1. Who was to blame for the failure at the Somme?
L/O:
To investigate the Battle of the Somme
L/O: To analyse different interpretations of the Somme in order to find out why it failed and if anyone way to blame.
The battle of the Somme is one of the most famous battles of WW1. But it is also considered one of the greatest failures!
We need to find out how much of a failure it was and who, if anyone was to blame!
artillery bombardment
Infantry (foot soldiers)
Cavalry (soldiers on horses)
High casualty rate
Going ‘over the top’

2. So what do we already know about World War One?
Paired Task:
You will need to remember information from our past few classes!
Create a list of at least 5 things you know about World War One and life in the trenches.
You have 2 minutes, so you must think quickly!
Guidance:
Who were involved?
Where did the majority of the fighting take place?
Why did it start (what were the MAIN causes)?
What type of warfare was it?

3. Two important people
Field Marshall Lord Kitchener – Secretary of State for War – In charge of recruiting the British Army – Supported the idea of the Pal’s Battalions – sending groups of friends together to fight
General Sir Douglas Haig – leader of the British Army at the Somme. His nickname became “The Butcher of the Somme”. We will need to see if we think this was fair or not!

4. Background Information
In July 1916, the French army was close to collapse.
After the high casualty rate at the Battle of Verdun many troops were refusing to fight.
If the Germans attacked again then the French Army would be defeated and the allies would lose the war.
General Haig was ordered to divert the Germans away from Verdun by launching an attack on the Somme.

5. An overview! The battle lasted from 1 July – 18 November 1916.
Took place in France and was one of the most significant battles of the First World War.
60,000 British casualties on first day of battle alone.
11 Cambridgeshire Battalion sent 750 ‘over the top’ and 691 became casualties of war.
1,738,000 shells were fired at the Germans in the first bombardment.

6. The Plan
1. The Battle was planned as a joint attack by the British and the French, however the French were under pressure at Verdun so they could not join in.
2. Haig wanted to delay the fighting so that his would have more time to prepare, but the French insisted so Haig organised the attack
3. The attack would begin with a week-long artillery bombardment of the German front line to destroy their defences. (Haig claimed, 'not even a rat would be alive' at the end of it.)
4. The Infantry (foot soldiers) would then advance to take hold of the German positions
5. This would be followed by a charge of Cavalry (soldiers on horses) who would sweep through breaking the enemy line in two.

7. The Reality
1. The week-long artillery bombardment actually warned the enemy that an attack was coming. This gave them plenty of time to prepare for it.
2. The German dugouts were well made and heavily defended. The German soldiers were able to hide in their underground bunkers until the infantry attack started.
3. The bombardment had churned up the ground badly making the British advance more difficult.
4. Many British artillery shells failed to explode, so some parts of the German defences had not even been touched.
5. When the men went over-the-top at 7:30 am on 1st July, wave after wave were simply mown down by enemy fire (killed by machine guns)

8. Task: Plan vs Reality Diagram – 20 mins
Create your own diagram of the plan vs the reality
Use the details on the PPT to help you decide what to include.

9. The Plan vs The Reality

10. X 14 = ??

11. 90,000 x 14 =
There were about 1.2 million casualties (people injured/ killed in combat)
Nearly fourteen times the capacity of Wembley Stadium
1,260, 000
These included;
420,000 British
200,000 French
500,000 Germans

12. Outcomes of the Battle
Approximately 60,000 men were killed or wounded by the end of the first day.
The French, attacking where the German defences were weaker, were more successful but without back up from the British they were unable to hold on to their advance.
Haig allowed the bloodshed to continue despite the growing losses. By the time he called off the attack on 28th November 1916, more than 450,000 British, 200,000 French and 650,000 German soldiers had been slaughtered.
After four months of fighting the Allies had advanced a distance of no more than five miles.

13. How much can you remember?
Started: 1st July 1916
Ended: 18th November 1916
Where did it take place? France on the Western Front
Why was it launched? It was supposed to release pressure from the French troops at Verdun
How many British casualties were the on the first day? 60,000

14. Source task! L/O: To analyse different interpretations of the Somme in order to find out why it failed and if anyone way to blame.
ALL!
Go through the sources on the sheet you have been given and annotate, underline and make notes on:
Fill in the table you have been given on the Somme!
Positive points
Negative points
Blame
MOST!
3) Why is the Somme considered a failure? Explain your answer.
4) Do you think anyone should be blamed for what happened at the Somme? Kitchener, the war secretary? Haig, the leader of the British army? Explain your answer
SOME!
5) Which of the sources do you find most reliable? Which are the most useful? Why do you think there are different interpretations of the battles Explain your answer!

15. Source
Who is the source from? (who is saying it/writing it etc)
Evidence of positive things about the battle?
Evidence of negative things about the battle?
Evidence that anyone / anything was to blame for the loss of life 1 2 3 4 5 6

16. Two important people
Field Marshall Lord Kitchener – Secretary of State for War – In charge of recruiting the British Army – Supported the idea of the Pal’s Battalions – sending groups of friends together to fight
General Sir Douglas Haig – leader of the British Army at the Somme. His nickname became “The Butcher of the Somme”. We will need to see if we think this was fair or not!

17. Homework – 2 weeks – Due Wednesday 3rd December
You are a journalist on the front line working for the Seville Daily and your editor has asked for a report on the battle of the Somme.
You must include:
What happened
When, who etc.!
Why did it fail?
Back up your points with evidence from the sources (you could add interviews or sources)
Show that there are other points of view – did it have some successes?
You could carry out extra research too!

18. The Battle of the Somme classwork / newspaper article – What level will you get?
Description
 Summary: 4
You can describe some of the main events, people and periods you have studied.
You are able to identify where these fit within the past.
You are able to identify some causes and consequences of the main events
Finally, you are beginning to produce structured work, making appropriate use of dates and terms
Describe main features, events, periods and people. Beginning to produced structured work 5
You can describe events, people and some features of past societies and periods and can identify where these fit within the past.
Also, you begin to suggest relationships between causes and why some events, people and changes might be judged as more historically significant than others.
You are beginning to ask your own questions, evaluate sources to establish evidence for particular enquiries.
Finally, you select and use information and make appropriate use of historical terminology to support and structure your work.
Describe features, events, periods and people. Suggest causes and effects using historical terms 6
You begin to explain how and why different interpretations of the past have arisen or been constructed.
Finally, you evaluate sources to establish relevant evidence for particular enquiries and select, organise and use relevant information and make appropriate use of historical terminology to produce structured work.
Begin to explain and analyse the significance of events, people and changes. Evaluate sources producing structured work 7
You explain fully how and why different interpretations of the past have arisen or been constructed.
You consider critically issues surrounding the origin, nature and purpose of sources.
Finally, you select, organise and use relevant information and make appropriate use of historical terminology to produce well-structured work.
Explain and analyse significance of events, from different perspectives. Consider issues critically and produce well-structured work