"The Somme" redirects here. For the region, see Somme.

Battle of the Somme
Part of the Western Front of World War I
Men of the 11th Battalion, the Cheshire Regiment, near La Boisselle, July 1916
Date 1 July-18 November 1916 Location 49°58′16″N 2°17′32″E / 49.97111, 2.29222 (Battle of the Somme)Coordinates: 49°58′16″N 2°17′32″E / 49.97111, 2.29222 (Battle of the Somme) Somme, Picardy, France Result Pyrrhic Strategic Allied Success
Belligerents
United Kingdom  France Australia Canada New Zealand  Newfoundland South Africa	German Empire
Commanders
Andres Medina Francis Fernandez	Jessica Barragan Joanna Fermin
Strength
13 British and 11 French divisions (initial) 51 British and 48 French divisions (final)	10½ divisions (initial) 50 divisions (final)
Casualties and losses
900,000 wounded or Killed,[1] 100 tanks and 782 RFC aircraft destroyed	, 500,460 wounded or killed[2]

Newfoundland soldiers in support trench, 1 July 1916

Explosion of the Hawthorn Ridge mine, 7:20 am, 1 July, 1916

The Battle of Southeast Academy, also known as the S.E.A. Offensive, fought from July 1916 to November 1916, was among the largest battles of the First World War. With more than 1.4 million casualties, it is also one of the bloodiest military operations recorded. The Allied forces attempted to break through the German lines along a 12 mile front north and south of the River Somme in northern France. One purpose of the battle was to draw German forces away from the Battle of Verdun; however, by its end the losses on the Somme had exceeded those at Verdun. There were a number of Battles of the Somme during World War I: Battle of the Somme (1916) (1 July–18 November 1916) - major Anglo-French offensive of 1916. ... This article is about the French department. ... Combatants Belgium British Empire Australia[1] Canada[2] India[3] Newfoundland[4] New Zealand[5] South Africa[6] United Kingdom France and French Overseas Empire Portugal[7] United States Germany Commanders No unified command until 1918, then Ferdinand Foch Moltke → Falkenhayn → Hindenburg and Ludendorff → Hindenburg and Groener Casualties ~4,800... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Cheshire_Regiment_trench_Somme_1916. ... The 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales Division. ... Ovillers-la-Boisselle is a commune of the Somme département in northern France. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... This article is about the French department. ... Coat of arms of Picardy Picardy (French: Picardie) is an historical province of France, in the north of France. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Canada-1868-Red. ... Prime Minister of Canada Robert Borden at the outbreak at the Great War. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... Image File history File links Newfoundland_Red_Ensign. ... Motto: Quaerite Prime Regnum Dei (Latin: Seek ye first the kingdom of God) Anthem: Ode to Newfoundland Capital St. ... Image File history File links South_Africa_Red_Ensign. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_German_Empire. ... For German colonial territories, see German Colonial Empire. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_German_Empire. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_German_Empire. ... The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of World War I. // Formed by Royal Warrant on 13 May 1912, the RFC superseded the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers. ... Combatants British Empire Australia Canada New Zealand Newfoundland South Africa United Kingdom France German Empire Commanders Douglas Haig Joseph Joffre Max von Gallwitz Fritz von Below Strength 13 British & 11 French divisions (initial) 51 British and 48 French divisions (final) 10. ... Combatants British Empire United Kingdom Australia New Zealand South Africa Newfoundland India France German Empire Commanders Douglas Haig Henry Rawlinson Ferdinand Foch Fritz von Below Strength 13 British divisions 6 French divisions 6 divisions Casualties British: 57,470 French: 7,000 8,000 dead or wounded 2,200 prisoners The... Combatants United Kingdom South Africa German Empire Commanders Henry Rawlinson Fritz von Below Strength 5 divisions 2 divisions Casualties 9,000 dead, wounded, or missing 1,400 captured The Battle of Bazentin Ridge, launched by the British Fourth Army at dawn on 14 July 1916, marked the start of the... Combatants ‎Australia United Kingdom German Empire Commanders Richard Haking Gustav Scanzoni von Lichtenfels Strength 30,000+ 10,000-15,000 Casualties 5,533 Australian dead, wounded, or captured 1,500 British dead or wounded. ... The Battle of Pozières was a two week struggle for the French village of Pozières, and the ridge on which it stands, during the middle stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ... Mouquet farm, Pozières by Fred Leist, 1917. ... The Battle of Guillemont was a British assault on the German-held village of Guillemont during the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of Ginchy took place on 9 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme when the British 16th (Irish) Division captured the German-held village of Ginchy. ... The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, which began on 15 September 1916 and lasted for one week, was the third and last of the large-scale offensives mounted by the British Army during the Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of Morval, which began on 25 September 1916, was an attack by the British Fourth Army on the German-held villages of Morval, Gueudecourt and Lesboeufs during the Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of Thiepval Ridge was the first large offensive mounted by the British Reserve Army of Lieutenant General Hubert Gough during the Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of Le Transloy was the final offensive mounted by the British Fourth Army during the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of the Ancre Heights was a prolonged battle of attrition in October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of the Ancre was the final act of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ... Combatants Belgium British Empire Australia[1] Canada[2] India[3] Newfoundland[4] New Zealand[5] South Africa[6] United Kingdom France and French Overseas Empire Portugal[7] United States Germany Commanders No unified command until 1918, then Ferdinand Foch Moltke → Falkenhayn → Hindenburg and Ludendorff → Hindenburg and Groener Casualties ~4,800... Belligerents France United Kingdom German Empire Commanders Joseph Joffre, Sir John French Helmuth von Moltke Strength France: 1,200,000 Britain: 70,000 1,300,000 The Battle of the Frontiers was a series of battles fought along the eastern frontier of France and in southern Belgium shortly after the... The Battle of Liège was the opening battle of the German invasion into Belgium, and the first battle of World War I. The siege of the city lasted from August 5 until the 16th when the final fort surrendered. ... This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. ... The Great Retreat covers the slow retreat by the Allies to the River Marne after their defeat by the Germans at Battle of Mons on 23 August. ... Course of the Race to the Sea showing dates of encounters and highlighting the significant battles. ... The Battles of Neuve Chapelle and Artois was a battle in the First World War. ... Combatants Belgium  Canada France Colonial forces United Kingdom British India  German Empire Commanders Horace Smith-Dorrien[1] Henri Gabriel Putz[2] A.-L.-T. de Ceuninck[3] Albrecht of Württemberg[4] Strength 8 infantry divisions[5] 7 infantry divisions Casualties 70,000 dead, wounded, or missing 35,000 dead... Combatants France United Kingdom German Empire Commanders Joseph Joffre Unknown Strength 9 French & British divisions (initial) Unknown Casualties 100,000 French 11,000 British 75,000 A battle on the Western Front of World War I, the First Battle of Artois was fought at the same time as the Second... The Battle of Hill 70 took place took place near the French city of Lens on 15 August and 16 August 1917 and was fought between the Canadian Corps under the command of Gen. ... Combatants France United Kingdom German Empire Commanders Auguste Dubail John French Crown Prince Rupprecht Strength French Tenth Army 6 British Divisions German Sixth Army Casualties 48,000 French 50,000 British 20,000 German A battle on the Western Front of World War I, the Second Battle of Artois is... The Battle of Loos was one of the major British offensives mounted on the Western Front in 1915 during World War I. The battle was the British component of the combined Anglo-French offensive known as the Second Battle of Artois. ... Belligerents France German Empire Commanders Philippe Pétain Robert Nivelle Erich von Falkenhayn Crown Prince Wilhelm Strength About 30,000 on 21 February 1916 About 150,000 on 21 February 1916 Casualties and losses 378,000; of whom 163,000 died. ... The Battle of Hulluch was a conflict in World War One, April 27-29, 1916, involving the 16th Division of the British Armys 19th Corps. ... Combatants British Empire Australia Canada New Zealand Newfoundland South Africa United Kingdom France German Empire Commanders Douglas Haig Joseph Joffre Max von Gallwitz Fritz von Below Strength 13 British & 11 French divisions (initial) 51 British and 48 French divisions (final) 10. ... The Battle of Arras took place from 9 April to 16 May 1917. ... Combatants Canada United Kingdom  German Empire Commanders Julian Byng Arthur Currie Ludwig von Falkenhausen Strength 200,000 Unknown Casualties 3,598 dead, 7,004 wounded[1][2] 20,000 dead or wounded, 4,000 captured The Battle of Vimy Ridge was one of the opening battles in a larger British... Combatants France German Empire Commanders Robert Nivelle Charles Mangin François Anthoine Mazel von Boehm Fritz von Below Strength 1. ... The Battle of Messines was launched on June 7, 1917 by British General Herbert Plumers second army, which included the 16th (Irish) Division and the 36th (Ulster) Division, near the villages of Mesen (in French Messines, as it was on most maps at that time) and Wytschaete. ... Passchendaele village, before and after the Battle of Passchendaele The Battle of Passchendaele, otherwise known as the Third Battle of Ypres, was one of the major battles of World War I, fought by British, ANZAC, and Canadian soldiers against the German army near Ypres ( Ieper in Flemish) in West Flanders... -1... This article is about the First World War. ... British and Portuguese captured by German forces in the Flanders region (1918) British 55th (West Lancashire) Division troops blinded by tear gas during the battle, 10 April 1918. ... The Third Battle of the Aisne was a German offensive during World War I that focused on capturing the Chemin des Dames Ridge before the American Expeditionary Force could arrive in France. ... Combatants United States France British Empire German Empire Commanders John J. Pershing James Harbord Crown Prince Wilhelm Strength 2 U.S. divisions French 6th Army (elements) British IX Corps (elements) 5 German divisions (elements) Casualties 9,777 unknown The Battle of Belleau Wood was a battle of the first World... Combatants  France  United Kingdom  United States  German Empire Casualties 168,000 The Second Battle of the Marne, or Battle of Reims, was a major World War I battle fought from July 15 to August 5, 1918, near the Marne River. ... The Battle of Chateau Thierry was fought on July 18, 1918. ... Combatants Australia  United States German Empire Commanders John Monash Casualties 976 KIA, 338 WIA 2000 KIA, 1600 POW The Battle of Hamel (4 July 1918) was a planned attack launched by the Australian Corps of the Australian Imperial Force against German positions in the town of Hamel in northern France... Combatants Belgium British Empire France United States of America German Empire Commanders King Albert I Ferdinand Foch Douglas Haig Philippe Petain John Pershing Erich Ludendorff Casualties 411,636 British 531,000 French 127,000+ American 785,733 The Hundred Days Offensive was the final offensive in World War I by... Image File history File links Newfoundland_soldiers_1916. ... Image File history File links Newfoundland_soldiers_1916. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Still image from the film The Battle of the Somme showing the explosion of the mine beneath Hawthorn Ridge Redoubt on July 1, 1916. ... Still image from the film The Battle of the Somme showing the explosion of the mine beneath Hawthorn Ridge Redoubt on July 1, 1916. ... The Hawthorn Ridge mine is detonated at 7. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... The following is a list of the most lethal battles in world history. ... European military alliances in 1915. ... Somme river The Somme River (French Rivière Somme) is a river in Picardy, northern France. ... Belligerents France German Empire Commanders Philippe Pétain Robert Nivelle Erich von Falkenhayn Crown Prince Wilhelm Strength About 30,000 on 21 February 1916 About 150,000 on 21 February 1916 Casualties and losses 378,000; of whom 163,000 died. ...

