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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==[[File: British Mark I male tank Somme 25 September 1916.jpg|thumbnail|300px|British tank at Historians have argued whether the Somme]]Since 1914, the war on both the eastern and the western front had become 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 advantage<ref> Gilbert, Mpartial success. <i>The Somme: Heroism British and Horror in French did not secure their main objectives during the First World Warbattle. </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:/ref>/www. Then there was the strategic situation on both the eastern and the western frontamazon. com/gp/product/0805081275/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0805081275&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=215891b2156d756f1e4b5799a19bf45c The Russians had been planning their own assault on the Austro-Hungarians Somme: Heroism and Horror in the east, an attack from the west would mean that the Germans could not come to the aid of their allies in ViennaFirst World War]. Then there were the almost simultaneous massive battles taking place in Verdun<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|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 the offensive nearer demonstrate that they were winning the English Channel war to be closer to the British supply linestheir public. However, the French pressurised the British There was a genuine desire to have end the offensive in the Somme region. When the Verdun offensive started the Somme area saw the withdrawal stalemate which was costing thousands of many German unitslives per week. The Germans had little reserves in the area and it seemed that the Somme was the perfect location<ref>Keegan, J.<i>The First World War </i>.(London: Random House, 1998)Gilbert, p. 12112</ref>. The Anglo-French attack Then there was to break the German lines strategic situation on both the eastern and achieve a breakthrough that would allow the allies to drive a wedge between the Germans armies in Francewestern front. The British after a five-day bombardment were to launch a massive infantry assault, once the Germans Russians had fled from been planning their trenches, assault on the British cavalry would push forward and seize key objectives such as railroads and bridges Austro-Hungarians in the Somme<ref>Keegan, p. 56</ref>. Howevereast, an attack from the west would mean that the British had failed Germans could not come to understand the nature aid of the German defences on the Somme. They had added a third line of defence, had established a telephone system and had dug even more trenches. The German defences did have some deficiencies but they proved to be formidable. The British underestimated the German defences and this was to prove costly during the coming battles<ref> Keegan, p 116</ref>their allies in Vienna.

==Battles Tactics What was the Allied Strategy for the Battle of the Somme? ==The [[File: Somme 2.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|left|German Soldier at the Somme]]General Sir Douglas Haig assumed command of the British committed hundreds of thousands of men army in early 1916. He wanted to launch the offensive nearer the English Channel to be closer to the fightingBritish supply lines. The However, the French pressured the British troops on to have the offensive in the Somme was a mixture of region. When the surviving members of Verdun offensive started, the old regular army, Somme area saw the Territorial Force and Kitchener's Army, comprised withdrawal of volunteers including many German units. The Germans had little reserves in the ‘Pals Battalions’area, and it seemed that had been recruited from the same towns and villages Somme was the perfect location.<ref> MiddlebrookKeegan, MJ. <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 Day on the Somme. World War] </i>. (London: Random House, Penguin1998), 1971p. 12</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. It was believed that a concentrated artillery barrage could either force the German defenders to flee or else to destroy their defences. Crucially the British had not mastered the tactic of the creeping barrage. This tactic would have allowed the infantry to advance under the 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 Anglo-French attack was to break the German lines and achieve a breakthrough that would allow the battle of allies to drive a wedge between the SommeGermans armies in France. The British intended using aeroplanes 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 tanks seize key objectives such as railroads and bridges in a major battle for the first timeSomme.<ref> Prior, R.; Wilson, <i> The Somme </i>. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005)Keegan, p. 11356</ref>. They gave However, the British more capabilities. The tanks could be sued had failed to punch through understand the nature of the German lines and the aeroplanes could gather intelligence defenses on the movements Somme. They had added a third line of German troops. Howeverdefense, had established a telephone system, the British High Command was to fail to use these new weapons in an effective wayand had dug even more trenches. The planners at the Somme also expected the infantry German defenses did have some deficiencies, but they proved to make spectacular gains. The common soldier or ‘Tommy’ was expected to take trenches using only his gun, bayonet and grenadesbe formidable. The British High Command was simply expecting too much of their soldiers, especially given underestimated the heavy and sophisticated German defences. The inability of the British to properly employ defenses, and coordinate their forces and their unrealistic expectations this was to cost many soldiers their lives and to limit the advances made prove costly during the offensivecoming battles.<ref> WilsonKeegan, p. 116</ref>.

