The Battle of the Somme

The Somme in history

Witness of several battles

The inhabitants of the Somme have been attacked for centuries. The Romans, Vikings, Spanish, among others, have come to plunder the region. Later, in 1870, was the beginning of a series of conflicts with the Germanic people in 1914, and then finally in 1940, when France capitulated and became an occupied country.

We must understand that residents of the Somme witnessed two horrific wars during the 20th century.

The most deadly battle that took place in the Somme began on 1 July 1916, on that day it was the British army which suffered terrible losses, not the French army.

1916 first of July

At 07h 30, 100,000 British soldiers left their trenches between Serre and Maricourt (the French sector started from Maricourt in the south of the department).

A woman who lived in Millencourt, a village that stood behind the British lines, remembered how she had heard the cries of British soldiers when they went to the attack. What courage, but it was in vain. Most soldiers were cut down by German machine guns.

Around 9 o'clock in the morning almost 60,000 men were killed or wounded. No army has ever sustained such losses in so little time. The first of July and the Battle of the Somme (which lasted several months - until winter 1916) will never be forgotten by the British people.

Somme nowadays

If you visit the Somme you may be impressed by the number of cemeteries British, German, French, Australian, New Zealand .... where are the thousands of soldiers who fought and died here during the long years of the First World War.

If you would like more information or wish to reserve a guided tour of the Remembrance Circuit please contact the Tourist Office in Albert.
There are also excellent Museums to visit in Albert and Péronne.