Conflict: World War I
Combatants: Anglo-French Allies vs. Germans
Location: France
Outcome: Inconclusive
Beginning in July of 1916, this French-planned Allied offensive struggled to push back the German line straddling the Somme River. Heavy French losses at Verdun forced the British to commit to much of the fighting. By November of 1916, the Allies had managed to push the German line back seven miles, but failed to force a route. The offensive ended with over 1.2 million casualties across all forces engaged. The Somme offensive is also noted for the first use of tanks (British) in battle.
Points of Interest:
Half of the thirty-six British tanks could not be committed to the Battle of the Somme due to mechanical failures.
Despite the breakdowns, British tanks did help to make the marginal gains during the Somme offensive.
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Sources:
Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, & Bongard, David L. (1992). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: Castle Books (HarperCollins).
Dupuy, R. Ernest & Dupuy, Trevor N. (1993). The Harper's Encyclopedia of Military History. New York: HarperCollins.
Eggenberger, David (1985). An Encyclopedia of Battles: Accounts of Over 1,560 Battles from 1479 B.C. to the Present. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
Ellis, John, & Cox, Michael (2001). The World War I Databook. Bodmin, UK: MPG Books Ltd.
Keegan, John (2001). An Illustrated History of the First World War. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
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