Why did the battle of somme Happen
The Battle of the Somme, one of the most iconic and devastating battles of World War I, holds a significant place in the annals of history. This monumental conflict, waged on the Western Front between July 1 and November 18, 1916, witnessed an unprecedented scale of carnage and suffering.
I. Background: The Western Front and Stalemate
To comprehend the Battle of the Somme, we must first examine the broader context of World War
I and the situation on the Western Front. By 1916, the war had already been raging for nearly two years, and the conflict had evolved into a protracted stalemate.
1. The Schlieffen Plan and Trench Warfare
At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Germany had initially implemented the Schlieffen Plan, aiming to quickly defeat France and then turn east to confront Russia. However, the plan failed, leading to the entrenchment of both sides along a line of heavily fortified trenches. Trench warfare had become the grim reality of the Western Front, characterized by deadly stalemates, constant shelling, and brutal hand-to-hand combat in no man's land.
2. High Casualties and Frustration
The Western Front had already witnessed immense casualties by 1916. Both sides were frustrated by the inability to break through enemy lines and achieve decisive victories. This frustration fueled a desire to find new strategies and tactics to gain an advantage.
II. The Role of Allies and Entente Cordiale
The Entente Cordiale, a series of agreements between France and the United Kingdom, was a crucial factor leading to the Battle of the Somme. The alliance between these two powers and their shared interests played a significant role in the decision to launch the offensive.
1. Cooperative Strategy*
France and the UK had closely coordinated their military efforts on the Western Front. While the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was smaller in size compared to the French army, the British had the industrial capacity to provide massive support in terms of weaponry, ammunition, and supplies.
2. Joint Offensives*
The Allies sought to launch joint offensives to relieve pressure on each other's fronts
III. Planning and Objectives
The planning and objectives of the Battle of the Somme were multifaceted, with both strategic and tactical considerations.
1. Strategic Objectives*
The primary strategic goal of the Battle of the Somme was to relieve pressure on the French at Verdun, where they were facing a severe German offensive.
2. Tactical Objectives*
Tactically, the British and French aimed to break through the heavily fortified German lines on the Western Front, advance into enemy territory, and achieve a decisive victory. The planned breakthrough would require a massive artillery barrage followed by infantry assaults.
3. The Role of New Weapons*
Both sides had access to new weapons technology, including heavy artillery and machine guns. The British and French believed that their superior firepower, combined with the element of surprise, would give them an advantage.
IV. The Offensive Begins: July 1, 1916
The Battle of the Somme commenced on July 1, 1916, with an intense artillery bombardment of the German positions. However, the offensive did not proceed as planned.
1. Artillery Barrage*
The British launched a massive artillery barrage, hoping to destroy the German trenches and barbed wire defenses. However, the effectiveness of the bombardment was limited by the quality of artillery shells and the deep German dugouts.
2. Infantry Assaults*
Following the bombardment, British and French infantry advanced into no man's land. However, they encountered well-prepared German defenses, including machine guns and fortified positions. The infantry suffered heavy casualties, with little progress made.
3. High Casualties on the First Day*
July 1, 1916, became one of the bloodiest days in British military history, with approximately 57,000 casualties, including nearly 20,000 killed. The limited gains and staggering losses shocked British commanders.
V. The Prolonged Battle and Changing Objectives
As the Battle of the Somme continued, the initial objectives began to shift in light of the high casualties and challenging conditions.
1. Prolonged Battle*
The battle stretched on for months, with little significant progress on either side. Both the British and French continued to commit troops to the offensive.
2. Attrition and Wear Down*
Over time, the objectives evolved from achieving a decisive breakthrough to wearing down the German forces. The battle became a test of attrition, with the Allies aiming to exhaust the German army and drain its resources.
VI. The End and Outcome of the Battle
The Battle of the Somme officially ended on November 18, 1916, after nearly five months of intense combat. While the battle did not achieve its initial objectives, it had several significant consequences:
1. High Casualties*
The Battle of the Somme resulted in staggering casualties on both sides. Estimates vary, but it is believed that there were over one million casualties, including approximately 300,000 killed.
2. Limited Gains*
The battle did not lead to a decisive breakthrough or significant territorial gains. The front lines moved only a few miles in some areas.
3. Psychological Impact*
The Battle of the Somme had a profound psychological impact on the soldiers who fought there. The horrors of trench warfare, combined with the high casualty rates, left lasting scars on those who survived.
4. Strategic Diversion*
While the Battle of the Somme did not achieve its initial objectives, it succeeded in diverting German resources and relieving pressure on the French at Verdun. This diversion may have contributed to the eventual outcome of the war.
VII. Conclusion: Remembering the Somme
The Battle of the Somme remains a symbol of the immense human cost of World War I and the brutal nature of trench warfare. While it did not achieve the decisive breakthrough initially envisioned, it played a role in the broader context of the war. Remembering the Somme serves as a somber reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought and the importance of striving for peaceful solutions to conflicts.
Second Short Answer
Why did the battle of somme Happen
There were a number of reasons why the Battle of the Somme happened. One reason was to relieve the pressure on the French defenders of Verdun, who had been under siege by the Germans since February 1916. The French were suffering heavy casualties, and they were in danger of being overwhelmed.
Another reason for the Battle of the Somme was to achieve a decisive victory over the Germans. The British and French had been trying to break through the German lines for two years, but they had been unsuccessful. The Battle of the Somme was seen as an opportunity to finally achieve a breakthrough and force the Germans to retreat.
Finally, the Battle of the Somme was also fought for political reasons. The British and French governments were under pressure from their publics to take more action against the Germans. The Battle of the Somme was seen as a way to show that the Allies were committed to winning the war.
The planning for the Battle of the Somme began in late 1915. The British and French commanders decided to launch a joint offensive on the Somme River, in northern France. The British would attack on the northern flank, and the French would attack on the southern flank.
The British and French commanders believed that they could achieve a breakthrough by using a massive artillery bombardment. They planned to bombard the German lines for seven days before launching the attack. This would destroy the German defenses and allow the British and French troops to advance easily.
The artillery bombardment began on 1 July 1916. It was the heaviest artillery bombardment in history up to that point. However, it did not achieve its intended effect. The German defenses were stronger than the British and French commanders had anticipated, and the bombardment did not destroy them.
On 1 July 1916, the British and French troops launched their attack. However, they were met with fierce German resistance. The German machine guns mowed down the British and French troops in waves. The first day of the Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest days in British military history.
The Battle of the Somme continued for four months. The British and French made some gains, but they suffered heavy casualties. The Germans also suffered heavy casualties, but they were able to hold on to their positions.
The Battle of the Somme ended on 18 November 1916. It was a tactical stalemate, but it was also a strategic victory for the Germans. The Battle of the Somme showed the British and French that they could not achieve a breakthrough on the Western Front without suffering heavy casualties.
The Battle of the Somme had a profound impact on the First World War. It showed that the war would be long and bloody. It also led to a change in British military strategy. The British realized that they could not win the war by launching frontal assaults against the German lines. Instead, they adopted a strategy of attrition, which involved wearing down the German army through a series of small-scale attacks.
The Battle of the Somme was a tragedy for all sides involved. It was a battle that could have been avoided, and it resulted in the deaths of millions of people. However, the Battle of the Somme also taught the British and French valuable lessons about the nature of war. It helped them to develop the strategies that would eventually lead to victory in 1918.