why did the battleof the somme result in such high casualties?

Answer 1

~This one is toooooo obvious. Casualties were so high because so many of the troops were shot and wounded or killed. But, it accomplished its purpose. The battle started because too many troops were getting killed at Verdun. I guess dying in a different place was thought to be a proper goal by the High Command. Ain't war grand?

Answer 2

The peculiar combination of technologies and the failure of high commanders to appreciate this, or to find a solution at that time.

It was realised by late 1915 that machine guns, repeat-firing rifles and quick-firing artillery (ie, artillery that did not have to be repositioned after each shot- artillery with 'shock absorbers' on the gun) gave the defense a massive advantage. various means were then sought to overcome this problem.

The particular method employed on the Somme was the massive bombardment. The barrage would be so massive that the infantry would just have to walk out and occupy the ground. It has since been shown that the bombardment, though apparently massive, was very inadequate in terms of shells per square metre. The Germans survived, re-occupied their strongpoints, and shot down the British who advanced slowly and evenly- because their commanders were obsessed with advancing 'evenly' and keeping the front straight.

This attitude was in part because of the inexperience of the troops (keep them under control) and in part because of the hangover of Napoleonic warfare. With no radio to control large bodies of men (another technical problem), keeping 'order' was always a big concern, as the troops deployed in July 1916 were mostly men who'd volunteered in the idealistic days just after the war started. The Germans later abandoned the idea of needing to closely control the troops and were very successful- but this was not obvious in 1916.

The failure of the initial bombardment was not something that could be redeemed once it was realised it had failed- so the battle continued and casualties mounted. The British were already suffering a lack of ammunition and there was in fact a scandal in the country in 1915 because of this.

It should be noted that no army had an answer for the problems of the defensive advantage in trench warfare before late 1917.

Answer 3

(NB for the whole battle, not the first day, the Germans suffered the higher casualties. Even so, Haig did not want to attack there, or then. The Somme was precipitated by Verdun)

The biggest single factor on the British side was inexperience. From the platoon level up to generals.
The BEF had expanded so drastically since 1914 that even long serving men and officers were in unfamiliar posts, and this was exacerbated by the casualties amongst the small but incredibly professional army which started the war.

Much of the infantry was incapable of carrying out "fire and maneuver" advances, and communication and artillery coordination was also undeveloped.

The casualty rate was similar for the first major engagements by American infantry in 1918, and slightly worse for the allied infantry in Normandy in 1944 which, although trained, was largely not combat experienced.

Answer 4

Attrition by way of continued frontal assaults:

...the hand of time rested on the half-hour mark, and all along that old front line of the English there came a whistling and a crying. The men of the first wave climbed up the parapets, in tumult, darkness, and the presence of death, and having done with all pleasant things, advanced across No Man's Land to begin the Battle of the Somme.
~~

Answer 5

Generally a combination of factors. Poor co-ordination of artillery and infantry attacks led to a pause between the barrage and infantry attack, that allowed the Germans to leave their deeper (and therefore safer) bunkers and re-occupy their trenches with enough time to catch the British in "no mans land". Also the attack was carried out by most units at walking pace by tightly packed formations. the artillery had also failed to cut the German barbed wire, slowing the advance even further. The only success was in the southern sector by more experienced units.

Answer 6

The Incompetence of The British High Command Staff. Haig, he was the TOP DOG. When the British were Corrupting in their graves,the flower of English Youth, Haig was , Fishing for Salmon in Scotland. 2, years later. What about the Widows left, the Fatherless children? The, Poverty, The STINK, DISEASE. The dead. It dosent matter it was All for , England. The Upper class Survived.

Answer 7

The military hardware being deployed, especially machine guns, had advanced well beyond the tactics still being deployed, frontal mass attacks.

Answer 8

The machine gun was disrespected.

Answer 9

american friendly fire