Battleground Somme, The Germans at Thiepval by Jack Sheldon

Author:Jack Sheldon
Format: epub
Published: 2015-11-02T16:00:00+00:00

British prisoners and weapons captured during the abortive attack on 3 September 1916.

To begin with it was a somewhat different story in Thiepval, which was attacked simultaneously from the south, southeast and north. Tanks were deployed in support and brought the edge of the village under direct fire. Initially 1st Battalion IR 180 put up stiff resistance to the attack which developed from the south via the Wundtwerk [Wonder Work], but the thrust against the positions of IR 153 to the west of Mouquet Farm enjoyed greater success. There was particular pressure applied in Sector C7 and the southern part of C6 near the Thiepval-Authuille road. The triangle of ground: Mauerweg [Wall Way]-C7- Braunerweg [Brown Way] was held only by a platoon of 2nd Company and a few outposts of 3rd Company, so it was quickly lost and resistance only began in earnest along Mauerweg. The first wave to attempt to storm Thiepval from this direction was completely destroyed and the subsequent attack was also beaten off with heavy losses. At this point a tank emerged from the direction of Blighty Valley, shielding the approach of yet another group of attackers. This third group rallied the remnants of the second wave and, together with the tank, they worked their way forward to what was left of the obstacle in front of Mauergraben. Here the advance was checked once more and an extended fire fight began between attackers and defenders.

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