The Somme 1916: Its Purpose, Cost and Debate

The Battle of the Somme was planned as a joint Anglo-French offensive, and it took on added urgency as a way to relieve pressure on Verdun. After a week-long bombardment that commanders hoped would destroy German wire and defenses, British troops attacked on 1 July 1916. Many shells had failed to cut the wire or reach deep German dugouts, and the British suffered 57,470 casualties, including about 19,240 dead, on the first day, the worst in the British army's history.

The battle continued until 18 November, with tanks used for the first time in September. The Allies advanced only about 10 kilometers, and total casualties on all sides exceeded one million. Historians disagree about its meaning: some see it as proof of incompetent leadership, while others argue it wore down the German army and was a costly stage in a 'learning curve' that produced the victories of 1918.