how many men died in the battle of the somme river in 1916 over the course of four months?

by Gianni Huels 4 min read

2. There were over a million casualties. As an attritional offensive, the Battle of the Somme involved heavy casualties on both sides. By the end of the first day on 1 July 1916, British forces had suffered 57,470 casualties, of whom 19,240 were killed.

Full Answer

How many people were killed in the battle for the Somme River?

one million menMore than three million men fought in the battle and one million men were wounded or killed, making it one of the deadliest battles in human history.

How many soldiers died in the war of Somme?

The staggering losses included 650,000 German casualties, 420,000 British, and 195,000 French. The battle became a metaphor for futile and indiscriminate slaughter.

How many soldiers died in the Battle of the Somme first day?

19,240 menThe first day of the Somme was the deadliest day in British military history – of the 57,470 British casualties, 19,240 men had been killed. But there was no question of suspending the offensive with the French still heavily engaged at Verdun. Ultimately the Battle of the Somme would continue for another four months.

How many soldiers died in one day at the Somme River?

First Day on the SommeCasualties and lossesBritish: 57,470 (19,240 killed) French: 1,5906,300–12,000In the German ten-day casualty accounting period 1–10 July, there were 46,319 casualties and 7,539 men sick.Somme class=notpageimage| Somme is a department in northern France, of the Hauts-de-France region of France9 more rows

Who won the Battle of Somme 1916?

BritishMore of The Somme The Battle of the Somme (1 July - 18 November 1916) was a joint operation between British and French forces intended to achieve a decisive victory over the Germans on the Western Front after 18 months of trench deadlock.

What happened 1916 ww1?

1916 witnessed two of the most decisive battles of World War One – at Verdun and the Somme. 1916 is seen as the year when the armies of Britain, France and Germany were bled to death. January 1st: Riots in Austria-Hungary forced down the price of grain and flour as set by the government.

How many men died in the 6 month long Battle of the Somme?

The British Empire had suffered 420,000 casualties and the French 200,000 in the process. German losses were at least 450,000 killed and wounded.

How many soldiers died on the Western Front in 1916?

Western Front (World War I)Western FrontStrengthshow 15,900,00013,250,000Casualties and lossesMilitary casualties: show 7,500,000 Civilian dead: 534,500Military casualties: show 5,500,000 Civilian dead: 424,0007 more rows

What was the bloodiest Battle in history?

The Most Deadly Battle In History: Stalingrad Running from August 23, 1942 to February 2, 1943, Stalingrad led to 633,000 battle deaths.

Why was the Battle of Somme one of the bloodiest battles of human history?

The Battle of the Somme was one of the largest battles of World War I, and among the bloodiest in all of human history. A combination of a compact battlefield, destructive modern weaponry and several failures by British military leaders led to the unprecedented slaughter of wave after wave of young men.

How long did Battle of Somme last?

four-monthThe four-month Battle of the Somme was fought from 1 July to 18 November 1916. Allied commanders sought to relieve pressure on the French defenders of Verdun to the south by inflicting heavy losses on German forces farther north and drawing German reserves into the battle.

How many people died in the Battle of the Somme?

The battle ended on November 18th 1916, with well over one million casualties and 300 thousand fatalities. Although casualties were high for all sides, the battle is most prominently remembered in Britain and the Commonwealth as an example of the ultimate sacrifice made by the men who served throughout the First World War.

How many British troops were in the trenches on July 1 1916?

After a week of heavy bombardment from British artillery, on the morning of July 1, 1916 over 100 thousand British troops charged the enemy lines, in what would become the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army.

What was the bloodiest battle of the war?

The First Battle of the Somme is acknowledged was one of the most devastating and bloodiest battles of all time. The battle took place during the First World War, between allied British and French forces and opposing German forces, from July 1 to November 18, 1916. Initially this attack was supposed to be led by the French army, however their focus changed to the Battle of Verdun, where they were locked in a deadly stalemate against the German forces, therefore the role of the British changed from support to that of the lead. After a week of heavy bombardment from British artillery, on the morning of July 1, 1916 over 100 thousand British troops charged the enemy lines, in what would become the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army. The German trenches were dug so deeply that the artillery fire did not have its desired effect, and it failed to sufficiently clear much of the barbed wire, meaning that the German machine guns were able to mow down thousands of oncoming troops as they tried to rush across no mans land. By the end of the day, the British troops secured approximately 8 square kilometers of ground, along a front that stretched 24km (averaging just 0.33km from the initial line of attack), at a cost of over 57 thousand casualties, including over 19 thousand fatalities. By comparison, the German and French armies were of relatively similar sizes, however their fatality rate was much lower.

How many people died in the Battle of the Somme?

More than three million men fought in the battle and one million men were wounded or killed, making it one of the deadliest battles in human history. The French and British had committed themselves to an offensive on the Somme during the Chantilly Conference in December 1915.

How many casualties did the French have at the Somme?

