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:
- 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?
- What was the purpose behind the British offensive at the
Somme? How did the British marshal their forces during this operation?
- Did any one warn the French government of the general
weakness found at Verdun? What was the general response?
- 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?
- 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