World War I: Battle of the Somme Ends

November 18, 1916 - After four and half months of fighting, the Battle of the Somme ends. Launched on July 1, 1916, the Somme offensive was an attempt by British and French to break through the Germans lines on a 12-mile front. Originally intended as a British offensive, it evolved into an operation designed to relieve pressure on the French at Verdun. For the British, the first day of the assault was one of the bloodiest of the war with over 19,000 killed. While the French fared better, the battle quickly developed into a grinding battle of attrition. Fighting into the fall, the offensive concluded with the Battle of the Ancre on November 18. While the offensive succeeded in aiding the struggle at Verdun, it cost the British and French over 600,000 casualties. German losses were over 500,000.