Diary May 28, 1916

05-1916, Diary WWI, Year 1916 / 1 minute of reading

Haig, the architect of the ‘Big Push’ at the Somme 1916.

Diary for Sunday, May 28, 1916:

Western Front

Verdun: German Alpenkorps (from Champagne) again in action.
Flanders: Haig warns Second Army (Plumer) to hasten preparations for offensive as it might be needed (ie before planned Somme offensive) due to French concentration at Verdun. Germans are already warned of it; Falkenhayn has reinforced Sixth Army with 3 divisions, but only 1 new division assigned to Second Army on Somme. Lieutenant-General Sir J Byng put in command of Canadian Corps.

Southern Fronts

Italian Front: Austrian Kaiserschuetzen Division repeatedly but vainly attacks Buole Pass against Taro and Sicilia Brigades and loses 629 casualties. Three final attacks on May 30 fail; defenders suffer 911 casualties, but ‘we have not given way an inch’ (Colonel Gualtieri).

Air War

London-Paris airmail service begins.

Neutrals

USA: National German-American Chicago Conference (until May 29) on presidential candidates.

About The Author

Kretaner

My name is Norman 'Kretaner' and since my childhood I am interested in history and strategy games. Later, I have learned programming and the development of computer games, and finally with the Internet, also web design. I'm in the fortunate position to combine all my interests with my work and to live on a place of my choice, on Crete. All information, figures, specifications and statistics used here had been compiled from a variety of sources and the large, over decades collected, library of the author about military history, WW2 and weapons.