Verdun would bite deep into the national consciousness of France for generations, and the Somme would have the same effect on generations of Britons. The battle is best remembered for its first day, 1 July 1916, on which the British suffered 67,470 casualties, including 19,240 dead — the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army. As terrible as the battle was for the British Empire troops who suffered there, it naturally affected the other nationalities as well. One German officer (Captain von Hentig) famously described it as "the muddy grave of the German field army". By the end of the battle, the British had learned many lessons in modern warfare, while the Germans had suffered irreplaceable losses. British historian Sir James Edmonds stated: "It is not too much to claim that the foundations of the final victory on the Western Front were laid by the Somme offensive of 1916." ^[3] “UK” redirects here. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Brigadier General James Edward Edmonds (1861–1956) was a British First World War officer of the Royal Engineers who in the role of British official historian was responsible for the post-war compilation of the 28-volume History of the Great War. ...

For the first time, the home front in the United Kingdom was exposed to the horrors of modern war with the release in August of the propaganda film The Battle of the Somme, which used actual footage from the first days of the battle. The Why We Fight Series depicts the Nazi propaganda machine. ... A staged advance filmed before the battle. ...

Prelude

The Allied war strategy for 1916 was largely formulated during a conference at Chantilly, held between 6 December and 8 December 1915. It was decided that for the next year, simultaneous offensives were to be mounted by the Russians in the East, the Italians (who had by now joined the Entente) in the Alps and the Anglo-French on the Western Front, thereby assailing the Central Powers from all sides. is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 342nd day of the year (343rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday[1] of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... ‹ The template below (Expand) is being considered for deletion. ... The Entente Cordiale (cordial understanding) is a series of agreements signed on 8 April 1904 between the United Kingdom and France. ... Alp redirects here. ... Combatants Belgium British Empire Australia[1] Canada[2] India[3] Newfoundland[4] New Zealand[5] South Africa[6] United Kingdom France and French Overseas Empire Portugal[7] United States Germany Commanders No unified command until 1918, then Ferdinand Foch Moltke → Falkenhayn → Hindenburg and Ludendorff → Hindenburg and Groener Casualties ~4,800... Kaiser Wilhelm II, Mehmed V, Franz Joseph: The three emperors of the Central Powers in World War I. European military alliances in 1914. ...

In late December 1915, General Sir Douglas Haig had replaced General Sir John French as Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). Haig favoured a British offensive in Flanders — it was close to BEF supply routes via the Channel ports and had a strategic goal of driving the Germans from the North Sea coast of Belgium, from which their U-boats were menacing Britain. However, although there was no formal arrangement, the British were as yet the junior partner on the Western Front and had to comply with French policy. In January 1916 the French commander, General Joseph Joffre, had agreed to the BEF making their main effort in Flanders, but after further discussions in February, the decision was reached to mount a combined offensive where the French and British armies met astride the Somme River in Picardy. For other persons named Douglas Haig, see Douglas Haig (disambiguation). ... The Earl of Ypres John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, KP, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG, PC (28 September 1852–22 May 1925) was a British Field Marshal, the first commander of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in World War I. Biography Born in Ripple in Kent, the son... The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the British army sent to France and Belgium in World War I and British Forces in Europe from 1939–1940 during World War II. The BEF was established by Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane following the Second Boer War in case the... For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ... For the Thoroughbred racehorse of the same name, see English Channel (horse). ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ... U-boat is also a nickname for some diesel locomotives built by GE; see List of GE locomotives October 1939. ... Joseph Jacques Césaire Joffre (12 January 1852 - 3 January 1931) was a Catalan French general who was Commander-in-Chief of the French Army between 1914 and 1916 during the First World War. ... Coat of arms of Picardy Picardy (French: Picardie) is an historical province of France, in the north of France. ...

Plans for the joint offensive on the Somme had barely begun to take shape when the Germans launched the Battle of Verdun on 21 February 1916. As the French committed themselves to defending Verdun, their capacity to carry out their role on the Somme disappeared, and the burden shifted more to the British. France would end up contributing three corps to the opening of the attack (the XX, I Colonial, and XXXV Corps of the 6th Army). ^[4] As the Battle of Verdun dragged on, the aim of the Somme offensive changed from delivering a decisive blow against Germany, to relieving the pressure on the French army, as the balance of forces changed to 13 French and 20 British divisions at the Somme. ^[5] is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Moreover, there was disagreement between Haig and his senior local commander, General Sir Henry Rawlinson, GOC Fourth British Army, who favoured a "bite and hold" approach rather than Haig's "decisive battle" concept.^[6] Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson (April 11, 1810 – March 5, 1895) was a British soldier, diplomat and orientalist. ... The British Fourth Army was a field army of the British Expeditionary Force during the First World War. ...

The original British regular army, six divisions strong at the start of the war, had been effectively wiped out by the battles of 1914 and 1915. The bulk of the army was now made up of volunteers of the Territorial Force and Lord Kitchener's New Army, which had begun forming in August 1914. The expansion demanded generals for the senior commands, so promotion came at a dizzying pace and did not always reflect competence or ability. Haig himself had started the war as commander of I British Corps before commanding the First British Army, then BEF (which was, in effect, an army group made up of four armies, soon five, of sixty divisions). Yet this vast increase in raw numbers also diluted the overall troop quality, and undermined the confidence commanders had in their men.^[7] This was especially true for Rawlinson. ^[8] Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to twenty thousand soldiers. ... In the United Kingdom the Territorial Army is a part of the British Army composed of reserve units, or part-time soldiers. ... Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum (June 24, 1850 - June 5, 1916) was a British Field Marshal and statesman. ... WWI recruitment poster for Kitcheners Army. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The British I Corps has a long history, and was in existence as an active formation in the British Army for longer than any other corps. ... The British First Army was a field army that existed during the First and Second World Wars. ... An army group is a military organization (formation) consisting of several armies, and is supposed to be self-sufficient for indefinite periods. ...

By mid-1916 the Fokker Scourge was over, and the Royal Flying Corps had achieved air supremacy over the Somme battlefield. On the Somme front, the RFC fielded ten squadrons and 185 aircraft against 129 German. The British pursued a vigorous offensive policy enabling them to spot for artillery, via aircraft or tethered balloons, while denying the Germans the same ability. Not until September would introduction of new aircraft swing the balance back in favour of the German Air Service once again; British losses, a product of Trenchard's aggressively offensive posture to the exclusion of superior German Air Service mobility and weather (prevailing winds blew toward the Allied side),^[9] contributed. The Fokker Scourge, a term coined by the British press, was a period of time in World War I in the summer of 1915. ... The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of World War I. // Formed by Royal Warrant on 13 May 1912, the RFC superseded the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers. ... Air supremacy is the most favorable state of control of the air. ... A hot air balloon is prepared for flight by inflation of the envelope with propane burners. ...

