2013/07/19 by Mike Bechthold · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #World Wars: History, Literature, and Impact #Canadian Identity and History #Historical Studies and Socio-cultural Analysis #Battle #Doctrine #History #Military strategy #Maneuver warfare #Military doctrine #Political science #Law #Spanish Civil War #Ancient history #Red Army's tactics in World War II
paper · doi:10.1179/0729247313z.00000000020
openalex publication_date 2013/07/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
The experience on the Somme in 1916, and the unprecedented losses suffered in the attempt to break through the German defences, forced the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) to re-evaluate its attack doctrine. James Edmonds, the official historian of the British army in the Great War has stated, ‘It is not too much to claim that the foundations of the final victory on the Western Front were laid by the Somme offensive of 1916’.Citation Gary Sheffield reaffirmed this view more recently: ‘The battle of the Somme was not a victory in itself, but without it the entente would not have emerged victorious in 1918’.Citation Historical assessments of the Somme campaign are divided regarding the success and/or failure of the battle, but it is clear that the experience spurred efforts to correct the problems encountered in 1916. Infantry tactics, weapons, training, artillery, machine guns, command and control, communications, and support services were all adapted based on the lessons learned at the Somme.Citation Only seven months after the catastrophic losses suffered on 1 July, the BEF embarked on it next major offensive at Arras. This article will examine the fighting on one day of the Arras offensive to analyse the evolution of the British Empire method of attack. On 3 May 1917 Haig ordered an attack by First, Third, and Fifth Armies astride the Scarpe River. At 0345 hours fourteen British, Canadian, and Australian divisions launched an assault against German positions in the Drocourt-Quéant Switch and Hindenburg Line. By the end of the day all British divisions has been repulsed while the Australians maintained a toehold in the German line. Only the Canadians were able to capture and hold their objective. This article will argue that command and the application of doctrine made the difference between success and failure on that day.