Source: File: Joseph
Joffre, Commander in chief of French Army in 1914. [online] See an original image at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Joffre>
[Accessed: 23 May 2016]
Source: File: Field
Marshal Douglas Haig. [online]
See an original an image at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Haig,_1st_Earl_Haig>
[Accessed: 23 May 2016]
Source: File: General
Foch. [online] See an original
an image at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Foch> [Accessed: 23
May 2016]
After 11 months
of a European struggle
Between allies and
an offensive Germany,
Came the proposed
need of clear strategy -
French
Commander-in-Chief General Joffre
June 1915, set
out ideal for the allies to unify
Their forces
more effectively at Germany.
Between allied
countries Britain, France,
Belgium,
Russia, Serbia and Italy, formed
An Initial
Inter-Allied Military Conference -
Arranged for 7
July 1915, held at Chantilly -
A need for
regular meetings led to both
English and
French leaders decisions.
17 November
1915, the two prime ministers
Met, to confirm requirement
to organise armies
By a permanent
committee - the documentation
By Joffre
followed with the 'Plan Of Action' -
For coordinated
forces of Russian, Italian,
British and
French, due for date mid 1916.
At the military
Conference 16 December
1915, Lieut-General
Sir Archibald Murray
Presented a
treatise on future of the war - but
Days later
Robertson replaced Murray, while
Haig replaced
French - as strategy confirmed
France and
Flanders were centres of war.
Close
cooperation would be on European
Ground - all efforts
were to be for combined
Allied strength
for offensive attacks around
Spring 1916. At
December's end the Chantilly
Meeting Called by
Joffre, formed a proposal
Before French
President and ministers.
Following his
appointment General Haig,
As commander of
British Forces in France
And Flanders,
came under French pressure
To combine their
allied attack across a 60
Mile Front - the situation
to be Somme -
Centred between
Roye and Compiegne.
General Foch was
ordered to prepare
French, from Somme
River to Lassigny
In south - the
idea for an offence on front
That saw
stalemate over all other fronts,
And backed by
British for success - Haig
Then agreed to take
tenth Amy at Lens.
Modification of General
Joffre’s proposal
Came by January
1916 - that by April's
End, five offences
would be ready; three
South East, Oise,
Champagne and Somme -
Haig would then create
a seven-mile Front
North of the Somme
to create damage.
This was to be in
three months; 20 April.
Haig refused on
three counts; to soften the
Enemy had no strategic
purpose - also to be
Politically
unsound - or likely seen as defeat
By their enemy; nor could forces be ready -
The proposal
could only be bataille d’usure.
Along side French
ideas, Haig asked
His Field
Marshall's to devise parallel
Schemes - to
consider available usage
Of 20 divisions
over a 10 mile stretch -
And at which
front to be most effective,
Alongside battle
plans for frontlines.
They also had to
consider Flanders;
About Houthulst, Lille area, Messines
And Wytschete Ridge,
which was then
Discussed at
first of what then became
Weekly Army
Commanders Conference -
A finalised
plan revealed 14 February.
Joffre amended
his idea, to abandon
Of wearing out
enemy before launch
Of a big
offensive - the plan became
For minor British
moves at La Bassee
And Ypres -
while combined French
And British to be in area of Somme.
This major
attack would be around
Date of 1 July
1916 - but then matters
Changed as German 5th Army launched
An attack of Région Fortifiée de Verdun -
Within five days Joffre knew Verdun
Would not be a short-lived conflict.
At the start of March General Haig
Was to carry on prepartions for north
Of the Somme - possibly earlier than
July - at the end of March a final plan
Was a fight at Lassigny and Hebuterne.
A change of importance was to drain
Germans away from Verdun - to alter
Initial start of 1 August to 1 July - Haig
Took over the planning of manoeuvres,
With support of General Rawlinson -
An 8 day bombardement would begin.
The plan was
certain, with British army
Numbers increased
by Earl Kitchener -
In August 1914
the five divisions grew
To 43 Divisions - 1 January 1916, saw
Around a million soldiers
stand ground
Of France -
munitions were yet to match.
At the end of
January 1916 David Lloyd
George, Munitions
Minster promised
By April, production
would be increased -
Although no
account was made of quality
Of gunnery and
shells being produced -
Preparations
stepped up a gear for July.
by Jamie Mann.
Source: File: Battle of the Somme - Spartacus
Educational. Online. Available at: <http://spartacus-educational.com/FWWsomme.htm>
Accessed 23 May 2016
Source: File: The
Long, Long Trail: British tactical planning for the start of the Somme
offensive, 1916. Online. Available at: <http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/battles/battles-of-the-western-front-in-france-and-flanders/the-battles-of-the-somme-1916/british-tactical-planning-for-the-start-of-the-somme-offensive-1916/>
Accessed 23 May 2016
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie
Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 23 May 2016).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar
#WW1centenary #worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Somme