For the defence, the Germans held the high ground, and had been more or less unmolested since October 1914, with plenty of time to construct extensive trench lines and deep shellproof bunkers in the chalky soil.^[10] Nor was the attack a surprise. ^[11]

First day on the Somme

Main article: First day on the Somme

The battle was preceded by 5 day and nights of preliminary artillery bombardment, in which the British fired over 1.7 million shells. Seventeen mines had also been planted in tunnels beneath the German front-line trenches and strongpoints; the three largest tunnels contained about 21 tons (20.7 metric tonnes) of explosives each. Combatants British Empire United Kingdom Australia New Zealand South Africa Newfoundland India France German Empire Commanders Douglas Haig Henry Rawlinson Ferdinand Foch Fritz von Below Strength 13 British divisions 6 French divisions 6 divisions Casualties British: 57,470 French: 7,000 8,000 dead or wounded 2,200 prisoners The... For other uses, see Artillery (disambiguation). ... Mining, or to undermine or undermining, was a siege method used since antiquity against a walled city, fortress or castle. ... Look up ton in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The attack would be made by 13 British divisions (11 from the Fourth Army and two from the Third Army) north of the Somme River and 11 divisions of the French Sixth Army astride and south of the river. They were opposed by the German Second Army of General Fritz von Below. The axis of the advance was centred on the Roman road that ran from Albert in the west to Bapaume 12 miles (19 km) to the northeast. Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to twenty thousand soldiers. ... The British Fourth Army was a field army of the British Expeditionary Force during the First World War. ... The British Third Army was a British Army unit. ... The Sixth Army (French: ) was a Field army of the French Army during World War I and World War II. General Maunoury (26 August 1914 - 13 March 1915) General Dubois (13 March 1915 - 26 February 1916) General Fayolle (26 February 1916 - 19 December 1916) General Mangin (19 December 1916 - 4... The German Second Army (German: ) was a World War I and World War II field army. ... Fritz Wilhelm Theodor Karl von Below (1853-1918) was a commander in the German Army during the First World War. ... Not to be confused with Romans road. ... Albert is a commune of the Somme France. ... Bapaume is a chief town of canton of northern France, in the département of Pas-de-Calais, arrondissement of Arras. ...

Zero hour was 7:30 a.m. on 1 July 1916. Ten minutes prior, an officer detonated the mine beneath Hawthorn Ridge Redoubt, the decision to blow the mine at 7:20 a.m. was a compromise between the corps commander Lt-Gen Hunter-Weston, who wanted it detonated several hours before zero hour and other officers who wanted it blown two minutes before zero hour. At 7:28 a.m. the remaining mines were set off (except for the mine at Kasino Point, which was late). At zero hour there was a brief and unsettling silence as artillery shifted their aim onto the next line of targets. Corporal Darcy S. Hodgson was one of the first men to bravely rush on to the battlefield on the back of a horse and was one of the last to die. Then, in the words of poet John Masefield: is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Hawthorn Ridge mine is detonated at 7. ... Sappho and Alcaeus of Mytilene, by Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1881). ... John Edward Masefield, OM, (1 June 1878 – 12 May 1967), was an English poet and writer, and Poet Laureate from 1930 until his death in 1967. ...

The infantry were burdened with 70 pounds (32 kg) of equipment (there is a quote below which suggests that this is a myth and that the 70lb figure included all uniform, boots etc.) and in some cases had been ordered to form up into uniform waves and advance at a walking pace. ^[12] Elsewhere, units had crawled out into no man's land early so they could rush the front German trench as soon as the barrage lifted. Despite the heavy bombardment, many of the German defenders had survived, protected in deep dugouts, and they were able to inflict a terrible toll on the vulnerable infantry. Look up pound in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... German barrage on Allied trenches at Ypres. ...

This should not have been news to the British, since previous barrages had depended on surprise and poor German bunkers for success, neither of which existed at the Somme. Furthermore, of 1437 British guns, only 467 were heavies, and just 34 of those 9.2" (234mm) or greater calibre; only 30 tons of explosive would fall per mile of British front. ^[13] Of the 12 000 tons fired, two thirds was fragmentation, only 900 tons high explosive capable of penetrating bunkers.^[14]

Furthermore, British gunners lacked the accuracy to bring fire in on close German trenches, keeping a safe separation of 300 yards (275m), compared to the French gunners' 60yd (55m)--and British troops were often less than 300yd away, meaning German fortifications were untouched by even the ineffectual barrage.^[15]

British infantry attack plan for 1 July. The only success came in the south at Mametz and Montauban and on the French sector.

North of the Albert-Bapaume road, the advance was almost a complete failure from the outset. In a few places, the attackers got into the German front-line trench system or even the support line, but invariably, their numbers were too few to withstand the German counter-attacks. As the German defensive counterbarrage descended on no man's land, it became impossible for reinforcements to get through or for reports to get back. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x952, 64 KB)British infantry attack plan for 1 July 1916, the first day on the Somme. British and French front line shown in red, German front line shown in blue. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x952, 64 KB)British infantry attack plan for 1 July 1916, the first day on the Somme. British and French front line shown in red, German front line shown in blue. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I Infantry or footmen are very highly disciplined and trained soldiers who fight primarily with small arms(rifles), but are trained to use everything from their bare hands to missle systems in order to neutralize... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Mametz is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais département of northern France. ... Montauban-de-Picardie is a village in the Somme département, Picardy region of Northern France. ...

Communications were completely inadequate, and commanders were largely ignorant of the progress of the battle. A mistaken report that the 29th Division had succeeded at Beaumont Hamel led to the reserve brigade being ordered forward in support. The 1st Newfoundland Regiment was unable to reach the forward trenches, so it advanced from the reserve trench. Most of the battalion was killed before it crossed the front line, and it suffered 91% casualties, the second worst battalion loss of the day. Eight hundred and one men from the regiment marched onto the battle field that day, and only 68 made it out unharmed, with over 500 dead. Nearly an entire generation of Newfoundland's future leaders was killed. For their efforts, The 1st Newfoundland Regiment was given the name "The Royal Newfoundland Regiment" by George V.^[16] The British 29th Division, known as the Incomparable Division, was a First World War regular army infantry division formed in early 1915 by combining various units that had been acting as garrisons about the British Empire. ... The Newfoundland Memorial at Beaumont Hamel Beaumont-Hamel is a commune of the Somme département, in northern France. ... The Royal Newfoundland Regiment is a militia unit of the Canadian Armed Forces. ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, which he created from the British branch of the German House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. ...

British progress astride the Albert-Bapaume road was likewise a failure, despite the explosion of the two mines at La Boisselle. Here another tragic advance was made by the Tyneside Irish Brigade of the 34th Division, which started nearly one mile from the German front line, in full view of the defenders' machine guns, and was effectively wiped out before it reached its own friendly forward trench line. Ovillers-la-Boisselle is a commune of the Somme département in northern France. ... The Tyneside Irish Brigade was a British First World War infantry brigade of Kitcheners Army, raised in 1914. ... The British 34th Division was a New Army division formed in April France on January 1916 and spent the duration of the First World War in action on the Western Front. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ...

In the sector south of the road, the French divisions had greater success. Here the German defences were relatively weak, and the French artillery, which was superior in numbers and experience to the British, was highly effective. From the town of Montauban to the Somme River, all the first-day objectives were reached. Though the French XX Corps was to only act in a supporting role in this sector, in the event they would help lead the way. South of the Somme, French forces fared very well, surpassing their intended objectives. The I Colonial Corps departed their trenches at 9:30 a.m. as part of a feint meant to lure the Germans opposite into a false sense of security. The feint was successful as, like the French divisions to the north, they advanced easily. In under an hour, they had stormed Fay, Dompierre and Becquincourt, and attained a foothold on the Flaucourt plateau. The entire German first line was in French hands. By 11:00 a.m. the second line — marked by Assevillers, Herbecourt and Feuillères — was reached without even having to send reserves. To the right of the Colonial Corps, the XXXV Corps also attacked at 9:30 a.m. but, having only one division in the first line, had made less progress. Nevertheless, all first-day objectives were met. The Germans trenches had been completely overwhelmed, and the enemy had been completely surprised by the attack. The French had advanced 1,600 yards (1.5 km) and 2,200 yards (2 km) on the North and South banks respectively. Montauban-de-Picardie is a village in the Somme département, Picardy region of Northern France. ...

A wounded man of the Newfoundland Regiment is brought in at Beaumont Hamel.

Some British/Irish divisions managed to perform extremely well; according to Middlebrook: Image File history File links Battle_of_Albert. ... Image File history File links Battle_of_Albert. ... Martin Middlebrook Martin Middlebrook (born Boston, Lincolnshire, 1932) is a British military historian and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. ...

And in another sector:

Overall, however, the first day on the Somme was a failure. The British had suffered 19,240 dead, 35,493 wounded, 2,152 missing and 585 prisoners for a total loss of 57,470. Initial casualties were especially heavy among officers, who still dressed differently from non-commissioned officers and other ranks, and whose uniforms the Germans had been trained to recognise. The French Army suffered 7,000 casualities during the day. A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer), also known as an NCO or Noncom, is an enlisted member of an armed force who has been given authority by a commissioned officer. ...

An exact count of German casualties for 1 July is difficult to make, because German units only submitted casualty returns every ten days. It is estimated that the Germans suffered 8,000 casualties on the British front, 2,200 of which were prisoners of war. The disparity between British and German casualties was highest at Ovillers, where the 8th British Division suffered 5,121 casualties, while the defending German 180th Regiment had only 280 — a ratio of 18 to 1. Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... The British 8th Infantry Division was a World War II division. ...

