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ORIGINAL: SirKenin

Meatcleaver is right actually.  As usual NG does not know what he is talking about.

France originally called for the attack to take place to wear down the German offensive.  It was intended to be a joint British-French invasion.  However, France then demanded that it be moved ahead so that they could route German resources away from Verdun.  Britain took over the planning and execution of the attack, and the offensive turned out to be a primarily British manouver.

It was never intended to break through the enemy lines and gain ground as a primary objective, merely a secondary one.  However, it was British troops under the command of Allenby that made the offensive and broke through enemy lines.

Everything NG has said is complete bunk.

For all the details I found a link:

http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/somme.htm

quote:

ORIGINAL: meatcleaver

So your WWI ended in 1916. Sorry, I thought the war went on until 1918. It is possibly me that is mistaken.

I thought the introduction of tanks and other innovative tactics was a figment of my imagination and they obviously were.

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ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

quote:

ORIGINAL: SirKenin

Meatcleaver is right actually.  As usual NG does not know what he is talking about.

France originally called for the attack to take place to wear down the German offensive.  It was intended to be a joint British-French invasion.  However, France then demanded that it be moved ahead so that they could route German resources away from Verdun.  Britain took over the planning and execution of the attack, and the offensive turned out to be a primarily British manouver.

It was never intended to break through the enemy lines and gain ground as a primary objective, merely a secondary one.  However, it was British troops under the command of Allenby that made the offensive and broke through enemy lines.

Everything NG has said is complete bunk.

For all the details I found a link:

http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/somme.htm

What a fucking plank you are. Yes, Verdun was the mince-grinder that ground down 330,00 French troops. Yes, the British were supposed to relieve Verdun by attacking at the Somme.

But, the British and Canadians didn't break through. The only force who broke through were the French in their sector of the Somme. Keep googling it until you find it because I don't own you and I'm not responsible for educating you.

quote:

More success was achieved by the French forces at the southern tail of the line, possibly because their advance bombardment was sprung only hours before the attack, thus ensuring a degree of surprise.  In addition, von Falkenhayn believed that the French would not attack at all on account of their heavy losses at Verdun.  By advancing in small groups, as they had at Verdun, the French troops achieved most of their objectives.  Even so, the gains made here were consolidated upon rather than exploited.

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Despite heavy losses during the first day – 58,000 British troops alone – Haig persisted with the offensive in the following days.  Advances were made, but these were limited and often ultimately repulsed.  Rawlinson’s forces secured the first line of German trenches on 11 July.  On that day German troops were transferred from Verdun to contribute to the German defence, doubling the number of men available for the defence.

quote:


The offensive was planned late in 1915 and was intended as a joint French-British attack.  The French Commander in Chief, Joffre, conceived the idea as a battle of attrition, the aim being to drain the German forces of reserves, although territorial gain was a secondary aim.
The plan was agreed upon by the new British Commander in Chief, Sir Douglas Haig, although Haig would have preferred an offensive among the open ground of Flanders.  Haig, who took up his appointment as Commander in Chief of the BEF on 19 December 1915, had been granted authorisation by the British government, led by Asquith, to conduct a major offensive in 1916.
Although in actuality British forces comprised by far the bulk of the offensive forces, Joffre and Haig originally intended for the attack to be a predominantly French offensive.  However the German onslaught at Verdun at the start of 1916, where the German Army Chief of Staff, von Falkenhayn promised to ‘bleed France white’, resulted in the diversion of virtually all French manpower and efforts.
The German Verdun offensive transformed the intent of the Somme attack; the French demanded that the planned date of the attack, 1 August 1916, be brought forward to 1 July, the aim chiefly being to divert German resources from Verdun in the defence of the Somme.
Haig took over responsibility from Joffre for the planning and execution of the attack.  Haig meticulous preparations progressed slowly, much to Joffre’s irritation.  Haig intended to fashion the attack using the ideas of both himself and General Rawlinson, whose Fourth army was to spearhead the assault.

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Rawlinson’s forces secured the first line of German trenches on 11 July.

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ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

However, Britain's failure on the Somme can be directly attributed to the ineffectiveness of this bombardment. Many - up to 30% - of the shells fired during the first week of the offensive were duds that failed to explode. In addition, the British had insufficient numbers of the heavy guns and high-explosive shells needed to destroy the German positions.

In contrast, the French possessed a greater number of powerful artillery pieces and directed a shorter and more intense barrage across a narrower front, a tactic that more effectively neutralised the German positions.

From the British TV link above

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Grade 2 was so much fun!

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ORIGINAL: MsSpankhardSk

(in reply to MsSpankhardSk)

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ORIGINAL: MasDom

Some one just as dictating as Saddam and even worse as crazy as Kim Jung lee.

No offense Kim jung...

But were as I think at least poor Kim wouldn't nuke us for no stinking reason, I cant be so sure about some nut job that looks at Israel as prime real estate because it would support his power hungry control.

quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

kenin, jesus christ:

More success was achieved by the French forces at the southern tail of the line
 
The British troops were for the most part forced back into their trenches by the effectiveness of the German machine gun response
 
The above is from your own link.
 
From my link:
 
The difference between the two approaches is evident in the contrasting casualty rates on the first day of the infantry assault (1 July). On that day, French troops captured all their objectives while sustaining only light casualties, whereas the British gained very little territory and lost 58,000 men - the highest losses sustained by any army in a single day during the entire war.