GW12: The Battle of the Somme

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.

You can listen to GW12: The Battle of the Somme online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

GW12: The Battle of the Somme is an episode from Key Battles of American History by Support.

This episode is 38:47 long.

This episode was published on Feb 25, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Key Battles of American History when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.