Description Fought during 1916, the Battle of the Somme was conceived by the French and British as a great offensive to be waged against Germany even as France poured incredible numbers of men into the slaughterhouse that was the desperate defense of Verdun.
For the French high command cherished the belief, born in the era of Napoleon, that the success of French arms depended on atta.
The French general-in-chief, Joseph "Papa" Joffre, was especially anxious to go on the offensive.
Description Fought during 1916, the Battle of the Somme was conceived by the French and British as a great offensive to be waged against Germany even as France poured incredible numbers of men into the slaughterhouse that was the desperate defense of Verdun
