Battle of Bapaume

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Battle of Bapaume
Louis Faidherbe during the Battle of Bapaume
Louis Faidherbe during the Battle of Bapaume
date January 3, 1871
place Bapaume
output tactical draw, strategic German victory
Parties to the conflict

North German ConfederationNorth German Confederation North German Confederation

Second empireSecond empire France

Commander

North German ConfederationNorth German Confederation August von Goeben
Ferdinand von Kummer

Second empireSecond empire Louis Faidherbe

Troop strength
approx.15,000 men about 40,000 men
losses

750 men, including 52 officers

1569 men, including 53 officers

Battles and Sieges of the
Franco-German War (1870–1871)
Battle of Bapaume, French commemorative medal 1872, obverse
Battle of Bapaume, French commemorative medal 1872, back
General Louis Faidherbe

The Battle of Bapaume took place on January 3, 1871 between German and French troops as part of the Franco-Prussian War in northern France.

prehistory

After the capture of Amiens and Rouen , German troops began to siege the Peronne fortress as it threatened the German supply lines in northern France. The fortress was the last French base on the Somme. General Faidherbe , the commander of the French Northern Army , wanted to relieve Peronne and push back the German troops. The disadvantage for the German side was that troops had to be deployed for both Amiens and Rouen and that the 16th Division under General von Barnekow was needed for the siege of Peronne. In addition, there was little information about the French troop movements.

Preliminary battle at Sapignies on January 2nd

During their advance, the French troops met the 15th Division under General von Kummer at Sapignies (north of Bapaume) on January 2, 1871 . This, together with another brigade, had followed the retreating French after the battle of the Hallue and advanced to Bapaume. The Payen division of the French XXIII. Corps encountered the German 30th Infantry Brigade under General von Strubberg on the advance at noon . A German counterattack initiated by Sapignies advanced in the direction of Behagnies and took 240 prisoners. The Derroja division of the French XXII. Corps (General Lecointe ) had already met the German 3rd Cavalry Division and the infantry assigned to it from the 32nd Brigade at Bienvillers at around 9.30 a.m. The superior force forced the German troops on this wing to retreat to Miraumont , but due to the hesitant action of the French, this success remained that day.

Faidherbe nevertheless planned the offensive for the relief of Peronne the following day. The XXIII. Corps under General Paulze d'Ivoy formed the left wing, while the XXII. Corps (General Lecointe) on the right wing should be used. The Payen Division (XXIII Corps) was to renew its attack along the road to Bapaume, while the Robin Division was to carry out the encirclement to the east, placed via Favreuil . From XXII. Corps, the Bessol division followed the Payen division as a second meeting. To do this, they should advance from Bihucourt to Biefvillers , while on the outer right wing, the Derroja division of Achiet-le-Grand should lead the advance on Grévillers . The fortress of Bapaume should be freed by this pincer maneuver.

Sketch of the Battle of Bapaume

The battle on January 3rd

General Ferdinand von Kummer

The attack began on January 3rd with the advance of Bessol's division on Biefvillers. The 5th Company standing there withdrew to Avesnes because of the enemy superiority . Because the units standing at Favreuil were threatened in the rear, the 33rd regiment was ordered to retake the Biefvillers. It was possible to take back most of the place. After the arrival of more French troops, however, they had to withdraw again.

The Derroja division had meanwhile driven the 6th Company out of Grevillers and had advanced as far as the road from Bapaume to Albert.

Due to the deteriorating situation and the strong French artillery fire, the German troops withdrew to wait for reinforcements to arrive. A battalion of the 68th regiment remained in St. Aubin and the 29th Brigade in Bapaume. The remaining units were gathered south of Bapaume.

While the French managed to capture Avesnes and a suburb of Bapaume, the attack on St. Aubin failed. Several attacks on Bapaume himself were also repelled. Hence the Derroja division began to include Bapaume further. In the second attempt it was possible to capture Thilloy , while the German reinforcement, which had meanwhile arrived , was able to hold Ligny .

Reinforcements also arrived on the right German wing. A battalion of the 40th regiment was able to recapture Favreuil, but had to withdraw again because of the isolated situation. Another battalion of the 40th regiment was able to retake St. Aubin, which had to be evacuated beforehand.

Now the Germans began to stabilize their left flank as well. Units of the 69th regiment began attacking Thilloy. Two companies from Regiment 68 were added later. However, the French cleared the place without a fight, as did Avesnes and the suburbs. When it got dark, the fighting ended, the French still held Bapaume on three sides and camped on the battlefield between Grevillers, Bihucourt, Favreuil and Beugnatre. The French had lost 53 officers and 2,066 men that day, the German troops 52 officers and 698 men. The day had remained a draw, although the French, who were far superior in number, had forced a tactical success.

consequences

General Kummer's 15th Division, supported on the wings by the detachment of Prince Albrecht of Prussia and Count von der Groeben's 3rd Cavalry Division , had been able to withstand the French superiority for half a day. Due to the exhaustion of the German troops and the almost exhausted ammunition, General von Goeben prepared a retreat behind the Somme for January 4th. However, this became superfluous when a withdrawal of French troops was reported that night. General Faidherbe gave up all the gains he had made. Presumably the Northern Army was never closer to victory than it was with Bapaume. The siege of Peronne could continue and ended on January 9th with the surrender of the fortress. From a strategic point of view, the Battle of Bapaume was a success for the German troops.

Historical sources