Battle of the Somme
Somme River, north-central Somme and south-eastern Pas-de-Calais Départements, France
What happened
British commanders Douglas Haig and Henry Rawlinson, with French General Ferdinand Foch, fought the German armies of Max von Gallwitz and Fritz von Below. With the French army fighting hard at Verdun, Britain took the lead in a great attack along the Somme River in northern France. The attack began on 1 July 1916, the worst day in British Army history. The fighting went on until 18 November, and tanks were used for the first time in September.
Why it matters
Result: Inconclusive. Leaders: Douglas Haig / Edmund Allenby against Erich von Falkenhayn / Paul von Hindenburg. Why it matters: The Allies advanced about 10 km, and the result is still debated. It became a symbol of the huge human cost of World War I.
What came next
In March 1917 the Germans pulled back to a stronger defensive line, the Hindenburg Line. The Thiepval Memorial, unveiled in 1932, lists soldiers missing from the Somme with no known grave.
Did you know?
Tanks were given that name to keep them secret: factory workers were told they were building mobile water tanks.
Timeline
- 1 July 1916The British and French attack on the Somme begins.
- September 1916Tanks are used for the first time.
- 18 November 1916The battle ends.
- March 1917The Germans withdraw to the Hindenburg Line.