The Battle of Somme
The battle of Somme was a major battle in WW1 on the German western front. It lasted from July,1st 1916 to November,18th 2016. It is commonly known as one of the bloodiest battles of WW1 and one of the most futile war efforts. It was also fought on the Western front of Germany.
Location
The battle was fought near the Somme river in the Northern region of France The river’s upper basin was the scene of heavy fighting and was the location of the battle of Somme. Trenches were dug by both sides but the Germans were much better fortified than the allies.
Goals of the Battle
The purpose of the battle for the allies was to relieve the French army which was fighting against the Germans in the battle of Verdun as well as wearing …show more content…
The British were only able to advance six miles into the German territory losing 146,000 soldiers and having another 200,000 wounded and the land they did take was heavily contested and sometimes taken back by the German army. The casualties estimated for the battle were about 420,000 British, 200,000 French and around 500,000 Germans although that number is debatable. Many of the men’s lives could have been saved had it not been for poor planning and coordination between the allied commanders.
Outcome of the battle
On November 18, 1916 a British Field Marshal Douglas Haig called off the assault claiming that the battle of the Somme had achieved its objectives which according to him meant Verdun had been relieved, the German army had been held back on the Western Front and the German army’s strength had been very considerably worn down. Despite Douglas’s positive take on the battle, whether the battle was a victory for the allies is a controversial topic as the allies had taken heavy casualties and had only managed to advance six miles into the German territory.
Short Term …show more content…
The British troops launching an assault on the Somme also despite receiving heavy casualties damaged the German army and caused them to lose morale. Many soldiers received bad burns and PTSD from the
The battle of Somme was a major battle in WW1 on the German western front. It lasted from July,1st 1916 to November,18th 2016. It is commonly known as one of the bloodiest battles of WW1 and one of the most futile war efforts. It was also fought on the Western front of Germany.
Location
The battle was fought near the Somme river in the Northern region of France The river’s upper basin was the scene of heavy fighting and was the location of the battle of Somme. Trenches were dug by both sides but the Germans were much better fortified than the allies.
Goals of the Battle
The purpose of the battle for the allies was to relieve the French army which was fighting against the Germans in the battle of Verdun as well as wearing …show more content…
The British were only able to advance six miles into the German territory losing 146,000 soldiers and having another 200,000 wounded and the land they did take was heavily contested and sometimes taken back by the German army. The casualties estimated for the battle were about 420,000 British, 200,000 French and around 500,000 Germans although that number is debatable. Many of the men’s lives could have been saved had it not been for poor planning and coordination between the allied commanders.
Outcome of the battle
On November 18, 1916 a British Field Marshal Douglas Haig called off the assault claiming that the battle of the Somme had achieved its objectives which according to him meant Verdun had been relieved, the German army had been held back on the Western Front and the German army’s strength had been very considerably worn down. Despite Douglas’s positive take on the battle, whether the battle was a victory for the allies is a controversial topic as the allies had taken heavy casualties and had only managed to advance six miles into the German territory.
Short Term …show more content…
The British troops launching an assault on the Somme also despite receiving heavy casualties damaged the German army and caused them to lose morale. Many soldiers received bad burns and PTSD from the