The Somme: From Defeat to Victory

The Somme: From Defeat to Victory

58 mins | Documentary, War, History | July 2, 2006

Based on diaries, records and eyewitness accounts, this is the story of the two Battles of the Somme from the perspective of British and German soldiers. It shows how the major lessons learned by the British Army leadership after the disastrous first attacks of July 1916 were turned into victory at the second attempt in September 1916, arguably the turning point for the First World War.

The Somme: From Defeat to Victory

58 mins | Documentary, War, History | July 2, 2006

The Somme: From Defeat to Victory
Based on diaries, records and eyewitness accounts, this is the story of the two Battles of the Somme from the perspective of British and German soldiers. It shows how the major lessons learned by the British Army leadership after the disastrous first attacks of July 1916 were turned into victory at the second attempt in September 1916, arguably the turning point for the First World War.
Producers BBC, NDR, The Open University
Original title The Somme: From Defeat to Victory
Directors Detlef Siebert
Writers Detlef Siebert

Cast

Peter Barich

as Sharples

Darren Black

as Maxwell's ADC

Steffan Boje

as Hinkel

Eric Carte

as Lt-Gen. Morland

Ben Goddard

as Lt. Walton

Ben Goddard

as Mellor

Wolf Kahler

as General von Plessen

Rüdiger Kuhlbrodt

as General von Soden

Thorston Manderlay

as Schmitt

Iain McKee

as Fiddes / Routledge

Crispin Redman

as Lt-Col. Maxwell

Erich Redman

as Hassler

Mike Rogers

as Captain Tweed

Benedict Sandiford

as Captain Johnston

John Shortell

as Stammler

Alisdair Simpson

as Himself - Narrator (voice)

Peter Stark

as Knaupp

Martin Turner

as Maj-Gen. Perceval

John Vine

as Brig-Gen. Shoubridge

Adam Webb

as Edwards

Georg Alfred Wittner

as Captain Fischer