Total casualties after the first day number over 57 000. On the first day, the British army suffers a death toll of 18 800 men. 1 July 1916 The Battle of the Somme begins under the direction of British Commander in Chief, Sir Douglas Haig. Over 1.5 million shells are fired along a 15 mile front. The aim of the bombardment is to destroy the German trench defence to allow for a rapid infantry advance on German frontlines on the first day of the planned Somme Offensive (to take place 1 July). 24 June In preparation for the big Allied offensive that will become known as the Battle of the Somme, a weeklong artillery bombardment is launched by the Allies on the River Somme in Northern France. 22 June The Germans renew the offensive at Verdun. The Germans withdraw four divisions at Verdun to assist the Austro-Hungarian army. 4 June On the Eastern front, four Russian armies under General Alexei Brusilov launch an offensive along a 300 mile front defended by Austro-Hungarian troops. It ends in a stalemate with the Germans withdrawing and the British head home instead of pursuing them. 31 May The Battle of Jutland, in the North Sea near Denmark, between the British and German naval fleet takes place. Only those employed in agriculture, mining and railroads are exempted. 25 May Britain introduces conscription for all men between the ages of 19 and 40. 3 May Germans launch fourth attack on Verdun. 29 April 13 000 British and Indian soldiers surrender to the Turks in the five month siege of Kut-al-Amara in the Middle East. 9 April The beginning of the third German offensive at Verdun. They are defeated by the Germans, suffering 70 000 casualties. 18 March Russians try and divert German troops from Verdun by staging an offensive on the Eastern Front in the area of Vilna in Lithuania. 6 March The second German offensive against the French at Verdun is launched. Verdun is considered the bloodiest encounter in the war with the French suffering 540 000 and the Germans 430 000 casualties. By October the French succeed in pushing back the Germans. The Germans launched six offensives between February and November. The aim of the German army was to “bleed” the French army to death by capturing Verdun. In the ten month battle, one of the longest in the war, both sides suffered almost one million casualties. It was of great symbolic significance to the French as it was the last town to fall in the Franco-Prussian War of 1871. Verdun, a French fortress town, was located in the western shadow of the Meuse river, close to the German-French border. 21 February–19 December The Battle of Verdun begins. The battle of Verdun was for all the medical corps a fierce experiment.18 February The German colony of Cameroon falls to French and British forces after 17 months of fighting. During the first four months of the battle of Verdun, 33 doctors were killed, 13 disappeared and 86 were wounded. A thousand of medical officers died during the First World War. Medical officers of the rear had to treat a huge amount of wounded men: 216, 337 men excluded those wounded by gas. In addition, new pathologies occurred such as frozen feet, chemical wounds. In addition to get back, treat the wounded soldiers then evacuate them to adequate medical unity, the medical officers had to solve the problem of thirst and the treatment of water: the so called technique: verdunisation. Testimonies of medical officers were limited in comparison with other type of soldiers and most of them were included in diaries edited until now. The time for organising the medical corps was short. Medical officers were closely involved in this battle and particularly the French physicians and surgeons due to rapid rotations of their unities. The battle of Verdun began February the 21st and finished 1916 December the 16th.
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