1
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:05,528
The largest battle in the world
is about to begin.

2
00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:13,326
I pray to God
that this will end well for us.

3
00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,640
We were told
that it would be a piece of cake.

4
00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:27,921
Of course we had a single one
German sniper expected.

5
00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:39,204
Suppose that is your fault
others get injured.

6
00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:40,885
Bayonet.

7
00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,328
Suppose your legs refuse service.

8
00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:58,363
On the morning of July 1, 1916
120,000 British soldiers were ready...

9
00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:03,845
for the greatest battle
of the First World War.

10
00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:14,848
This is the story of the bloodiest day
for the British army.

11
00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,083
Told through the soldiers' letters.

12
00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:53,689
In 1915 the war was not going well
for Great Britain and France.

13
00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:59,483
After a year and a half of great
efforts and heavy losses...

14
00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:04,646
were large parts of France
still occupied by Germany.

15
00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:15,323
The armies had dug in
in miles of trenches.

16
00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:26,048
In 1916 the Allies wanted
break the impasse.

17
00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:30,125
They decided on a summer offensive
to deploy.

18
00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:34,968
They chose an area for this
in Northern France...

19
00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,521
along the River Somme.

20
00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,202
Here you have a better view.

21
00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:10,526
This is more like it.
- The drainage is very good.

22
00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,407
No more hanging around
in the Flemish mud.

23
00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:21,727
The British leader of the campaign was
the commander of the Fourth Army.

24
00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,247
General Sir Henry Rawlinson.

25
00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:34,603
The area is extremely suitable
for an offensive.

26
00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:37,366
You have an excellent overview.

27
00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,046
And with enough weapons...

28
00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:45,604
we must suffer heavy losses
can occur in the infantry.

29
00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:57,320
There was a stretch between the two armies
no man's land of 29 kilometers.

30
00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:02,168
This ran from Serre in the north
to the Somme in the south.

31
00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:07,561
Rawlinson wanted the Germans
expel...

32
00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:11,964
from the area they have been for a year and a half
had in their hands.

33
00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,566
This would be his battlefield.

34
00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:37,643
Rawlinson was in charge
about a brand new army.

35
00:04:54,120 --> 00:05:01,083
The fourth army consisted of civilians
who had registered voluntarily.

36
00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:08,642
The 22nd Manchester Battalion
was typical of this army.

37
00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:12,805
They were in February 1916
arrived in France.

38
00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:23,404
Captain Charlie May was a writer.
He was married and had a daughter.

39
00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,245
He kept a diary.

40
00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:33,610
We go because that's the way it should be.

41
00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:39,242
When you go into battle as a soldier...

42
00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:44,167
you should want
fight and die for your country.

43
00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,483
The reality is very different, I'm afraid.

44
00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:52,762
It's hot, guys.

45
00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:58,571
Listen.

46
00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:05,963
You hear the trees
whistling at the dogs.

47
00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:24,280
I don't think there's anyone here
who really wants to fight.

48
00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:28,642
Actually, we're all fed up with it.

49
00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,282
We are all so ordinary.

50
00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,489
When you are tired and unwashed...

51
00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:40,487
you have the right to refuse
to feel noble.

52
00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:48,684
In the same battalion
sat Sergeant Richard H. Tawney.

53
00:06:48,840 --> 00:06:55,405
He was a pacifist, but he had come forward
when the Germans invaded Belgium.

54
00:06:55,560 --> 00:07:00,691
He had turned down an officer position
and served as a soldier.

55
00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:06,727
Most here feel no hatred
towards the enemy.

56
00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:10,646
How can you do your duty
if you hate him?

57
00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,202
Killing people out of hatred is murder.

58
00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,045
We are not murderers.

59
00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:19,168
We're just executioners.

60
00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,165
What do they call this battle, sergeant?

61
00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:30,291
Don't know.
The Battle of Thiepval perhaps.

62
00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:34,011
Or the battle of Mametz.

63
00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:38,882
There will be no name.
Two armies are needed for a battle.

64
00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:54,284
Britain had no army
conscripts at his disposal.

65
00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:03,889
War Secretary Lord Kitchener realised
that a larger army was needed.

66
00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:09,566
He made a call
for 100,000 volunteers.

67
00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:17,401
Within five months we had a million
men responded to his call.

68
00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:23,489
Eighteen months later
many of them moved to the Somme.

69
00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:36,120
Just like thousands of others
Cyril Jose lied about his age.

70
00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:41,366
He enlisted at fifteen
with the 2nd Devonshire Battalion.

71
00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:46,765
He wrote regularly to his mother
and his sisters, Ivy and Myrtle.

72
00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:51,730
That's my sister.
And that's my mother.

73
00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:58,569
What's there to laugh about?

74
00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:06,691
Dear Myrt, we just got back
of the Church and Holy Communion.

75
00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:10,845
The chaplain asked who I was
and where I came from.

76
00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,049
He had traveled through Cornwall by car.

77
00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:19,366
He asked how old I was.
I couldn't lie to a chaplain.

78
00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,808
He patted me on the back and said:
Well done.

79
00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:24,644
That was nice of him.

80
00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:31,969
I hope everything is well
with Ivy and mom.

81
00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:36,523
Just say that for my birthday
come home on leave.

82
00:09:36,680 --> 00:09:40,446
Goodbye. God bless you.
Love, Cyril.

83
00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:47,646
P.S. Ask Mom if she has my Bible
and can send football boots.

84
00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:04,683
General Rawlinson
faced one major problem:

85
00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:09,004
The volunteers had no experience
in battle.

86
00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:12,528
That's why he chose
a simple strategy.

87
00:10:16,560 --> 00:10:22,203
Winning two or three kilometers
terrain is not much.

88
00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:28,129
We need as many Germans as possible
kill and limit our own losses.

89
00:10:29,680 --> 00:10:32,763
Fight and keep the position.

90
00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:36,561
Take the one occupied by the Germans
area.

91
00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:41,562
And let them try to get it back.

92
00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:56,641
The German army had on September 27
1914 reaches the Somme...

93
00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,485
and dug his first trench.

94
00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:09,771
A year and a half later it had grown
into a formidable line of defense.

95
00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:21,685
Behind the barbed wire were
45 villages...

96
00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:26,050
machine gun nests
and underground bunkers.

97
00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:36,211
Rawlinson's strategy was simple.

98
00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:41,400
He wanted a bombing raid
destroy the trenches...

99
00:11:41,560 --> 00:11:47,010
so that the infantry are unhindered
could march across no man's land.

100
00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:52,291
This process they would
repeat trench by trench.

101
00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,044
We thought you went home.

102
00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,487
I'm at home here, right?

103
00:12:01,640 --> 00:12:06,282
The German bunkers were located
twelve meters underground.

104
00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:13,324
For Germans like soldier Eversmann
the Somme was a safe place.

105
00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,689
He kept a diary.

106
00:12:16,840 --> 00:12:20,322
We have little to do here.

107
00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:25,247
Apart from the rats and lice
we're not having a bad time.

108
00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:31,851
Smell it.

109
00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:39,721
You didn't fill it yourself, did you?
- You're so rude.

110
00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:47,525
May we be spared Verdun.
- Forever.

111
00:12:47,680 --> 00:12:51,048
And that the Prussians
don't spoil the fun.

112
00:12:54,840 --> 00:13:00,847
Theirs faced the largest British attack
within two years.

113
00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:08,647
It must become automatic.
Stab him.

114
00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:17,165
Rawlinson's volunteers were perhaps
not experienced, but well trained.

115
00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:20,324
Sixteen-year-old Cyril Jose...

116
00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:24,929
had been drilled mercilessly
in the use of the bayonet.

117
00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,608
Dear Ivy, don't get too close.

118
00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:36,560
I have my own rifle and bayonet now.
New.

