When The First World War began in August 1914 many people thought that it would be over by Christmas. Contrary to their expectations it was a long and bloody war, and for many the Battle of the Somme, fought between July and November 1916, represents the sacrifice of the First World War
The French had faced considerable pressure from the Germans at Verdun where they had been fighting since February 1916. General Joffre, the leader of the French troops, asked General Douglas Haig, the leader of the British soldiers in France for help. Joffre asked Haig to reduce the pressure on the French by commencing an attack 17 miles to the north of the river Somme. 60,000 British troops were injured and around 20,000 were killed on the first day of the battle on July 1, 1916. Many Welsh soldiers were among those killed.
British troops fired their artillery or heavy guns and shells for five days before the first day of the battle, but the German troops had taken shelter in deep concrete dug-outs behind their trenches. British planes failed to spot German artillery because of the low cloud. This meant that thousands of British troops were shot as they crossed no man’s land.
The artillery failed to cut through the German barbed wire and many British soldiers became entangled in the wire as they crossed no man’s land. Soldiers felt fear and terror as they went over the top knowing that they were easy targets for the German machine gun fire. General Haig was described by many as the Butcher of the Somme because he Cambrian Daily Leader, believed that foot soldiers and cavalry could defeat the new November 7, 1916 technology of the machine gun.
Britain used tanks for the first time in the Battle of the Somme. These were armed vehicles with machine guns that moved on a continuous metal track. A tank could handle difficult conditions such as mud and rain.
When the battle ended in November 1916:
1 million soldiers had been killed or injured 125,000 British soldiers had been killed Britain and France had only gained 8km of land The attack had reduced the pressure on the French army
Battle of the Somme 1916
1 Look at paragraphs 1 and 2 Tick which of the following sentences are true and untrue True Untrue Many people thought that the war would be over by Christmas
The attack on the Somme was launched to help ease
the pressure on French troops at Verdun
The Battle of the Somme began in November 1916
The attack started to the south of the river Somme Many soldiers from Wales fought on the Somme
The Battle of Verdun started in February 1916
By the end of the Battle of the Somme 1 million had been killed or injured
2 Choose and copy one word that suggests what the Battle of the Somme represents for many people
______
3 Look at the newspaper report. Underline information that shows that the British and French troops were winning in the Battle of the Somme.
4 Draw a line to show which word matches each definition
General Haig the leader of the French troops
General Joffre shelter behind the trenches
Tank heavy guns that fired shells
Artillery the leader of the British troops
Dug-out an armoured vehicle Battle of the Somme 1916
5 How did the soldiers feel as they went over the top? Tick 1 happy and joyful nervous and fearful jolly and cheerful eager and confident
6 What do you know about the Battle of the Somme after reading this text? Tick 2 Not many Welsh soldiers fought on the
Somme
Only 8 km of land had been gained by the British and French by the end of the battle
It had been an easy battle for the French and British soldiers
British military leaders had used ineffective tactics
Germany lost a huge amount of land to Britain and France
7 Place these events in their chronological order from 1 – 5
1 million had been killed or injured by the time the battle ended in
November 1916 Between July 1 and November 1 more than 71,532 German soldiers were taken prisoner by Britain and France on the Somme Joffre asked Haig to relieve pressure on the French army at
Verdun by launching an attack further down the Somme
The First World War was declared in 1914
More than 20,000 soldiers were killed on the first day of the battle
Battle of the Somme 1916
Answers 1. True Untrue Many people thought that the war would be over by x Christmas The attack on the Somme was launched to help ease the x pressure on French troops at Verdun The Battle of the Somme began in November 1916 x The attack started to the south of the river Somme x Many soldiers from Wales fought on the Somme x The Battle of Verdun started in February 1916 x By the end of the Battle of the Somme 1 million had been x killed or injured
2. sacrifice
3. Any suitable answer e.g. equipment captured
4. General Haig – the leader of the British troops General Joffre – the leader of the French troops tank – an armoured vehicle artillery – heavy guns that fired shells dug-out – shelter behind the trenches
5. How did the soldiers feel as they went over the top? nervous and fearful
6. What do you know about the Battle of the Somme after reading this text? 1. Only 8 km of land had been gained by the British and French by the end of the battle
2. British military leaders had used ineffective tactics
7. Place the events in their chronological order from 1 – 5 5. 1 million had been killed or injured by the time the battle ended in November 1916 4. Between July 1 and November 1 more than 71,532 German soldiers were taken prisoner by Britain and France on the Somme 2. Joffre asked Haig to relieve pressure on the French army at Verdun by launching an attack further down the Somme 1. The First World War was declared in 1914 3. More than 20,000 soldiers were killed on the first day of the battle