In a commentary on the debate about Somme casualties, Philpott used Miles's figures of 419,654 British casualties and the French official figures of 154,446 Sixth Army losses and 48,131 Tenth Army casualties. Philpott described German losses as "disputed", with estimates ranging from 400,000 to 680,000.

Why is the Somme remembered in Northern Ireland?

The Somme is remembered in Northern Ireland due to the participation of the 36th (Ulster) Division and commemorated by veterans' groups and by unionist /Protestant groups such as the Orange Order. The British Legion and others commemorate the battle on 1 July. Thiepval Memorial to the British Missing of the Somme.

What was the name of the war between the British and French forces in 1914?

Lys and Escaut. Associated articles. 1914 Christmas truce. The Battle of the Somme, also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and French Third Republic against the German Empire.

What was the first day of the Battle of the Somme?

On the first day on the Somme (1 July) the German 2nd Army suffered a serious defeat opposite the French Sixth Army, from Foucaucourt-en-Santerre south of the Somme to Maricourt on the north bank and by the Fourth Army from Maricourt to the vicinity of the Albert – Bapaume road.

What was the purpose of the Battle of Verdun?

The German offensive at Verdun was intended to threaten the capture of the city and induce the French to fight an attrition battle , in which German advantages of terrain and firepower would cause the French disproportionate casualties. The battle changed the nature of the offensive on the Somme, as French divisions were diverted to Verdun, and the main effort by the French diminished to a supporting attack for the British. German overestimation of the cost of Verdun to the French contributed to the concentration of German infantry and guns on the north bank of the Somme. By May, Joffre and Haig had changed their expectations of an offensive on the Somme, from a decisive battle to a hope that it would relieve Verdun and keep German divisions in France, which would assist the Russian armies conducting the Brusilov Offensive. The German offensive at Verdun was suspended in July, and troops, guns, and ammunition were transferred to Picardy, leading to a similar transfer of the French Tenth Army to the Somme front. Later in the year, the Franco-British were able to attack on the Somme and at Verdun sequentially and the French recovered much of the ground lost on the east bank of the Meuse in October and December.

What did Joffre and Haig hope for in the Battle of the Somme?

By May, Joffre and Haig had changed their expectations of an offensive on the Somme, from a decisive battle to a hope that it would relieve Verdun and keep German divisions in France, which would assist the Russian armies conducting the Brusilov Offensive.

What was the Battle of the Somme?

The Battle of the Somme, which took place from July to November 1916, began as an Allied offensive against German forces on the Western Front and turned into one of the most bitter and costly battles of World War I.

When did the Battle of the Somme start?

Battle Begins - July 1, 1916. Prior to the attack, the Allies launched a week-long heavy artillery bombardment, using some 1.75 million shells, which aimed to cut the barbed wire guarding German defenses and destroy the enemy’s positions.

How many divisions of the British 4th Army advanced on the Somme?

On the morning of July 1, 11 divisions of the British 4th Army (many of them volunteer soldiers going into battle for the first time) began advancing on a 15-mile front north of the Somme. At the same time, five French divisions advanced on an eight-mile front to the south, where the German defenses were weaker.

How many tanks were in the Battle of Flers Courcelette?

On September 15, during an attack at Flers Courcelette, the British artillery barrage was followed by an advance of 12 divisions of soldiers accompanied by 48 Mark I tanks, making their first-ever appearance on the battlefield.

How many troops were in the Battle of the Somme?

Instead, the Battle of the Somme became, as war poet Siegfried Sassoon described, a “sunlit picture of hell.”. Of the 120,000 Allied troops—including those from Australia, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Newfoundland and Canada—who launched the initial attack, ...

What was the battlefield after the Battle of the Somme?

The battlefield after the first Battle of the Somme. (Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Following the horrific losses on the first day, the battle settled into a terrible war of attrition as the heat of summer gave way to autumn rains. “The conditions are almost unbelievable,” wrote Australian soldier Edward Lynch.

What was the bloodiest battle in British history?

The first day of the Battle of the Somme was the bloodiest in the British Army’s history. pinterest-pin-it. Painting depicting a Welsh unit at the Battle of the Somme. (Credit: National Museum & Galleries of Wales Enterprises Limited/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

How many British brothers died in the Battle of the Somme?

Thirty-seven sets of British brothers lost their lives on the battle’s first day, and one man was killed every 4.4 seconds, making July 1, 1916, the bloodiest single day in the history of the British Army. 2. The Battle of the Somme lasted more than four months. The battlefield after the first Battle of the Somme.

How many tanks did the British use at the Battle of the Somme?

pinterest-pin-it. British Mark I tank at the Battle of the Somme. (Credit: Imperial War Museum) On September 15, the British deployed 32 Mark I tanks in an attack at Flers-Courcelette. Armed with either 6-pounder cannons or machine guns, the primitive tanks failed to break the military deadlock.

Who was the British commander at the Battle of the Somme?

British troops before the Battle of the Somme. (Credit: Imperial War Museum) Captain Wilfred Nevill sought to encourage the four platoons of his 8th East Surrey Battalion to continue moving forward by presenting each with a soccer ball and promising a prize to whichever was first to kick it into the German trenches.

