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Battle of the Somme Worksheet

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Battle of the Somme Worksheet

Read the briefing and source cards, then use evidence to solve the questions. Remember that historians compare sources and consider what each can—and cannot—show.

Briefing: the battle in context

The Battle of the Somme was fought in northern France from 1 July to 18 November 1916. British and French forces attacked German positions along the River Somme. Allied commanders hoped the offensive would relieve pressure on the French at Verdun and break through German lines. Before the infantry attack, Allied artillery bombarded German positions for a week. The bombardment failed to destroy many deep dugouts and well-protected defences. On 1 July, British troops advanced across open ground; the British Army suffered 57,470 casualties that day, including 19,240 killed. The battle continued for months, with heavy losses and limited territorial gains. Tanks were used by the British for the first time in battle in September 1916, but they were few and mechanically unreliable. The offensive ended in November. Historians debate its effectiveness: it caused serious losses to German forces and may have helped relieve pressure at Verdun, but the human cost was immense and a decisive breakthrough was not achieved.

Source cards

Source A — A British Army casualty return reported 57,470 British casualties on 1 July 1916, including 19,240 killed. It was compiled during the war from military records. Source B — A British soldier wrote in a letter home in July 1916: “We waited for the guns to finish. Then we went forward across the open ground. The wire was still there, and the machine-guns began.” This is a short extract; the writer’s name and unit are not provided.

1.Which statement best explains why the Allies launched the Somme offensive?

To relieve pressure on the French at Verdun and attack German lines
To capture Berlin before winter
To test tanks in a large-scale battle
To end the war through a peace agreement

2.Put these events in chronological order by writing 1–4 beside each event: the battle ends; the first day of the attack; tanks are first used by the British in battle; the week-long Allied bombardment begins.

3.True or false? The Allied bombardment destroyed all German defences before the infantry advanced. Correct the statement if it is false.

TrueFalse

4.Calculate how many British casualties on 1 July were not counted among the 19,240 killed. Show your subtraction.

5.Source A was compiled from military records during the war. What is one reason it may be useful to a historian studying losses on 1 July?

6.Identify one limitation of Source A. Explain what kind of information its figures do not provide.

7.What does Source B suggest about the effect of the bombardment on the battlefield?

8.Give one limitation of Source B as evidence. Consider its author, audience or the fact that it is only a short extract.

9.Why might historians compare Sources A and B rather than rely on just one of them?

10.The Somme offensive caused very heavy losses but did not achieve a decisive breakthrough. Using at least two details from the briefing or sources, explain why people might disagree about whether it was effective.