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The Battle of the Somme (French: Bataille de la Somme; German: Schlacht an der Somme), also known as the Somme offensive, was a major battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and the French Third Republic against the German Empire.
- 1 July 1916 – 18 November 1916 (140 days)
- Bulge driven into the Noyon salient
- Indecisive
- Bulge driven into the Noyon salient
Nov 12, 2009 · Learn about the World War I battle that lasted from July to November 1916 and resulted in more than 1 million casualties on both sides. Find out how the British, French and Germans fought, suffered and changed strategies in this war of attrition.
Apr 19, 2024 · The First Battle of the Somme took place July 1–November 13, 1916, during World War I. It was a costly and largely unsuccessful Allied offensive on the Western Front. The horrific bloodshed on the first day of the battle became a metaphor for futile and indiscriminate slaughter.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Learn about the Battle of the Somme (1916), a joint operation between British and French forces that resulted in over one million casualties. Explore photos, video and stories from the Imperial War Museum.
Learn about the 1916 Somme offensive, one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the First World War. Explore the situation, plans, prelude, first day and later attacks, and the impact on both sides.
Battle of the Somme, (July 1–Nov. 13, 1916) Allied offensive in World War I. British and French forces launched a frontal attack against an entrenched German army north of the Somme River in France. A weeklong artillery bombardment was followed by a British infantry assault on the still-impregnable German positions.
Learn about the planning, preparation, and outcome of the Battle of the Somme, a joint British and French offensive against the Germans in 1916. See photos of the artillery bombardment, the first day, the attritional fighting, and the debut of the tank.
