Battlefield a Shooting Gallery; Bloodiest 24 Hours of the War. Worst Day in British Military History Special to The Great War Project. (30 June-1 July) The British give the order for an enormous attack at the River Somme on this day, July 1st, one hundred years ago. Potentially one of the most decisive battles of the…
Tag Archive for Somme
BRITISH GROUND ASSAULT AT SOMME POSTPONED
by Mike Shuster
Ferocious British Guns, but the Germans Well Dug In; Their Barbed Wire Defenses Hold. Starvation Growing in Germany; Hundreds Die Each Day Special to The Great War Project (26-29 June) The British Command decides to launch its offensive on the River Somme in northern France on this June 29th a century ago. The Germans have…
MASSIVE BRITISH BARRAGE AT SOMME
by Mike Shuster
Ground Attack Coming Germans Well Dug In; Fears British Offensive Will Fail Special to The Great War Project (21-25 June) The British open their enormous bombardment at the river Somme on June 24th a century ago. It is sustained along a twelve-mile front, reports historian Martin Gilbert. “More than 1500 guns and howitzers fired more…
FRENCH DESPERATE FOR HELP AT VERDUN
by Mike Shuster
French Town on Verge of Collapse; Pleas to British: Launch Offensive at the Somme Now. Haig Hesitates. Special to The Great War Project. (17-20 June) The French are putting intense pressure on Great Britain to launch a massive attack on German forces at the River Somme in northern France. The Allies have been planning this…
BRITISH PREPARE FOR THE ‘BIG PUSH’
by Mike Shuster
Millions of Artillery Shells Planned at the Somme; ‘Nothing Could Exist at the Conclusion of the Bombardment.’ Special to The Great War Project (5-8 May) On the Western Front during these days one hundred years ago, the British are preparing for something big. Many believe they are getting ready for a big push at the…
CRISIS ON ALL FRONTS
by Mike Shuster
Both Sides Desperate to End War Enormous Preparations at Somme; Russian Front Collapsing; Starvation in Mesopotamia Special to The Great War Project (7-10 April) All the armies locked in battle are exhausted and desperate to end the war. So plans are underway on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, and in the Middle East, for…
GERMAN ATTACK ON VERDUN IMMINENT
by Mike Shuster
In Final Stages of Preparation; Germans Seek Knockout Blow Against French Bastion. French, British Eye Offensive at the Somme Special to The Great War Project. (7-10 February) Planning on both sides intensifies, as the Germans and the Allies each hope to mount massive offensives that can break the war’s devastating stalemate.. Writes historian Martin Gilbert,…
PLAN FOR GREAT OFFENSIVES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WESTERN FRONT
by Mike Shuster
Allies Focus on River Somme; Germans on Verdun. Anything to Break the Stalemate Special to The Great War Project (26-29 January) Despite the terrible deadlock on both the Western and Eastern Fronts, war commanders for the Allies are busy planning a great offensive against the Germans and Austrians. From the last month of December 1915,…