Western Front (Verdun, Somme, Passchendaele) Flashcards
What was the aim of the Battle of Verdun?
To force the French to defend the city of Verdun -> historical significance, knew many would die
What did General con Falkenhayn say he wanted to do to France at Verdun?
“bleed them white”
When did the Battle of Verdun begin?
21st February 1916
How did the battle of Verdun start (what did the Germans do?)
Bombed French trenches
What did the French feel about the city of Verdun and how was this shown?
They wanted to protect it at all costs -> they sent many men there
How did the battle of Verdun end?
- British attacked German line at River Somme
- Russians attacked in the east
-> Caused German soldiers to be transferred
How many French died in the battle of Verdun?
315,000
How many Germans died in the Battle of Verdun?
280,000
What was the outcome of Verdun?
French pushed Germans back, retook 2 forts.
Seen as a victory + morale boost for French.
What was the aim of the Battle of the Somme?
Relieve pressure on the French at Verdun
Who was known as the ‘butcher of the Somme’ and why?
General Haig - knew the battle would cause huge casualties, but felt it necessary to win war
When did the Battle of the Somme start?
24th June 1916
What happened in the Battle of the Somme?
- British heavily bombarded German trenches
- Germans were aware of the attack and hid
- British went over top -> German machine guns easily wiped them out
How many British died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme?
20,000
How many British died in the Battle of the Somme in total?
620,000
How much land did the British gain from the Battle of the Somme?
25 x 6km
How many Germans died in the Battle of the Somme?
500,000
How did the Battle of the Somme positively affect the war (for the Allies)?
- Protected Verdun
- Weakened Germans
What was the aim of the Battle of Passchendaele?
Allies had made significant progress -> Haig wanted to continue advancement to Ypres
When did the Battle of Passchendaele start?
18th July 1917
What caused the Battle of Passchendaele to be such a disaster?
Heavy rain -> lots of mud, craters filled with water
Battle of Passchendaele: what did the water-logged craters cause to happen?
Many soldiers slipped off planks used to cross the mud and drowned.
How many British died within a week of the Battle of Passchendaele?
30,000
How many Germans died in the Battle of Passchendaele?
300,000
How much land did the Allies gain from Passchendaele?
8km
