THE BATTLE OF SOMME Flashcards
The Battle of the Somme was the…
The largest/bloodiest battle of WW1
When did the Somme take place?
1st JULY - 18TH NOV 1916 (4 MONTHS)
Took place?
Near RIVER SOMME (🧭NORTHERN FRANCE)
Who was involved?
FRANCE&BRITAIN VS GERMANY
How many men took part in TBOS?
3 Million men
What British commander was in charge of the Western Front?
General Douglas Haig
What French commander was in charge of the Western Front?
General Joffre
What were the allies planning?
Allies planning / An attack in hopes of breaking stalemate
Stalemate
Neither side can gain an advantage
Why the Somme?
British French trenches MET🔱 at the RIVER SOMME
(1st half of 1916)
Planning/preparing for battle in SUPPOSE (summer1916)
What went wrong?
Germany attacked Verdun
When did Germany attack Verdun?
Feb 1916
Why did the Germans attack Verdun?
No real strategic importance / historically sig.
French prepared to defend at any cost
Germany wanted to ‘🩸BLEED FRANCE WHITE’ ⬜
Why was Germany’s attack in Verdun very smart?
France sent 5 divisions// instead of 40=
What was the GENERAL/MAIN objective of THE BATTLE OF SOMME?
General- Break stalemate (push Germany back)
CRUCIAL- Draw German troops AWAY from VERDUN to RELEIVE PRESSURE on FRENCH FORCES
WHAT WAS THE STRAGIC PLAN OF THE BATTLE OF SOMME?
Haig planned an INTENSE 😫😖BOMARDMEN💣 of German forces= DESTROY THEIR ABILLITY to resist AN INFANTRY ADVANCMENT 🔫
—–)British would march🚶🏻♂️🚶🏻♂️ over NML unopposed
(Carry heavy 🎒 and 🛠=repair captured trenches
When did the artillery bombardment begin?
JUNE 24TH 1916
How many shells fired? (G/ NML)
1.7 mil
SUMMARISE WHAT HAPPEND ON THE 1ST DAY OF THE SOMME?
Morning- 1st JULY—) 1st wave of soldiers went ‘OTT’
