<P> Philpott wrote that after the war the French Official History gave five pages to 1 July , with one paragraph on the British attack and that the German Official History Der Weltkrieg covered the day in 62 pages . The British Official History described the day in 177 pages , with one page on the French success . In Joffre 's memoirs the French victory was ascribed to `` the excellent work of the artillery '' and German underestimation of French offensive potential remaining from the battle at Verdun , leading them to make their principal defensive effort in the north . The British had been attacked from behind after failing to mop up captured German positions . This military explanation was insufficient for many British commentators , who blamed `` anachronistic '' `` sword wavers '' for leading volunteers to an unnecessary slaughter . The French success , based on the experience of 1915 was overlooked , as was the French expectation of more quick victories being disappointed , as the battle became a counterpart to the long attrition campaign at Verdun . Philpott also described the Germans being written out of the British narrative of useless sacrifice . The Anglo - French armies had gained an advantage on 1 July , by forcing the German defences for 13 mi ( 21 km ) either side of the Somme to collapse . In the early afternoon a broad breach existed north of the river but the `` break in '' was in an unexpected place , which meant that exploitation would have to be improvised . </P>
<P> Philpott wrote that after the war the French Official History gave five pages to 1 July , with one paragraph on the British attack and that the German Official History Der Weltkrieg covered the day in 62 pages . The British Official History described the day in 177 pages , with one page on the French success . In Joffre 's memoirs the French victory was ascribed to `` the excellent work of the artillery '' and German underestimation of French offensive potential remaining from the battle at Verdun , leading them to make their principal defensive effort in the north . The British had been attacked from behind after failing to mop up captured German positions . This military explanation was insufficient for many British commentators , who blamed `` anachronistic '' `` sword wavers '' for leading volunteers to an unnecessary slaughter . The French success , based on the experience of 1915 was overlooked , as was the French expectation of more quick victories being disappointed , as the battle became a counterpart to the long attrition campaign at Verdun . Philpott also described the Germans being written out of the British narrative of useless sacrifice . The Anglo - French armies had gained an advantage on 1 July , by forcing the German defences for 13 mi ( 21 km ) either side of the Somme to collapse . In the early afternoon a broad breach existed north of the river but the `` break in '' was in an unexpected place , which meant that exploitation would have to be improvised . </P>
who won the battle of somme on the first day
who won the battle of somme on the first day
The Anglo - French armies
The Anglo - French armies