Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Britain in the Battle of the Somme - Statistics & Facts
The Battle of the Somme was one of the largest military engagements of the First World War, and among the largest in history. Between July 1 and November 18, 1916, more than three million men took part in this battle, over one million casualties were recorded, around a third of which were fatalities. The first day of the battle alone saw approximately 70,000 casualties; 80 percent of which were British. In terms of its legacy, this battle came to epitomize the static, trench warfare most associated with the Western Front, and has become one of the most prominent symbols for remembrance in Britain and some of its former colonies. Given this status, and the fact that the British generally kept the most reliable records during the war (particularly from 1916 onward), the majority of statistical data relates to British actions in the battle, while estimates become more important in studying French and German involvement.
