Lecture Notes: The Battle of the Somme

Introduction

• Date: Early morning of July 1st, 1916
• Location: Across the English Channel, near the River Somme in Northern France
• Significance: The deadliest day in British military history; marked the beginning of the Battle of the Somme

Context

• World War I Stalemate: By the end of 1915, the war had become a bloody stalemate.
• Entente Powers: France, Britain, Russia, Italy, and Serbia sought simultaneous offensives to stretch German forces.
• Strategic Location: The Somme was chosen for its lack of strategic significance and as a meeting point for British and French forces.

The Plan

• Initial Plan: Meant for 39 French divisions in the South and British forces in the North.
• German Offensive: The attack on Verdun reduced available French divisions from 39 to 12, making it a primarily British affair.

Execution of the Battle

Pre-Battle Bombardment

• Artillery Use: Over 1,500 British guns fired 1.7 million rounds prior to July 1st.
• Bombing Intensification: 4 million shells fired in an hour.
• Detonation of Mines: 10 massive mines exploded at 7:28 a.m.

First Day of Battle

• British Offensive Begins: July 1st, 7:30 a.m.
• Immediate Challenges: Intense machine gun fire from German positions.
• Outcome: 57,000 British casualties on the first day.

Subsequent Offensives

• Limited Objectives: July 14th attack more successful due to changes in tactics and artillery concentration.
• Tanks Introduced: September 15th saw the first use of tanks, though they were not yet fully effective.
• Continued Fighting: Battle stretched until November 18th, with continued heavy losses.

Results and Impact

• Casualties: British (420,000), French (205,000), German (500,000 - 600,000)
• Advancements: Entente advanced 7 miles.
• Strategic Impact: Forced Germans to reconsider positions; indirectly led to U.S. involvement due to unrestricted submarine warfare.

Historical Interpretation

• Traditional View: Seen as a senseless slaughter representing the horrors of WWI.
• Modern Reassessment: Some historians view it as a necessary, though costly, victory for the Entente.

Additional Resources

• Companion Episode: British tanks in WWI available for further learning.
• Promo Code: Use 'TANK45' for 45% off an annual membership to Armchair History TV.

Conclusion

• The Battle of the Somme remains a pivotal and heavily debated event in military history.