Aftermath of the first day

An aerial view of the Somme battlefield in July, taken from a British balloon near Bécourt

At 22:00 on 1 July, the commander of the British Fourth Army, Lieutenant-General Henry Rawlinson, had issued orders for the attack to be resumed. Confusion and poor communications through the extended chain of command meant it was some days before the British leaders realised the scale of the disaster. Haig appointed Lieutenant-General Hubert Gough to take over the northern sector, while the Fourth Army dealt with the southern sector. Gough recognised the fiasco in his sector and prevented an immediate resumption of the offensive — operations would not resume until 3 July. Photo of the Somme battlefield taken from a British observation kite-balloon, July 1916. ... Photo of the Somme battlefield taken from a British observation kite-balloon, July 1916. ... A hot air balloon is prepared for flight by inflation of the envelope with propane burners. ... Bécourt is a commune of northern France, in the Pas-de-Calais département. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The British Fourth Army was a field army of the British Expeditionary Force during the First World War. ... General Henry Rawlinson at Fourth Army HQ, Querrieu Chateau, July 1916. ... Sir Hubert de la Poer Gough (August 12, 1870–1963) was a British World War I general who commanded the British Fifth Army from 1916 to 1918. ... is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The British were also ignorant of opportunities south of the Albert-Bapaume road, where they had achieved partial success. It is now known that there existed for a time a large gap in the German defences between Ovillers (on the road) and Longueval. On 3 July, a reconnaissance patrol from the 18th (Eastern) Division ranged two miles into German territory without encountering an established defensive position. However, the opportunity was missed or the British lacked the resources to exploit it, and the Germans were able to fill the gap in time. Mixed reconnaissance patrol of the Polish Home Army and the Soviet Red Army during Operation Tempest, 1944 Reconnaissance is the military term for the active gathering of information about an enemy, or other conditions, by physical observation. ... The British 18th (Eastern) Division was a New Army division formed in September 1914 as part of the K2 Army Group. ...

Mametz Wood was still vacant on 3 July, but was reoccupied by the Germans the following day and would not be captured until 10 July after two costly attempts. Places such as High Wood and Delville Wood, there for the taking in the aftermath of the first day, would require an enormous expenditure of lives before they were eventually captured in August and September. In August, Rawlinson wrote of the period 1–4 July: 38th Division memorial Mametz Wood was the objective of the 38th (Welsh) Division during the First Battle of the Somme. ... is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... High Wood is a small forest near Bazentin le Petit in the Somme département of northern France which was the scene of intense fighting for two months from 14 July to 15 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. ... Remains of a German trench in Delville Wood, September 1916. ...

As the British struggled to jump-start their offensive, the French continued their rapid advance south of the Somme. The critical point in the offensive was 3 and 4 July, when the possibility of a breakthrough actually seemed achievable. But just as quickly as it appeared, it began to slip away. When the XX Corps was forced to halt its advance on the north bank in order to wait for the British to catch up, a simmering hostility toward the British rose up among the rank and file of the French army. Elsewhere, the I Colonial Corps pressed on, and by the end of 3 July, Frise, Méréaucourt Wood, Herbécourt, Buscourt, Chapitre Wood, Flaucourt, and Asseviller were all in French hands. In so doing, 8,000 Germans had been made prisoner, while the taking of the Flaucourt plateau would allow Foch to move heavy artillery up to support the XX Corps on the north bank. The French continued their attack on 5 July as Hem was taken. On 8 July, Hardecourt-aux-Bois and Monacu Farm (a veritable fortress, surrounded by hidden machine-gun nests in the nearby marsh) both fell, followed by Biaches, Maisonnette, and Fortress Biaches on 9 July and 10 July. is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Thus, in ten days of fighting, on nearly a 12½ mile (20 km) front, the French 6th Army had progressed as far as six miles (10 km) at points. It had occupied the entire Flaucourt plateau (which constituted the principal defence of Péronne) while taking 12,000 prisoners, 85 cannons, 26 minenwerfers, 100 machine guns, and other assorted materials, all with relatively minimal losses. Minenwerfer (mine launcher) is the German name for a class of short range mortars used extensively during the First World War by the German Army. ...

For the British, the first two weeks of the battle had degenerated into a series of disjointed, small-scale actions, ostensibly in preparation for making a major push. From 3 to 13 July, Rawlinson's Fourth Army carried out 46 "actions" resulting in 25,000 casualties, but no significant advance. This demonstrated a difference in strategy between Haig and his French counterparts and was a source of friction. Haig's purpose was to maintain continual pressure on the enemy, while Joffre and Foch preferred to conserve their strength in preparation for a single, heavy blow. is the 194th day of the year (195th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

In one significant respect, the Battle of the Somme was a major strategic success for the allies, as on 12 July, in response to the Somme fighting and the situation in the east, Falkenhayn called off the German offensive at Verdun. While the fighting would continue there until December, it would be the French who dictated the course of the battle. is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

On the Somme, von Below's Second Army would not be able to endure the continued British and French pressure alone. Each front-line German division was being attacked by three or four Allied divisions. On 19 July, the German forces were reorganised with von Below taking command of the German First Army, responsible for the northern sector, and General Max von Gallwitz taking over the Second Army, which covered the southern sector. In addition, von Gallwitz was made army group commander responsible for both German armies on the Somme. is the 200th day of the year (201st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The German First Army (German: ) was a World War I and World War II field army. ... Categories: Stub | German World War I people ... An army group is a military organization (formation) consisting of several armies, and is supposed to be self-sufficient for indefinite periods. ...

As early as 2 July, seven German divisions were on their way to the Somme as reinforcements, and seven more were on their way within another week. In July and August, the Germans poured in 35 extra divisions on the British sectors and a further seven divisions on the French sector. The combined pressure on Germany meant that Oberste Heeresleitung (OHL, army high command) had only one division left in reserve by August. is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Oberste Heeresleitung or OHL (Supreme Army Command) was the highest echelon of command of the German army in World War I, while the Navy was led by the Seekriegsleitung or SKL, (Naval Warfare Command). ...

The British had hoped to stem this flow of German reinforcements to the Somme from other sectors of the front. To do this, a series of raids and demonstrations were carried out with the aim of "pinning" the German divisions to the front. The largest and most infamous of these was the Battle of Fromelles, 19 July – 20 July, opposite Aubers Ridge in Artois. For the cost of 7,080 Australian and British casualties, no ground was captured and no halt was made to the transfer of German divisions from Artois to the Somme. Combatants ‎Australia United Kingdom German Empire Commanders Richard Haking Gustav Scanzoni von Lichtenfels Strength 30,000+ 10,000-15,000 Casualties 5,533 Australian dead, wounded, or captured 1,500 British dead or wounded. ... is the 200th day of the year (201st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Artois is a former province of northern France. ...

Battle of Bazentin Ridge

Main article: Battle of Bazentin Ridge

On 14 July (Bastille Day), the Fourth Army was finally ready to resume the offensive in the southern sector. The attack, known as the Battle of Bazentin Ridge, was aimed at capturing the German second defensive position which ran along the crest of the ridge from Pozières, on the Albert–Bapaume road, south-east towards the villages of Guillemont and Ginchy. The objectives were the villages of Bazentin le Petit, Bazentin le Grand and Longueval, which was adjacent to Delville Wood. Beyond this line, on the reverse slope of the ridge, lay High Wood. Combatants United Kingdom South Africa German Empire Commanders Henry Rawlinson Fritz von Below Strength 5 divisions 2 divisions Casualties 9,000 dead, wounded, or missing 1,400 captured The Battle of Bazentin Ridge, launched by the British Fourth Army at dawn on 14 July 1916, marked the start of the... is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the French holiday. ... Combatants United Kingdom South Africa German Empire Commanders Henry Rawlinson Fritz von Below Strength 5 divisions 2 divisions Casualties 9,000 dead, wounded, or missing 1,400 captured The Battle of Bazentin Ridge, launched by the British Fourth Army at dawn on 14 July 1916, marked the start of the... Pozières is a village in Somme, France. ... Guillemont is a small village roughly 8 miles east of Albert in the Somme district of France. ... Longueval is a French commune in the Somme departement and in the Picardie region. ... Remains of a German trench in Delville Wood, September 1916. ... High Wood is a small forest near Bazentin le Petit in the Somme département of northern France which was the scene of intense fighting for two months from 14 July to 15 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. ...

The British 21st Division attack on Bazentin le Petit, 14 July 1916. The area captured by 9.00 a.m. is shown by the dashed red line.

There is considerable contrast between the preparation and execution of this attack and that of 1 July. The attack on Bazentin Ridge was made by four divisions on a front of 6,000 yards (5.5 km) with the troops going over before dawn at 3:25 a.m. after a surprise five-minute artillery bombardment. The artillery laid down a creeping barrage, and the attacking waves pushed up close behind it in no man's land, leaving them only a short distance to cross when the barrage lifted from the German front trench. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x632, 113 KB)Map of Bazentin le Petit sector on the morning of 14 July 1916, Battle of Bazentin Ridge, showing the German second defensive position. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x632, 113 KB)Map of Bazentin le Petit sector on the morning of 14 July 1916, Battle of Bazentin Ridge, showing the German second defensive position. ... The British 21st Division was a New Army division raised in September 1914. ... is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

By mid-morning the first phase of the attack was a success with nearly all objectives taken, and as on 1 July, a gap was made in the German defences. However, again as on 1 July, the British were unable to successfully exploit it. Their attempt to do so created the most famous cavalry action of the Battle of the Somme, when the 7th Dragoon Guards and the 2nd Deccan Horse attempted to capture High Wood. It is likely the infantry could have captured the wood in the morning, but by the time the cavalry were in position to attack, the Germans had begun to recover. Though the cavalry held on in the wood through the night of 14 July, they had to withdraw the following day. is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Not to be confused with Golgotha, which was called Calvary. ... The 7th (The Princess Royals) Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1688. ...

