Above, stretcher bearers on Thiepval Ridge, September 1916, note the stick grenades and snipers plate.

The Schwaben Redoubt lay 700 yards north of Thiepval, alongside the Thiepval to Grandcourt Road. It occupied the north- western shoulder of the Thiepval Ridge and overlooked and supported the German positions within St Pierre Divion, and across the valley at Beaucourt-sur-Ancre and Beaumont Hamel. On the north towards the banks of the Ancre, north-east towards Battery Valley and Grandcourt, west towards Thiepval Wood and south-west along the Authille Road the land sloped away from the Schwaben with a noticable steepness unusual in this area. it was regarded by both sides as an imposing location. Its great complex of trenches, command posts, telephone exchange and underground shell-proof shelters dominated the ground onto which the British troops would attack. This was the tactical key to the defence of Thiepval Ridge. If the Schwaben Redoubt could be taken by the British, then Thiepval village could be exposed to an attack on equal terms from the north and would therefore become vulnerable from that direction.
Seven hundred yards south of the village and its chateau stood the ' Wonder Works ' above the Leipzig Salient on the trench known as Hohenzollen Stellung. Its position lay slightly to the reverse of the Thiepval spur in order to give protection from directly observed artillery fire. St. Pierre Divion, apart from housing many reserves in the shelters built underground there, was an important and strongly entrenched position in its own right, guarding the gap in the trench lines created by the water meadows and marches of the River Ancre. The slopes running up towards the Schwaben Redoubt above St. Pierre Divion were enfiladed by many machine guns located in ' Feste Alt Wurttemberg ' the Beaucourt Redoubt, just north-west of Beaucourt sur Ancre on the northern bank of the river. The rear of Thiepval village was a further powerfully developed position, as was the Nordwerk which lay within 8th Division's objectives on 1st July. The Nordwerk lay roughly one mile east of the tip of Leipzig Salient, some five hundred yards behind the German front line trenches opposite the Nab. And the Germans did not just stop here. Their second line of defence was just as incredibly constructed.

Below, German lines south of Thiepval showing the 32nd Division's area of attack next to the Ulster's

36th Ulster's..

32nd Division

Hammerhead sap

The ' Wonder Works '

Mouquet Switch Line

Mouquet Farm

Leipzig Salient

Stuff Redoubt is situated just off the map.

One mile or more to the rear of their of their front line positions around Thiepval the Germans had constructed a very strong second line position. This was effectivelya line running North-north-west from the fortified village of Pozieres ( further south ) to grandcourt through a series of redoubts at Mouquet Farm, Goat Redoubt and Stuff Redoubt. A long intermediate trench for evacuation and re-enforcement purposes connected Scwaben Redoubt with Mouquet farm. This was known as the Mouquet Switch Line. A similar intermediate line left Schwaben Redoubt in the direction of Grandcourt, the Hansa Line. A number of other communication trenches running from west to east connected the German front lines with their second line positions. The village of Thiepval did not exist as a complete village but had been destroyed in previous fighting in the area. It was turned into an underground fortress with deep dugouts and trenches which were built with all the skill of the German Army. Its numerous machine- guns could cover and interlock every part of the battlefield.

British and Irish Regiment's would be completely decimated and cut to pieces by German machine-gun fire in the open spaces of Thiepval. Below is a short film about the development of this new modern piece of equipment. ( To listen to the commentary please tutn the music off at the front page )

In the relatively quiet period which had developed in this area in 1915, and throughout the rather more trying early months of 1916, Thiepval could be said to have exerted great influence over the conduct of operations in this area. Because of its imposing location no amount of offensive spirit on the part of the newly arrived ' New Army ' British troops had been able to gain an ascendancy over German troops occupying the high ground in this area. Consequently the defences had been able to grow in strength and depth. Thiepval was, by June 1916, equipped as the strong right arm of the German defence along the high ground astride the Albert to Bapaume Road. This upland area was crucial in that it protected the great railhead of Bapaume. The Thiepval sector held by 99RIR also happened to be, geographically, almost centrally located within the battle-front chosen by Haig as the launchpad of his summer offensive. This was the ' Great Push ' which many Tommies and their inexperienced and often naive officers thought, with misplaced optimism, would end the war.
all of the combatant's staff were aware that the prize of Thiepval was a vital one. British success here would enable observation and dominance of the battlefield to the north as well as threatening the higher ground across the Albert to Bapaume road. The German resolve was therefore immensley deep and determined. Every effort by the British to gain the upper hand was met by retribution. This was made very clear during trench raids prior to the 1st of July when the Germans made a devastating return raid on the 1st Dorsets between the 32nd and 36th Division's positions near Hammerhead Sap on the edge of Thiepval Wood ( see above map ) in revenge for a previous raid made on the night of 5/6th May by the 15th Lancashire Fusiliers ( 1st Salford Pals ) The Dorsets suffered one officer killed, one wounded. Twelve other ranks killed, twenty-eight wounded and twenty four missing, presumed captured. The men killed during this raid are buried in Authuille Military Cemetary.