Was the Battle of the Somme a success or a failure?

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Was the Battle of the Somme a success or a failure?

    World War 1 started in 1914 and lasted for four years. There were many causes for the World War and many thought it been coming for a very long time. There was a growing tension between France and Germany over land and border lines. Also, Kaiser Wilhelm, theGerman leader, wanted to prove how powerful he thought the Germans were. But, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand is what many historians believe to have started the war. On the 28th July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on the Serbs. Because of a complicated alliance system, this declare of war lead to a World War between Britain, France and Russia against Italy, Germany and Austria-Hungary.

      Because of Britains inclusion in the war, Lord KItchener, Secretary of War, set up a recruitment campaign. Conscription was not introduced until 1916, so, a
successful recruitment was essential. Lord Kitchener was very successful in his campaign. He introduced many posters, patriotic songs were sung when recruitment took place at meetings in village halls and town squares and men were encouraged to sign up there and then, he used emotional blackmail to get people to enlist. by march 1916 over two and a half million men volunteered.This creation was very successful in it self and many recruits felt more at home joining up with their friends.
                                                                                                                                          In 1916, one of the biggest battles in the history of British Military history started. This battle was named The Battle of the Somme, named this because the region the battle took place was called the Somme. There were many reasons for basing the attack there.The most important reason was to relieve pressure of the French who were being attacked at Verdun. The Germans were very close to breaking through the French lines so Britain had to act quick and attack Germans from a different angle. The French and British had planned for a joined attack on the Germans but the French had to defend there land at Verdun so it was
mainly the British which attacked at the Somme. At first the region of the Somme seemed perfect for the attack to take place but, it soon turned out to be one of the worst.

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      The region of the Somme was very hilly and the British based themselves at the bottom of a very big hill. At the time they did not realise they had done this. Only later on in the battle they realised how badly they had placed themselves and infact the Germans had a perfect view of the British movement.

     On the German side they had built much better trenches. They believed that they would be in their trenches for a very long time and so built their trenches with very deep and strong dugouts. These were ...

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