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The Battle of the Somme was an unexpected tragedy of World War I. Intended to achieve a decisive victory for the British and French Allies over the Germans and mark an end to the war, the Allies ultimately failed to achieve their objectives, and the war continued for another two years. Over a million soldiers from both sides became casualties in the long and bitter struggle on the Somme in 1916.   Published on the centennial of the battle, this fascinating volume tells the story of those fateful days between July 1 and November 18, 1916. A visual and accessible history, The Somme explores the minutiae of those days through the unique collections of Imperial War Museums. It includes stories of IWM's film The Battle of the Somme, details of the infamous first day of the battle, and the war artists who recorded it for posterity. Using artifacts, medals, documents, interviews, film, art, and photographs, The Somme reconstructs not only the history of the famous battle, but also provides intimate insight into the experiences of those who were there.