Why did the battle of the somme happen?
The main reason for the battle of the Somme was to take pressure off the French army, which had been under heavy attack at Verdun since February, and was close to cracking.It was hoped that a major British offensive on the Somme would force the Germans to withdraw troops from Verdun. Haig planned the offensive as a breakthrough battle, claiming that the prolonged artillery bombardment before the attack would totally destroy the German trench system and kill all the defenders,allowing the British troops to simply walk into the empty positions. So, another reason for the offensive was to break through the German lines and end the war. A final reason was that ‘Kitchener’s Army’ the million + volunteers that had enlisted in 1914, were,by the Summer of 1916, fully equipped, trained, and organized. Haig wanted to make use of these troops and blood them in their first major battle. The effects of the battle were a complete disaster for the British.Any ideas that the battle was in some way a s
