he Germans and the Allied powers had different strategic goals and objectives for the Battle of Somme as discussed previously, however; they both were of the same mentality that the Battle of the Somme did not mean a decisive victory was at hand. The ultimate goal of the Allies was not to end the war, as there were other theaters still in full swing, but to cripple and inflict enough German casualties to lower their prestige and war morale. Similarly, the Germans also did not believe that the Battle of the Somme would be a decisive victory. They were of the opinion that the offensive would be long and arduous but they had taken necessary precautions and were prepared for the continuation of the war (“The Battle of the Somme by Crown Prince Rupprecht”, 39). While the Battle of the Somme is considered an Allied victory, it is considered a tactical victory.

While often debated, the commanders would be surprised to some extent that the war continued until the end of 1918. Due to the back and forth nature of the war up until this point, it is easy to argue that neither side would achieve an overarching, grand victory. The nature of trench warfare almost leads to a stalemate because the battle lines do not move that drastically. However, the commanders would be startled to find out that the war was only halfway over; they expected it to end sooner than four years. Sir Douglas Haig commented in his dispatch, “The enemy’s power has not yet been broken, nor is it yet possible to form an estimate of the time the war may last before the objects for which the Allies are fighting have been attained. But the Somme battle has placed beyond doubt the ability of the Allies to gain those objects” (“Sir Douglas Haig, British Commander-in-Chief in France and Flanders, 2nd Dispatch”, 37). The mentality of the Allies was that the Battle of the Somme was a precursor to an end for the war because the Battle of the Somme had thoroughly extended German manpower and resources. The Allies also had a renewed confidence in their abilities that heightened their determination to eventually overpower Germany and the rest of the Central Powers. Crown Prince Rupprecht had a similar opinion to Sir Douglas Haig regarding when the war was going to be won. He said, “The offensive will certainly not be at an end very soon. One may well look forward to an offensive of great endurance” (“The Battle of the Somme by Crown Prince Rupprecht”, 39). This statement demonstrates the generally accepted belief that fighting would continue f