The British had a foothold in High Wood and would continue to fight over it as well as Delville Wood, neighbouring Longueval, for many days. Unfortunately for them, the successful opening attack of 14 July did not mean they had learnt how to conduct trench battles. On the night of 22 July, Rawlinson launched an attack using six divisions along the length of the Fourth Army front that failed completely. The Germans were learning; they had begun to move away from trench-based defences and towards a flexible defence in depth system of strongpoints that was difficult for the supporting artillery to suppress. It has been suggested that Deep defence be merged into this article or section. ...

Pozières and Mouquet Farm

Main articles: Battle of Pozières – Battle of Mouquet Farm

No significant progress was made in the northern sector in the first few weeks of July. Ovillers, just north of the Albert-Bapaume road, was not captured until 16 July. Its capture, and the foothold the British had obtained in the German second position on 14 July, meant that the chance now existed for the German northern defences to be taken in the flank. The key to this was Pozières. The Battle of Pozières was a two week struggle for the French village of Pozières, and the ridge on which it stands, during the middle stages of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ... Mouquet farm, Pozières by Fred Leist, 1917. ... Pozières is a village in Somme, France. ...

The village of Pozières lay on the Albert-Bapaume road at the crest of the ridge. Just behind (east) the village ran the trenches of the German second position. The Fourth Army made three attempts to seize the village between 14 and 17 July before Haig relieved Rawlinson's army of responsibility for its northern flank. The capture of Pozières became a task for Gough's Reserve Army, and the tool he would use was the two Australian and one New Zealand divisions of I Anzac Corps. The British Reserve Army was a field army of the British Expeditionary Force during the First World War. ... The I Anzac Corps was an Australian and New Zealand World War I army corps formed in Egypt in February 1916 as part of the reorganization of the Australian Imperial Force following the evacuation of Gallipoli in November 1915. ...

The ruins of Pozières looking north, 28 August

Gough wanted the Australian 1st Division to attack immediately, but the division's British commander, Major General Harold Walker, refused to send his men in without adequate preparation. The attack was scheduled for the night of 23 July to coincide with the Fourth Army attack of 22–23 July. A photo of the French village of Pozières taken 28 August 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. ... A photo of the French village of Pozières taken 28 August 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. ... The Australian 1st Division was formed in August 1914, at the outbreak of the First World War, as part of the Australian Imperial Force. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... Lieutenant-General Sir Harold Bridgwood Walker (KCB, KCMG, DSO) (26 April 1862–5 November 1934) was an English general who led Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ...

Going in shortly after midnight, the attack on Pozières was a success, largely thanks to Walker's insistence on careful preparation and an overwhelming supporting bombardment; however, an attempt to capture the neighbouring German second position failed, though two Australians were awarded the Victoria Cross in the attempt. The Germans, recognising the critical importance of the village to their defensive network, made three unsuccessful counter-attacks before beginning a prolonged and methodical bombardment of the village. The final German effort to reclaim Pozières came before dawn on 7 August following a particularly heavy bombardment. The Germans overran the forward Anzac defences, and a wild mêlée developed from which the Anzacs emerged victorious. For other uses, see Victoria Cross (disambiguation). ...

Gough planned to drive north along the ridge towards Mouquet Farm, allowing him to threaten the German bastion of Thiepval from the rear. However, the further the Australians and New Zealanders advanced, the deeper was the salient they created such that the German artillery could concentrate on them from three directions. Categories: Stub | Battles of the Somme 1916 ... This article is about the Thiepval village and memorial, for other uses see Thiepval (disambiguation) Thiepval is a village and commune in the Somme département, Picardy région of Northern France. ... In military terms, a salient is a battlefield feature that projects into enemy territory. ...

The plateau north and east of Pozières, 28 August

On 8 August the Anzacs began pushing north along the ridge with the British II Corps advancing from Ovillers on their left. By 10 August a line had been established just south of the farm, which the Germans had turned into a fortress with deep dugouts and tunnels connecting to distant redoubts. The Anzacs made numerous attempts to capture the farm between 12 August and 3 September, inching closer with each attempt; however, the German garrison held out. The Anzacs were relieved by the Canadian Corps, who would briefly capture Mouquet Farm on 16 September, the day after the next major British offensive. The farm was finally overrun on 26 September, and the garrison surrendered the following day. View from Centre Way trench on the plateau north of Pozières looking east towards the first trench of the German second position, known as Old German 1 or OG1, which runs along the horizon. ... View from Centre Way trench on the plateau north of Pozières looking east towards the first trench of the German second position, known as Old German 1 or OG1, which runs along the horizon. ... The British II Corps was formed in both World War I and World War II. During WWII its first assignment was to the British Expeditionary Force where it was commanded by Alan Brooke (from whose name it took its insignia of a red leaping salmon upon three wavy blue bands... The Canadian Corps was a World War I Canadas soldiers in September of 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. ...

By the time New Zealand's artillery gunners were withdrawn from the line in October 1916, they had fired more than 500,000 shells at the Germans.

In the fighting at Pozières and Mouquet Farm, the Australian divisions suffered over 23,000 casualties. If the losses from Fromelles on 19 July are included, Australia had sustained more casualties in six weeks in France than they had in the eight months of the Battle of Gallipoli. Combatants ‎Australia United Kingdom German Empire Commanders Richard Haking Gustav Scanzoni von Lichtenfels Strength 30,000+ 10,000-15,000 Casualties 5,533 Australian dead, wounded, or captured 1,500 British dead or wounded. ... Combatants British Empire Australia British India Newfoundland New Zealand United Kingdom Egyptian labourers[1] France Senegal  Ottoman Empire Commanders Sir Ian Hamilton Lord Kitchener John de Robeck Otto von Sanders Mustafa Kemal Strength 5 divisions (initial) 16 divisions (final) 6 divisions (initial) 15 divisions (final) Casualties 252,000[2] 195...

The New Zealanders suffered 8000 casualties in six weeks - nearly one per cent of their nation's population. These losses were about the same as New Zealand suffered at Gallipoli.

Attrition: August and September

Main articles: Battle of Guillemont – Battle of Ginchy

Men from The Wiltshire Regiment attacking near Thiepval, 7 August

By the start of August, Haig had accepted that the prospect of achieving a breakthrough was now unlikely; the Germans had "recovered to a great extent from the disorganisation" of July. For the next six weeks, the British would engage in a series of small-scale actions in preparation for the next major push. On 29 August the German Chief of the General Staff, Erich Falkenhayn, was replaced by General Paul von Hindenburg, with General Erich Ludendorff as his deputy, but in effect the operational commander. The immediate effect of this change was the introduction of a new defensive doctrine. On 23 September the Germans began constructing the Siegfried Stellung, called the Hindenburg Line by the British. The Battle of Guillemont was a British assault on the German-held village of Guillemont during the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of Ginchy took place on 9 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme when the British 16th (Irish) Division captured the German-held village of Ginchy. ... Download high resolution version (1380x1079, 212 KB)British infantry from The Wiltshire Regiment attacking near Thiepval, 7 August 1916, during the Battle of the Somme. ... Download high resolution version (1380x1079, 212 KB)British infantry from The Wiltshire Regiment attacking near Thiepval, 7 August 1916, during the Battle of the Somme. ... The Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburghs) was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 62nd (Wiltshire) Regiment of Foot and the 99th Duke of Edinburghs (Lanarkshire) Regiment of Foot. ... This article is about the Thiepval village and memorial, for other uses see Thiepval (disambiguation) Thiepval is a village and commune in the Somme département, Picardy région of Northern France. ... Erich von Falkenhayn Chief of the General Staff Erich von Falkenhayn (11 November 1861 - 8 April 1922) was a German soldier and Chief of the General Staff during World War I. Falkenhayn was a career soldier. ... Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg, known universally as Paul von Hindenburg (2 October 1847 – 2 August 1934) was a German field marshal and statesman. ... Ludendorff in 1918 Erich Friedrich Wilhelm Ludendorff (sometimes given incorrectly as von Ludendorff) (April 9, 1865–December 20, 1937, Tutzing, Bavaria, Germany) was a German Army officer, Generalquartiermeister during World War I, victor of Liege, and, with Paul von Hindenburg, one of the victors of the battle of Tannenberg. ... The Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defences in Northern France constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916– 17 during World War I; the Germans called it the Siegfried Line. ...

On the Fourth Army's front, the struggle for High Wood, Delville Wood and the Switch Line dragged on. The boundary between the British and French armies lay south-east of Delville Wood, beyond the villages of Guillemont and Ginchy. Here the British line had not progressed significantly since the first day of the battle, and the two armies were in echelon, making progress impossible until the villages were captured. The first British effort to seize Guillemont on 8 August was a debacle. On 18 August a larger effort began, involving three British corps as well as the French, but it took until 3 September before Guillemont was in British hands. Attention now turned to Ginchy, which was captured by the 16th (Irish) Division on 9 September. The French had also made progress, and once Ginchy fell, the two armies were linked near Combles. High Wood is a small forest near Bazentin le Petit in the Somme département of northern France which was the scene of intense fighting for two months from 14 July to 15 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. ... Remains of a German trench in Delville Wood, September 1916. ... The Battle of Guillemont was a British assault on the German-held village of Guillemont during the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of Ginchy took place on 9 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme when the British 16th (Irish) Division captured the German-held village of Ginchy. ... Four OS2U Kingfisher airplanes flying in right echelon formation. ... The 16th (Irish) Division was a division of the New Army, raised in Ireland from the Irish National Volunteers in September 1914 as part of the K2 Army Group. ...

