since the previous Decembermanaged to develop a very sophisticated defensive line. He wanted This line allowed them to emerge after the British army barrages and allowed them to attack further north but political considerations meant that he had defend their positions against superior numbers. The Germans proved to heed be very resilient under the opinions of brutal Allied onslaught. Their units and the French. The planning was also rushed as men on the British needed ground had proved to be able to come adapt to the aid terrible conditions of the French at Verdun and also to attack during the Russian offensivebattle, which Adolf Hitler called ‘not war, but Hell.’” <ref> Victor, George, <i>[https://www. This meant that there was a failure to coordinate the British units effectivelyamazon. Many have argued that the Somme offensive would have had a better chance 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 success if it had not been rushedEvil]</i>. However (Washington, it was not only rushed planning that was a problemDC, Brassey's Inc. 2008) p. 28</ref>

The British High Command was guilty of being over-optimistic. They Furthermore, although they had assumed that far fewer guns, the British artillery barrage would be more effective than it was and they failed Germans had them organized very effectively in so-called ‘barrage sectors, which allowed them to take into account inflict devastating casualties at the fact Somme. This was not expected, which meant that the Germans had been building extensive lines of defences before Allies did not achieve the offensive beganbreakthrough they hoped. Then there was the British planners’ failure to coordinate German soldiers during the various aspects of the offensive, battle had been better prepared for example they proved unable to coordinate the artillery barrage did not find themselves loaded down with equipment like the infantry’s advanceBritish who had to carry almost eight pounds into battle.<ref> PriorMiddlebrooks, p. 135116</ref> Furthermore, the British generals had been very conservative in their battle tactics, this can German units proved to be seen in the orders they gave more flexible and could respond better to walk across no man's land and their continued belief in the effectiveness of cavalrydynamic battlefield situation. If the British High Command had planned the offensive betterFor example, 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 Germans proved to adapt to change their tactics they persisted using the same tactics from July to November tanks' threats and after the first day their enemy knew what found ways to expect disable and planned accordingly. This meant that the Allies did not secure all their stated objectives.<ref> Wilson, pneutralize them. 221</ref>

===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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