The Battle of the Somme, also known as the Somme Offensive, was a major battle of the First World War that took place between July 1 and November 18, 1916. It was fought on the Western Front, along a line running from the River Somme in France to the Belgian border.
The battle was a joint operation between the British and French armies, with the British commanding the majority of the forces. The objective of the battle was to break through the German lines and advance into enemy territory.
The battle was preceded by a week-long artillery bombardment of the German positions, which was intended to weaken their defenses and provide cover for the advancing troops. However, the bombardment was largely ineffective and the German defenses remained largely intact.
On July 1, 1916, the British and French troops launched their attack. The first day of the battle was a disaster for the Allies, as they suffered heavy casualties and made little progress. The Germans had constructed deep trenches and fortified positions, which proved to be difficult to overcome.
The battle continued for over four months, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. Despite numerous attempts to break through the German lines, the Allies were unable to make significant progress. In the end, the Battle of the Somme resulted in more than one million casualties, making it one of the deadliest battles in human history.
The main cause of the battle was the desire of the Allies to break the stalemate on the Western Front and achieve a decisive victory. Both sides had been locked in a bitter struggle for control of the region, with little progress being made in terms of territory gained or lost. The Somme Offensive was seen as a way to break this stalemate and gain the upper hand in the war.
The battle also marked the first time that tanks were used in warfare, although they were not particularly effective at the time. In addition, it was the first time that aircraft were used in a coordinated way to support ground troops, a tactic that would become increasingly important in future conflicts.
In the end, the Battle of the Somme was a costly and bloody failure for the Allies, as they were unable to achieve their objectives and suffered heavy losses. However, it was a turning point in the war and marked the beginning of a new phase of the conflict, with both sides adopting more aggressive tactics and technologies in an effort to gain the upper hand.