PART TWO - Was the Somme a Victory for the British Army?
What did Haig think?
1. Unshaken by losses. Still had king’s support. Defended battle:
◦ To Cabinet (Dec 1916): Verdun relieved, Ger forces pinned, Ger weakened → justified losses.
◦ To Chief of Imperial Gen Staff (1916): Ger troops beaten, ready to surrender. Ground gained = irrelevant. “The German casualties have been
”.
Evidence of impact on Ger :
1. Capt von Hentig (allegedly): ‘' of Ger field army & faith in leadership’.
2. Ludendorff: ‘we were completely exhausted’.
3. Dec 1916: Ger & A-H proposed peace talks (Allies refused).
4. Feb 1917: Ger withdrew to
of trenches.
Could be argued: Ger ≠ lose ground during battle, but knew after Somme they could not win war.
15 ideas about the battle
1. Ignore the first day and consider the wider impact of the battle. (AQA)
2. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers died due to inadequate fire support, poor planning, and irresponsible leadership. (Prior & Wilson)
3. Despite the high losses, the battle set in motion the process leading to British victory. (Robert Fry)
4. The battle had some success in weakening Germany and advancing the British Army, but it failed to break through enemy lines. (British Government)
5. The Somme was not just a British battle but a wider Allied effort that ultimately wore down the German Army. (William Philpott)
6. The battle marked the death of traditional chivalric warfare, replacing it with an industrialized war of resources. (George Will)
7. Attritional warfare deliberately sacrificed men and materials, reducing war to an inhuman mechanical process. (A.J. Coates)
8. The Somme was a harsh lesson in large-scale warfare, leading to improved tactics and a more effective army. (National Army Museum)
9. The battle weakened Germany’s manpower and industrial capacity, shifting the strategic balance to the Allies. (Reddit)
10. Any improvements in military efficiency were consequences of the battle, not its justification. (retired soldier)
11. Looking at front-line experiences shows both the horror and heroism of the Somme, broadening our understanding of its meaning. (Hugh Sebag-Montefiore)
12. Heavy casualties are not necessarily unjustified if the battle is necessary and fought efficiently. (Nigel Biggar)
13. The Somme was not a traditional victory, but it was a necessary step toward the Allied success in 1918. (Gary Sheffield)
14. War museums often present national perspectives – need to see the broader international impact of the battle. (Jay Winter)
15. The war’s outcome may have led to future disasters by creating the conditions for Lenin, Mussolini, and Hitler to rise. (David Stevenson)
PART ONE - A Military Tragedy?
Planning the Battle
• 1 July 1916: Haig & JOFFRE planned joint attack nr BAPAUME (Haig would have preferred further north).
• Aim = relieve Verdun, but Haig hoped to break Ger lines & win.
PART TWO - Was the Somme a Victory for the British Army?
What did Haig think?
1. Unshaken by losses. Still had king’s support. Defended battle:
◦ To Cabinet (Dec 1916): Verdun relieved, Ger forces pinned, Ger weakened → justified losses.
◦ To Chief of Imperial Gen Staff (1916): Ger troops beaten, ready to surrender. Ground gained = irrelevant. “The German casualties have been GREATER THAN OURS”.
Evidence of impact on Ger :
1. Capt von Hentig (allegedly): ‘MUDDY GRAVE' of Ger field army & faith in leadership’.
2. Ludendorff: ‘we were completely exhausted’.
3. Dec 1916: Ger & A-H proposed peace talks (Allies refused).
4. Feb 1917: Ger withdrew to HINDENBURG LINE of trenches.
Could be argued: Ger ≠ lose ground during battle, but knew after Somme they could not win war.
15 ideas about the battle
1. Ignore the first day and consider the wider impact of the battle. (AQA)
2. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers died due to inadequate fire support, poor planning, and irresponsible leadership. (Prior & Wilson)
3. Despite the high losses, the battle set in motion the process leading to British victory. (Robert Fry)
4. The battle had some success in weakening Germany and advancing the British Army, but it failed to break through enemy lines. (British Government)
5. The Somme was not just a British battle but a wider Allied effort that ultimately wore down the German Army. (William Philpott)
6. The battle marked the death of traditional chivalric warfare, replacing it with an industrialized war of resources. (George Will)
7. Attritional warfare deliberately sacrificed men and materials, reducing war to an inhuman mechanical process. (A.J. Coates)
8. The Somme was a harsh lesson in large-scale warfare, leading to improved tactics and a more effective army. (National Army Museum)
9. The battle weakened Germany’s manpower and industrial capacity, shifting the strategic balance to the Allies. (Reddit)
10. Any improvements in military efficiency were consequences of the battle, not its justification. (retired soldier)
11. Looking at front-line experiences shows both the horror and heroism of the Somme, broadening our understanding of its meaning. (Hugh Sebag-Montefiore)
12. Heavy casualties are not necessarily unjustified if the battle is necessary and fought efficiently. (Nigel Biggar)
13. The Somme was not a traditional victory, but it was a necessary step toward the Allied success in 1918. (Gary Sheffield)
14. War museums often present national perspectives – need to see the broader international impact of the battle. (Jay Winter)
15. The war’s outcome may have led to future disasters by creating the conditions for Lenin, Mussolini, and Hitler to rise. (David Stevenson)
