The significance of the battle of the Somme

As a result of this failure they learnt from fatal mistakes for future battles such as the 2nd battle of the Marne on July 15th which assisted in winning the war. This, in theory, was a great step for the allies as it allowed a swifter and heavily improved attack. The Somme, in many ways, was more or less a training ground for Allied troops. Many machines were also enhanced as a result of their failure on the Somme such as the tanks which were perfected dramatically and could literally drive over the trenches. Tactics were also improved after the Somme where the 'creeping barrage' was used but not to its full extent. It was extremely successful, though, when used on July 15th.

Another success was demoralising the Germans as backed up by source C where a soldier in the 110th infantry reserve wrote home saying 'we have had dreadful losses again. I shall not get leave I suppose until we have left the Somme, but with our losses what they are, this cannot be long or there will not be a single man left in the regiment' This shows just how desperate the German army was. Another soldier wrote 'it is decreed by (a higher power) that we shall be completely annihilated'. Again this shows that the Germans were being defeated but at the cost of British lives.

The main victory of the Somme, even though many allied soldiers died, was that many German soldiers were killed. Michael Chappell writes that there were 660,000 - 680,000 German casualties and approximately 630,000 allied fatalities. And so the allies came off slightly better after the battle. The Somme deeply wounded the German army giving them a great disadvantage in the coming battles.

The main aim of the battle of the Somme was to remove pressure on the French at Verdun. This was achieved drawing the battle to the Somme. This was a great step as it also gained the French trust, and allowed the British to fight alongside them. This also kept the French in the war as without British help they were losing greatly and just wouldn't have been able to continue.

Finally, even though it was done of their own accord, the Germans retreated to higher ground. The British gained twelve kilometres at parts over four and a half months. This is a fairly small gain of a piece of land but they gained the land anyway so it is considered an achievement in itself, as the Germans retreated.

James Levine history coursework - question 1 5/10/2007