119
00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:41,328
Some guns are sitting
covered in mud from the trenches.

120
00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:46,611
My gun is fairly new. With
the bayonet on it reaches my ear.

121
00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:51,163
You want to be there during an attack
don't run into it.

122
00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:57,801
You shouldn't tickle him.
Turn it inside out.

123
00:13:57,960 --> 00:13:59,724
Give me your gun.

124
00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:06,324
Insert it and pull it back.

125
00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:08,369
Very simple.

126
00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:15,563
I still got it today.
I pointed my bayonet at someone.

127
00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:18,564
Then the sergeant came.
- Keep them straight.

128
00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:20,688
He cursed me to death.

129
00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:25,368
It is a crime to use your bayonet
to point at someone.

130
00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:31,402
I could have gotten three months in jail.
- It must become automatic.

131
00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:36,441
He was in a bad mood afterwards
until I gave him a cigarette.

132
00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:38,807
Little bastard.

133
00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:53,651
Six weeks before the attack...

134
00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:58,806
the quiet area underwent
a metamorphosis along the Somme.

135
00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:07,162
Ammunition was stocked
roads were built...

136
00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,722
and also water pipes
and telephone lines.

137
00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:20,884
Like many other battalions...

138
00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:25,329
became the Manchester battalions
used for this work.

139
00:15:33,880 --> 00:15:40,843
Former clerk Arthur Burke described
the preparations to his brother.

140
00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:45,605
Dear Reg.

141
00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:52,251
Now it gets fun. We dig
a trench for our own line.

142
00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:54,289
You know what that means.

143
00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:58,005
Chills ran down our spines.

144
00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:02,611
Why are we fighting for this place?

145
00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,685
I think they can have it that way.

146
00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:29,882
Don't worry about that.

147
00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:34,964
When it's your turn,
you don't do anything about it.

148
00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:44,922
The Germans heard us coming
and gave us a good beating.

149
00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:47,811
You can't dig silently.

150
00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:51,487
When we started,
they were not happy with that.

151
00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:57,602
We dug from eleven o'clock
to half past three in the morning.

152
00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:00,286
We were glad we were done.

153
00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:14,802
We've been here since Tuesday. Six days in
the firing line and four days in reserve.

154
00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:17,406
This time it's hard for us.

155
00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:26,571
Captain May and Sergeant Tawney
censored all letters.

156
00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:34,804
I hate this.

157
00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:40,450
You discover a lot.
About the men, I mean.

158
00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:43,809
There are some things I'd rather not know.

159
00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:47,248
Do you know Dooley? From the Prince platoon?

160
00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:51,883
Hij zat laatst op de borstwering
during a shelling.

161
00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:57,968
One of our grenades landed
right under where he was sitting.

162
00:17:59,360 --> 00:18:01,840
It was a dud.

163
00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,526
Dooley is een geluksvogel.

164
00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:09,402
God bless the loser that one
made that grenade, he said.

165
00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,006
He just sat there.

166
00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,885
At first you know nothing
of the soldiers' thoughts.

167
00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:37,800
Sommigen zijn ongetwijfeld blij dat ze
being freed from their parents or teachers.

168
00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:45,005
Maar in de brieven van soldaten
from the trenches...

169
00:18:45,160 --> 00:18:48,562
wordt de oorlog niet beschreven
like a game.

170
00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:55,247
Cyril Jose beschreef de voorbereidingen
for the big attack.

171
00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:03,047
Dear mother.
We hebben een zware tijd achter de rug.

172
00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:07,649
We werken aan de borstwering
and stand guard...

173
00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:11,043
zodat we weinig tijd hebben
to sleep.

174
00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:15,364
Ik ben al blij als ik in 24 uur tijd
get 3 hours of sleep.

175
00:19:17,360 --> 00:19:21,251
Hopelijk maakt u zich geen zorgen.
Cyril.

176
00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:42,047
De activiteiten van de geallieerden
did not go unnoticed.

177
00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:48,409
Rawlinson heard
that the Germans called in reinforcements.

178
00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,530
He decided to take a look for himself.

179
00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:15,324
The Germans had not stood still.

180
00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:21,169
They had behind the existing lines
a new trench constructed.

181
00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:28,401
It was a bad sign.

182
00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:33,851
The Germans were clearly prepared
to fight for every meter.

183
00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:48,725
This is not the time
to admire the view.

184
00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:51,405
Finished?

185
00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:54,765
Start.

186
00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:05,281
Machine guns formed the basis
of the German defense.

187
00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:11,971
A well-positioned Maxim
had a range of up to 3000 meters.

188
00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:20,890
Lieutenant Franz Cassel and his unit
were on alert.

189
00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:22,405
Better.

190
00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:26,681
That was better. Again.

191
00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:46,169
France already had over a million
soldiers lost.

192
00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:51,884
Because the French fought hard
at Verdun...

193
00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:56,329
they could only have five divisions
send to the Somme.

194
00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:06,602
Henri Fraisse had been rejected in 1914
because of his health.

195
00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:12,483
But after the recent losses
he was still found suitable.

196
00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:24,006
Dear father, I have been five days
back in the trenches.

197
00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,891
The weather is nice. It's hot.

198
00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,601
That's why we don't have to
to sit in the mud.

199
00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:36,401
I hope I see your beautiful smile
see you again soon.

200
00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:41,248
I haven't arrived.
The Kraut took all my fat.

201
00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:44,563
Hopefully they don't take me too
my life.

202
00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:55,331
Half a million grenades were ready
before the bombing.

203
00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:59,849
There were that many in the entire first year
not fired yet.

204
00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:01,843
Greetings to Willie

205
00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:09,765
Rawlinson knew how difficult
his inexperienced army would get it.

206
00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:16,010
But he was convinced
that the artillery...

207
00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:21,291
could destroy the German defenses
and prevent losses.

208
00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:36,402
On June 24, five days before the attack...

209
00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:40,724
the destruction began
of the German trenches.

210
00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:51,008
It was the biggest
British bombing of all time.

211
00:23:53,120 --> 00:23:56,283
The barrage continued day and night.

212
00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:05,443
The Germans were in their bunkers
waiting for the bombing to stop.

213
00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:18,249
Lieutenant Cassel was in Thiepval
the defense line 'The Wonderwork'.

214
00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:25,605
We were exhausted
and slept as much as we could.

215
00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:33,645
The noise was so constant
that we couldn't sleep.

216
00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:54,245
Excuse me.

217
00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:59,201
Did that make me laugh last time?
- I'll give you another chance.

218
00:24:59,360 --> 00:25:01,931
Next time you'll get hit.

219
00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:06,210
Both stop,
otherwise I'll send you on guard.

220
00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:14,571
One thing worried us.

221
00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,724
Were the guards reliable?

222
00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:24,286
They had to look over the parapet
to see if they saw the enemy coming.

223
00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:28,842
All day and all night long.

224
00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:31,401
And not all men are heroes.

225
00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:40,161
In the South the French artillery was active
participated in the bombing.

226
00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:45,803
They had 900 guns
at 13 kilometers:

227
00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:51,126
four times as many guns per kilometer
like the British.

228
00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:55,046
Coordinates.
- Left 500 meters.

229
00:25:55,200 --> 00:26:00,764
They also had experience.
- Right. 95 meters.

230
00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:05,323
Charles Barberon had already served two years
in the artillery.

231
00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:12,847
It is a methodical bombardment.
Every entry is tracked.

232
00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:17,248
This takes a very long time.

233
00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:21,769
The Germans now know
what awaits them.

234
00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:27,450
This takes time.
We have to take out the machine guns.

235
00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:30,285
Correction.

236
00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:35,765
The Germans hardly react.

237
00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:39,083
They probably don't have many guns here.

238
00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:52,449
On the third day
of the bombing...

