Taking the offensive in the Somme Valley: July 1, 1916

At the start of World War I, Great Britain possessed only a small professional army.  Early losses in the initial invasion in 1914 left this force greatly weakened.  It was essential that Britain rebuild its forces and to convert their industry to wartime production.  1915 was a key year in preparing defencive positions along their share of the Western Front along with rebuilding their army and logistical support systems.  The high command of Great Britain and France planned their first major offencive action of the war.  France was already involved in a major action at Verdun.  July 1, 1916, was the date set for commencing operations against the German lines.

After a lengthy artillery bombardment, The troops moved forward with a terrible loss of life.  Approximately 60,000 soldiers were either dead or wounded on the first day.  An example was the assault of German lines at Beaumont-Hamel by the Newfoundland Canadian Regiment.  According to one source, out of 780 men, only 110 survived more than 20 minutes after leaving the safety of their trench.  The Germans had survived the bombardment in their well fortified positions and easily countered the advancing force.

It is well worth the visit to the memorial located near Beaumont-Hamel.  The following is a sample of my pictures from the location:

Actual trench in the area where the Newfoundland regiment started their advance:

Memorial to the Newfoundland Regiment

German Cemetery in the Somme Valley.  The irony is significant when thinking of WW II.  See the grave for a German soldier noted by the Star of David

This is one of the numerous British cemeteries located in the Somme Valley.  During WW I, it was the policy of the British army to bury soldiers where they fell.

More will be covered in a later posting.  I am off on more battlefield trekking over the next month and a half.  I will post again about the middle of August.  My next destination is the village of Halbe located southeast of Berlin.  A conscript army of old men, depleted regular army units, and young boys attempted to stop the Russian advance on Berlin.  They were not successful

Verdun: German attempt to break the stalemate on the Western Front

The German high command knew that continued stalemate would further hurt the ability of the German economy to sustain military operations.  The British Royal Navy had blocked the North Sea shipping lanes via a blockade effectively shutting off supplies of food and other material to German industry and the population.  A  decisive blow was needed to hasten the end of the war and relief from the blockade.  Verdun was a road block on the road to Paris.

The attack commenced on February 21, 1916, with a massive artillery barrage (some 2,000,000 shells).  The fire was directed on French fortifications.  Fort Douaumont was left in ruins.  The French Army continued to resist by being supplied with supplies and replacement soldiers down a single road named the "voie sacree" (sacred way).  Verdun was a killing ground of the first order with approximately 500,000 killed on both sides.  The German forces were not successful in capturing Verdun.

I have visited Verdun three times since 1991.  The following are personal photographs of those visits:

French cemetery in front of the Douaumont Ossuary

Douaumont Ossuary Tower

The first floor of the Tower has plaques memorialising every Department of France.  Under the floor is the Ossuary holding unidentified remains of soldiers.  The bones can be seen through small windows in the basement.  Out of respect, I did not take pictures of the remains.

Memorial to defenders of Verdun

Memorial Museum at Verdun

 

A visit to the museum is well worth the admission charge.

Understanding World War I requires a visit to Verdun.  I recommend a rental car to gain the most from your visit.  You can take a train from Gare de L'est (Paris) changing at Chalons sur Marne for Verdun.  Check with the station information booth for exact instructions.

During the summer months, the Tourist Bureau in Verdun offers guided tours of the battlefield.  Check ahead on the availability of the bus tours.  Here is the link:

http://www.en.verdun-tourisme.com/

1915--A year for stumbles and stalemate

Both sides strengthed their defensive fortifications during 1915 and realized that frontal infantry assaults were proving to be a difficult strategy on the Western front.   1915 saw the first use of poison gas to gain a tactical advantage in trench warfare.  Italy entered the war on the side of Britain and France and engaged in mountain warfare with the Austrians and Germans.  Little progress was made on the Italian front.

Britain along with thousands of Commonwealth soldiers attempted to take control of the Dardanelles with the attack at Gallipoli.  The Turkish army held its own and the British had to retire from the battlefield in January, 1916.

I have not visited Gallipoli but encourage others to visit.  Besides World War I sites, there are other ancient ruins to visit with historical significance.  You should seek advice from travel guides for transportation choices and accommodations.

Commencement of hostilities in August, 1914

Elements of the German army crossed into Belgium late in the afternoon on August 4, 1914.  The small Belgium army proved no match for the well equipped and motivated German forces.  The British Expeditionary Force and French army was no more successful in stopping the initial advance.  The German army finally turned left near Amiens moving toward Paris before being stopped at the 1st battle of the Marne.

