'The Battle of the Somme in 1916 was a complete failure for the Allied forces.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer. [40]

This question asks you to evaluate how far you agree that the Battle of the Somme (1916) was a complete failure for the Allied forces. You must consider evidence of failure and evidence of partial success, then reach a balanced judgement.

Arguments that the Somme was a failure:

• The first day, 1 July 1916, was the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army: nearly 20,000 killed and 40,000 wounded in a single day.
• By the time the battle ended in November 1916, British and French forces had suffered over 600,000 casualties while advancing only about 6 miles. No decisive breakthrough was achieved.
• The preliminary bombardment of 1.5 million shells failed to destroy the deep German dugouts (some 30 feet underground) or cut the barbed wire effectively. Many shells were duds or the wrong type for destroying fortifications.
• The heavily fortified German positions were not broken. Haig's tactics of massed infantry advances against prepared machine gun positions resulted in catastrophic losses for minimal territorial gain.
• The original objective of achieving a decisive breakthrough that would end the war was not achieved. The front line remained essentially in the same position.

Arguments that the Somme was not a complete failure:

• The battle relieved pressure on the French at Verdun, which had been under intense German attack since February 1916. The Germans were forced to divert divisions from Verdun to the Somme, reducing the strain on France's army.
• German casualties were also extremely heavy, estimated at around 500,000. The battle wore down experienced German troops who were difficult to replace, contributing to the attrition that weakened Germany's long-term capacity.
• The battle provided valuable tactical lessons. The British Army learned from its mistakes and developed improved tactics, including better coordination between infantry and artillery (the creeping barrage), which contributed to later successes.
• The first use of tanks on 15 September 1916, though limited in impact, pointed towards a weapon that would eventually help break the stalemate.
• The German army was forced to retreat to the Hindenburg Line in early 1917, a shorter, more defensible position. This retreat was partly a response to the losses suffered at the Somme and represented a voluntary abandonment of territory.

Reaching a conclusion:

The Battle of the Somme was largely a failure when measured against its original objectives of achieving a breakthrough. The human cost was staggering and the territorial gains minimal. However, it was not a "complete" failure: it relieved Verdun, inflicted serious damage on the German army, and contributed to the long-term attrition that eventually weakened Germany's capacity to continue the war. The strongest answers will distinguish between short-term failure and longer-term contribution to Allied victory.

Mark scheme guidance: The word "complete" is the key to this question. Level 5 answers (33-40 marks) will test the absolute claim of "complete failure" by identifying areas of partial success, while acknowledging that the battle was overwhelmingly costly and fell far short of its objectives. Simply condemning the Somme without nuance, or defending it without acknowledging the scale of failure, will limit your marks.