16.3.4

Battle of the Somme

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Battle of the Somme

The Battle of the Somme (July - November 1916 AD) was the most famous battle of the First World War.

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Background

  • The Battle of the Somme was fought to help the French troops in Verdun.
  • It was intended to speed up a victory for the Allies.
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Artillery bombardment

  • The battle began with the heaviest artillery bombardment of the war.
  • The Allies planned for seven days of continuous artillery bombardment.
  • They thought that the lengthy bombardment would destroy any German barbed wire defences and kill Germans in the trenches.
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Day one

  • 1 July 1916 AD: The Allies sent 100,000 men to attack German lines.
  • The allied soldiers had to cross hundreds of metres of no man’s land.
  • In some places, British soldiers did reach the German trenches but many were shot down by German machine guns.
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Casualties

  • By the end of the first day, Britain had suffered 57,000 casualties in a single day.
  • Progress was very slow, and by 4 July 1916 AD Britain had suffered a further 25,000 casualties.
  • By the end of August, Germany had suffered almost 250,000 casualties.
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Support

  • Britain was supported by its Empire.
  • Troops from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand all contributed to the war effort.
  • 15 September 1916 Ad: Britain used the tank for the first time.
  • Eventually, the British gained Morval and Thiepval Ridge.

Jump to other topics

1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

1.14Historical Skills

2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

18World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

19The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

20Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

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