Who was the filmmaker who recorded the Battle of the Somme?

Expecting a victory, the British War Office embraced the new medium of motion pictures and granted filmmakers Geoffrey Malins and John McDowell permission to record the battle in the hopes it would rally support for the war effort and aid recruiting.

When did the New Zealand Division join the Battle of the Somme?

A truly nightmarish world greeted the New Zealand Division when it joined the Battle of the Somme in early September 1916. The division arrived to take part in the third big push of the offensive, designed to crack the German lines once and for all.

Where did the New Zealand troops arrive in 1916?

The New Zealand Division began arriving in Marseilles on 11 April 1916. The men had no time for sightseeing, immediately boarding trains north to Flanders where the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was concentrated. After a three-day journey, the New Zealand soldiers set up camp around the town of Hazebrouck.

What was the New Zealand Division's first major engagement on the Western Front?

New Zealand's Somme experience. The New Zealand Division on the Somme, 1916 (Geographx) The Battle of the Somme was New Zealand’s first major engagement on the Western Front and remains its mostly costly. It took a huge toll on the 18,000 members of the New Zealand Division who were involved.

How many trench raids did the New Zealand Division do?

During three months at Armentières, the New Zealand Division made 11 trench raids and was the target of four. A raid by the 2nd Rifles Battalion on 24 June was a textbook success: a 73-strong raiding party supported by artillery and mortars killed 29 Germans and captured nine prisoners.

What did the infantry find in the trenches?

The infantry found the sappers and pioneers busy digging communication trenches in readiness for the assault. The gunners were also already in action. They had entered the line on the night of 5-6 September. They began preparing advance positions to support the attack and worked on their fire-plan for the assault.

What was the greatest loss of life in New Zealand's post-1840 military history?

At the time, this was the greatest loss of life in a single day in New Zealand’s post-1840 military history, but in 1917, the horrors of Passchendaele would surpass this dubious record. Although significant progress was made on 15 September, the hoped-for breakthrough remained elusive.

When did the New Zealand troops leave for France?

After a period of rest and reorganisation following the Gallipoli evacuation, the newly formed New Zealand Division left for France in early April 1916. Sent to the Flanders region to gain experience of new trench conditions, they spent the next three months guarding a ‘quiet’ sector of the line at Armentières before moving south to ...

Overview

The Battle of the Somme, also known as the Somme offensive, was a battle of the First World War fought by the armies of the British Empire and French Third Republic against the German Empire. It took place between 1 July and 18 November 1916 on both sides of the upper reaches of the Somme, a river in France. The battle was intended to hasten a victory for the Allies. More than thr…

Strategic developments

Allied war strategy for 1916 was decided at the Chantilly Conference from 6th to 8th December 1915. Simultaneous offensives on the Eastern Front by the Russian army, on the Italian Front by the Italian army and on the Western Front by the Franco-British armies were to be carried out to deny time for the Central Powers to move troops between fronts during lulls. In December 1915, Genera…

Prelude

French losses at Verdun reduced the contribution available for the offensive on the Somme and increased the urgency for the commencement of operations on the Somme. The principal role in the offensive devolved to the British and on 16 June, Haig defined the objectives of the offensive as the relief of pressure on the French at Verdun and the infliction of losses on the Germans. After a five-d…

Battles of the Somme, 1916

The Battle of Albert was the first two weeks of Anglo-French offensive operations in the Battle of the Somme. The Allied preparatory artillery bombardment began on 24 June and the Anglo-French infantry attacked on 1 July, on the south bank from Foucaucourt to the Somme and from the Somme north to Gommecourt, 2 mi (3.2 km) beyond Serre. The French Sixth Army and …

Subsequent operations

After the Battle of the Ancre (13–18 November 1916), British attacks on the Somme front were stopped by the weather and military operations by both sides were mostly restricted to survival in the rain, snow, fog, mud fields, waterlogged trenches and shell-holes. As preparations for the offensive at Arras continued, the British attempted to keep German attention on the Somme front. British operations on the Ancre from 10 January – 22 February 1917, forced the Germans back …

Analysis

At the start of 1916, most of the British Army was an inexperienced and patchily trained mass of volunteers. The Somme was a great test for Kitchener's Army, created by Kitchener's call for recruits at the start of the war. The British volunteers were often the fittest, most enthusiastic and best-educated citizens but were inexperienced and it has been claimed that their loss was of lesser m…

Commemoration

In the United Kingdom and Newfoundland, the Battle of the Somme became the central memory of World War I. The Royal British Legion with the British Embassy in Paris and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, commemorate the battle on 1 July each year, at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. For their efforts on the first day of the battle, The 1st Newfoundland Regimen…

Histories of the battle

The Battle of the Somme has been called the beginning of modern all-arms warfare, during which Kitchener's Army learned to fight the mass-industrial war in which the continental armies had been engaged for two years. This view sees the British contribution to the battle as part of a coalition war and part of a process, which took the strategic initiative from the German Army and caused it irreparable damage, leading to its collapse in late 1918.