The significance of the Somme
The battle of the Somme was a major battle for both losses and, in some cases achievements. The effect of the Somme spread from the battlefield to many of the countries involved including back home to Britain. The upshot of the Somme was disastrous on both British and German armies with many losses having been sustained.
It is imperative that one should distinguish between the attitudes of affected civilians back at home and the attitudes of the soldiers on the battlefield as both reactions to the battle of the Somme will be different in many ways. One might say that soldiers would most definitely be anti- war and the civilian response would be pro-war. This however may not be the case.
During the war, many soldiers saw the battle as a game, with their friends by their sides as in the PALS battalions. PALS battalions were introduced in order to recruit men. One battalion was made up of footballers and when the whistle was blown, their commander kicked some footballs onto the battlefield and then told them to dribble to the other side. Many men saw this as a sort of day out with their mates and the idea was that if you fought with your friends you would have a partner. Someone with whom you could advance together, someone who cared for you. This became increasingly popular and became the main bulk of the army with 97 out of the 143 battalions being PALS. This greatly increased enthusiasm for the war with the image of friends fighting side by side together.
The battle of the Somme was a major battle for both losses and, in some cases achievements. The effect of the Somme spread from the battlefield to many of the countries involved including back home to Britain. The upshot of the Somme was disastrous on both British and German armies with many losses having been sustained.
It is imperative that one should distinguish between the attitudes of affected civilians back at home and the attitudes of the soldiers on the battlefield as both reactions to the battle of the Somme will be different in many ways. One might say that soldiers would most definitely be anti- war and the civilian response would be pro-war. This however may not be the case.
During the war, many soldiers saw the battle as a game, with their friends by their sides as in the PALS battalions. PALS battalions were introduced in order to recruit men. One battalion was made up of footballers and when the whistle was blown, their commander kicked some footballs onto the battlefield and then told them to dribble to the other side. Many men saw this as a sort of day out with their mates and the idea was that if you fought with your friends you would have a partner. Someone with whom you could advance together, someone who cared for you. This became increasingly popular and became the main bulk of the army with 97 out of the 143 battalions being PALS. This greatly increased enthusiasm for the war with the image of friends fighting side by side together.
