The battle was over. Our casualties were some thirteen thousand killed--thirteen thousand minds, memories, loves, sensations, worlds, universes--because the human mind is more a universe than the universe itself--and all for a few hundred yards of useless mud.

John Fowles
About This Quote

The Battle of the Somme was a disastrous battle fought on the Western Front of World War I. It was fought by the British and French armies between July 1, 1916 and November 18, 1916. The battle began as a diversion to disguise a major offensive by the French and Second armies. The aim of the attack was to capture the high ground near the French town of Bapaume, which overlooked the English positions on the Somme River.

The British and French were pushed back by constant German counterattacks, but they continued to lose ground until they reached a line of fortifications known as the Hindenburg Line. To hold their positions, they began digging in for a strategic defense. But once it became clear that there were no reinforcements coming to save them, they had to begin retreating.

Source: The Magus

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