3. The British Had No Choice But to Rely on Attrition – and The Introduction of Tanks to the Battlefield
Since the first attack was a major upset, amounting to little progress and a devastating death toll, Haig realized his response would have to merely be consistent attacks to keep the enemy at bay.
This started the beginning of nearly 142 days of intense, gruesome warfare. The British had some success, but their progress wasn’t as steadfast as they were hoping for, while the German counterattacks were even pushing the Allies back at certain points.
So the British decided to step up their game by bringing in the big guns; or, in this case, the big tanks.
As September rolled around, the Brits brought out their new weapons, and the Battle of Somme became the first campaign to include tanks in their warfare. The Germans were finally met with aggressive force they weren’t prepared for, watching some of the largest vehicles they’d ever seen barreling at them. The tanks faced some difficulties, but their arrival helped the British gain a breakthrough into the German third line.
2. Slow and Steady Won the Race, as Allies Received Their Victory
While it took over four months (instead of the initial plan of one day) to take control of Beaumont Hamel, the British eventually won.
Their victory marked the end of the campaign, and Haig considered it a success despite the loss of 415,000 men. The French also lost 200,000 but the Germans’ death toll of an estimated 650,000 meant that enemy resources had effectively been reduced. And while German front lines had been pushed back as much as nine km, the progress wasn’t near to anything Haig had aspired to, especially after 142 days of fighting and 615,000 lives. But overall, the Allies had carried out a winning campaign.
1. The Victory Became Part of an Iconic War, But Maybe Not for the Best Reasons
Since battalions from various British infantries were involved in the Battle of Somme, the majority of Britain was awash in sadness after the catastrophic death toll. Such a sacrifice of life for very little advantage signified one of the worst effects of war. So while the campaign for the Battle of Somme may have been the best strategy for the Allies given the situation, the plan of attack was far from ideal and the results spoke for themselves.