The First Battle of the Somme pitched a largely volunteer British army against a well-trained and well-entrenched German force. Losses were immense n both sides. The first appearance of tanks in September gave the Allies a promise of an end to the stalemate of trench warfare, but even the end of the battel in November on the Ancre gave the Allies no greater advance than ground that could be walked in an afternoon. The conflict on the Somme was still far from over, but the British army was now a battle-hardened force. In 1918, the Germans launched a vigorous new thrust westwards that took them almost to Amiens. The new sophistication of combined infantry, artillery, tank and aircraft operations was brilliantly demonstrated by the Australians and Americans at Hamel and, with the Canadians, in the Second Battle of the Somme in August. With the breaching of the Hindenburg line in September the Germans, once the finest field army in Europe were finally in full retreat. -- From the book jacket.

Prelude to the Somme -- The Somme, 1916 : the first day -- La Boisselle -- Beaumont Hamel -- Thiepval -- The flanks -- The Somme, 1916 : to take the ridge -- The second day and after -- The illusion of mobility -- The Somme : 1918 : Victory out of defeat -- Operation Michael -- The Second Battle of the Somme -- Breaking the Hindenburg Line.