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First Battle of the Somme
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Three soldiers in World War I uniforms and helmets operate a St. Etienne machine gun in a trench at the Somme. Map of the Western Front during World War I from 1914 to 1918, showing northern France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and western Germany. Colored lines indicate the farthest German advance in September 1914, the front line at the beginning of 1915, German and Allied offensives, and the armistice line of 1918. Major cities such as Paris, Brussels, and Verdun, as well as key rivers and geographic features, are labeled. A soldier in a trench looks toward a barren battlefield with shattered trees as a shell explodes in the distance during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Sir Douglas Haig Somme, First Battle of the
At a Glance
Three soldiers in World War I uniforms and helmets operate a St. Etienne machine gun in a trench at the Somme.
Battle of the Somme summary
Quizzes
Civil War era cannon overlooks Kennesaw Mountain National Battle. (military, artillery, American history)
Pick Your Battles Quiz
Louis IX of France (St. Louis), stained glass window of Louis IX during the Crusades. (Unknown location.)
World Wars
American infantry streaming through the captured town of Varennes, France, 1918.This place fell into the hands of the Americans on the first day of the Franco-American assault upon the Argonne-Champagne line. (World War I)
World War I Quiz
D-Day. American soldiers fire rifles, throw grenades and wade ashore on Omaha Beach next to a German bunker during D Day landing. 1 of 5 Allied beachheads est. in Normandy, France. The Normandy Invasion of World War II launched June 6, 1944.
A History of War
Related Questions

First Battle of the Somme: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: Imperial War Museums - Battle of the Somme. Oct 12, 2026
Anniversary information added. Jun 24, 2026
Add new Web site: Imperial War Museums - Voices of the First World War: The First Day Of The Somme. Mar 20, 2026
Add new Web site: World History Encyclopedia - First Battle of the Somme: Britain's Greatest Military Tragedy. Nov 29, 2025
Add new Web site: ABC listen - Nightlife - Remembering The Battle of the Somme. Aug 08, 2025
Add new Web site: Chapman University Digital Commons - The Battle of the Somme: How the 18th Division Avoided Disaster, 1 July 1916 (PDF). Jun 27, 2025
Add new Web site: Academia - Historiographical Essay on the Battle of the Somme. May 17, 2025
Questions and answers added. Mar 21, 2025
Add new Web site: Government of Canada - Veterans Affairs Canada - Battle of the Somme. Dec 17, 2024
Add new Web site: Weapons and Warfare - First Day Somme Part�I. May 29, 2024
Add new Web site: The Guardian - 'Heavy casualties. Wounded, wounded, wounded': stories of the battle of the Somme. Apr 19, 2024
Add new Web site: Chemins de m?moire - The battle of the Somme. Mar 08, 2024
Add new Web site: Warfare History Network - A Sunlit Picture of Hell: Battle of the Somme. Oct 09, 2023
Add new Web site: National Records of Scotland - Battle of the Somme 1916. Jun 21, 2023
Add new Web site: Canadian War Museum - The Somme. Sep 06, 2022
Add new Web site: Historic UK - Battle of the Somme. Mar 14, 2022
Add new Web site: The National Archives - The Battle of the Somme. Mar 14, 2022
Corrected display issue. Jun 08, 2021
Add new Web site: National Army Museum - Battle of the Somme. Jan 11, 2021
Add new Web site: Imperial War Museums - Battle of the Somme. Jan 11, 2021
Add new Web site: 1914-1918-Online - International Encyclopedia of the First World War - Battle of the Somme. Oct 23, 2017
Article thoroughly revised. Apr 27, 2017
Add new Web site: The Canadian Encyclopedia - Canada and the Battle of the Somme. Dec 09, 2016
Add new Web site: New Zealand History - Battle of the Somme. Dec 09, 2016
Add new Web site: 1914-1918-Online - International Encyclopedia of the First World War - Battle of the Somme. Dec 09, 2016
Added image of a French soldier in a trench. May 19, 2010
Added new Web site: Spartacus Educational - Battle of the Somme. Dec 16, 2008
Added new Web site: BBC Sounds - Witness History - World War One: The Battle of the Somme. Dec 16, 2008
Added new Web site: The Battlefield Site - The Battle of the Somme - France, 1st July - 18th November 1916. Dec 16, 2008
Added new Web site: History Learning Site - The Battle of the Somme. Dec 16, 2008
Added new Web site: FirstWorldWar.com - The Battle of the Somme, 1916. Dec 15, 2008
Article revised and updated. Aug 09, 2007
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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