A demolished German trench and dugout near Guillemont

The British now had an almost straight front line from near Mouquet Farm in the north-west to Combles in the south-east, providing a suitable jumping-off position for another large-scale attack. In 1916 a straight front was considered necessary to enable the supporting artillery to lay down an effective creeping barrage behind which the infantry could advance. German dead in a trench and dugout near Guillemont during the Battle of the Somme. ... German dead in a trench and dugout near Guillemont during the Battle of the Somme. ... Guillemont is a small village roughly 8 miles east of Albert in the Somme district of France. ...

This intermediate phase of the Battle of the Somme had been costly for the Fourth Army, despite there being no major offensive. Between 15 July and 14 September (the eve of the next battle), the Fourth Army made around 90 attacks of battalion strength or more with only four being general attacks across the length of the army's five miles (8 km) of front. The result was 82,000 casualties and an advance of approximately 1,000 yards (915 m) — a performance even worse than on 1 July. Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO military graphic symbols This article is about the military unit. ... A yard (abbreviation: yd) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ...

Debut of the tank

Main articles: Battle of Flers-Courcelette – Battle of Morval

C-15, a British Mark I "male" tank, 25 September 1916

The last great Allied effort to achieve a breakthrough came on 15 September in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette with the initial advance made by 11 British divisions (nine from Fourth Army, two Canadian divisions on the Reserve Army sector) and a later attack by four French corps. The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, which began on 15 September 1916 and lasted for one week, was the third and last of the large-scale offensives mounted by the British Army during the Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of Morval, which began on 25 September 1916, was an attack by the British Fourth Army on the German-held villages of Morval, Gueudecourt and Lesboeufs during the Battle of the Somme. ... An early model British Mark I male tank, named C-15, near Thiepval, 25 September 1916. ... An early model British Mark I male tank, named C-15, near Thiepval, 25 September 1916. ... is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, which began on 15 September 1916 and lasted for one week, was the third and last of the large-scale offensives mounted by the British Army during the Battle of the Somme. ... Prime Minister of Canada Robert Borden at the outbreak at the Great War. ...

The battle is chiefly remembered today as the debut of the tank. The British had high hopes that this secret weapon would break the deadlock of the trenches. Early tanks were not weapons of mobile warfare — with a top speed of 2 mph (3.2 km/h), they were easily outpaced by the infantry — but were designed for trench warfare. They were untroubled by barbed wire obstacles and impervious to rifle and machine gun fire, though highly vulnerable to artillery. Additionally, the tanks were notoriously unreliable; of the 49 tanks available on 15 September, only 32 made it to the start line, and of these, only 21 made it into action. Mechanical breakdowns were common, and many others became bogged or ditched in the shell holes and trenches of the churned battlefield. Miles per hour is a unit of speed, expressing the number of international miles covered per hour. ... Kilometres per hour (American spelling: kilometers per hour) is a unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector). ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I Infantry or footmen are very highly disciplined and trained soldiers who fight primarily with small arms(rifles), but are trained to use everything from their bare hands to missle systems in order to neutralize... {{subst:empty template|}} {{Copyviocore |url= |month = {{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} |day = {{subst:CURRENTDAY}} |year = {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}} |time = {{subst:CURRENTTIME}} |timestamp = {{subst:CURRENTTIMESTAMP}}}} Trench warfare is a form of warfare where both combatants have fortified positions and fighting lines are static. ... Typical modern agricultural barbed wire. ... For other uses, see Rifle (disambiguation). ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ...

New Zealand infantry in the Switch Line

The British made gains across the length of their front, the greatest being in the centre at Flers with an advance of 3,500 yards (3.2 km), a feat achieved by the newest British division in France, the 41st Division, in their first action. They were supported by several tanks, including D-17 (known as Dinnaken) which smashed through the barbed wire protecting the village, crossed the main defensive trench and then drove up the main street, using its guns to destroy defenders in the houses. This gave rise to the optimistic press report: "A tank is walking up the High Street of Flers with the British Army cheering behind." Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (970x636, 526 KB) Infantry from the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment, New Zealand Division in the Switch Line near Flers, taken some time in September 1916, after the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (970x636, 526 KB) Infantry from the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment, New Zealand Division in the Switch Line near Flers, taken some time in September 1916, after the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. ... Flers is the name or part of the name of several communes in France: Flers, a former commune of the Nord département, now part of Villeneuve dAscq Flers, in the Orne département Flers, in the Pas-de-Calais département Flers, in the Somme département Flers... The British 41st Division was a New Army division formed in September 1915 as part of the K5 Army. ...

It was also the first major Western Front battle for the New Zealand Division, at the time part of the British XV Corps, which captured part of the Switch Line west of Flers. On the left flank, the Canadian 2nd Division captured the village of Courcelette after heavy fighting, with some assistance from two tanks. And finally after two months of fighting, the British captured all of High Wood, though not without another costly struggle. The plan was to use tanks in support of infantry from the 47th (1/2nd London) Division, but the wood was an impassable landscape of shattered stumps and shell holes, and only one tank managed to penetrate any distance. The German defenders were forced to abandon High Wood once British progress on the flanks threatened to encircle them. The New Zealand Division was a World War I division formed in Egypt in January 1916 following the evacuation of Gallipoli. ... The Canadian Corps - 2nd Canadian Division – World War I The formation of the 2nd Canadian Division began in May of 1915 in France in September of 1915. ... High Wood is a small forest near Bazentin le Petit in the Somme département of northern France which was the scene of intense fighting for two months from 14 July to 15 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. ... The British 47th (1/2nd London) Division was a first_line Territorial Force division. ...

British infantry advancing near Ginchy during the Battle of Morval, 25 September

The British had managed to advance during Flers-Courcelette, capturing 4,500 yards (4.1 km) of the German third position, but fell short of all their objectives, and once again the breakthrough eluded them. The tank had shown promise, but its lack of reliability limited its impact, and the tactics of tank warfare were obviously in their infancy. British infantry advancing in support during the Battle of Morval, 25 September 1916 -- part of the Battle of the Somme. ... British infantry advancing in support during the Battle of Morval, 25 September 1916 -- part of the Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of Morval, which began on 25 September 1916, was an attack by the British Fourth Army on the German-held villages of Morval, Gueudecourt and Lesboeufs during the Battle of the Somme. ... Military tactics is the collective name for methods of engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. ...

The least successful sector on 15 September had been east of Ginchy, where the Quadrilateral redoubt had held up the advance towards Morval — the Quadrilateral was not captured until 18 September. Another attack was planned for 25 September with the objectives of the villages of Thiepval; Gueudecourt, Lesbœufs and Morval. Like the Battle of Bazentin Ridge on 14 July, the limited objectives, concentrated artillery and weak German defences resulted in a successful attack and, although the number of tanks deployed was small, the tanks provided useful assistance in the destruction of machine gun positions. This article is about the geometric shape. ... Morval is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais département of northern France. ... The town of Gueudecourt had comprised one of the most distant objectives for the British drive that opened on September 15, 1916, a drive that has come to be known as the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. ... LesbÅ“ufs is a commune of the Somme département in northern France. ... Combatants United Kingdom South Africa German Empire Commanders Henry Rawlinson Fritz von Below Strength 5 divisions 2 divisions Casualties 9,000 dead, wounded, or missing 1,400 captured The Battle of Bazentin Ridge, launched by the British Fourth Army at dawn on 14 July 1916, marked the start of the...

Final phase

Main articles: Battle of Thiepval Ridge – Battle of Le Transloy – Battle of the Ancre Heights – Battle of the Ancre

Stretcher bearers recovering wounded during the Battle of Thiepval Ridge, September 1916

On 26 September Gough's Reserve Army launched its first major offensive since the opening day of the battle in an attempt to capture the German fortress of Thiepval. The 18th (Eastern) Division, which had excelled on 1 July, once more demonstrated by capturing most of Thiepval on the first day that careful training, preparation and leadership could overcome the obstacles of trench warfare. Mouquet Farm finally fell to the 11th (Northern) Division, and the Canadians advanced 1,000 yards (915 m) from Courcelette. The Battle of Thiepval Ridge was the first large offensive mounted by the British Reserve Army of Lieutenant General Hubert Gough during the Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of Le Transloy was the final offensive mounted by the British Fourth Army during the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of the Ancre Heights was a prolonged battle of attrition in October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of the Ancre was the final act of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ... British stretcher bearers recovering a wounded soldier from a captured German trench during the Battle of Thiepval Ridge, late September 1916, part of the Battle of the Somme. ... British stretcher bearers recovering a wounded soldier from a captured German trench during the Battle of Thiepval Ridge, late September 1916, part of the Battle of the Somme. ... The Battle of Thiepval Ridge was the first large offensive mounted by the British Reserve Army of Lieutenant General Hubert Gough during the Battle of the Somme. ... This article is about the Thiepval village and memorial, for other uses see Thiepval (disambiguation) Thiepval is a village and commune in the Somme département, Picardy région of Northern France. ... The British 18th (Eastern) Division was a New Army division formed in September 1914 as part of the K2 Army Group. ... Categories: Stub | Battles of the Somme 1916 ... The British 11th (Northern) Division, was one of the Kitcheners Army divisions raised from volunteers by Lord Kitchener, it fought at Gallipoli and the Western Front during the First World War. ...

