Battleground Archives

The Battle of the Somme was one of the most significant battles of World War I, fought between July 1 and November 18, 1916, on the Western Front in France. It was a joint offensive by the British and French armies against the German Empire. The battle took place along a 25-mile front near the River Somme in northern France.

Objectives & Preparations

The main objective of the Allied forces was to relieve pressure on the French at Verdun, where they were engaged in a grueling battle against the Germans. Prior to the infantry assault, the British launched an intense artillery barrage, which was meant to weaken the German defenses and destroy their barbed wire entanglements.

Execution

The battle began with the British Army’s attack on the German lines. It is famously known as one of the bloodiest days in British military history, with over 57,000 casualties, including nearly 20,000 soldiers killed. British and French infantry advanced across No Man’s Land towards the German trenches, facing heavy machine gun fire.

The Battle of the Somme saw the first use of tanks in warfare. Although early tank models were unreliable and prone to breakdowns, they played a role in breaking through some German defenses.

The battle resulted in a staggering number of casualties on both sides. The British suffered around 420,000 casualties, including over 95,000 killed. The French suffered approximately 200,000 casualties, and the Germans suffered around 450,000.

Aftermath

Despite the heavy losses, the Allies did make some gains on tactical level, including capturing several German-held positions. However, the battle did not achieve the breakthrough that had been hoped for. It ended as a strategic stalemate, with both sides exhausted and unable to decisively win.

The term strategy has origins from ancient Greece, from the Greek word strategia, which is a combination of stratos (army) and agos (leading). So, it originally meant the art of leading an army.

The Battle of the Somme has come to symbolize the futility and immense human cost of trench warfare during World War I. It is often remembered as a symbol of the horrors of war.