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WWI Battles

WWI Battles. The Somme and belleau wood. Battle of the Somme. Battle of the Somme. Aim: drain German force reserves. French bombardment of German line 8 days prior to battle. 58,000 deaths on first day (July 1, 1916). Battle of the Somme. Casualities British: 420,000 French: 200,000

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WWI Battles

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  1. WWI Battles The Somme and belleau wood

  2. Battle of the Somme

  3. Battle of the Somme Aim: drain German force reserves French bombardment of German line 8 days prior to battle 58,000 deaths on first day (July 1, 1916)

  4. Battle of the Somme • Casualities • British: 420,000 • French: 200,000 • German: 500,000 •  ”The next morning (July 2nd) we gunners surveyed the dreadful scene in front of us......it became clear that the Germans always had a commanding view of No Man's Land. (The British) attack had been brutally repulsed. Hundreds of dead were strung out like wreckage washed up to a high water-mark. Quite as many died on the enemy wire as on the ground, like fish caught in the net. They hung there in grotesque postures. Some looked as if they were praying; they had died on their knees and the wire had prevented their fall. Machine gun fire had done its terrible work. ” -George Coppard, machine gunner at the Battle of the Somme.

  5. Battle of Belleau Wood June 1-26 1918

  6. Battle of Belleau Wood • French ordered US forces to attack • Fighting for control of Belleau Woods • Some heavily wooded areas, some fields • US outnumbered and had to wait for weapons to arrive

  7. Battle Begins… • US & French poorly coordinated attack • June 2 French commander suggested US forces retreat • Marine Captain Lloyd Williams replied, “Retreat, hell! We just got here!” • June 6-worst single day USMC casualties • 1087 killed or wounded • June 13-heavy gas casualties • Back and forth struggle between the 2 sides • Earned US Marines (specifically 3/6) title “Teufelhunden” or Devil Dogs

  8. Primary Sources • With your group… • Read the primary source document • Write a summary of the first hand account • Be sure to include the author of the primary source • Include important battle details • Determine whether or not the account is biased toward his side’s attempt to take Belleau Wood

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