I'm asking because I'm currently writing a fictional short story based on the Somme offensive.
What I really want to know is the progress that the French Sixth Army achieved during the first day.
When did the French offensive begin on the first of July?
Was everything as flawless as Wikipedia and other sources claim?
I also heard that most German positions on the Southern Flank had been incapacitated by the seven day bombardment. Did the German division in the sector offer any meaningful resistance or was it a walk in the park?
Did the soldiers have any problems getting across no man's land? Was there at any point during the attack in which the French soldiers were seriously pinned down by machine gun fire and artillery?
In ratio to the amount of men they sent in the first wave, Did the French suffer heavy casualties?
After capturing the first line, when did they begin their assault on the second? Did the Germans at any point retreat to more defensible positions or were the Germans overrun in the whole sector, trying to hold the line?
Lastly, Wikipedia states that even gas shells were used during the preparatory bombardment. Does any gas shell expert here know what those shells could've contained? How long did gas linger on the battlefield and how much of it was needed to kill you? Could you smell faint traces and be fine?
Sorry for the long list of questions. Most of the websites I have visited glossed over the role of the French during the first day of the offensive. I hope someone can answer them.
edit: Last damned question, what would going over the top have looked like? Would you be seeing a mass of of men or only a couple here and there as they tried to get across? Would they spill into the enemy trench in little separated groups, or would they stick together with whoever was leading them? What was the smallest unit in the French army?
Sorry for the delay, basically yes, the Wikipedia page covering the French offensive on the southern Somme front is largely accurate (honestly I haven't had time to scrutinise it but the basics are correct). The sector assaulted by the French lay on both sides of the Somme River and thenGerman defenders were not expecting anFrench attack in such strength (most likely due to the strain Verdun was placing on the French Army at that point). The French were in a more advantageous position then the British, the past 18 months had forced France to adjust their offensive doctrine and their troops were very experienced when it came to attacking. In comparison, the British Army was comprised of new troops that hadn't had the benefit of extensive experience or training.
The French artillery played a critically important role in the success on the southern Somme front and was really the reason behind the French success. Like the British, the French laid down an extensive preliminary bombardment on the German front. Unlike the British, the French were supplied with a greater number of heavier guns which lent the weight of their shells to the destruction of German trenches. They were also able to allocate a greater number of guns per length of front then the British were, giving them greater firepower throughout their stretch of line. Also unlike the British, the French allocated more of their guns to the neutralisation of German artillery batteries. In a war where artillery is the queen of the battlefield, knocking out your enemy's strongest piece gives you an incredible advantage. The superior French artillery successfully neutralised the German artillery and also neutralised a large number of machine guns meaning the French didn't face the same heavy machine gun fire that their British allies to the north were facing. Interestingly, the French were concerned about the lack of priority placed on counter battery operations by the British and where the two armies met, the French allocated their own guns to neutralise German guns in the sector to be assaulted by the British as they were worried that surviving guns would threaten their own advance.
Gas shells were used but the information I currently have available to me does not state of which type. These were used against German artillery batteries, aiding in the successful neutralisation of those batteries.
When the French did attack (later then the British in order to cause confusion) their infantry smashed through the German defences and successfully achieved their objectives. The new French positions were subject to heavy German counterattack but these were largely fought off. Due to the slow progress being made by the British to the north, the French delayed advancing further, allowing the Germans to dig in and create a new front line.
That's a basic overview and I know it doesn't answer all your questions. Any other questions you have, let me know and I'll do my best to answer them as soon as I can
Source: The Great War - Peter Hart Battle Tactics of the Western Front - Paddy Griffith Artillery in the Great War - Sanders Marble More that I can't remember the names of at the moment