Results of British mines and guns on the Somme

Officers examining the damage caused by an explosion of a British mine underneath the enemies position during the Battle of the Somme. Intended to be a decisive breakthrough, the Battle of the Somme instead became a futile and indiscriminate slaughter, with General Haig's tactics remaining controversial even today. The four and a half month campaign eventually gave way to a stalemate and by mid-November the offensive was over. The British forces were decimated with 420, 000 casualties, among them many of the new voluntary battalions

Battalions Breakthrough Casualties Caused Controversial Decimated Decisive Enemies Futile Haig Indiscriminate Intended Mines Remaining Results Somme Tactics Underneath Voluntary

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