By December, 1914, the front became stalemated with both sides digging in with little movement in either direction.  What was expected to be a short conflict turned into a construction project of building complex trench systems and soldier billets for hundreds of thousands.  Large casualties suffered in the initial invasion caused commanders on both sides to reconsider strategy.  The introduction of modern killing technology  (machine guns and large caliber artillery pieces) made open field movement highly hazardous.

1915 proved to be a period of little change in the 400 mile front line from Belgium to Switzerland.  My next blog will move back to the Somme Valley and the allied attempt to break the stalemate on July 1, 1916.  I recommend a book published in 2011 by Peter Barton titled:  The Somme: The Unseen Panoramas.  It is an excellent reference source for those who want to go further in their study.

Somme Valley: Understanding the geography and history

The Somme Valley is located north of Paris in the Department of Picardie.  Picardie has some of the most productive farms in France.  The geography is characterized by gently rolling hills, rivers (the Somme and Canche), and wetlands.  The existence of a high water table and drainage issues would prove to be a problem for the opposing sides.  Much older history should have been an indicator of future problems with mud and water.  Henry V  on October 25, 1415, with 6000 archers and a small group of foot soldiers defeater a much larger French force at Azincourt, France.  After a soaking rain, the advancing, heavily armored French knights on large mounts became bogged down in the mud becoming easy targets for the English and their longbows.

Just a thought to consider.  Once the Somme Valley became a battlefield in 1914, agricultural production was dramatically reduced.  The inability to grow wheat and other crops led to increased imports from the United States.  The demand for food, especially wheat, led to the plowing of U.S. grasslands in Kansas, Colorado, Texas, and Oklahoma.  The frenzy of growing wheat to meet European demand would contribute to the Dust Bowl conditions of the 1930s.

For those wanting to tour the Somme Valley, a car is essential.  You should consult travel guides or the French Tourist Office for accommodations in the region.  I used the village of Peronne as a base for my travels.  Peronne also has a modern museum devoted to World War I in the Somme Valley.

WW I Museum in Meaux France

Tired of Paris shopping and need a day off from art appreciation go see a new museum located east of the city in the village of Meaux.  Meaux is in the Marne Valley and not far from Euro Disnyland.  A regional train frequently leaves from Gare de l'Est train station.  After arriving at the Meaux station, you purchase bus tickets and wait at the designated quai for bus M6.  After a short ride, you arrive at the museum (Le Musee de la Grande Guerre).  The highest adult admission ticket currently is 10 euros (subject to change).

Meaux is in the region where the first Battle of the Marne took place.  The German army was on the move to Paris.  The Germans had made tremendous geographic gains since the start of hostilities.  The pace of advance had been exhausting and they were at the end of a  very long supply line.  The ability of British and French forces to consolidate and stop the German advance led to both sides digging in with the start of trench warfare.  An interesting story was the movement of reinforcing French troops from Paris to the Marne via taxis.  An original taxi is exhibited along with this 1914 version of a French army communication center (see the following image).

The picture is a truck converted to a carrier for messenger pigeons.  The museum has approximately 50000 items and documents.  This is a worthwhile visit for young people and interested adults.  The museum is closed Tuesday and specific holidays (New Year, Christmas, and May 1st).  For those staying at Euro Disneyland, check with the hotel concierge for transportation suggestions.

The next several posts will cover the Battle of the Somme (July 1, 1916).




 

Initial Post

Having retired as an accounting professor after 38 years, I decided to pursue my other  interest which is military history.  My first year of retirement was spent studying military history in the United Kingdom.  Prior to retirement, I had traveled to these sites:  Somme Valley, Verdun, Meuse Argonne, Normandy, Berlin, and Iwo Jima.  The purpose of my blog is to assist travelers in trekking battlefields and understanding these past events.

My first focus will be on World War I.  There is a  recent resurgence of interest in the "War to end all wars".  After the Versailles treaty, it is generally understood that the treaty terms were a factor in causing World War II.  The large post-war reparation payments required of Germany made it difficult for the Weimar Republic to recover economically.  Coupled with the Great Depression, the Weimar Republic experiment ended when the Nazis took power in 1933. 

The impact of World War I on Russia was significant.  The Romanov family was removed from power and replaced by a communist party headed by Lenin.  This government structure lasted until 1989. 

At first glance, it would seem that the United Kingdom was a clear victor in World War I.  However, the cost of military operations in economic resources and human life would later influence the fighting in WW II.  Britain had partially financed the war with the sale of foreign investments.  One source had estimated that by 1918 foreign investments held by British citizens and institutions had been reduced by 20%.  More ominous for the future was the loss of an entire generation of young people by Great Britain and the Commonwealth.  The taking of casualties in World War II by the forces became an issue for senior British commanders harking back to the slaughter on the Western front.

My next blog will review the new World War I museum located east of Paris in  Meaux France.