239
00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:57,845
air scouts report
that the German front line has been destroyed.

240
00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:03,325
The trenches were broken
and the lines of communication cut off.

241
00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:12,045
It's me.

242
00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:17,525
For soldier Eversmann
the situation had already deteriorated considerably.

243
00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:23,161
From the machine guns.
- Did they have anything left?

244
00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:25,448
Not everyone took their share.

245
00:27:32,120 --> 00:27:34,566
How long will this continue?

246
00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:41,080
In the last twelve hours
60,000 shells landed here.

247
00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:43,641
Communication has been cut off.

248
00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:48,365
Is there any news from the rearguard?

249
00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:51,005
No.

250
00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:05,166
They want us to starve.

251
00:28:06,120 --> 00:28:07,884
That's not possible.

252
00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:16,481
This cannot continue for much longer.
They'll soon run out of ammunition.

253
00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:21,885
But when do they attack?
Tomorrow? The day after tomorrow?

254
00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:25,164
Who knows?

255
00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:37,170
After four days and four nights
to have been bombed...

256
00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:41,530
thought Eversmann
to make his final note.

257
00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:49,806
I'm starting to freak out.

258
00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:53,203
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

259
00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:58,810
There is almost nothing to eat or drink
and I'm not getting any sleep.

260
00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:09,684
There is no contact with the outside world.
Is this hell not long enough?

261
00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:16,771
Just in case, my loved ones
don't see anymore...

262
00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:19,491
I give them a farewell greeting.

263
00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:30,767
On the day before the attack
Rawlinson's plan seemed to be effective.

264
00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:35,608
He thought the German
defense line had been destroyed.

265
00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:40,288
Along the entire front,
his soldiers prepared...

266
00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:45,970
before the fight they fought for two years
had previously registered for.

267
00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:53,124
Just put it there.

268
00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:02,684
Captain Charlie May reports
of the period just before the attack.

269
00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:08,851
More orders. They just keep coming.

270
00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:13,005
It is happening gradually
a big mountain of paper.

271
00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:21,244
I get the feeling we're still getting started
are going to lose because of all the bureaucracy.

272
00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:29,645
Rawlinson took this into account in his plan
with every soldier.

273
00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:34,890
Company A comes on the left.

274
00:30:35,040 --> 00:30:38,408
And us, Company B, and Company D.

275
00:30:39,720 --> 00:30:42,883
We are in the first wave of attacks.

276
00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:49,081
We follow the bombardment
up to Black Trench.

277
00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:51,527
A peaceful walk.

278
00:30:51,680 --> 00:30:56,891
Then the bombardment is targeted
on to the next goal...

279
00:30:57,040 --> 00:30:59,486
there in Danzig Alley.

280
00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:05,568
Then we focus on the end goal,
which is located here and here.

281
00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:10,009
Sergeant.

282
00:31:10,160 --> 00:31:15,087
Every tenth man carries
a shiny piece of metal on his back...

283
00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:19,325
so that the artillery
can track our progress.

284
00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:21,528
And if the sun doesn't shine?

285
00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:25,401
It has its headquarters there
taken care of.

286
00:31:27,240 --> 00:31:29,322
Finally.

287
00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:33,041
The word retreat is forbidden.

288
00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:38,809
If it is used, that is
a snare of the enemy. Ignore it.

289
00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:44,125
Nice. Go on, Sergeant.

290
00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:51,806
Captain Charlie May
and his 250 soldiers...

291
00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:57,364
would launch the attack at 150 meters
of the German line at Mametz.

292
00:32:00,320 --> 00:32:03,688
They had a series of trenches
take...

293
00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:07,925
ending at Bunny Alley
and Fritz Trench.

294
00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:22,691
But only one day
before the attack would be launched...

295
00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:27,368
it started to rain heavily
and a thick mist descended.

296
00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:31,810
Due to poor visibility...

297
00:32:31,960 --> 00:32:37,569
Rawlinson concluded the attack
postponed by 48 hours until July 1.

298
00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:47,448
The 120,000 soldiers
who were ready for the attack...

299
00:32:47,600 --> 00:32:50,729
were ordered to wait.

300
00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:05,002
We're still here.
There is plenty of speculation.

301
00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:08,960
And wild rumors are going around.

302
00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:12,203
We're just twiddling our thumbs.

303
00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:18,691
This one's for you.
- Come on then, Thomas.

304
00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:23,441
We're so dressed up for nothing.

305
00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:36,609
All messages today are excellent.

306
00:33:36,760 --> 00:33:40,287
It seems like an opportune moment
to attack.

307
00:33:54,520 --> 00:34:00,801
The night before the attack it moved
22nd Battalion finally to the front.

308
00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:26,925
In addition to the standard equipment
they had 250 bullets with them...

309
00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:32,086
two hand grenades,
a waterproof sheet, a sandbag...

310
00:34:32,240 --> 00:34:37,929
emergency rations, a gas mask, a
wire cutters, a pickaxe and a shovel.

311
00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:42,051
The strongest soldiers
carried the heaviest things.

312
00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:48,963
Others took barbed wire,
field telephones and even carrier pigeons.

313
00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:55,888
They trusted so much
on the artillery...

314
00:34:56,040 --> 00:35:01,206
that they took everything they needed
to take the trenches.

315
00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:14,601
Sergeant Tawney described
his feelings at that moment.

316
00:35:21,160 --> 00:35:26,405
The overwhelming tranquility
of the air and the terrain...

317
00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:33,205
united us all, friend and foe,
in his inevitable embrace...

318
00:35:33,360 --> 00:35:39,288
and did man's destructiveness
sink into insignificance.

319
00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:48,801
It was a perfect evening.

320
00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:55,090
We almost forgot
why we went to the trenches.

321
00:35:56,360 --> 00:35:58,567
Is that the new retirement home?

322
00:36:27,800 --> 00:36:34,490
Despite his confidence in the artillery,
Rawlinson was prepared to lose.

323
00:36:36,440 --> 00:36:41,287
He ordered eighteen ambulance trains
prepare.

324
00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:54,928
The American Mary Borden
had registered with the Red Cross.

325
00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:59,608
She had set up a mobile hospital
for the French army.

326
00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:06,810
Ten kilometers from here
the men are injured.

327
00:37:06,960 --> 00:37:09,361
They are cared for here.

328
00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:14,280
We'll send the men
into the barbed wire.

329
00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:21,005
They come back one by one
on stretchers in ambulances.

330
00:37:23,080 --> 00:37:26,323
We ignore their right to die.

331
00:37:26,480 --> 00:37:32,044
We experiment with their bones,
their muscles and their blood.

332
00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:34,441
Are you fully informed?

333
00:37:35,720 --> 00:37:37,290
Good.

334
00:37:37,440 --> 00:37:40,410
Miss. I love you.

335
00:37:43,840 --> 00:37:46,161
They try not to cry.

336
00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:52,331
They often apologize
when they die.

337
00:37:57,720 --> 00:38:04,080
Pushing the night before the attack
120,000 soldiers are in the trenches.

338
00:38:05,240 --> 00:38:09,848
The bombardment continued
until the moment of the attack:

339
00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:13,686
half past seven in the morning, zero hour.

340
00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:25,687
Cyril Jose was now seventeen.
He was on the front line at Ovillers.

341
00:38:30,280 --> 00:38:33,841
Dear mother.
Sorry I'm only writing again now.

342
00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:38,642
We had to go into the trenches
and it was too humid there.

343
00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:44,045
The weather is good, but the Krauts
make themselves heard.

344
00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:47,204
We hear many larks singing.

345
00:38:47,360 --> 00:38:51,649
We hear them in the morning
just before morning roll call.

346
00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:55,850
If you're wondering if I've grown
or arrived...

