When did the Battle of the Somme begin?

The story behind the answer

July 1, 1916 marks the start of the Battle of the Somme, when British and French forces launched a massive offensive along the River Somme at 7:30 a.m. after a week-long artillery barrage that ended on June 30. The first day became Britain’s bloodiest, with about 57,000 casualties and nearly 19,000 killed. July 2 was simply day two, and August 1 fell mid-campaign, not the opening.

The offensive aimed to relieve pressure on Verdun and break the Western Front stalemate; it dragged on until November 18 and saw the first use of tanks in September 1916. Memory tip: “Somme starts in Summer”—the first day of July (1) kicks off the Somme.