Battle of the Somme Flashcards
Why was there stalemate on the Western Front?
When?
July 1916 - Nov 1916
Where?
River Somme, France
The 2 key ppl
- General Sir Doulgas Haig
- General Rawlinson
who VS who
B & F forces VS G
Who was General Sir Doulgas Haig? (3)
- B commander
- end 1915: commanded all the B forces in F
- main commander during the Somme
How many B casualties on the 1st day?
50,000
Who was General Rawlinson?
Haig’s deputy
How many British died on the 1st day?
20,000
= bloodiest day in B history
What were the main aims of the Allies? (3)
- to gain territory
- draw troops away from Verdun to relieve pressure on F
- kill as many G as possible
What were the main tactics? (4)
- MINES / massive ARTILLERY BOMBARDMENTS
–> G position + dugouts destroyed / smashed - CUTTING BARBED WIRE
- CROSS NO MAN’S LAND BY FOOT
–> bc of heavy packs + weapons underestimated - CARRY HEAVY PACKS
–> to defend / repair enemy trenches when taking over
What were the main obstacles? (5)
- artillery’s ability OVERESTIMATED
–> Haig knew abt the dug-outs & barbed wire - G were on HIGH GROUND
–> better view - G defences placed from 1914
- G had BARBED WIRE & STRETCHED WIRE of + 30m !!
- Allied shells = POOR QUALITY
1st day of battle?
1 July 1916 - 7:30 am
What happened on the 1st day? (2)
- 2 huge mines were placed under G lines
- 750,000 men went OVER THE TOP
How were the French forces? (4)
- made some QUICK GAINS
- more experienced
- moved QUICKLY = not weighted down by packs
- found themselves ISOLATED = had to WITHDRAW
–> bc B were to slow
What did the French isolation allow G to do?
gave more time to emerge from dug-outs & set up their machine guns
How were the British forces? (4)
- SLOW !!
–> weighted down by packs - funnelled into gaps of barbed wire
= sitting targets for G - caused 57,000 casualties
- a military disaster
What did Rawlinson think?
he had doubts abt continuing
What did Haig think?
he insisted to continue
What happened on 15 Sept?
B forces used TANKS for the 1st time
–> steady grinding capture of territory + major destruction
How long & wide was the strip of land taken by the Allies?
25 km long
6 km wide
What happened in 18 Nov?
strip of land taken by Allies
The failures: (3)
- Haig told soldiers to ADVANCE SLOWLY
- SHELLS NOT EFFECTIVE
–> failed to destroy dug-outs & barbed wire - OVER-OPTIMISTIC & MIS-LEADING
The successes: (2)
- G line pushed back (5 miles)
- RELIEVED PRESSURE ON VERDUN
What was the nickname given to Haig?
The Butcher of the Somme
