German Spoiling Attack on the Somme, June 1916

[DixieDivision1418]

http://roadstothegreatwar-ww1.blogspot. ... a.html?m=1

The Germans had been aware that an Allied attack was shaping up in the Somme sector since Spring of 1916, an attack that was hardly welcome with the Verdun campaign taking up most of their attention. On 26 May, General Fritz von Below submitted a plan to Falkenhayn for a spoiling attack. Ultimately, the attack was cancelled, as the Brusilov offensive caused the suspension of all attacks.

Had the attack gone ahead, it would have come at the ideal time, forcing the Allies to adjust their plans for the offensive. Assuming the Brusilov offensive is cancelled or postponed, how could this have changed the campaigns of 1916?

[History Learner]

Why would the Brusilov offensive be cancelled?

[Sheldrake]

http://roadstothegreatwar-ww1.blogspot. ... a.html?m=1

The Germans had been aware that an Allied attack was shaping up in the Somme sector since Spring of 1916, an attack that was hardly welcome with the Verdun campaign taking up most of their attention. On 26 May, General Fritz von Below submitted a plan to Falkenhayn for a spoiling attack. Ultimately, the attack was cancelled, as the Brusilov offensive caused the suspension of all attacks.

Had the attack gone ahead, it would have come at the ideal time, forcing the Allies to adjust their plans for the offensive. Assuming the Brusilov offensive is cancelled or postponed, how could this have changed the campaigns of 1916?

A pre-emptive strike against an enemy building up forces for an attack is a risky activity, especially if they outnumber the attacker in infantry and artillery.

The evolution of this idea is discussed at length in Jack Sheldon's Fighting the Somme German challenges, dilemmas and solutions. Maybe 13 divisions and 250 artillery batteries might have pushed the Allies back beyond Albert. But Falkenhayen intention was to bleed France white then deal with the British. The issue as Jack writes is that Falkenhayen would not allow the the threatened allied offensive on the Somme divert resources from their main effort at Verdun.

Maybe the location did not matter. In the Summer of 1916 Britain's new armies alongside the French would meet the Germans focused on attrition in the West. Or maybe it would have started the bloodletting of Summer 1916 at a different spot. A few less tens of thousands dead at Verdun and a comparable increase on the Somme.

[DixieDivision1418]

Why would the Brusilov offensive be cancelled?

This PoD could cause it: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=250593

[glenn239]

http://roadstothegreatwar-ww1.blogspot. ... a.html?m=1

The Germans had been aware that an Allied attack was shaping up in the Somme sector since Spring of 1916, an attack that was hardly welcome with the Verdun campaign taking up most of their attention. On 26 May, General Fritz von Below submitted a plan to Falkenhayn for a spoiling attack. Ultimately, the attack was cancelled, as the Brusilov offensive caused the suspension of all attacks.

Had the attack gone ahead, it would have come at the ideal time, forcing the Allies to adjust their plans for the offensive. Assuming the Brusilov offensive is cancelled or postponed, how could this have changed the campaigns of 1916?

A spoiling attack might have been pretty risky. If it backfires then Haig's offensive might gain traction.