The Battle of the Somme, or “the bloodiest battle of humanity”, took place between July 1 and November 18, 1916 (Wikipedia). The German Empire was pitted against the French and British Empires, resulting in over a million men wounded or killed, including 60,000 on the first day of battle. This battle was one of the largest and bloodiest battles of World War I, making it consequential for the French, British and German empires. Although the battle had many consequences, the main consequences were that the British contribution to the battle took the strategic initiative away from the German army. Second, the British army lost thousands of men and suffered enormous damage in the many locations where the battle took place. took place and ultimately the battle had many political consequences. Although the battle was won by the Germans, they still suffered from the consequences of the war. Brigadier General Sir James Edmonds praised the German Empire; he stated that "June 24, 1916 saw the German army at its peak", Edmonds later stated: "These troops sacrificed their lives in obedience to the order not to yield an inch of ground" (Edmonds 243 ). Edmonds speaks of the rigor of the orders given to the Germans and the seriousness with which they were taken. In conclusion, Edmonds continues to write: “and after this loss, the German Empire never fought so well again. His morale was shaken for the first time, but never really recovered” (Edmonds 244). After this battle, German strategy and initiative began to decline, adding to the many reasons for German defeat throughout the war. Therefore, this battle took a heavy toll on the German army, making it less affective in its...... middle of paper ....../modern_history/core_study/ww1/somme/page85.htm> .Voces Novae: Historical Review of Chapman UniversityFellman, Paul. “The Battle of the Somme: How the 18th Division Averted Disaster, July 1, 1916.” Voces Novae: Chapman University Historical Review. Np, and Web. April 6, 2014. .Three armies on the Somme by William PhilpottPhilpott, William James. Three armies on the Somme: the first battle of the 20th century. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2010-2009. Print. The Somme: heroism and horror during the First World War by Martin GilbertGilbert, Martin. The Somme: heroism and horror during the First World War. New York: H. Holt, 2006. Print. The Somme: The Darkest Hour on the Western Front by Peter HartHart, Peter. The Somme: the darkest hour of the Western Front. New York: Pegasus Books, 2008. Print.