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Newspaper article
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Picture of a WW1 tank
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Battle Picture
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Battle picture
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Battle Picture
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Battle Picture
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Battle Picture
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Preparation for the battle!
The Allies began a 7 day bombardment of German defensive positions on the Somme River, in northern France, to prepare for the British-led offensive. Almost 1.5 million shells were used along the 15 mile long front to reduce the German trenches and blow apart barbed wire. British Commander Dough Haig believed it would allow a delay and a rapid breakthrough of the German front of the First day of the battle. -
The start of the battle
The British suffer their worst death-day in history with 18,900 soldiers are killed on the first day of the battle. 13 attacking groups come to Germans defenses, which are still there after the one week bombardment made to knock them out. -
Start of the batlle
The British only attacked in daylight and marched shoulder to shoulder, but the Germans knocked them down with their machine guns. The battle becomes a battle of attrition as the British and French troops make gains against Germany. However, they fail over and over to break the entire Front. -
The attacks
The Germans attack Verdun again, using poisonous gas,and advance toward Fort Souville. Four days later, the French counter-attack and halt the Germans. -
Night Attacks
The British launch a night attack against German positions along a 3.5 mile portion of the Somme front. After advancing nearly 1,000 yards, the advance is stopped when the Germans regroup their defenses. Two days later, the British penetrate the German line and advance to High wood, but are then pushed back. -
General Haig's Summary of the Battle
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Romania declares war
Romania declares war on the central powers and begins an invasion on Austria-Hungary through the Carpathian Mountains. -
First American Casualty
Harry Butters, a young U.S. citizen serving with the British forces was killed. This was the first American Casualty of World War 1. -
Debut of the Tanks
The British were ready to assault the German third line of defenses with a new weapon they called the tanks. Out of the 49 tanks deployed, 36 reached the starting point although these caused alarm among the German soldier. The advance on this day was cut down to 2,500 yards on a three miles front. -
Pressuring the Germans
If the allied forces would maintain pressure on the Germans, they would believe that the Germans would collapse. Sir Hubert Gough, a British General, lead his Reserve Army in the attack. -
Bad Weather Stopped the British
The weather began to get worse at this time. Exhausted British men fought for 3 weeks and didn’t capture german trenches. German planes bombed them, and they couldn’t fire back because the bad weather obstructed their air observation. The British had 57,000 casualties and didn’t gain much ground. -
German Forces on the Western Front
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The Last Battle
British carried out their final battle and stormed the Germans. They captured 7,000 German prisoners. The French gave up because, at this time, they were not only fighting the Germans, but the incoming winter weather as well. -
Battle Suspended Due to Weather
The fight was suspended due to the winter weather and was supposed to resume in February. The British had advanced only 7 miles in 141 days and didn’t break the German defense. The British army also experienced a lot of losses.
