Battle of the Somme

1 July - 8 November 1916

The river Somme marked the line where the British and French forces met; the British to the north, the French to the south. The offensive was to involve a simultaneous attack of both allied armies, and on such a scale that it would require the Germans to sue for peace.

The bombardment that prefaced the attack was substantial, but it did not destroy the German defenses as had been expected. When the British and French advanced they suffered enormous casualties: 60,000 dead and wounded British on the first day alone.

The breakthrough didn't come and when in November the battle ended the front had been extended, at best, by eight miles, at a cost of 400,000 British casualties.

© Historybookshop.com

Recommended reading

The Somme 30% off
Macdonald, Lyn — £9.09 (normal price £12.99) —

The Somme Battlefields 15% off
Middlebrook, Martin Middlebrook, Mary — Paperback £14.44 (normal price £16.99) —

The Somme
Farrar-Hockley, A.H. — £6.99 —