A German defender's experience

A German defender's experience , The German 110th and 111th Baden Infantry Reserve Regiments (RIR) held line facing the 34th Division. Despite taking heavy casualties, most of the deep dugouts remained intact although they endured unimaginable hardships under the week-long artillery barrage., Immense good fortune befell the defenders when they intercepted messages about the forthcoming attack. The morning of 1st July came and at 0728hrs the two huge mines either side of La Boisselle were detonated and for several minutes a rain of stones showered down on the whole sector. , According to German reports 'Half of 7th Company became casualties and 5th Company was only able to muster 15 men. The 2nd Company was completely wiped out. , Within moments, wave after wave of men marching in step, rose out of the British trenches on either side of Bécourt Valley, thick columns followed from Bécourt Wood. Thus rolled the enemy against the confusion of trench and barbed wire entanglements. , We emerged from our dugouts, prepared our machine-guns and silently awaited the oncoming enemy. When the attackers were within a few metres of the barbed wire, there suddenly raged forth a hurricane of fire on these thick waves. Some defenders confidently stood on the parapets, hurling grenades and firing rifles, whilst smoking pipes. In scarcely a minute no-man's-land appeared deserted. But the British kept coming forward and for two hours, the defenders' fire rattled on. , Eventually this part of the battle in Bécourt Valley slackened off and the British, with such high hopes of success that morning, only held the mine crater.’ , Taken from The Chequers' 1938-39, the year book of the 34th Division Officer's Club. , Lochnagar Crater is privately owned by Richard Dunning MBE and is dedicated to Remembrance, Respect and Reconciliation. , www.lochnagarcrater.org, 'The Lochnagar Promise For Peace' , “In Remembrance of all those who have suffered in conflict, and those who are suffering still may we live our lives today with more Compassion and Kindness. Understanding and Forgiveness Reconciliation and Unity. Let us now, in their honour, wage Peace.”, The Trustees are grateful for the generous bequest which enabled the refurbishment of these Visitor Information Panels. , www.lochnagarcrater.org ,