Main Battles in WW1 Flashcards
The Somme DATE
1 july - 18 november 1916
The Somme AIMS
to help the french troop at verdun by diverting german attention to the somme
to obliterate german defenses
the somme PREPARATION
7 days of artillery bombardment by the british (1,732,873 shells fired, meant to obliterate german defenses, kill troops and cut any barbed wire)
the british gathered 6 times more soldiers than the germans
the somme EVENTS
soldiers told to advance at walking pace on the morning of the 1st september 1916
first day - 57,000 British casualties
the somme RESULTS
only 6 miles of ground taken by the british
1.25 million men died (total)
new tactics - creeping barrage and tanks
the somme REASONS FOR FAILURE
artillery had actually tangled (not destroyed) barbed wire and created hugecraters in which many soldiers got stuck
germans where unharmed from bombardment due to concrete dugouts
germans were mostly veterans, british soldiers were volunteers (often from the country)
inflexible generals did not change the plans despite huge losses and officers on the front line were not allowed to make decisions
the somme REASONS FOR SUCCESS
tanks were used
creeping barrage was developed
inflexible generals were ultimately replaced - commanders no longer had to refer to higher ups to change plans
aircraft was developed and used for reconaissance
give and example of a commander using inniciative (the somme)
PRIVATE EDWARDS took control and single handedly took out a German machine gun
who was the general in charge of the somme
General Douglas Haig
verdun DATE
February - December 1916
the general in charge of the battle at verdun
Erik von Falkenhayn
verdun AIMS
to break the deadlock of the war
to bleed france white and drain their resources
to cause national humiliation to france (verdun was a large part of french moral/psyche)
what is war of attrition
to drain the enemy’s resources until there is no chance of resistance
developed by german commander Falkenhayn
verdun EVENTS
infantry attack followed the barage
flame throwers were used to incinerate troops stuck inside bunkers
germans took over the french fort Doaumont (without a single shot fired)
verdun PREPARATION
21st February 1916 firing and bombardment by the germans began (heaviest artillery fire ever - 80 million shells fell and the french had little protection)