==The Battles of What tactics did the Allies use during the Somme? ==[[File: British Mark I male tank Somme three25 September 1916.jpg|left|thumbnail|300px|British troops tank at the Somme]]The first day British committed hundreds of thousands of men to the fighting. The British troops on the Somme offensive started after was a mixture of the five-day barrage had ended. For five days surviving members of the British had blasted old regular army, the German lines. Hundreds of thousands Territorial Force, and Kitchener's Army, comprised of shells landed on volunteers including the German trenches. The British believed ‘Pals Battalions,’ that they had obliterated been recruited from the German defencessame towns and villages. <ref> KeeganMiddlebrook, pM. 134<i>[https://ref>www. 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 landamazon. com/gp/product/0141390719/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0141390719&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a43b8bf537d738980065094321836135 The British were ordered to advance at a walking pace. However, some officers First Day on the ground ordered their men to rush across no man's landSomme]. </i>(London, Penguin, 1971</ref>

Contrary Many of their reserves were transferred to Haig and the rest of the German High Command’s expectations, the Germans had largely survived the barrage.<ref> Middlebrooke, p. 211</ref>area. They had sustained many casualties and many soldiers had been driven mad during the five days stationed thousands of shelling. The Germans, once artillery pieces in the barrage ended, were able to man the front lineregion. Critically they These were able expected to man play a crucial role in the machine gun nests and order up their own artillery to fire on no-mans-landcoming offensive. The Germans picked off the British at will despite the fact leadership believed that they had ‘inferior numbers and less firepower’ <ref> Wilson, p. 115</ref>. The British as a result failed to take many concentrated artillery barrage could either force the German trenches and instead suffered catastrophic casualties. The order defenders to advance at a walking pace over no man's land probably cost many brave men flee or destroy their livesdefenses. The first day on Crucially, the British had not mastered the Somme was also tactic of the worst day in creeping barrage. This tactic would have allowed the history infantry to advance under cover of shelling. The British failure to do so meant that when the artillery barrage ended that the British army, it suffered almost 60,000 casualties, mainly on Germans who survived the frontline between artillery onslaught could mow down the Albert–Bapaume road and Gommecourt<ref> Wilson, p. 234</ref>advancing soldiers with machine guns.

The French did achieve some significant results and they ejected large elements of New military technologies were also employed at the German 2nd Army from their positions south battle of the Somme. The British intended using airplanes and tanks in total only made very limited gains at a huge cost. It was clear after major battle for the first day that the British had not achieved tactical surprise and that the German defences were stronger than expectedtime.<ref> Prior, R. However; Wilson, the British and the French High Command continued with the offensive<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 offensive was to become a series of set pitched battles mainly between ]</i>. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2005), p. 113</ref> They gave the British and the French. Historians had identified some thirteen significant battles between the Anglo-French armies and the Germans during the Somme offensivemore capabilities. The British were on the offensive all tanks could be sued to punch through the summer German lines, and the early autumnairplanes could gather intelligence on German troops' movements.

The Germans mainly adopted a defensive posture. They largely stayed in the trenches and waited for However, the British High Command was to fail to attack<ref> Keegan, p 178</ref>use these new weapons effectively. The tactics of planners at the first day of Somme also expected the Somme infantry to make spectacular gains. The common soldier or ‘Tommy’ was repeated again expected to take trenches using only his gun, bayonet, and again with only limited resultsgrenades. The Germans did not have British High Command was expecting too much of their soldiers, especially given the reserves to stage any counter-attacks during the offensive as they needed all their men for their siege of Verdunheavy and sophisticated German defenses. The British introduced tanks to help them break the deadlock but they proved unable 's inability to properly employ and coordinate their advance with the infantry. Furthermore, the tanks proved unreliable forces and often broke down. The fighting continued until early November when the onset of winter their unrealistic expectations cost many soldiers their lives and especially limited the rain meant that advances made during the British could not simply continueoffensive.<ref> KeeganWilson, p. 179116</ref>.

