GW12: The Battle of the Somme

Key Battles of American History

History

4.6 • 936 Ratings

🗓️ 25 February 2026

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, Sean and James return to the Western Front to examine the Battle of the Somme—the bloodiest and most infamous clash of World War I. They explore the ambitious Allied plan, the disastrous first day that saw nearly 60,000 British casualties, and the grinding months of attrition that followed. Along the way, they discuss the debut of tanks, the shifting German command, and how the Somme became both a symbol of courage and futility. The hosts conclude by assessing whether the costly battle achieved anything beyond unimaginable loss.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Want to keep God's word with you wherever you go?
0:03.2	The King James Bible Study KJV app by Salem Media makes it easier to read, study, share, and pray daily with a timeless KJV translation.
0:10.8	Enjoy features like offline access, audio Bible listening, smart search, and tools to highlight bookmark and take notes, all designed to keep your Bible studies simple and organized.
0:18.9	Best of all, it's free to download in the Google Play Store.
0:21.7	Growing your faith every day.
0:23.1	Search for King James Bible Study, KJV, and download the app today.
0:36.7	War has played a key role in the history of the United States, from the nation's founding
0:40.9	right down to the present. War made the U.S. independent, kept it together, increased its size,
0:47.3	and established it as a global superpower. Understanding America's wars is essential for understanding
0:52.6	American history. Welcome to key battles of
0:55.6	American history, a podcast in which we discuss American history through the lens of the most
1:00.3	important battles of America's wars. Here is your host, James Early.
1:20.2	Hello and welcome back to The Great War, our 10,000-foot survey of the cataclysmic conflict that changed the world forever.
1:30.1	I'm your host, James Early. As always, and as always, I am joined by my co-host and my good buddy, Sean McIre. Well, in our last episode, Sean and I presented an overview of the Brusilov Offensive of 1916, Russia's most
1:36.2	successful campaign of World War I. General Alexei Brusilov's innovative tactics focused
1:42.2	artillery barrages, surprise attacks, and small specialized assault
1:46.3	units, devastated the Austro-Hungarian forces and captured vast territory. But although the offensive
1:52.9	caused over a million Central Powers casualties and prompted Romania to join the Allies,
1:58.9	it also exhausted Russia's manpower and supplies.
2:02.5	Though hailed as a tactical masterpiece, it ultimately marked the high point of Russia's war
2:06.9	effort and foreshadowed the internal collapse that lay ahead.
2:11.0	This week, we're going to go back to the Western Front and talk about the third of the
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