Some made it into the German trenches only to be forced back. The Battle of the Somme was not the failure it is often portrayed. It did play an important role in the eventual German defeat in and did allow the allies to recapture some strategic territory. However, given the losses, the battle did not achieve much, and the Germans did not suffer any major strategic defeats.
So, while the Somme was not an Allied victory in the traditional sense, it did amount to a significant strategic success for the British and French. In this respect, it was no failure. Haig was the Commander-in-Chief of all British forces by He had been promoted several times during and for his leadership and competence.
His reputation suffered very badly as a result of the Battle of the Somme. He was blamed for the heavy losses and accused of not caring about them. He was blamed for the enormous slaughter of the Battle of the Somme, during which there were around 60, British casualties on just the first day, a third of which were killed. Field Marshal Haig was a national hero and was rewarded with the title of earl for leading Britain to victory.
From the end of the war years ago, until his death of a heart attack in , Edinburgh-born Haig remained a popular figure. Not ever. For good, bad, or ugly, it is illegal in Canada to deprive your neighbour of surface runoff water from your property.
The stalemate was not broken by the offensive. Historians have argued whether the Somme was a failure or a partial success. It is clear that the British and French did not secure their main objectives during the battle. This failure at the Somme was due to poor leadership, planning and a stubborn German defence. Since , the war on both the eastern and the western front had become a war of attrition. Both sides had established a series of defensive lines, involving thousands of miles of trenches and they regularly attacked and counter-attacked each other for little or no strategic or tactical advantage.
There were concerns that the public would not tolerate a war indefinitely. The resources of France and Britain had become stretched and they needed a victory to demonstrate that they were winning the war to their public. There was a genuine desire to end the stalemate which was costing thousands of lives per week.
Although the French made good progress in the south and there were some local successes, in most places the attack was a bloody failure. But with the French still under pressure at Verdun, there was no question of calling off the offensive. He was killed in action on 1 July More attacks between 3 and 13 July resulted in a further 25, casualties.
But, gradually, the British tactics improved. On 14 July, four British divisions made a dawn attack on Longueval Ridge. Supported by an intense artillery bombardment, they caught the Germans by surprise and by mid-morning they had captured the ridge.
Attacks continued through the summer, mostly on a series of individual objectives, with the Germans frequently mounting counter-attacks of their own. The Some offensive ultimately included 12 separate battles, many of which became slogging matches that lasted for weeks. On 18 November , with the weather deteriorating, Haig shut down the offensive. The Allies had only advanced seven miles 12 km and there was still no breakthrough in sight.
The British Empire had suffered , casualties and the French , in the process. German losses were at least , killed and wounded.
Yet Haig had no option but to fight on the Somme. And despite his controversial tactics, the battle provided a tough lesson in how to fight a large-scale war. A more professional and effective army emerged from the battle.
The Somme also succeeded in relieving the pressure on the French at Verdun. Abandoning them would have greatly tested the unity of the Entente. That army never fully recovered from the loss of so many experienced junior and non-commissioned officers. This move was a direct consequence of troop shortages resulting from the Somme fighting. For many at home, their first glimpse of trench warfare came from Geoffrey Malins's film 'The Battle of the Somme' Filmed at the start of the battle, it mainly shows real events, although some scenes were staged for the camera.
The film defined the popular image of the war, and indeed created the genre of war cinema. It was also hugely popular with audiences, who hoped to glimpse their loved ones and were shocked to view its graphic depictions of war. During its first six weeks, the film was seen by nearly 20 million people in the UK, almost half the population. This record was only surpassed in by ' Star Wars'. Over , British soldiers are buried on the Somme. This commemorates 72, officers and men who have no known grave.
Explore the story of the Somme through objects from the National Army Museum's collections. The bitter struggle that followed came to symbolize the horrors of trench warfare. Despite early gains, the Germans exhausted themselves, setting the stage for a successful Allied counter-offensive. Both resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties for both the Allies and Germans on the Western Front. In September , the face of battle changed forever. On an unsuspecting enemy, Britain unleashed its new secret weapon - the tank.
But for many his leadership was marked by unacceptable losses. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Be the first to hear about our latest events, exhibitions and offers. Simply enter your email address below to start receiving our monthly email newsletter.
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