347
00:38:56,000 --> 00:39:01,131
I've gotten a little bigger and fatter.
I'm already 1 meter 69.

348
00:39:01,280 --> 00:39:04,807
When I signed up,
I was just under 5 feet tall.

349
00:39:04,960 --> 00:39:11,525
I'll write again as soon as possible.
God bless you. Love, Cyril.

350
00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:26,044
The Germans know all about it.
There's a sign there:

351
00:39:26,200 --> 00:39:30,091
When the bombardment begins,
we withdraw.

352
00:39:30,240 --> 00:39:35,929
Kitchener is fed up. It's you
was fed up and so were we. Go home.

353
00:39:42,040 --> 00:39:48,161
At midnight Tawney's battalion
still not taken his position.

354
00:39:54,960 --> 00:40:01,320
There's nothing more annoying
as if having to stop every ten meters.

355
00:40:02,440 --> 00:40:07,651
Especially when you are tired and
with a gun over your shoulder.

356
00:40:16,360 --> 00:40:20,524
What's going on?
- There's a traffic jam.

357
00:40:30,200 --> 00:40:32,248
Get those men out of here.

358
00:40:50,400 --> 00:40:51,765
Sorry, buddy.

359
00:41:09,160 --> 00:41:13,802
Not until two in the morning
they reached their position.

360
00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:27,048
What is that good for?

361
00:41:28,760 --> 00:41:30,330
For nothing.

362
00:41:31,520 --> 00:41:35,047
I'll take this too.
- You must be kidding.

363
00:41:35,200 --> 00:41:38,488
Just wait until you see
what the Krauts have.

364
00:41:38,640 --> 00:41:41,769
Such long butcher knives.

365
00:41:48,320 --> 00:41:49,685
For you.

366
00:41:55,680 --> 00:41:59,366
The order has been given.
Zero hour is at half past seven.

367
00:42:04,160 --> 00:42:07,164
I just heard them singing the Marseillaise.

368
00:42:09,720 --> 00:42:12,166
You know...
- I know it.

369
00:42:14,040 --> 00:42:18,682
I don't give a damn about France.
The Krauts can have it that way.

370
00:42:20,480 --> 00:42:22,608
But here we are.

371
00:42:24,120 --> 00:42:27,090
And we won't be messed with.

372
00:42:31,560 --> 00:42:37,886
Charlie May realized he was attacking
might not survive.

373
00:42:44,880 --> 00:42:48,441
I shouldn't
thinking about personal matters.

374
00:42:51,120 --> 00:42:56,126
There is no room for that here.
Moreover, it is discouraging.

375
00:42:59,960 --> 00:43:01,962
But I don't want to die.

376
00:43:03,600 --> 00:43:07,730
For myself it doesn't matter to me.
I'm ready.

377
00:43:12,240 --> 00:43:16,689
But the thought that I have you and our child
won't see again...

378
00:43:21,160 --> 00:43:24,050
gives me courage
sink in.

379
00:43:26,640 --> 00:43:31,407
I can't think about it
without losing my peace of mind.

380
00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:44,440
Perhaps these rules are necessary
not to impress too much.

381
00:43:48,840 --> 00:43:51,081
But it could also be the case...

382
00:43:52,600 --> 00:43:55,843
that this is my last message to you.

383
00:44:23,560 --> 00:44:26,450
You should never forget...

384
00:44:26,600 --> 00:44:31,288
that I love you dearly
and kept the little one.

385
00:44:31,440 --> 00:44:34,808
And that you do everything for me
have meant.

386
00:44:52,200 --> 00:44:55,044
I pray that I can do my duty.

387
00:44:57,440 --> 00:44:59,727
You wouldn't have it any other way.

388
00:45:11,000 --> 00:45:14,288
On Saturday, July 1, 1916...

389
00:45:14,440 --> 00:45:18,764
the British army was ready
for their biggest attack.

390
00:45:18,920 --> 00:45:25,530
The inexperienced army of volunteers
was subjected to the ultimate test.

391
00:45:47,240 --> 00:45:52,121
Sergeant Tawney was a witness
of the latest bombings.

392
00:46:08,320 --> 00:46:11,324
It wasn't noise
just a symphony.

393
00:46:12,360 --> 00:46:15,603
The sound lingered above us.

394
00:46:15,760 --> 00:46:22,006
It seemed as if the air was filled
of moans and sighs.

395
00:46:22,160 --> 00:46:27,564
Anyone who looked up was filled with disgust
by the tormented elements.

396
00:46:35,280 --> 00:46:40,650
The Second Middlesex Battalion
had to cover the greatest distance.

397
00:46:40,800 --> 00:46:45,761
It was about 750 meters of no man's land
which was called Mash Valley.

398
00:47:02,480 --> 00:47:06,963
Alfred Bundy had his officer training
just completed.

399
00:47:07,120 --> 00:47:10,124
He kept a diary at the front.

400
00:47:11,880 --> 00:47:15,851
It is said
that they will not resist.

401
00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:21,245
We've been bombing the Germans for days.
The lines have been pulverized.

402
00:47:21,400 --> 00:47:23,971
There can be no survivors.

403
00:47:26,960 --> 00:47:28,371
Lieutenant.

404
00:47:29,600 --> 00:47:31,807
Get those men down.

405
00:47:32,880 --> 00:47:35,201
It'll be easy, sir.

406
00:47:35,360 --> 00:47:40,002
It won't be that at all.
Take them down immediately.

407
00:47:47,280 --> 00:47:52,889
Predominated after the bombings
optimism among the British.

408
00:48:01,400 --> 00:48:07,601
In his diary, Captain Charlie May gave
expressing his concern.

409
00:48:10,280 --> 00:48:14,251
In any case, the trenches are
destroyed.

410
00:48:14,400 --> 00:48:17,643
But that doesn't apply
for the machine guns.

411
00:48:17,800 --> 00:48:21,327
As I write this,
we are being shot at.

412
00:48:23,880 --> 00:48:28,044
I hope they don't have too many victims
will make.

413
00:48:36,240 --> 00:48:42,043
Arthur Burke had his brother
already sent a possibly final letter.

414
00:48:47,000 --> 00:48:48,604
Dear Reg.

415
00:48:49,840 --> 00:48:54,641
This is a special letter.
Keep it until you hear from me again.

416
00:48:56,440 --> 00:49:01,480
At the moment it looks good.
Everyone is cheerful.

417
00:49:01,640 --> 00:49:04,371
We trust for a good outcome.

418
00:49:09,040 --> 00:49:13,090
Say hello
all my good old friends.

419
00:49:14,680 --> 00:49:19,288
Lots of love to mom, Tot, Monty
and the little ones.

420
00:49:20,840 --> 00:49:23,684
I say goodbye and not goodbye.

421
00:49:24,800 --> 00:49:27,929
Your loving brother, Paddy.

422
00:49:41,240 --> 00:49:42,844
Fifteen minutes.

423
00:49:50,320 --> 00:49:52,846
Richard H. Tawney...

424
00:49:53,000 --> 00:49:56,288
above all, he did not want to neglect his duty.

425
00:50:02,680 --> 00:50:07,481
Suppose that is your fault
others get injured.

426
00:50:07,640 --> 00:50:11,247
Suppose your legs refuse service.

427
00:50:21,080 --> 00:50:23,924
Man always walks along an abyss.

428
00:50:24,960 --> 00:50:30,490
No one knows what he is capable of
until he collapses. And then it's too late.

429
00:50:32,880 --> 00:50:35,406
Your watch, Harry. Can I?

430
00:50:44,320 --> 00:50:45,924
Just give me a moment.

431
00:50:57,400 --> 00:50:58,890
Success.

432
00:51:01,960 --> 00:51:03,962
See you in Danzig Alley.

