‘Watching the battle progress amongst incredible ruin’, 1916 (b/w photo)

‘Watching the battle progress amongst incredible ruin’, 1916. Photograph, World War One, Western Front (1914-1918), 1916. French officers watch the progress of an attack against a German stronghold on the Somme. The French played an important role in the Somme offensive with their Sixth Army attacking in the southern part of the theatre. On 1 July 1916 they made more progress than their British counterparts further north. Originally their planned commitment was much greater, but the desperate situation at the Battle of Verdun reduced their role in the operation. Despite this, the offensive cost France over 200,000 casualties. From a collection of 164 British, French and Belgian official photographs.