What are your thoughts of the ultimate outcome of the Battle of the Somme?

Question

One the first serious history books I read as a child was "The First Day on the Somme", by Martin Middlebrook. It had a profound effect on me. I don't remember exactly how old I was, 7 or 8, maybe 9. It sparked my interest in history, particularly military history.

I was just rereading it for the first time in several decades, and I think my views have changed. It was regarded as a bloody disaster at the time. That first day certainly was a mess, something like 19,000 British casualties, in just a few hours. Ouch! And then it went on for another 5 months. Overall, when it was all said and done, I think about 75% of those engaged came out of it without a scratch.

I believe some very valuable lessons were learned that later helped defeat the Germans. Things like, using smaller, quicker, more lightly armed units. Followed up by heavier support. Instead of the mass attacks, Napoleonic tactics. Better, more precise artillery support.

Answer 1

The Germans were pushed back yet at a terrible cost. Finally in 1917-1918, Haig had mastered trench warfare and had a plan to defeat Germany.

Answer 2

I think that through the accounts of some of the soldiers who were sweating and dying in the trenches with their dead comrades all around, the Battle of the Somme, like many other war battles, gave both the survivors and casualties a picture of what h**l was like.  I see no reason for the glorification of the Battle of the Somme.

In terms of historical record, it was the first battle in which tanks were used.  It lasted over four and a half months and is recorded as one of the bloodiest engagements in history.  It left a total of 1,050, 000 dead, 600,000 or whom were from the Allied forces and 450,000 from the German forces.