433
00:51:14,320 --> 00:51:20,771
Don't scream and don't run.
And above all, don't walk in a bunch.

434
00:51:34,280 --> 00:51:39,047
Dear Ivy. I'll write some more lines
before being picked up by post.

435
00:51:40,240 --> 00:51:43,244
I'll be getting some leave soon.

436
00:51:43,400 --> 00:51:49,806
Is Myrtle getting some color again?
The war causes so much misery.

437
00:51:49,960 --> 00:51:54,284
For now I say goodbye.
Lots of love, Cyril.

438
00:52:01,600 --> 00:52:04,171
Six kilometers behind the front...

439
00:52:04,320 --> 00:52:09,360
Rawlinson watched
how his plan was put into action.

440
00:52:16,120 --> 00:52:17,485
Now.

441
00:52:20,720 --> 00:52:22,722
Come on then.

442
00:53:03,560 --> 00:53:05,927
Goddammit.

443
00:53:10,640 --> 00:53:12,802
Why don't we just go?

444
00:53:23,720 --> 00:53:27,361
Right on schedule,
at half past eight in the morning...

445
00:53:27,520 --> 00:53:33,050
abandoned along the entire front
60,000 soldiers in their trenches...

446
00:53:33,200 --> 00:53:35,965
and they entered no man's land.

447
00:53:38,880 --> 00:53:40,689
You'll stay with me, right?

448
00:53:42,040 --> 00:53:46,489
You'll see me, Jimmy.
- You'll stay with me, won't you?

449
00:53:46,640 --> 00:53:51,567
It's just a small piece
to the other side.

450
00:54:17,480 --> 00:54:21,530
Lieutenant Cassel
had survived the bombing.

451
00:54:21,680 --> 00:54:23,330
My god.

452
00:54:23,480 --> 00:54:25,289
Machine guns.

453
00:54:25,440 --> 00:54:28,683
The time has come.

454
00:54:31,440 --> 00:54:33,647
Hurry up.

455
00:54:35,200 --> 00:54:39,489
The end of the bombardment
was the sign...

456
00:54:39,640 --> 00:54:44,089
to leave the bunker
and defend the front line.

457
00:54:54,560 --> 00:55:00,363
We're still alive, guys.
The moles have left their holes.

458
00:55:00,520 --> 00:55:01,885
They're coming.

459
00:55:03,920 --> 00:55:05,843
They're coming.

460
00:55:15,360 --> 00:55:20,844
The 22nd Manchester Battalion
led the attack on Mametz.

461
00:55:35,600 --> 00:55:37,489
Spread out.

462
00:55:37,640 --> 00:55:43,124
There were nine hundred meters of rough terrain
between us and the first trench.

463
00:55:43,280 --> 00:55:45,123
Don't walk on top of each other.

464
00:55:45,280 --> 00:55:50,844
The next trench was 1500 meters away
further on. We had to wait there.

465
00:55:58,240 --> 00:56:05,010
The colonel saw us going up the stairs.
His last words were: How wonderful.

466
00:56:06,760 --> 00:56:09,843
We walked six steps apart.

467
00:56:14,200 --> 00:56:18,046
It seemed like we still...
were on the training ground.

468
00:56:27,440 --> 00:56:33,607
The Second Middlesex Battalion
was half way to Mash Valley.

469
00:56:38,040 --> 00:56:40,930
Stay in formation at the back.

470
00:56:41,080 --> 00:56:45,768
This was the first time
that Lieutenant Bundy was leading a platoon.

471
00:56:47,520 --> 00:56:52,686
My platoon stayed in formation
until we were almost at the German line.

472
00:56:52,840 --> 00:56:55,320
Stay in formation, Middlesex.

473
00:56:59,440 --> 00:57:01,249
Here they come.

474
00:57:01,400 --> 00:57:03,209
The cowards in khaki.

475
00:57:22,040 --> 00:57:23,610
Shooting distance...

476
00:57:25,600 --> 00:57:27,170
three hundred meters.

477
00:57:31,560 --> 00:57:32,971
Finished.

478
00:57:33,120 --> 00:57:35,088
Firework.

479
00:57:43,200 --> 00:57:44,565
Lie.

480
00:58:17,320 --> 00:58:23,566
I shouted 'lie down', but who hasn't
had been hit, had already taken cover.

481
00:58:29,360 --> 00:58:33,570
From all directions
came moans and screams.

482
00:58:37,520 --> 00:58:43,004
The second one was a little further away
Devonshire battalion on the attack.

483
00:58:45,800 --> 00:58:49,122
Cyril Jose sat
during the first wave of attacks.

484
00:59:04,560 --> 00:59:10,203
It felt just like the song: Over
the top and never come back again.

485
00:59:15,920 --> 00:59:19,891
People say you're going crazy.
That's not true.

486
00:59:20,040 --> 00:59:24,841
I've never felt so calm.
That did surprise me.

487
00:59:37,400 --> 00:59:40,290
But the reception surprised me more.

488
00:59:47,840 --> 00:59:52,607
We had of course
expect a single sniper.

489
01:00:03,040 --> 01:00:05,247
Do you know what a hail storm is like?

490
01:00:05,400 --> 01:00:10,042
You had that much chance
to avoid the bullets and shards.

491
01:00:17,840 --> 01:00:22,687
The Krauts had me
been used as a target for thirteen months.

492
01:00:22,840 --> 01:00:26,845
They pelted us
with anything and everything.

493
01:00:39,920 --> 01:00:44,164
But eventually they hit me
only in my shoulder.

494
01:00:46,880 --> 01:00:49,486
That must have been the sniper.

495
01:00:56,720 --> 01:01:03,410
The Manchesters had by now
their first trench taken...

496
01:01:03,560 --> 01:01:05,801
in fifteen minutes.

497
01:01:11,320 --> 01:01:14,529
They still had three more trenches to go
take.

498
01:01:21,640 --> 01:01:26,248
If it goes like this all the time,
it will be a piece of cake.

499
01:01:33,800 --> 01:01:37,088
I don't like touching injured people.

500
01:01:37,240 --> 01:01:38,969
It's cowardly of me.

501
01:01:39,120 --> 01:01:41,964
I'll see him. Just keep working.

502
01:01:45,640 --> 01:01:49,281
You're hurting them
and you can't do much.

503
01:02:04,400 --> 01:02:07,563
Leave the wounded behind,
we continue.

504
01:02:08,680 --> 01:02:10,409
The time has come, guys.

505
01:02:16,520 --> 01:02:20,286
As they walked on
to their next goal...

506
01:02:20,440 --> 01:02:23,967
they were three minutes behind
on schedule.

507
01:02:27,680 --> 01:02:33,244
The bombardment they cover
would give, had already been moved...

508
01:02:33,400 --> 01:02:37,200
so that the Germans
could resume their posts.

509
01:03:03,720 --> 01:03:08,408
Meanwhile General Rawlinson arrived
to headquarters.

510
01:03:10,480 --> 01:03:15,042
'Enemy bombardment weak.'
I know that too.

511
01:03:17,280 --> 01:03:20,045
Has anything changed recently?

512
01:03:20,200 --> 01:03:22,202
From the eighth division.

513
01:03:28,560 --> 01:03:33,168
Gentlemen.
We have broken through the German line.

514
01:03:37,280 --> 01:03:40,966
The first reports were positive.

515
01:03:41,120 --> 01:03:46,160
But in reality
the attack went smoothly.

516
01:03:46,320 --> 01:03:52,726
Only at Mametz, next to the French one
sector, they had managed to break through.

517
01:03:55,680 --> 01:03:59,162
Keep shooting.
Take out that Maxim.

518
01:04:01,240 --> 01:04:04,562
Leave him behind.
Go to Sergeant Tawney.

519
01:04:04,720 --> 01:04:10,363
The Manchesters had arrived by now
come under heavy fire.

