Military Achievements of the British at the Battle of the Somme

Military Achievements of the British at the Battle of the Somme

Post-war British folklore has deemed the Battle of the Somme a

military catastrophe of the greatest kind. The image of the reckless

slaughter of British troops on July 1st 1916 and the idea of "Lions

being led by Donkeys"1 to their fate, which compromised of death is

what resides in the minds of most regarding the Battle of the Somme.

If at all a victory, it would have been classed as a 'Phyrric

Victory'. On the surface it seems that very little land was gained

over an extensive battle at the cost of many lives. It cannot be

denied that the casualties were great, and to an extent unnecessary.

It cannot be denied that the tactics and planning before and on July 1st

1916 were far from ingenious. However, what is usually forgotten in

the minds of the public, is that there was more to the Battle of the

Somme than July 1st; to judge this battle one must examine the whole

battle, spanning four months. The idea of the Battle of the Somme

being a success has emerged over the last forty years, and this

argument has its merits, especially so if one penetrates the surface

of the question and looks deeper.

Prior to the Somme, there was a leaping gap in the calibre of the

British and German armies. How the British army fared has been much

publicised, but details of the German army's plight have been less so.

German casualties are estimated in the region of 670,000, a greater

number than the combined British (420,000) and French (200,000)

casualties. These casualties were more catastrophic for the Germans

than for us, as they had fewer men and were already faltering from the

pressure at Verdun. Whereas we lost green troops and pals battalions

on the Somme, the Germans lost their first string. In their own words,

"What still remained of the old first class peace trained German

infantry had been expended on the battlefield."2 And "No art of the

commander could give them back the trained artillery which had been