The Battle of Pozieres Ridge 1916: This paper explains the battles background, aims, course, results and significance, weapons (with diagrams) and maps.

Battle of Pozieres ridge 1916Background:The battle of Pozieres ridge, also known as the Battle of Mouquet Farm and the fight for Pozieres; was one of the many battles which made up the “Battle of the Somme’s” campaign. The “Battle of the Somme” campaign was one of the largest sequences of battles in world war one with over 1 million casualties. The campaigns purpose was for the allied forces to break through the German lines along a distance of 40 kilometres near the River Somme in France and also draw German soldiers away from the Battle of Verdun.

The Battle of Pozieres was fought at the French village of Pozieres on Albert Bapaume road aswell as the entire ridge it is situated on. The ridge was roughly in the centre of the “Battle of the Somme” campaigns battlefield.

Events which led up to this battle may include the battle for Bazentin Ridge, as this battle occurred only just before the battle of Pozieres ridge occurred. The arrival of Australian troops in the Western front may have also helped in leading up to the battle as the Australian troops had only been at the Western Front for two days before the Battle began and they were the key to winning the battle.

Aims:The purpose of the Battle of Pozieres ridge was to capture the area of the Pozieres ridge, which was the Mouquet farm and the surrounding Albert-Bapaume road aswell as the entire ridge. As there would be expected resistance from the Germans, the goal would be to cause as many German casualties as possible, forcing a retreat. Once the area had been captured by the Allied forces, the German line would have retreated, leaving the Allies with an advantage of ground. A secondary aim was to divert German support from other...