520
01:04:13,760 --> 01:04:15,410
How could this happen?

521
01:04:30,840 --> 01:04:34,049
The Germans were
as brave as lions.

522
01:04:36,000 --> 01:04:39,686
It was insane.
You couldn't miss them.

523
01:04:43,480 --> 01:04:47,041
Every man I fired at fell,
except one.

524
01:04:48,920 --> 01:04:52,083
Him, the bravest,
I missed several times.

525
01:04:57,760 --> 01:05:00,286
I didn't want to hurt him.

526
01:05:01,960 --> 01:05:04,531
I just didn't want to miss.

527
01:05:10,680 --> 01:05:13,081
That's the worst thing about war.

528
01:05:14,120 --> 01:05:16,122
The frivolity of it.

529
01:05:17,760 --> 01:05:21,651
You change
in a kind of naughty monkey...

530
01:05:21,800 --> 01:05:24,406
who completes God's image.

531
01:05:26,840 --> 01:05:28,842
May God forgive us.

532
01:05:37,520 --> 01:05:41,047
At half past eight
the attack had been going on for an hour...

533
01:05:41,200 --> 01:05:45,524
and there were 60,000 British soldiers
deployed in battle.

534
01:05:46,920 --> 01:05:50,083
Not even a third of it
had achieved his goal.

535
01:05:51,800 --> 01:05:56,727
In just 60 minutes
there were 30,000 victims.

536
01:05:57,760 --> 01:06:01,810
Half of the first wave of attacks
was dead or injured.

537
01:06:11,520 --> 01:06:13,966
During the morning...

538
01:06:14,120 --> 01:06:18,284
another 60,000 soldiers were added
sent into battle.

539
01:06:23,400 --> 01:06:29,089
They faced a barrage
of German machine guns and artillery.

540
01:06:41,920 --> 01:06:47,563
For Lieutenant Cassel and his team
the troops were an easy target.

541
01:06:47,720 --> 01:06:49,165
More ammo.

542
01:06:53,960 --> 01:06:55,450
Come down.

543
01:06:55,600 --> 01:06:59,002
Down. Come down.

544
01:07:16,080 --> 01:07:19,846
Alfred Bundy's first experience
with the struggle...

545
01:07:20,000 --> 01:07:23,800
consisted of watching
how his platoon died.

546
01:07:31,240 --> 01:07:32,924
Are you okay?

547
01:07:36,320 --> 01:07:37,890
Where is he?

548
01:07:40,800 --> 01:07:43,929
The German line. Which way?

549
01:07:46,480 --> 01:07:48,005
That way.

550
01:08:07,080 --> 01:08:11,244
Mid-morning
tens of thousands of men lay...

551
01:08:11,400 --> 01:08:14,370
dead or injured in no man's land.

552
01:08:19,120 --> 01:08:25,765
General Rawlinson was told
that the attack did not go according to plan.

553
01:08:29,880 --> 01:08:34,010
I don't understand.
Both cannot be right.

554
01:08:34,160 --> 01:08:38,882
Are we standing strong or are we retreating?
- The 31st is in Serre.

555
01:08:39,040 --> 01:08:43,170
I would like to believe you,
but I don't know if that's possible.

556
01:08:43,320 --> 01:08:48,326
Tell Gough that the cavalry
is not deployed before 2 p.m.

557
01:08:53,200 --> 01:08:57,728
The one and only breakthrough
had taken place in the South.

558
01:08:59,200 --> 01:09:02,602
But because of
the confusing messages...

559
01:09:02,760 --> 01:09:07,402
he decided the cavalry
not yet deployable.

560
01:09:23,520 --> 01:09:29,641
Captain May and Sergeant Tawney
were in urgent need of reinforcement.

561
01:09:40,480 --> 01:09:42,721
We have twenty men left.

562
01:09:46,640 --> 01:09:48,768
Where is Company A?

563
01:09:50,160 --> 01:09:52,401
The right flank is uncovered.

564
01:09:53,600 --> 01:09:55,728
They can't be gone.

565
01:09:59,200 --> 01:10:00,690
I'll look for them.

566
01:10:08,880 --> 01:10:10,609
Guard.

567
01:10:10,760 --> 01:10:14,845
You there.
Three shots of rapid fire. Right now.

568
01:10:30,280 --> 01:10:36,561
Desperate for more men
Tawney returned to the British line.

569
01:10:40,080 --> 01:10:42,447
Of course it was idiotic.

570
01:10:42,600 --> 01:10:47,970
Why would Company A
came off better than we did?

571
01:10:48,120 --> 01:10:53,650
The thought of mass death
you need to be hammered into it...

572
01:10:53,800 --> 01:10:56,326
before you understand what it means.

573
01:11:22,000 --> 01:11:23,764
Reinforcement.

574
01:11:36,320 --> 01:11:37,890
Forward.

575
01:11:46,080 --> 01:11:50,608
Tawney's search for reinforcements
was over.

576
01:11:57,800 --> 01:12:01,805
Along the Somme
the French attack was successful.

577
01:12:01,960 --> 01:12:05,601
Henri Fraisse was present
at the battle of Curlu.

578
01:12:08,280 --> 01:12:14,731
We need artillery.
A bombardment at Curlu. 314.

579
01:12:16,640 --> 01:12:22,647
The area around Curlu needs to be
bombed. Coordinate 314.

580
01:12:22,800 --> 01:12:25,201
Over and close.

581
01:12:26,680 --> 01:12:32,369
I was with the troops that took Curlu.
We were almost captured.

582
01:12:35,880 --> 01:12:40,602
The French artillery
was more flexible than the British...

583
01:12:40,760 --> 01:12:44,401
and provided good support
to the infantry.

584
01:12:55,400 --> 01:12:59,485
Our artillery chased the Germans
quickly fleeing.

585
01:13:01,000 --> 01:13:02,809
To attack.

586
01:13:23,640 --> 01:13:27,725
I had captured a German helmet
and buried.

587
01:13:27,880 --> 01:13:32,761
I was afraid they would kill me
if we were captured.

588
01:13:39,080 --> 01:13:45,531
Around noon Rawlinson gave in
how much his plan had failed.

589
01:13:45,680 --> 01:13:48,570
Is it true?
Aren't we in Thiepval?

590
01:13:48,720 --> 01:13:50,768
Things were fierce there.

591
01:13:53,880 --> 01:13:56,804
And Serre?
- The battle is also fierce there.

592
01:13:58,120 --> 01:13:59,929
The French are through.

593
01:14:03,480 --> 01:14:07,371
They started later
and overtook us.

594
01:14:08,600 --> 01:14:10,602
They are waiting for us.

595
01:14:16,760 --> 01:14:18,364
The cavalry?

596
01:14:24,600 --> 01:14:27,968
General Haig wants to know
when it comes.

597
01:14:33,920 --> 01:14:39,051
At Mary Borden already
French victims brought in.

598
01:14:40,240 --> 01:14:45,883
I had to determine which ones were injured
could wait and which could not.

599
01:14:46,040 --> 01:14:51,922
If I made a mistake, someone could
to die before my eyes...

600
01:14:52,080 --> 01:14:54,367
when it shouldn't have been.

601
01:14:55,760 --> 01:14:58,684
Give him water when he asks for it.

602
01:14:58,840 --> 01:15:01,411
I recognize the signs...

603
01:15:01,560 --> 01:15:07,044
to what is on their card,
what they look like and how they feel.

604
01:15:09,640 --> 01:15:14,009
I feel the difference
between one kind of cold and another.

605
01:15:14,160 --> 01:15:19,041
The cold of the night
and the secret cold of death.

606
01:15:27,080 --> 01:15:29,606
This is the second battlefield.

607
01:15:33,640 --> 01:15:37,565
There is a fight
for the bodies of these men.

