3. Battle of the Somme (1916)
The Battle of the Somme, fought between July and November 1916, stands as one of the bloodiest engagements of World War I, resulting in over a million casualties. The British and French forces initiated a week-long artillery bombardment intended to destroy German defenses and barbed wire. However, the bombardment was largely ineffective, with many shells failing to explode and the artillery unable to neutralize German machine guns and artillery. This failure led to devastating losses for the attacking forces, highlighting the deadly consequences of outdated tactics against modern weaponry. (iwm.org.uk)