==Outcome What happened during the Battles of the Somme? ==[[File: Somme three.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|British troops at the Somme]]The battle was one first day of the bloodiest of Somme offensive started after the war and indeed of any other warfive-day barrage had ended. The estimates for casualties are inexact and only educated guesses. It is widely believed that For five days, the British and French suffered some 600,000 killed and wounded. The Germans suffered about 500,000 casualtieshad blasted the German lines. The Anglo-French armies did manage to make real and significant gains, especially after the initial phases Hundreds of the offensive. At the end thousands of shells landed on the battle in November, the British and French forces had penetrated some 6 miles into German occupied territorytrenches. The offensive British believed that they had recaptured more grind that at any other battle since obliterated the Battle of the Marne in 1914German defenses. However<ref> Keegan, they had failed to take many of their objectives such as Peronne and Bapumep. It could be argued that 134</ref> On the Battle first of the Somme did not end as July, the British resumed their attacks in and the area in 1917. The Somme did not deliver a death blow to French ‘went over the Germanstop’, that is, they were forced back to left their second trenches and third lines of defence. They had retreated in good order and they had been able to maintain their lines and there was entered into no general Allied breakthroughman's land. This has led many The British were ordered to see the Somme as advance at a failurewalking pace. However, some have argued that officers on the Germans suffered significant losses and that this was ground ordered their men to contribute to their eventually collapse in 1918<ref>Prior, p. 211</ref>rush across no man's land.

==Poor Planning==The planning for Contrary to Haig and the rest of the German High Command’s expectations, the Germans survived the Somme offensive was rushedbarrage.<ref> Middlebrooke, p. Haig 211</ref> They had sustained many casualties, and many soldiers had only been in his role since driven mad during the previous Decemberfive days of shelling. He wanted The Germans, once the British army barrage ended, were able to attack further north but political considerations meant that he had to heed the opinions of operate the Frenchfront line. The planning was also rushed as the British needed to come Critically they were able to use the aid of the French at Verdun machine gun nests and also order up their artillery to attack during the Russian offensivefire on no-mans-land. This meant that there was a failure to coordinate The Germans picked off the British units effectively. Many have argued that the Somme offensive would have at will even though they had a better chance of success if it had not been rushed‘inferior numbers and less firepower. However’ <ref> Wilson, it was not only rushed planning that was a problemp. 115</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 defences before the offensive beganmany German trenches and instead suffered catastrophic casualties. Then there was the British planners’ failure The order to coordinate the various aspects of the offensive, 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 at a walking pace over no man's land and probably cost many brave men their continued belief lives. The first day on the Somme was also the worst day in the effectiveness history of cavalry. If the British High Command had planned the offensive betterarmy, 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 their tactics they persisted using suffered almost 60,000 casualties, mainly on the same tactics from July to November and after frontline between the first day their enemy knew what to expect Albert–Bapaume road and planned accordinglyGommecourt. This meant that the Allies did not secure all their stated objectives<ref> Wilson, p. 221234</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.  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 Sommeweres repeatedly repeated 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 Verdun's siege. 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> ==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 managed to make real and significant gains, especially after the offensive's initial phases. 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 1914 but 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.  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 DefencesDefenses 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 defencesdefenses. They had managed to develop a very sophisticated defensive line. This line allowed them to emerge after the barrages but also 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’ Hell.” ’” <ref> Victor, George, Hitler. <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, the Germans 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.

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. In fact, they They proved capable of continuing the fight on the western front for another two years. The failure of the Allies 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 on their new weapons especially their tanks and on the ability of artillery 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.

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. <div class="portal" style="width:85%;"> ====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====*[[Why was Germany defeated at the First Battle of the Marne (1914)]]*[[What was Blitzkrieg and Who Created it]]*[[Why did Germany not achieve victory at Verdun in 1916?]]*[[How did Winston Churchill become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in World War Two?]]</div> ====References====

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