<human>:  When did the Battle of the Somme start?
<bot>: The Battle of the Somme started on July 1, 1916, and lasted until November 18, 1916. It was a major battle in World War I between the British and German forces. The Somme was the first major battle of the war and the bloodiest battle in the history of the British Army. It was also the first battle in which the British used tanks in significant numbers.