The Battle of the Somme, fought in France, saw 1.2million men die over 141 days

Allied forces faced down a hailstorm of German machine gun rounds every day

Astonishing footage shows Kaiser's men launching counter-offensive en-masse

Sombre clip shows mud hurtling skyward in the barren fields of northern France

Described as the bloodiest moment of the most brutal conflict, the Battle of the Somme claimed so many lives it became synonymous with the First World War itself.

Some 1.2 million fell in the blood-stained fields as the Allied forces pushed forwards into a hailstorm of German machine gun rounds and explosives.

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Grave footage captures the moment German soldiers rushed through trenches and over No Man's Land during the Battle of the Somme as the Kaiser's men launched a daring counter-offensive against British and French troops.

Grave footage captures the moment German soldiers rushed through trenches and over No Man's Land during the Battle of the Somme as the Kaiser's men launched a daring counter-offensive against British and French troops

Capturing the bloodiest moments of an unsparing war, the video taken in 1916 shows soldiers running across the the barren fields of northern France as shells go off all around them - sending debris hurtling skyward.

Resurfacing this week, more than 100 years since one of histories most sanguinary campaigns, the footage shows young men darting through trenches in fear.

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The men can then be seen darting through trenches in an attempt to get out of the shelling area before the next one hits, with some fleeing into shell craters in a desperate attempt to save their own lives.

The Battle of the Somme is widely considered the deadliest battle of the First World War, with some estimates placing the number of British casualties at 400,000.

Some 1.2 million fell in the blood-stained fields as the Allied forces pushed forwards into a hailstorm of German machine gun rounds and explosives

Capturing the bloodiest moments of an unsparing war, the video taken in 1916 shows soldiers running across the the barren fields of northern France as shells go off all around them - sending debris hurtling skyward

The Battle of the Somme in numbers 7 days of artillery bombardment of the German lines before the battle started, aiming to cut the barbed wire and destroy trench defences and artillery

days of artillery bombardment of the German lines before the battle started, aiming to cut the barbed wire and destroy trench defences and artillery 1,500,000 artillery shells were fired by the Allies in that week, to little overall effect

artillery shells were fired by the Allies in that week, to little overall effect 57,470 British casualties on the first day

British casualties on the first day 19,240 British first-day casualties who died

British first-day casualties who died 60 percent of British officers involved on the first day were killed

percent of British officers involved on the first day were killed 141 days the battle lasted, from July 1 to November 18

days the battle lasted, from July 1 to November 18 419,654 British dead, missing or wounded

British dead, missing or wounded 1,300,000 casualties on both sides

casualties on both sides 6 miles covered by British soldiers by the end of the battle

miles covered by British soldiers by the end of the battle 49 Victoria Crosses awarded for valour during the battle

Victoria Crosses awarded for valour during the battle 150,000 graves in the area cared for in more than 250 military and 150 civilian cemeteries in the Somme area by the the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

graves in the area cared for in more than 250 military and 150 civilian cemeteries in the Somme area by the the Commonwealth War Graves Commission 72,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers died at the Somme but heve no known graves

The battle revolved around an Allied offensive against the Germans in northern France, where they hoped to break the German line and push them back.

However Allied tactics were hopelessly outdated, failing to adapt to the machine guns that were being used en-masse by the Germans.

It is said that lines upon lines of Allied troops, expecting that their five day artillery bombardment had wiped out the German trenches, were simply mown down by German machine guns as they advanced toward the German position, with little or no plan as to what to do next.

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The Somme was the first-time air power and tanks had been used effectively in battle, driving up the number of casualties significantly.

Around half of all those killed are thought to have been from the German empire, with Britain also suffering its worst ever day militarily on the opening day of the battle, where they sustained more than 57,000 casualties.

Accounts from soldiers there during the battle were particularly brutal, such as this one from German officer Aspirant Brachat: 'When the English approached our dugout, I yelled [at my men] 'Get out! Face the enemy.' It was standing by the entrance when I was wounded by hand grenades.

'Our dugout caught fire. I stood between the English and the burning dugout where the stocked-up ammunition had exploded. There was a lot of crying out and screaming, as many of my dear comrades suffocated or were burned to death. My only wish was to escape.'

The men can then be seen darting through trenches in an attempt to get out of the shelling area before the next one hits, with some fleeing into shell craters in a desperate attempt to save their own lives

The Battle of the Somme is widely considered the deadliest battle of the First World War, with some estimates placing the number of British casualties at 400,000

The battle consisted of an offensive by the British and French armies against the German Army, which, since invading France in August 1914, had occupied large areas of that country.

The Allies gained little ground over the four month battle - just five miles in total by the end.

The battle is controversial because of the tactics employed and is significant as tanks were used for the first time.

The Battle of the Somme took place between 1 July and 18 November 1916 in the Somme area of France.

The battle revolved around an Allied offensive against the Germans in northern France, where they hoped to break the German line and push them back

Around half of all those killed are thought to have been from the German empire, with Britain also suffering its worst ever day militarily on the opening day of the battle, where they sustained more than 57,000 casualties

The battle is controversial because of the tactics employed and is significant as tanks were used for the first time

The battle eventually came to an end on November 18 1916 after a British offensive, with both sides choosing to focus on enduring the weather from their current position rather than attempt to push the opposition back further

On the first day of fighting the British lost more than 19,000 men and 420,000 in total. Sixty per cent of all officers involved on the first day were killed.

The battle eventually came to an end on November 18 1916 after a British offensive, with both sides choosing to focus on enduring the weather from their current position rather than attempt to push the opposition back further.

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By the time fighting ceased there were more than 1 million casualties, including 650,000 Germans.