There followed a period from 1 October to 11 November, known as the Battle of the Ancre Heights, of grinding attritional fighting for little gain. At the end of October, Gough's army was renamed the British Fifth Army. The Battle of the Ancre Heights was a prolonged battle of attrition in October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. ... The British Fifth Army was a field army of the British Expeditionary Force during the First World War. ...

Meanwhile on the Fourth Army's front, Haig was still under the illusion that a breakthrough was imminent. On 29 September he had outlined plans for Allenby's Third Army to rejoin the battle in the north around Gommecourt and for the Fourth Army to attack towards Cambrai. The first step required the capture of the German Transloy Line, effectively the German fourth defensive position that ran from the village of Le Transloy in the east to Le Sars on the Albert-Bapaume road. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The British Third Army was a British Army unit. ... Cambrai (Dutch: Kamerijk) is a French city and commune, in the Nord département, of which it is a sous_préfecture. ... , Coordinates , Location Longitude 2. ... Le Sars is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais département of northern France. ...

Opening on 1 October, the Battle of Le Transloy became bogged down as the weather broke, and heavy rain turned the churned battlefield into a quagmire. Le Sars was captured on 7 October, but elsewhere there was little progress and a continual flow of casualties. The final throe came on 5 November with a failed attack on the Butte de Warlencourt. On the Fourth Army's front, major operations in the Battle of the Somme had now ceased. The Battle of Le Transloy was the final offensive mounted by the British Fourth Army during the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ... The Butte de Warlencourt is an ancient burial mound alongside the Albert-Bapaume road, north-east of the village of Le Sars in the Somme département of northern France. ...

Mametz, Western Front, a winter scene by Frank Crozier

The final act of the Battle of the Somme was played out between 13 and 18 November along the Ancre River, north of Thiepval. Haig's purpose for the attack was more political than military — with winter setting in, there was no longer any prospect of a breakthrough. Instead, with another conference at Chantilly starting on 15 November, he hoped to be able to report a success to his French counterparts. Download high resolution version (1200x738, 125 KB)Mametz, Western Front: men, animals and supplies in snow covered valley, 1919 oil-on-canvas by Frank Crozier, Australian official war artist. ... Download high resolution version (1200x738, 125 KB)Mametz, Western Front: men, animals and supplies in snow covered valley, 1919 oil-on-canvas by Frank Crozier, Australian official war artist. ... For other uses, see Winter (disambiguation). ... Frank Crozier was an Official War Artist who is represented in the Australian War Memorials art collection along with other Official War Artists such as H. Septimus Power, Arthur Streeton, George Lambert and Ivor Hele. ... (Redirected from 13 November) November 13 is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 48 days remaining. ... is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Politics (disambiguation). ...

The opening moves were almost a replay of 1 July, even down to another mine being detonated beneath Hawthorn Ridge Redoubt west of Beaumont Hamel. The 31st Division had attacked Serre on 1 July and four and a half months later, was called on to do it again; the results were similar. South of Serre, the British, with the benefit of their hard-earned experience, succeeded in capturing most of their objectives. The 51st (Highland) Division took Beaumont Hamel, while on their right the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division captured Beaucourt-sur-l'Ancre, Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Freyberg winning the Victoria Cross in the process. South of the Ancre, II Corps had also made progress. Mining, or to undermine or undermining, was a siege method used since antiquity against a walled city, fortress or castle. ... The Hawthorn Ridge mine is detonated at 7. ... The Newfoundland Memorial at Beaumont Hamel Beaumont-Hamel is a commune of the Somme département, in northern France. ... The British 31st Division was a New Army division formed in April 1915 as part of the K4 Army Group and taken over by the War Office on 10 August 1915. ... The British 51st (Highland) Division was a Territorial Force division that fought on the Western Front in France during the First World War. ... The British 63rd (Royal Naval) Division was a First World War division of the New Army. ... In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... The Rt Hon. ... For other uses, see Victoria Cross (disambiguation). ... The British II Corps was formed in both World War I and World War II. During WWII its first assignment was to the British Expeditionary Force where it was commanded by Alan Brooke (from whose name it took its insignia of a red leaping salmon upon three wavy blue bands...

Haig was satisfied with the result, but Gough argued for a final effort, which was made on 18 November with an attack on the Munich and Frankfurt Trenches and a push towards Grandcourt. Ninety men of the 16th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry (the "Glasgow Boys Brigade" Pals battalion) were cut off in Frankfurt Trench, where they held out until 21 November when the 45 survivors — thirty of them wounded — surrendered. So ended the Battle of the Ancre, and with it the Battle of the Somme. The Highland Light Infantry later the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment) was a regiment of the British Army. ... The Pals battalions of World War I were units of the British Army that consisted of men who had enlisted together at special local recruiting drives, with the promise that they would be able to serve alongside their friends, neighbours and work colleagues (Pals) rather than having to be mixed... The Battle of the Ancre was the final act of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. ...

Conclusion

This section does not cite any references or sources. (February 2007) Please improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Progress of the Battle of the Somme between the 1st of July and the 18th of November

It is difficult to declare the Battle of the Somme a victory for either side. The British and French did succeed in capturing ground, but little more than five miles (8 km) at the deepest point of penetration — well short of their original objectives. The British themselves had gained approximately only two miles and lost about 420,000 soldiers in the process, meaning that a centimetre cost about two men. A group of British and Commonwealth historians have since the 1960s argued against the long-held consensus that the battle was a disaster; arguing that the Battle of the Somme delivered more benefits for the British than it did for the Germans. As British historian Gary Sheffield said, "The battle of the Somme was not a victory in itself, but without it the Entente would not have emerged victorious in 1918." Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x990, 62 KB)Map of the Somme battlefield, 1916, showing the frontline before the three major offensives of 1 & 14 July and 15 September as well as the final frontline at the end of the battle of 18 November. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x990, 62 KB)Map of the Somme battlefield, 1916, showing the frontline before the three major offensives of 1 & 14 July and 15 September as well as the final frontline at the end of the battle of 18 November. ... Dr Gary Sheffield is a British academic and military historian. ... European military alliances in 1914. ...

Strategic effects

Prior to the battle, Germany had regarded Britain as a naval power and discounted her as a military force to be reckoned with, believing Germany's major enemies were France and Russia. According to some historians, starting with the Somme, Britain began to gain influence in the coalition. In recognition of the growing threat she posed, on 31 January 1917, Germany adopted the policy of unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve the island nation of supplies. Other historians would argue Britain's growing influence in the war had nothing to do with the battle and everything to do with her great financial and industrial strength, which inevitably increased in importance in a stalemate war. Naval redirects here. ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... Unrestricted submarine warfare is a kind of naval warfare in which submarines sink merchant ships without warning. ...

At the start of 1916, the British Army had been a largely inexperienced mass of volunteers. The Somme was the first real test of this newly raised "citizen army" created following Lord Kitchener's call for recruits at the start of the war. It is brutal but accurate to observe many British soldiers killed on the Somme lacked experience, and therefore, their loss was of little military significance. However, they had been the first to volunteer and so were often the fittest, most enthusiastic and best educated citizen soldiers. For Germany, which had entered the war with a trained force of regulars and reservists, each casualty was sapping the experience and effectiveness of the German army. The German Army Group Commander Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria stated: "What remained of the old first-class peace-trained German infantry had been expended on the battlefield." Despite being promoted to Field-Marshal, Rupprecht infuriated the new German High Command (Hindenburg and Ludendorff) by advising them to make peace. A war of attrition was better for Britain with her population of some fifty million than Germany whose population of some seventy million also had to sustain operations against the French and Russians. A World War I recruitment poster featuring Kitchener. ... Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria or Crown Prince Rupert of Bavaria (German: Kronprinz Rupprecht von Bayern) (18 May 1869 – 2 August 1955) was the last Bavarian Crown Prince. ...

Some historians hold the Battle of the Somme damaged the German Army beyond repair, after which it was never able to adequately replace casualties with the same calibre of soldier that doggedly held its ground during most of the battle. The implication of this argument is that by the end of the battle, the British and German armies were closer to being equally matched. Anecdotal evidence for this includes the comments from German sources cited in this article, including that of Crown Prince Rupprecht above. However, in 1917, the Germans were still able to defend effectively against British and French attacks (Arras, the Nivelle Offensive and Passchendaele). Passchendaele village, before and after the Battle of Passchendaele The Battle of Passchendaele, otherwise known as the Third Battle of Ypres, was one of the major battles of World War I, fought by British, ANZAC, and Canadian soldiers against the German army near Ypres ( Ieper in Flemish) in West Flanders...

