Battle of the SommeAn overview of the battle

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Overview

• July 1 – Nov. 18, 1916

• One of the costliest battles of WWI

• Approximately 1.2 million casualties• 420,000 British • 200,000 French • 500,000 German

Dead German soldiers at Battle of the Somme

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British gains

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Cause and effect

• Attempt by the British to “push through” the German lines

• Fought along northwestern part of the Western Front

• After months of fighting, and several assaults up and down the front, resulted in small gains in land for England

• Greatly weakened German war effort overall

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Causes of high death toll

Massive loss of life due to new military technologies:•machine guns•artillery/mines•hand grenades•gas•airplanes•first use of tanks

British gun crew wearing PH-type anti-gas helmets

Central Historical Question:

A British trench July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme

Who won the first day of the Battle of the Somme?

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Central Historical Question

Who won the first day of the Battle of the Somme?

Day One Casualties:

• 57,470 British• 8, 000 German• 7, 000 French