608
01:15:39,760 --> 01:15:44,971
Can you do lung surgery?
- In five minutes. Secure his arm.

609
01:15:45,120 --> 01:15:46,645
What are you doing?

610
01:15:48,720 --> 01:15:50,768
Now it's us who are fighting.

611
01:15:50,920 --> 01:15:53,400
With their real enemies.

612
01:16:00,200 --> 01:16:03,886
After eight days underground
to have sat...

613
01:16:04,080 --> 01:16:08,961
Eversmann still fought hard
to hold the German line.

614
01:16:20,320 --> 01:16:24,723
Alfred Bundy was already seated
since the beginning of the battle...

615
01:16:24,880 --> 01:16:28,441
in a shell hole
in no man's land.

616
01:16:34,600 --> 01:16:38,002
Sometimes I moved to the right or left...

617
01:16:38,160 --> 01:16:42,085
but I didn't come
through the hail of bullets.

618
01:16:42,240 --> 01:16:46,290
I was almost stuck in daylight
crawled back.

619
01:16:50,040 --> 01:16:56,161
I was afraid of being in the dark
panic would go in the wrong direction.

620
01:17:02,880 --> 01:17:07,647
Of the eight hundred men
from Lieutenant Bundy's battalion...

621
01:17:07,800 --> 01:17:11,282
540 were injured
or killed.

622
01:17:17,920 --> 01:17:24,769
In total there were on the British side
approximately 50,000 victims.

623
01:17:26,760 --> 01:17:32,324
The 16 stretchers per battalion
were completely inadequate.

624
01:17:39,600 --> 01:17:46,324
Thousands of men died in it
no man's land to their injuries.

625
01:17:50,120 --> 01:17:52,043
So this is what it is like to die.

626
01:18:21,840 --> 01:18:26,323
I don't know how others experience it
when they are injured.

627
01:18:34,080 --> 01:18:38,847
To me it felt like I
was hit with a hammer...

628
01:18:39,000 --> 01:18:42,641
by an unimaginably strong giant...

629
01:18:42,800 --> 01:18:47,408
and then in a sickening way
had been wrung out.

630
01:19:02,840 --> 01:19:05,127
Stretcher.

631
01:19:06,600 --> 01:19:08,250
Stretcher bearer.

632
01:19:11,320 --> 01:19:15,245
It was natural
a stupid, cowardly action.

633
01:19:15,400 --> 01:19:17,767
Stretcher bearers.

634
01:19:19,000 --> 01:19:23,688
They couldn't hear me
and otherwise they would not have come.

635
01:19:28,360 --> 01:19:31,250
I asked them to commit suicide.

636
01:19:36,640 --> 01:19:39,211
But I had lost my self-respect.

637
01:19:54,400 --> 01:19:58,041
The French had great successes
booked.

638
01:19:59,240 --> 01:20:03,529
They had thousands of Germans
taken prisoner of war.

639
01:20:11,080 --> 01:20:16,962
Charles Barberon thought
about the price of victory.

640
01:20:17,120 --> 01:20:20,090
They don't seem to regret their fate.

641
01:20:24,200 --> 01:20:27,886
They have done their duty,
because I had to.

642
01:20:33,000 --> 01:20:36,209
What's the point?
to condemn them?

643
01:20:40,680 --> 01:20:45,846
The real culprits
sit safely out of reach.

644
01:20:56,000 --> 01:20:58,446
After fighting for six hours...

645
01:20:58,600 --> 01:21:03,367
had the Manchesters
Danzig Alley still not taken.

646
01:21:03,520 --> 01:21:10,165
Captain Charlie May didn't know that
Sergeant Tawney was injured.

647
01:21:10,320 --> 01:21:14,689
Ready, guys?
One, two, three. Come along.

648
01:21:30,360 --> 01:21:34,046
Stab them to death.
Stab them to death, men.

649
01:21:34,200 --> 01:21:40,731
Arthur Burke described how they felt
made their way through the trenches.

650
01:21:45,080 --> 01:21:46,605
It was hell.

651
01:21:46,760 --> 01:21:50,446
Our main task
was throwing bombs.

652
01:21:51,560 --> 01:21:55,121
We mainly threw smoke bombs.

653
01:21:55,280 --> 01:22:00,684
Then the dogs came out.
Crawling. Half dead.

654
01:22:04,360 --> 01:22:06,681
We stabbed all those bastards to death.

655
01:22:13,200 --> 01:22:17,842
They raised their hands
and cried: Mercy, comrade.

656
01:22:18,000 --> 01:22:21,288
They could get that, but not really.

657
01:22:21,440 --> 01:22:24,649
Stitch them. Stab them to death.

658
01:22:34,160 --> 01:22:38,768
Albert Andrews was shocked
when he saw the enemy up close.

659
01:22:54,960 --> 01:22:58,646
Please, sir. Please let me live.

660
01:22:58,800 --> 01:23:05,729
I have three daughters, the youngest is only just
two. My wife is on her own.

661
01:23:05,880 --> 01:23:10,522
I had my bayonet pointed at his chest.
He was shaking with fear.

662
01:23:10,680 --> 01:23:14,571
He looked half crazy.
He said something I didn't understand.

663
01:23:14,720 --> 01:23:18,964
You can have everything from me,
but don't kill me.

664
01:23:19,120 --> 01:23:21,726
I beg you.

665
01:23:21,880 --> 01:23:25,805
I only understood
that he didn't want to die.

666
01:23:29,120 --> 01:23:30,690
Get out of the way.

667
01:23:31,960 --> 01:23:35,806
Please have mercy.
- I'll do it.

668
01:23:35,960 --> 01:23:40,887
I'm only human.
I didn't want this war either.

669
01:23:41,040 --> 01:23:45,090
Think of my poor wife and children.
- Look.

670
01:23:45,240 --> 01:23:49,802
Look at him.
- I beg you. Have pity.

671
01:23:55,760 --> 01:23:58,161
Get out. Grease him.

672
01:24:02,680 --> 01:24:04,682
What_you.

673
01:24:08,000 --> 01:24:10,287
Stand still.

674
01:24:10,440 --> 01:24:12,408
That's for my brother.

675
01:24:13,520 --> 01:24:16,410
And for the winter in the trench.

676
01:24:31,200 --> 01:24:37,003
That's how it went down the line.
Not a single German was spared.

677
01:24:38,800 --> 01:24:41,121
All the wounded were killed.

678
01:24:45,360 --> 01:24:48,648
No direct order had been given.

679
01:24:48,800 --> 01:24:53,408
But it was clear
that this was the intention.

680
01:24:53,560 --> 01:24:57,531
That's how it went
at the second German trench.

681
01:24:57,680 --> 01:24:59,170
And on the third.

682
01:25:03,280 --> 01:25:06,363
We captured too many.

683
01:25:06,520 --> 01:25:11,401
Well, a thousand. They didn't deserve it
to be spared.

684
01:25:11,560 --> 01:25:16,851
We confiscated many weapons.
All souvenirs.

685
01:25:17,000 --> 01:25:20,083
But the best souvenir is my life.

686
01:25:22,160 --> 01:25:26,927
Pray to God, Reg. And thank him
that he spared me.

687
01:25:40,520 --> 01:25:43,649
Charlie May had not been so lucky.

688
01:25:43,800 --> 01:25:47,441
His body was outside Danzig Alley.

689
01:25:47,600 --> 01:25:50,001
No one saw him die.

690
01:25:52,720 --> 01:25:54,882
Goodbye, my love.

691
01:25:57,480 --> 01:26:00,450
You should never forget...

692
01:26:00,600 --> 01:26:04,650
that I love you and the little one so much
have kept.

693
01:26:06,880 --> 01:26:11,329
And that you two everything
have meant to me.

