The Battle of the Somme

1
The Battle of the Somme

• 1916

2
Where and Why?

• The Somme is a river in northern France
• The British were trying to force themselves
  through what they believed to be a weak point in
  the German line in order to support the French

3
General Sir Douglas Haig

• The 54 year old commander and planner of the
  British attack
• Once said
• The nation must be taught to bear losses.

4
What was the plan?

• The British plan was to bombard the German lines
  with over 1 million shells
• The aim was to cut the barbed wire and destroy
  the trench system of the Germans
• The British could then walk across No-Mans Land
  and take the German trenches.
• One officer was told he wouldn't even need a
  rifle but could take his walking stick instead!

5
Captain Wilfred Nevill of the Royal Surreys
kicked a football across No Mans Land
6
What actually happened?

• The British bombardment lasted over a week
• The Germans hid in their deep concrete dugouts
• The wire was not cut by the shells
• The Germans were able to take their places in
  time for the British advance

7
Images of the Battle
8
What actually happened?

• 58,000 British soldiers were killed or wounded on
  the first day of the battle.
• The Newfoundlanders regiment lost 684 out of 752
  men on the first day.
• The British and French armies lost 620,000 men
  during the 3 months of the battle.
• The Germans lost 450,000
• Britain claimed victory as they advanced up to
  12km as a result of the battle.

9
How much do you remember?

• Write down everything you can remember about the
  Battle of the Somme before your time is up.