Battle Of Sommes Flashcards
When did it take place ?
July to November 1916
Reason why it is infamous
Due to number of deaths for every three inches gained 3 people died
Where were the English trying to get from and to
Albert to Bapaume (10miles)
How were trenches designed
Zigzagged to prevent shell burst from going along trenches
What was the intention of the heavy British bombardment at the start of the battle
Smash their way through bu cutting the barbed wire
On what scale did the bombardment take place
1.75 million shells a week
What was the problem with the bombardment
Barbed wire was not cut
Why was the British shells ‘useless’
Germans were more prepared, digs were more deeper
In what way were the Somme an ‘underground war’
Because they layered 19 mines under German strong points
How many men were lined up for the offensive attack of the Somme
60000
Soldiers thought the situation ‘over the top’ would be…
Climbing out of the trenches over the ridge easily and the Germans would be dead
In reality it was …
New machine gun fire and small gaps to get through
On the first day how many British casualties were there?
57000
‘Pals battalions’
When you could sign up with your friends and fight in the war
What did the British commanders learn from the early attempts in the Somme
That a night attack would make the new machine gun less accurate, white tape was laid out do they knew where to go
