section B - explain a consequence of the Somme

One major consequence of the Somme was the huge amount of lives lost in the battle, which took place in 1916. At the end of the war, there was over 1 million casualties on both sides. On the first day alone, the British army suffered around 57,000 casualties, including nearly 20,000 deaths. This made it the bloodiest day in British military history and shows how brutal and dangerous the fighting was, especially with new machines guns and heavy artillery. Soldiers were also sent into battle with little protection, and many were killed in just a few hours. The massive loss of lives shocked the public, caused grief across Britain and led people to question the leadership and tactics after the war.