World War I

Handout 8

Topic: The Big Battles

OUTLINE:

VIII. The Big Battles: Verdun and The Somme.

A. Background.

B. Fortifications.

C. Operational Plans.

D. The German Attack.

E. The French Response.

F. The Somme.

G. Conclusions.

QUESTIONS:

  1. What was the objective of the German attack on Verdun in 1916?  How did the Germans hope to obtain victory over France in 1916? Where did the go wrong? How did the French respond?
  2. What was the purpose behind the British offensive at the Somme? How did the British marshal their forces during this operation?
  3. Did any one warn the French government of the general weakness found at Verdun? What was the general response?
  4. How did Falkenhayn analyze the war in early 1916? What did he recommend? What were the principal weaknesses of Britain at this period of the war according to the German High Command? What did he propose? How novel was this idea?
  5. What saved France during the dark days of 1916? How did Petain manage to restore morale and the fighting spirit at the Verdun Sector

 TERMS:

 Douaumont

Petain

Emile Driant

Erich von Falkenhayn

Degummed

Joffre

Attrition

Phosgene

Fort Vaux