Key Battles: The Somme and Verdun

The battles of Verdun and the Somme in 1916 were two of the largest and bloodiest battles in human history. Together, they exemplify the horrific cost of the war of attrition on the Western Front. This lesson covers the aims, course, and consequences of both battles, as well as the debate over whether they can be considered successes or failures.

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The Battle of Verdun (February–December 1916)

Background

The German commander, General Erich von Falkenhayn, devised a plan to "bleed France white" by attacking the fortress city of Verdun on the River Meuse. Verdun held enormous symbolic importance for France, and Falkenhayn calculated that France would commit every available soldier to defend it, resulting in catastrophic French casualties.

Key Facts

Aspect	Detail
Dates	21 February – 18 December 1916
German strategy	Attritional — use massive artillery to inflict maximum casualties
Opening bombardment	Germany fired over 1 million shells in the first 10 hours
French response	General Philippe Pétain organised the defence. His motto was "Ils ne passeront pas" ("They shall not pass")
The "Sacred Way"	A single road (the Voie Sacrée) kept Verdun supplied. Thousands of trucks used it daily
Key forts	Fort Douaumont (captured by Germany in February, recaptured by France in October) and Fort Vaux

Casualties

Side	Casualties (killed, wounded, missing)
France	Approximately 377,000
Germany	Approximately 337,000
Total	Over 700,000

Significance

• Verdun became a symbol of French determination and sacrifice.
• However, Falkenhayn's plan also backfired — German losses were almost as heavy as French losses.
• The battle contributed to Falkenhayn's replacement by Hindenburg and Ludendorff in August 1916.

Exam Tip: Verdun is a classic example of a war of attrition — the strategy of wearing down the enemy through sustained losses. Be prepared to explain this concept and evaluate whether attrition was an effective strategy.

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The Battle of the Somme (July–November 1916)

Background

The Battle of the Somme was a British-led offensive, planned by General Douglas Haig and the French commander Joseph Joffre. It was partly designed to relieve pressure on the French at Verdun by drawing German forces away.

The Plan

1. A massive seven-day artillery bombardment would destroy German trenches, barbed wire, and defences.
2. British infantry would then advance across No Man's Land and capture the weakened German positions.
3. Cavalry would exploit any breakthrough.

The First Day: 1 July 1916

The first day of the Somme was the worst day in British military history.

Statistic	Detail
British casualties on 1 July	57,470 (including 19,240 killed)
Why so many?	The artillery bombardment failed to destroy German dugouts (which were deep and well-constructed). When British soldiers advanced at walking pace across No Man's Land, they were met by devastating machine gun fire
Pals Battalions	Groups of friends, colleagues, and neighbours who had enlisted together. Entire communities were devastated when their battalion suffered heavy losses in a single day

The Course of the Battle

Phase	Detail
July	Despite the disastrous first day, Haig continued the offensive. Small gains were made in some areas
September	Tanks were used for the first time in warfare at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (15 September 1916). They were slow and unreliable but showed future potential
November	The battle ended in appalling conditions of mud and cold. The front line had advanced a maximum of 7 miles

Casualties

Side	Casualties
Britain	Approximately 420,000
France	Approximately 200,000
Germany	Approximately 465,000
Total	Over 1 million

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Was the Somme a Success or Failure?

This is one of the most debated questions in military history.

Arguments for Failure	Arguments for Success
57,470 casualties on the first day alone	Relieved pressure on the French at Verdun
Only 7 miles gained in nearly 5 months	Inflicted heavy casualties on the German army, weakening it significantly
Haig has been criticised as a "butcher" for continuing the offensive	The British army gained valuable experience and improved its tactics
The battle did not achieve a breakthrough	Germany was forced to retreat to the Hindenburg Line in early 1917
The human cost was staggering	It demonstrated to Germany that Britain was committed to total war

Exam Tip: The debate over Haig's leadership at the Somme is a frequent AQA exam topic. Be prepared to present both sides — the traditional view of Haig as incompetent ("the butcher of the Somme") and the revisionist view that the Somme was a necessary part of the war of attrition that ultimately contributed to Allied victory.

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Key Figures

Figure	Role
General Douglas Haig	Commander of the British Expeditionary Force; directed the Somme offensive
General Erich von Falkenhayn	German Chief of Staff; planned the attack on Verdun
General Philippe Pétain	French commander who organised the defence of Verdun
General Joseph Joffre	French Commander-in-Chief; helped plan the Somme offensive

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Key Dates

Date	Event
21 February 1916	Battle of Verdun begins
1 July 1916	First day of the Battle of the Somme
15 September 1916	Tanks used for the first time at Flers-Courcelette
18 November 1916	Battle of the Somme ends
18 December 1916	Battle of Verdun ends

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Exam Focus: Worked Q7 Paragraph on the Somme

Question (Paper 1, Q7, 12 marks, AO1+AO2): Has the Battle of the Somme been the most important battle of the First World War for Britain? Explain your answer.

Worked paragraph arguing the Somme's importance was attritional and formative: The Battle of the Somme (1 July – 18 November 1916) has become the most emotionally charged battle in British memory — the first day (1 July 1916) remains the bloodiest in British military history, with 19,240 killed and 57,470 total casualties — but its military importance lies in attrition rather than breakthrough. The British Expeditionary Force suffered approximately 420,000 casualties across the 141 days of the battle, while the Germans suffered around 500,000. General Haig's intention was to relieve pressure on the French at Verdun (where the attritional grinder had run since 21 February 1916) and to wear down the German army; by that criterion, the battle succeeded, though at horrific cost. The Somme also saw the first use of tanks at Flers-Courcelette (15 September 1916) and marked the tactical maturation of the British Army from the pre-war volunteer force to the combined-arms force that won in 1918. However, its claim to be the most important British battle must be weighed against the decisive battles of 1918 — Amiens (8 August 1918) and the Hundred Days — which actually produced victory. The Somme was the most important battle of British attrition; Amiens was the most important battle of British victory.

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Progressing Through the AQA Levels

Level 1 response (simple, 1–3 marks)

"The Somme was the worst battle for Britain. On the first day 60,000 were killed or wounded. It was very important because so many died." — Simple; minor inaccuracy; no comparison.

Level 2 response (developed, 4–6 marks)

"The Somme lasted from 1 July to 18 November 1916. On the first day Britain had 57,470 casualties including 19,240 dead. The battle was meant to help Verdun. Tanks were first used in September 1916. However, Amiens in 1918 was also important." — Developed; accurate detail.