Editing Battle of the Somme (section)

==== Battle of Fromelles, 19–20 July ====
{{Main|Battle of Fromelles}}

The '''Battle of Fromelles''' was a subsidiary attack to support the Fourth Army on the Somme {{convert|80|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the south, to exploit any weakening of the German defences opposite. Preparations for the attack were rushed, the troops involved lacked experience in trench warfare and the power of the German defence was "gravely" underestimated, the attackers being {{nowrap|outnumbered 2:1}}. On 19 July, von Falkenhayn had judged the British attack to be the anticipated offensive against the 6th Army. Next day, Falkenhayn ordered the [[Guards Reserve Corps|Guard Reserve Corps]] to be withdrawn to reinforce the Somme front. The Battle of Fromelles had inflicted some losses on the German defenders but gained no ground and deflected few German troops bound for the Somme. The attack was the debut of the [[First Australian Imperial Force|Australian Imperial Force]] on the Western Front and, according to McMullin, "the worst 24 hours in Australia's entire history".{{sfn|McMullin|2006}} Of {{nowrap|7,080 BEF casualties}}, {{nowrap|5,533 losses}} were incurred by the [[5th Division (Australia)|5th Australian Division]]; German losses were {{nowrap|1,600–2,000, with}} {{nowrap|150 taken}} prisoner.{{sfn|Miles|1992|p = 133}}