The Somme 1916: From Both Sides of the Wire
TV Show · Documentary · History

Using unique access to unseen German military archives, historian Peter Barton tells the story of the battle that, more than any other, has come to define the WWI experience: The Somme. Considered one of the deadliest battles in human history, in this enthralling history documentary, he walks the battlefield, explaining the failures that led to over 20,000 British deaths. Was the battle worth it?

2016 · 50m
Starring Peter Barton

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1
    First Day
    The first day of the Somme offensive was notoriously bloody and brutal. Historian Peter Barton explores the events leading up to this devastating battle, in this compelling history documentary. He argues that it was not what British did badly but what their enemy did better that led to such huge causalities. What mistakes were made by both sides as the battle raged on?
    50m
  • EPISODE 2
    Defence in Depth
    During the Somme battle, Allied tactics which should have lasted days took months and resulted in yet more carnage. But why did this happen? In this engrossing history documentary, Peter Barton concentrates on the second phase of the battle, from the middle of July to the middle of September 1916. The British stuck to their initial plans, while the Germans were more flexible in approach.
    50m
  • EPISODE 3
    End Game
    Is the accepted narrative surrounding the Battle of the Somme entirely accurate? Historian Peter Barton concludes his history of the battle by looking at the final months of the campaign, as this enlightening history documentary concludes. He argues that the Somme ended not in the winter of 1916, but in the spring of 1917. And he reaches the conclusion that there was no British victory.
    49m

Trailers

  • The Somme 1916: From Both Sides of the Wire
    3m

Related

Cast & Crew

  • Peter Barton
    Host
  • M‌P
    Michael Poole
    Producer

About

The Somme 1916: From Both Sides of the Wire

Documentary

Using unique access to unseen German military archives, historian Peter Barton tells the story of the battle that, more than any other, has come to define the WWI experience: The Somme. Considered one of the deadliest battles in human history, in this enthralling history documentary, he walks the battlefield, explaining the failures that led to over 20,000 British deaths. Was the battle worth it?

Information

Studio
BBC
Released
2016
Rated
PG
Region of Origin
United Kingdom
© 2016 BBC

Languages

Original Audio
English (United Kingdom), English
Audio

English (United Kingdom) (AAC)

Subtitles

English (United Kingdom) (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
  • Français (Canada)
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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)