Villers-Carbonnel

Location

Description

Villers-Carbonnel is a small village 7.5 kilometers south west of Péronne in the Somme. It was occupied by the Germans from 1914 until 1917 when they retreated voluntarily to the Hindenburg line. The village was recaptured by the Germans in March 1918 during their Spring Offensive and was finally recaptured by the Allies in August 1918. Villers Carbonnel was less than 3 kilometres behind the German front line during the battle of the Somme (1 July - 18 November 1916). Like many other villages in the region, it was heavily shelled by French artillery in order to hinder German supply lines. By 1917 it was little more than a collection of heavily damaged buildings and by the end of the war it had been completely decimated. After the war Villers-Carbonnel was rebuilt and in 1929 Australian newspapers reported that it was a flourishing community with 400 residents.