Battle of the Somme

July -November, 1916

Watch Canada: A People’s History Episode 12 from 25:26-35:07

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq-a4sdmZiM

WHERE? Near the Somme River, France

WHO? British Offensive (with Canadians & Newfoundlanders)

WHEN? July – November 1916

WHAT? •British attack with a “barrage” •The series of battles covered a 40 km front • Somme offensive was considered by the British to be the “Big Push” •it took several months to achieve what was supposed to take several weeks

•Germans survived in deep “bunkers”; barbed wire remains

•Germans ready = major bloodbath

•the Somme was the BIGGEST disaster in British history, 58,000 casualties in ONE day

Gas Attack on the Somme

WHY IMPORTANT?

•Learn to carefully plan and change “over the top” strategy

•Canadians gained a reputation as “shock troops”

•Shows the horror of The Great War

(day one = 60,000 casualties; lasted 5 months)

•Allied forces only gained 6 km of land from the Germans

•Newfoundlanders at Beaumont-Hamel (700 fought first day, 68

remained the second day to fight)

•Cost 24,000 Canadian lives and 624,000 total casualties

Beaumont – Hamel Battle of the Somme