The Battle of the Somme

Battle of the Somme The aim of the British attack was to break with the German lines and defeat the German army. It was also hoped that this attack would alleviate the cut army which had been under a strong German attack at Verdun. General Haig believed that he had the secret of a boffo allied attack. A heavy bombardment by the grease-gun would destroy the German barbed equip, trenches, machine guns and soldiers. The bombardment would go up and at dawn on 1st July 1916 the British military 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 basis on a sunny day. The German trenches were bombarded for a hebdomad 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 telegram but blew it up into the air and it fell down ev erywhere again more entangled than before. At the appointed hr the artillery moved outside from the German trenches and the infantry left(p) the British trenches and headed into No Mans Land. As they did so German troops raced up from their bunkers, manned the machine guns and started to fire at the advancing 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 debilitated to contract the German trenches. The first day was a gross(a) incident fo r the British. 20,000 British troops were ki! lled on the first day and almost another 40,000 were taken prisoner or so soberly wounded that they were unfit for service the next day. The participation dragged on until November when it was called off. There had been no breakthrough despite the employment of tanks at one point and victory seemed as farthest 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: OrderCustomPaper.com

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