Video: 'The Battle of the Somme (WW1 Documentary)'
(Saturday, July 1, 1916, 7:30 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during the Battle of the Somme, part of the Western Front of World War I) — British and French troops today opened the Battle of the Somme, a massive offensive against German forces in northern France that military observers believed would become one of the decisive campaigns of World War I.
Video: 'Battle of the Somme - WW1 Documentary'
The 57,470 casualties suffered by the British today, including a staggering 19,240 killed, were the worst in the history of the British Army. The French Sixth Army had 1,590 casualties, and the 2nd German Army had 10,000–12,000 losses.
More than three million men would fight in the Battle of the Somme, of whom more than one million were either wounded or killed, making it one of the deadliest battles in human history.
Video: 'Why The Somme Was One Of the Bloodiest Battles In Human History | Battle Of The Somme | War Stories'
Following a prolonged bombardment that had continued for several days, infantry of the British Expeditionary Force and the French Army advanced this morning over a wide front extending on both sides of the Somme. Official reports state that Allied forces have captured a number of enemy trenches and strongpoints, while severe fighting continues in several sectors.
The offensive forms part of the Allied strategy agreed upon earlier this year for simultaneous pressure against the Central Powers on all fronts. The Somme operation was originally planned as a combined Anglo-French effort, although the heavy German attack at Verdun, which began in February, compelled the French command to divert substantial forces to that front.
Video: 'Battle of the Somme 1916'
Military authorities have therefore assigned a larger role than originally intended to the British armies, including many of the volunteer formations raised since the outbreak of the war.
Dispatches from the battlefield indicate that the German defenses, protected by deep entrenchments, barbed wire, and fortified positions, offered stubborn resistance. The French forces operating south of the river are reported to have made notable progress during the day’s fighting, while British troops north of the Somme encountered determined opposition in several sectors.
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No complete account of casualties has yet been made available, though it is acknowledged that losses have been sustained by both sides in the fierce engagements. The extent of the Allied gains likewise remains uncertain pending further reports from headquarters.
The battle now under way is being watched with intense interest throughout the Allied nations. Military experts have long argued that only a major offensive on the Western Front could break the deadlock of trench warfare that has prevailed since the opening months of the conflict.
