Both sides tried many ways to achieve a breakthrough on the Western Front.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2024). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [4] Aircraft took part in reconnaissance missions.
2. [4] They observed troop movements by the enemy.
3. [4] There were some attempts at bombing raids.
4. [4] The use of aircraft was limited because it was not possible to communicate with the pilot from the ground.
5. [4] They were 'dogfights' between German and British pilots.
6. [6] Attacking from a trench was difficult because of the terrain in front of the trenches. This was an area known as no man's land and it was covered in barbed wire and shell holes from earlier bombardments. This meant it was very difficult to cross quickly. Enemy machine gun teams would have time to climb out of their concrete dugouts and man their guns before the attacking soldiers had crossed no man's land.
7. [2-3] There were snipers in the enemy trenches waiting to shoot anyone who appeared above the parapet.
8. [2-3] Soldiers had to carry full kit which weighed 66lb and made it difficult to run quickly.
9. [2-3] Enemy machine gun posts were trained on the frontline.
10. [2-3] Soldiers had to cross no man's land which was covered in barbed wire.
11. [2-3] Bombardments were meant to destroy the enemy trenches but dugouts were made from concrete so this did not happen.
12. [1] Trench warfare was very unpleasant and many people got shell shock and suffered from trench foot.
13. [10] The Battle of the Somme was one of the deadliest battles of the First World War and is sometimes regarded as a waste of soldiers' lives. However, it achieved a lot and was more important than Verdun. Tanks were new on the battlefield and they were not used well on the Somme. However, commanders learned a lot from their experience and were able to use tanks, and other tactics such as the creeping barrage, effectively in later battles such as Amiens.
14. [4-6] Verdun was important as it achieved more for the Allies. The Germans decided to launch a massive attack to knock France out of the war. They launched this attack on the French fortress of Verdun in 1916. If the fortress had fallen, the French would have been defeated in the war. The fortress held enormous symbolic importance for the French and they threw in everything they had to defend it. The Germans hoped that many French would be killed so that the French army would be fatally weakened. The Battle of Verdun was important because it saved France from defeat.
15. [4-6] The Battle of the Somme was important because it laid the foundations for the eventual Allied victory. It turned the British army from an inexperienced and amateur one into a professional force. Many soldiers were new recruits with little training and no experience, but after the battle they and their commanders had a much better understanding of how to conduct trench warfare. Although not highly effective at the Somme, the Allies also developed new tactics there which were to become important later in the war. For example, tanks and creeping barrages were used to good effect in 1918. It also made the Germans take troops away from their attack on Verdun which helped the French defend the fortress.
16. [2-3] If Verdun had fallen France would have surrendered.
17. [2-3] The fortress of Verdun was a symbol of French military strength.
18. [2-3] German failure to capture Verdun led to the sacking of the German General Falkenhayn.
19. [2-3] If Verdun were captured, French morale would have been devastated.
20. [2-3] The Germans did not achieve a breakthrough at Verdun.
21. [2-3] The Somme was fought to help the French.
22. [2-3] The first day of the Somme was the worst day in the history of the British Army.
23. [2-3] The Battle of the Somme gained seven miles of territory.
24. [2-3] The use of tanks was not effective but commanders learned from mistakes made and used tanks to great effect later in the war.
25. [2-3] It showed the effective use of machine guns in dealing with attacks across no man's land.
26. [1] The Battle of the Somme lasted from July until November 1916.