The Battle of the Somme

Battle of the Somme The aim of the British approach shot was to break with the German lines and defeat the German army. It was also hoped that this attack would alleviate the french army which had been under a strong German attack at Verdun. General Haig believed that he had the secret of a prospering allied attack. A heavy bombardment by the hired gun would destroy the German barbed equip, trenches, machine guns and soldiers. The bombardment would put up and at dawn on 1st July 1916 the British legion would cross No Mans drink down and occupy the German trenches. Heavy casualties were not expected. Soldiers were assured by their officers that it would simply be a matter of stroll across No Mans write down on a sunny twenty-four hours. The German trenches were bombarded for a week but the German soldiers were secure in concrete bunkers 10 metres underground. The shells bounced off the concrete. Also they did not destroy the barbed wire but blew it up into the ai r and it fell down everyplace again more entangled than before. At the appointed time of day the artillery moved outside from the German trenches and the infantry left field the British trenches and headed into No Mans Land. As they did so German military man raced up from their bunkers, manned the machine guns and started to fire at the go on troops.

The British troops advanced in straight lines as if on a parade ground and as they did so the German machine guns opened fire. Very few British troops reached the German barbed wire and those that did were too vague to contract the German trenches. The first day was a have intercourse incident for the British. 20,000 British troops were killed on the first day and almost an! other 40,000 were taken prisoner or so soberly wounded that they were unfit for service the next day. The action dragged on until November when it was called off. There had been no breakthrough despite the lend oneself of tanks at one point and victory seemed as off the beaten track(predicate) away as ever. The Battle of the Somme, also known as the Somme Offensive, fought from July to...If you wishing to get a full essay, order it on our website: OrderEssay.net

If you want to get a full information about our service, visit our page: How it works.