694
01:26:20,400 --> 01:26:25,884
May's battalion had reached its objective,
but at a price.

695
01:26:28,760 --> 01:26:33,482
Out of 820 soldiers
from the 22nd Manchester Battalion...

696
01:26:33,640 --> 01:26:39,363
472 were killed,
injured or missing.

697
01:26:50,120 --> 01:26:53,886
Despite the British breakthrough
at Mametz...

698
01:26:54,040 --> 01:27:00,685
was the attack for the most part
repulsed by the Germans.

699
01:27:12,360 --> 01:27:17,287
Lieutenant Cassel had been wounded
in the battle of Thiepval.

700
01:27:19,600 --> 01:27:24,686
He was only able to leave his post in the afternoon
to be treated.

701
01:27:27,560 --> 01:27:32,521
After half an hour it becomes clear
that the attack has been repulsed.

702
01:27:37,240 --> 01:27:41,404
Hartbrich lives,
but suffers from gas poisoning.

703
01:27:42,440 --> 01:27:47,162
Captain Meschenbier
has had a heart attack.

704
01:27:49,320 --> 01:27:53,405
Only a few from the second line
still alive.

705
01:28:02,280 --> 01:28:09,323
The Germans were only in the south
driven from their trenches.

706
01:28:16,960 --> 01:28:22,171
Charles Barberon stepped first
into the newly liberated village of Curlu.

707
01:28:26,280 --> 01:28:31,081
Never before have I seen such devastation
experienced.

708
01:28:31,240 --> 01:28:35,768
There is in the whole village
not a single house remained intact.

709
01:28:35,920 --> 01:28:37,445
Catholics.

710
01:28:40,080 --> 01:28:42,811
They must have come from Bavaria.

711
01:28:42,960 --> 01:28:49,047
Even the people who once lived here
wouldn't recognize their houses.

712
01:28:57,200 --> 01:29:03,731
It was not yet clear that this was the
blackest day for the British army was.

713
01:29:06,720 --> 01:29:11,681
But out of 120,000 soldiers
that Rawlinson had deployed...

714
01:29:11,840 --> 01:29:15,731
was almost half
eliminated in battle.

715
01:29:15,880 --> 01:29:19,726
More than 19,000 soldiers
had been killed.

716
01:29:28,760 --> 01:29:32,082
Of the 35,000 injured
on the battlefield...

717
01:29:32,240 --> 01:29:36,245
became only a fraction
taken to a hospital.

718
01:29:38,880 --> 01:29:45,331
Thousands died in no man's land
of wounds that could be healed.

719
01:30:39,120 --> 01:30:45,287
After lying still for hours
Tawney found by a medic.

720
01:30:50,600 --> 01:30:53,444
He must have been 25 at most...

721
01:30:53,600 --> 01:30:58,686
but his face
radiated love and understanding.

722
01:31:01,080 --> 01:31:06,962
He listened like an angel
to my confused story.

723
01:31:07,120 --> 01:31:12,286
He said I was hit
by a bullet and gave me morphine.

724
01:31:13,760 --> 01:31:17,606
Later I realized that he was thinking
that I was lost.

725
01:31:17,760 --> 01:31:23,403
But then I felt his divine compassion
felt, I didn't care anymore.

726
01:31:30,920 --> 01:31:35,448
I was like a dog
who was always kicked by everyone...

727
01:31:35,600 --> 01:31:38,649
and who finally found an owner.

728
01:32:57,680 --> 01:33:00,923
We are your spirits...

729
01:33:01,080 --> 01:33:07,361
in this game played by monkeys
and organized by lunatics.

730
01:33:18,040 --> 01:33:23,604
At Mary Borden's hospital
the wounded continued to pour in.

731
01:33:34,600 --> 01:33:39,731
The air was filled
of sweat, mud, dirt and blood.

732
01:33:44,400 --> 01:33:50,089
I don't feel hungry or tired.
I'm too busy.

733
01:33:54,760 --> 01:33:56,888
Please come with me.
- I'm busy.

734
01:33:57,040 --> 01:33:59,008
We need you.

735
01:34:01,400 --> 01:34:04,051
It is an image from eternity.

736
01:34:04,200 --> 01:34:09,001
This is some kind of hell
but I'm glad I work here.

737
01:34:09,160 --> 01:34:11,128
I belong here.

738
01:34:14,480 --> 01:34:18,849
The wounded and me
are connected to each other.

739
01:34:19,000 --> 01:34:23,130
It's an Englishman.
What is he doing here?

740
01:34:26,160 --> 01:34:27,810
English?

741
01:34:29,480 --> 01:34:33,246
You were hit in the stomach.
It'll be fine.

742
01:34:36,080 --> 01:34:38,082
Give him morphine.

743
01:34:40,520 --> 01:34:47,085
We feel the same throbbing in our bodies.
That one thing. That one life.

744
01:34:47,240 --> 01:34:50,926
We are one suffering and bleeding body.

745
01:34:55,520 --> 01:35:00,606
Private Eversmann was
one of the 8,000 German victims.

746
01:35:00,760 --> 01:35:04,845
His diary became
found on the evening of July 1.

747
01:35:05,920 --> 01:35:09,720
How will this end?
God knows.

748
01:35:11,240 --> 01:35:14,483
Will I make it to the next morning?

749
01:35:25,000 --> 01:35:29,722
The Allies wanted the offensive
don't give up.

750
01:35:31,160 --> 01:35:36,644
Despite the wounded left behind
the battle continued on July 2.

751
01:36:04,520 --> 01:36:08,366
17-year-old Cyril Jose had been lucky.

752
01:36:08,520 --> 01:36:13,845
He was quickly injured
and was evacuated to England.

753
01:36:18,560 --> 01:36:20,881
Dear Ivy.

754
01:36:21,040 --> 01:36:24,681
I couldn't until the next day
back to our line.

755
01:36:24,840 --> 01:36:29,528
There was nothing to eat. I drank
from the water bottles of the dead.

756
01:36:37,040 --> 01:36:40,089
At six o'clock I started crawling back.

757
01:36:40,240 --> 01:36:45,963
The Germans kept shooting at me,
but I managed to dodge the bullets.

758
01:36:53,880 --> 01:36:58,841
From our battalion some appeared
after the fight 27 on roll call.

759
01:36:59,000 --> 01:37:04,211
Just imagine.
27 soldiers from a battalion of 1000.

760
01:37:06,320 --> 01:37:08,482
Thanks for the money order.

761
01:37:08,640 --> 01:37:12,531
Greetings to mom, dad and Myrtle.
Cyril.

762
01:37:18,880 --> 01:37:24,091
Can you give me a notebook
and send some stamps?

763
01:37:34,840 --> 01:37:40,563
Like many others, Charlie became May
buried where he had fallen.

764
01:38:20,800 --> 01:38:25,806
In the days that followed, a shock wave passed
about Great Britain.

765
01:38:25,960 --> 01:38:31,569
Via thousands of telegrams
reported to mothers and wives...

766
01:38:31,720 --> 01:38:34,246
that their men did not return.

767
01:38:38,480 --> 01:38:43,122
The Battle of the Somme
continued to grow.

768
01:38:43,280 --> 01:38:46,727
It was a bloody one
war of attrition...

769
01:38:46,880 --> 01:38:52,523
which finally ended in November 1916
went out like a candle.

770
01:38:52,680 --> 01:38:58,687
He ended up in about the same place
where he started.

771
01:38:58,840 --> 01:39:02,322
Both armies had bled to death.

772
01:39:02,480 --> 01:39:09,807
The total number of victims
on the British, French and German sides...

773
01:39:09,960 --> 01:39:15,569
amounted to more than one million
dead, injured and missing.

774
01:39:15,720 --> 01:39:17,085
[Dutch]
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