The Battle of the Somme in 1916 was a joint British-French offensive intended to relieve pressure on the French at Verdun by diverting German forces. The plan was for a week-long artillery bombardment followed by infantry attacks, with cavalry then exploiting any breakthrough. However, the bombardment warned the Germans and failed to destroy barbed wire or targets fully. On July 1st, the first day, over 60,000 British soldiers were killed or wounded as they went over the top into machine gun fire. By November, over 450,000 British and French soldiers and 650,000 Germans had been killed for minimal gains. The battle became a symbol of the war's futility and cost.

1. The Battle of the Somme Worksheet to accompany this presentation can be found at www.activehistory.co.uk

12. Why not play the “Life in the Trenches” Decision making simulation from ActiveHistory? http://www.activehistory.co.uk/top_activities/index.htm