Field Marshall Douglas Haig: Butcher of the Somme?

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Field Marshall Douglas Haig Butcher of the
Somme?

• Todays Objective To look at the plan of the
  Battle of the Somme and the reality

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What does this picture reveal about Haig?
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The Battle of the Somme

• It was one of the most significant battles of the
  First World War
• It was fought along the River Somme in France in
  June 1916
• The commander of British troops Field Marshall
  Douglas Haig doubted there would be even a rat
  alive in the German trenches after the offensive
• On the first day of the offensive British
  casualties amounted to 58,000 (a third of them
  killed)

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Why the Somme?

• ..\..\..\ThinkHistory3\chapter9\TH3battleofthesom
  me.et

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Look at the plan and the reality. What went
wrong?
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The Somme The plan

• Fundamentally as explained by Field Marshall
  Douglas Haig commander in charge of the battle,
  the objective of the attack was threefold
• To relieve pressure on the French at Verdun
• To help the allies, the French by distracting the
  German troops
• To wear down the strength of the enemy forces
• You have been provided with a sheet outlining
  the plan of the Battle of the Somme

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The Somme The reality

• In reality, this plan went drastically wrong for
  a number of
• reasons. Now read the sheet you have been given
  outlining the reality of the battle

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Mind Mapping the Somme

• Create two mind maps
• Outlining the plan
• Outlining the reality
• You must only use key words and a few key images

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Plenary Turning Point?

• The Battle of the Somme was a huge turning point
  in the First World War, it resulted in the
  resignation of Atlee as Prime Minister, with the
  replacement of Lloyd George.
• Can you think about why it would have been such a
  huge turning point?
• What impact would this have had on opinions of
  Haig?