Battle Of Somme ( Details) Flashcards
How long did the BOS last?
JULY-NOVEMBER
Who led the British during the BOS? What did he do?
- FIELD MARSHAL DOUGLAS HAIG
- Launches long planned offence @ Somme
How long did this planned offence last?
Week long
What happened as a result of this long artillery bombardment on G?
-B troops advanced and by the FIRST DAY they faced 87,000 casualties
When did the BOS end?
November 1916
What was the significance of BOS?
- 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
What was the 1st July 1916 known for being?
The bloodiest day in British military history
Was the battle of the Somme meant to break the stalemate?
No , instead to help the French and relieve the pressure of Verdun
What went wrong on the first day of the Battle of Somme? Why?
- 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 “
Why were losses so high on the first day of BOS? Why did MORLAND refuse to change?
- 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
What was achieved in the first day of battle?
- Destroyed German trenches
- South, French advance
