Key Battles Flashcards
Ypres
Fighting took place here because it was en route to the Channel ports of Dunkirk. The British needed to defend this route and ensure that the troops could still receive supplies and reinforcements of men.
the terrain at Ypres included heavy soil which was easily waterlogged and flooded. This presented problems for stretch of area when they needed to remove the wounded from the battlefields. poisonous gas was first used by the Germans during the second battle of Ypres in 1915 this new feature of warfare presented the medical services as new injuries and challenges
Somme
-The Battle of the somme is the most notorious battle of World War I. more men died on the first day then in any other battle the British casualty figure was incredibly high. Britain’s suffered nearly 60,000 casualties 20,000 of which died in the first day of the battle. The battle lasted from July to November 1916 now nearly 400,000 British casualties , small number of tanks were used for the first time during this battle they were not successful however the use of tanks created uneven ground which made difficult for the wounded to be transported for treatment after the battle
Arras
-Took place in 1917
-before this battle soldiers from Britain dug a network of tunnels in the chalky ground, they added rooms fitted them with running water and electricity.
-These tunnels were used as accommodation for the soldiers and underground hospital were added with operating theatres. The tunnels were used for shelter for the soldiers during the fighting.
Cambrai
-The Battle of Cambrai took place in late 1917
-tanks were used during the attack after being used on a smaller scale during the battle of the somme.
-the British forces used over 450 tanks ,initially the attack on the Germans was effective.
-However the tanks did not have enough infantry support and could not defend the area. The consequence was that the British lost almost all of the ground they are taken.
