Now It Can Be Told · Chapter
The Breaking Point on the Somme explained
This chapter details the severe deterioration of German morale on the Somme front in late 1916, as relentless Allied artillery, air superiority, and the introduction of tanks cause mass casualties, desertions, and a collapse of discipline.
What happens
This chapter details the severe deterioration of German morale on the Somme front in late 1916, as relentless Allied artillery, air superiority, and the introduction of tanks cause mass casualties, desertions, and a collapse of discipline. It describes the physical and mental breakdown of soldiers, the failure of German officers, and the bitter letters from home that fuel a spirit of revolt among the troops.
Themes in this chapter
Futility of War
The chapter emphasizes the senseless slaughter and moral rot, with soldiers describing the Somme as 'mere murder' and a 'massacre' beyond previous horrors.
Psychological Trauma
Shell-shock victims claw at their mouths, lie motionless like corpses, or tremble in terror; many men go raving mad or weep uncontrollably.
Class and Inequality
German soldiers' letters express bitter resentment against 'millionaires who grow rich out of the war' and 'bloated aristocrats' who live in comfort behind the lines.
Betrayal by Leadership
German officers are accused of shirking their posts, faking illness, and even leading surrenders, while the High Command issues stern orders that are ignored.
Characters to notice
- The Germans
German troops on the Somme suffer extreme casualties, desertions, and a breakdown of morale; many refuse to fight or surrender willingly.
- The British
British forces launch successful attacks, capture key positions, and deploy tanks for the first time, causing panic among German troops.
- The French
French forces press forward on the right flank near Roye, contributing to the Allied advance.
- The Officer
German officers are described as demoralized, shirking their posts, shamming sickness, and sometimes leading surrenders.
- The Bavarians
Bavarian regiments, such as the 4th and 10th, experience frequent desertions and heavy losses; prisoners complain of officers not accompanying them.
- The Londoners
London troops capture High Wood, a key position the Germans had held at all costs.
- The Australians
Not directly mentioned in the excerpts, but included as a placeholder for potential future check-ins.
Key passages
“The shell-shock victims clawed at their mouths unceasingly, or lay motionless like corpses with staring eyes, or trembled in every limb, moaning miserably and afflicted with a great terror.”
Men suffering from shell shock constantly clawed at their mouths, lay still like dead bodies with open eyes, or shook uncontrollably while moaning in terror.
Illustrates the severe psychological trauma inflicted by the constant bombardment.
“A spirit of revolt against all this crept into the minds of men who retained their sanity—a revolt against the people who had ordained this vast outrage against God and humanity.”
Even sane soldiers began to rebel mentally against those who had ordered this immense cruelty against God and mankind.
Shows the growing anti-war sentiment and resentment toward leadership.
“The enemy understands how to prevent, with his terrible barrage, the bringing up of building material, and even how to hinder the work itself. The consequence is that our trenches are always ready for an assault on his part.”
The enemy's artillery stops us from bringing up supplies and repairing trenches, so our defenses are always vulnerable to attack.
Describes the tactical advantage of Allied artillery and air superiority.
“For the first time on our front the German officers could not trust the courage of their men, nor their loyalty, nor their sense of discipline.”
German officers could no longer rely on their soldiers' bravery, loyalty, or discipline.
Highlights the collapse of German military morale.
“A new engine of war had come as a demoralizing influence among German troops, spreading terror among them on the first day out of the tanks.”
The first appearance of tanks terrified German soldiers and further demoralized them.
Marks the debut of tanks as a psychological weapon.
