Battle of the Somme (1916)

The Somme's first day is the British Army's costliest; tanks debut on the Western Front.

Specifications & Metrics

year

1916

Core Principles & Analysis

• The opening day, 1 July 1916, remains the British Army's bloodiest, with 57,470 casualties.
• Tanks were used in battle for the first time in September 1916.
• The offensive ground to a halt in November after limited territorial gains.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Battle of the Somme