Battle of the Somme

• Describe the key events at the Battle of the Somme

  • July 1, 1916: The Battle of the Somme began with a massive Allied attack on German positions along a 15-mile front. 
  • Heavy Losses: The first day saw over 57,000 British casualties, the worst in British military history. 
  • Artillery Bombardment: The Allies used intense artillery bombardments to weaken German defenses, but many German positions remained intact. 
• • Limited Gains: After initial advances, progress was slow, and troops faced strong German counterattacks. 
  • Tanks Introduced: The Battle of the Somme saw the first use of tanks in combat, though their impact was limited. 
  • November 18, 1916: The battle ended with over 1 million total casualties, and the Allies gained only a small amount of territory.