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Somme (Causes (the allied strategy for 1916, was decided in 1915 in the…
Somme
Causes
the allied strategy for 1916, was decided in 1915 in the chantilly conference.
haig believed in a policy of attrition, wearing down the enemy by constantly attacking
lord kitchener had launched a major recruitment campaign in 1915, so the british army was stronger for about 1 million more recruits
* in the peak of verdun the allies got together to plan an offensive to RELEASE PRESSURE FROM VERDUN
this way, german troops would have to move from verdun to somme
initially this attack was made by french and the british, however the french had to reduce its involvement by 50%
the battle
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in some places the wire could not be cut and the british were stuck (became targets for the british)
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the plan
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if this wasn't successful he would send more infantry to use up all the german reserve forces and then send cavalry
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the british preparations
the germans installed on high grounds so they were able to see the british ammunition dumps grow everyday
the british planned that the bombs would destroy the german defenses, kill all the germans
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general haig
bad things
he told his troops to walk (he believed the mines could be avoided by walking) and that everything would be destroyed)
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he underestimated the power of the machine gun (only 2 machine guns per battalion). later on, lloyd george would make it 16 per battalion
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good things
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the shells were poor quality, 1/3 didnt explode (this were crucial to hangs plan)
some refuse to say that haig didn't adapt, he used tanks for the first time
he was put in a very difficult position, only 50% of the french helped
the germans were in a higher position, they had better control
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