The Somme, Volume 1. The First Battle of the Somme (1916-1917)

This volume opens with a vivid picture of the desperate situation on the Western Front in mid‑1916: the German pressure at Verdun, the Austro‑Italian clash, and the urgent need for the Allies to seize the initiative. It explains how the Franco‑British command set clear objectives—to relieve Verdun, tie down German divisions, and wear down enemy forces—while marshaling the massive manpower and material of the British Empire under Field‑Marshal Haig. The narrative then follows the painstaking months of planning, from exhaustive aerial photography and detailed maps to the construction of railways, supply depots, and a labyrinth of trenches that would support the forthcoming assault.

The book details the tactical doctrine that placed artillery at the forefront, echoing the axiom “the artillery conquers, the infantry occupies.” Readers learn how the Allies refined their approach after earlier failures, concentrating firepower and coordinating every arm of the service for a synchronized strike. By the time the offensive launched on July 1, the stage was set for a monumental clash that would test the limits of modern warfare and the resolve of the soldiers who fought it.