Battle Of Somme ( Details)

Question 1

How long did the BOS last?

Answer 1

JULY-NOVEMBER

Question 2

Who led the British during the BOS? What did he do?

Answer 2

• FIELD MARSHAL DOUGLAS HAIG

- Launches long planned offence @ Somme

Question 3

How long did this planned offence last?

Answer 3

Week long

Question 4

What happened as a result of this long artillery bombardment on G?

Answer 4

-B troops advanced and by the FIRST DAY they faced 87,000 casualties

Question 5

When did the BOS end?

Answer 5

November 1916

Question 6

What was the significance of BOS?

Answer 6

• Loss if 1.25 million men
• War was a contest to see who could last longer. brits were a key part.

-“The nation must be taught to bear losses,” -Douglas Haig

Question 7

What was the 1st July 1916 known for being?

Answer 7

The bloodiest day in British military history

Question 8

Was the battle of the Somme meant to break the stalemate?

Answer 8

No , instead to help the French and relieve the pressure of Verdun

Question 9

What went wrong on the first day of the Battle of Somme? Why?

Answer 9

• Nearly 2,000 Brit soldiers killed
• @7:30 90,000 told to advance at walk. pace. All dead :(
• 2nd wave: MG take brits down again. MORLAND given chance to change bombard. plan but “Too early “

Question 10

Why were losses so high on the first day of BOS? Why did MORLAND refuse to change?

Answer 10

• Typical brit officer.
• Poor intelligence, inflexibility, excessive faith, bad comm (e.g runner shot and telephones need wires)
• CLASS/RANK so didn’t want to risk it

Question 11

What was achieved in the first day of battle?

Answer 11

• Destroyed German trenches

- South, French advance