Battle of the Somme

Overview

Overview
July 1 Nov. 18,
1916
One of the costliest
battles of WWI
Approximately 1.2
million casualties
420,000 British
200,000 French
500,000 German
Dead German soldiers at Battle of the Somme
2

British
Gains

Perspective Map

Cause and effect

Attempt by the British to push through
the German lines
Fought along northwestern part of the
Western Front
After months of fighting, and several
assaults up and down the front, resulted
in small gains in land for England
Greatly weakened German war effort
overall
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Causes of high death toll

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

British gun crew wearing PH-type anti-gas helmets

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Todays Historical Question:

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

A British trench July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme

Central Historical Question

Who won the first day of the Battle
of the Somme?
Day One Casualties:
57,470 British
8, 000 German
7, 000 French