To take the pressure off the French at Verdun where the Germans were attempting to 'bleed the French white'
2 of 14
Who was in charge of the assault?
Sir Henry Rawlinson
3 of 14
How many divisions were to be involved and over what distance?
14 divisions over 27,000 yards
4 of 14
Why was there artillery bombardment before the attack?
To cut barbed wire and destroy German trenches - eliminating resistance
5 of 14
How long was the bombardment and how many shells were fired?
A week before the attack, 1.5 million shells were fired, 224,221 in the final 65 minutes before the attack
6 of 14
1 million of the shells fired were shrapnel, not high explosives, what was the problem with this?
They couldn't destry deep German bunkers or barbed wire - only high explosives could do that
7 of 14
What percentage of shells failed to explode?
30%
8 of 14
What time did the attack begin and how many BEF casualties were there in the first hour?
7.30am, by 8.30am there had been 30,000 casualties
9 of 14
How many casualties in the first day did the BEF suffer?
57,000, 19,240 dead out 120,000 British troops taking part
10 of 14
What casualty rate did the 1st Newfoundland Regiment suffer?
91%
11 of 14
When were tanks first used and with how much success?
15th September 1916, local success with an advance of 3,500 yards. Yet the tanks had only been tested 5 months earlier, could only move at 2mph and suffered many mechanical failures
12 of 14
Successes of the Somme?
Verdun was relieved, 13km gain, 400,000 German casualties, increased morale of the British army, testing out of tactics - learning military lessons
13 of 14
Failures of the Somme?
Haig called 'the butcher of the Somme' and accused of 'criminal negligence', caused the start of unrestricted submarine warfare, 420,000 British casualties and 200,000 French casualties
14 of 14
Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What was the main aim of the Somme?
Back
To take the pressure off the French at Verdun where the Germans were attempting to 'bleed the French white'
Card 3
Front
Who was in charge of the assault?
Back
Card 4
Front
How many divisions were to be involved and over what distance?
Back
Card 5
Front
Why was there artillery bombardment before the attack?
Comments
No comments have yet been made