This episode looks at the Battle of the Somme, which began on 1 July, 1916. By the end of the first day of fighting the British had lost over 57,000 men. Although 11 days later one of the primary objectives was achieved - to relieve the pressure on the French army at Verdun - the battle continued unofficially into February 1917. By then an irreparable blow had been struck at the German Army, but left behind was a muddy grave to 415,000 British troops. Show less