What was the extent of land gained by the Allies at the Battle of the Somme?

The Battle of the Somme, fought between July and November 1916, was one of the largest battles of World War I and had significant implications for the war effort. The Allies aimed to relieve pressure on the French forces at Verdun and to weaken the German army.

The extent of land gained by the Allies during this battle was about 8 kilometers. This modest gain highlighted the brutal nature of trench warfare, where for a small amount of territorial advancement, there were heavy casualties on both sides. The battle demonstrated the challenges of warfare at this time, particularly under the conditions of entrenched positions and fortified defenses.

While other answers suggest greater distances, the factual record shows that the advance was limited, capturing a stretch of land that was strategically important but came at an enormous human cost. The gains achieved at the Somme reflected the broader strategy of attrition that characterized much of World War I, where the objective was often to wear down the enemy rather than to achieve extensive territorial conquests.