Food for Thought

Week 12: Tuesday, April 13

Since you have many fewer questions, I expect you to go into much greater detail than you would otherwise. Read Parker for background. Research Keegan for the answers.

Group 1 (Section A: Bonaventure to Gostanian; Section B: Allwarden to Ebbeling)

Douglas Haig, commander of the British Expeditionary Force in France, has charged you and a group of staff officers with discovering why the Somme attack did not succeed to the extent anticipated.
* What were the problems with the attack on the first line of German trenches?
* What were the problems with sustaining the attack once British forces sought to penetrate more deeply into German lines?

Group 2 (Section A: Greaney to Joseph; Section B: Furfari to Johnson)

You are part of a second group of staff officers convened by Douglas Haig to examine the British attack at the Somme. Given what you know now, what would you do differently in attacking the Germans next time?
* What improvements would you implement in training?
* What improvements would you implement in tactics?
(NOTE: Please do not address the development of new technologies—we will leave that to another group.)

Group 3 (Section A: June to Maloney; Section B: Landri to O'Leary)

You are part of yet another group of staff officers collected to consider issues associated with technology in the aftermath of the Somme. What new technologies do you think would really help address the problems associated with launching and sustaining a successful attack against German lines in the future? Be sure to explain the specific ways in which these new technologies would help. (And please don't just write down "tank." As we shall see, WWI tanks were not exactly the key to unlocking all doors.)

Gruppe 4 (Section A: Mansfield to Snell; Section B: Remillard to Ziino)

The German General Staff has asked you and a number of other staff officers to investigate how German forces can maximize their potential on the defensive after the Somme. Given what you know and have learned about the battle, how would you arrange your forces to receive a British attack in the future?