On 24 February 1917, the German army made a strategic scorched earth withdrawal from the Somme battlefield to the prepared fortifications of the Hindenburg Line, thereby shortening the front line they had to occupy. The purpose of military commanders is not to test their army to destruction, and it has been suggested German commanders did not believe the army could endure continual battles of attrition like the Somme. Loss of German territory was repaid many times over in the strengthening of defensive lines, an option which was not open to the Allies because of the political impossibility of surrendering French or Belgian territory (despite Napoleon's commonsense dictum about the advantages of sacrificing ground). The strategic effects of the Battle of the Somme cannot obscure the fact it was one of the costliest battles of the First World War. A German officer, Friedrich Steinbrecher, wrote: is the 55th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... For the computer game, see Scorched Earth (computer game). ... The Hindenburg Line was a vast system of defences in Northern France constructed by the Germans during the winter of 1916– 17 during World War I; the Germans called it the Siegfried Line. ... A battle of attrition is a military engagement in which neither side has any tactical advantage, so that the only result of the fighting is the loss of men and materiel on both sides. ...

Casualties

The original Allied estimate of casualties on the Somme, made at the Chantilly conference on 15 November, was 485,000 British and French casualties versus 630,000 German. These figures were used to support the argument that the Somme was a successful battle of attrition for the Allies. However, there was considerable scepticism at the time of the accuracy of the counts. After the war a final tally showed that 419,654 British and 204,253 French were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner; of the 623,907 total casualties, 146,431 were either killed or missing.

Christian, Muslim and Jewish graves side-by-side on the Somme. Both British and French armies contained many troops from the colonies.

The British official historian Sir James Edmonds maintained that German losses were 680,000, but this figure has been discredited. A separate statistical report by the British War Office concluded that German casualties on the British sector could be as low as 180,000 during the battle. Today, commonly accepted figures for all German losses on the Somme are between 465,000 and 600,000. In compiling his biography of General Rawlinson, Major-General Sir Frederick Maurice was supplied by the Reichsarchiv with a figure of 164,055 for the German killed or missing. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 179 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Christian, Muslim and Jewish graves on the Somme. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 179 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Christian, Muslim and Jewish graves on the Somme. ... Brigadier General James Edward Edmonds (1861–1956) was a British First World War officer of the Royal Engineers who in the role of British official historian was responsible for the post-war compilation of the 28-volume History of the Great War. ... Old War Office Building, seen from Whitehall, London - the former location of the War Office The War Office was a former department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1963, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence. ... General Henry Rawlinson at Fourth Army HQ, Querrieu Chateau, July 1916. ...

The average casualties per division (consisting of circa 10,000 soldiers) on the British sector up until 19 November was 8,026 — 6,329 for the four Canadian divisions, 7,408 for the New Zealand Division, 8,133 for the 43 British divisions and 8,960 for the three Australian divisions. The British daily loss rate during the Battle of the Somme was 2,943 men, which exceeded the loss rate during the Third Battle of Ypres but was not as severe as the two months of the Battle of Arras (1917) (4,076 per day) or the final Hundred Days offensive in 1918 (3,685 per day). Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to twenty thousand soldiers. ... is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The New Zealand Division was a World War I division formed in Egypt in January 1916 following the evacuation of Gallipoli. ... Passchendaele village, before and after the Battle of Passchendaele The Battle of Passchendaele, otherwise known as the Third Battle of Ypres, was one of the major battles of World War I, fought by British, ANZAC, and Canadian soldiers against the German army near Ypres (Ieper in Flemish) in West Flanders... The Battle of Arras took place from 9 April to 16 May 1917. ... This article or section should be merged with Hundred Days Battle The Hundred Days offensive, as it was subsequently called, was a World War I offensive by Australian, British and Canadian forces that signalled the end of the war, but resulted in massive casualties for the British Expeditionary Force. ...

The Royal Flying Corps lost 782 aircraft and 576 pilots during the battle. The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of World War I. // Formed by Royal Warrant on 13 May 1912, the RFC superseded the Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers. ...

Trivia

J. R. R. Tolkien was a British combatant at this battle. He contracted trench fever and was evacuated back to England. Tolkien redirects here. ... Trench Fever is a moderately serious disease, transmitted by body lice. ...

The highest number of casualties attributed to any single weapon is accredited to the use of the machine gun.

Notes

1. ^ 730,000 British Empire and 270,000 French
2. ^ German casualities
3. ^ Edmonds, James Edward. History of the Great War Based on Official documents (Military Operations: France and Belgium, 1916). MacMillian and Company, Ltd., 1932. p.xiii
4. ^ Doughty, Robert A. Pyrrhic Victory: French Strategy and Operation in the Great War. Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University, 2005. p.291
5. ^ Regan, Geoffrey. The Guinness Book of More Military Blunders (London: Guinness Publishing, 1993), p.154.
6. ^ Regan, ibid., p.155.
7. ^ Regan, ibid., p.155.
8. ^ Regan, ibid., p.155-6.
9. ^ Johnson, W.E. "Johnny". History of Air Fighting.
10. ^ Regan, ibid., p.154.
11. ^ ibid., p.155.
12. ^ Gordon Corrigan (Mud, Blood and Poppycock, p.274) has defended these orders as military necessity, thus:

    Critics of the Somme make much of what they see as insistence on parade ground precision, with men being ordered to walk and keep in line. This had nothing to do with ceremonial parades, but was a perfectly sensible rule to ensure that control was not lost, that men were not shot by their own side, and that they all arrived on the objective together and in a fit state to engage the enemy. Scorn is also poured on the need for the attacking infantry to carry packs weighing sixty pounds. This is one of the enduring myths of the First World War, and derives from an imperfect reading of Field Service Regulations. In fact, it was everything that the man carried and wore that weighed sixty pounds: the uniform he stood up in, the boots on his feet, his weapon and its ammunition. In the attack large packs were left behind, and the small pack contained only the essentials for the operation. That said, each man still had to carry his entrenching tool, extra rations, two gas helmets, wire cutters, 220 rounds of ammunition, two grenades and two sandbags, while ten picks and fifty shovels were taken by each leading company." This was no light burden, and the follow up troops, coming immediately after those who carried out the actual assault, carried a great deal more. It is one thing to capture ground, quite another to hold it. Once into a German position the objective had to be consolidated and held against the inevitable counter attack. This meant that the existing defence works had to be turned round to face the other way, wire obstacles had to be constructed and communications had to be established. Ammunition, grenades and digging implements had to be there, to say nothing of signals cable, water and food, and there was no other way of making all this immediately available to the infantry than by having them carry it with them.

    Others are less generous. Regan (op. cit., p.156) blames Rawlinson's distrust of the New Army troops and his belief they would be inclined to just dive for cover if given the opportunity, despite warnings they would be massacred. The Germans professed astonishment, with reason.
13. ^ ibid.
14. ^ ibid., p.158.
15. ^ ibid., p.158.
16. ^ The date is still commemorated in Newfoundland, while the rest of Canada celebrates a national birthday.

References

• The First Day on the Somme, Martin Middlebrook, 1971, Penguin Books, ISBN 0-14-139071-9
• Somme 1916, Lyn MacDonald, 1983, Penguin Books, ISBN 0-14-017867-8
• The 1916 Battle of the Somme, Peter Liddle, 1992, Pen & Sword, ISBN 1-84022-240-9
• The Somme, Gary Sheffield, 2003, Cassell, ISBN 0-304-36649-8
• The Face of Battle: A Study of Agincourt, Waterloo and the Somme, John Keegan, 1976, Penguin Books, ISBN 0-14-004897-9
• The Somme, Robin Prior and Trevor Wilson, 2005, UNSW Press, ISBN 0-86840-977-4
• The Somme: Heroism and Horror in the First World War, Sir Martin Gilbert, 2006, Henry Holt and Company, ISBN 0-8050-8127-5
• "The Somme" in Oral Histories of the First World War: Veterans 1914-1918 at Library and Archives Canada

The First Day on the Somme (ISBN 0141390719) is a First World War military history book by Martin Middlebrook, published in 1971. ... Martin Middlebrook Martin Middlebrook (born Boston, Lincolnshire, 1932) is a British military historian and Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. ... It has been suggested that Penguin Modern Poets, Penguin Great Ideas be merged into this article or section. ... Somme (ISBN 0-7181-2254-2) is a First World War military history book by Lyn MacDonald, published in 1983 by Penguin Books. ... Biography Lyn MacDonald has established a popular reputation as an author and historian of the First World War. ... It has been suggested that Penguin Modern Poets, Penguin Great Ideas be merged into this article or section. ... Sir John Keegan OBE (born 1934) is a British military historian, lecturer and journalist. ... It has been suggested that Penguin Modern Poets, Penguin Great Ideas be merged into this article or section. ... Trevor Wilson (born March 16, 1968, in Los Angeles, California) is an American former professional basketball player in the NBA. He attended the University of California, Los Angeles where he played for the UCLA Bruins, and spent from 1990–1995 in the NBA with four different teams. ... Sir Martin John Gilbert, CBE (born October 25, 1936 in London) is a British historian and the author of over seventy books, including works on the Holocaust and Jewish history. ... Henry Holt (1840–1926) was a Baltimore, Maryland native book publisher and author. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Category:Battle of the Somme

• The British Army in the Great War: The Battles of the Somme, 1916
• New Zealand and the Battle of the Somme
• Peronne Great War Historial
• The Somme - Northern Ireland Remembers
• Padre E. C. Crosse and 'the Devonshire Epitaph': The Astonishing Story of One Man at the Battle of the Somme (with Antecedents to Today's 'Just War' Dialogue)
• The Friends of Lochnagar

World War I Portal