Nine corps of the French Sixth Army and the British Fourth and Third armies , attacked Attack the German 2nd Army ( General Fritz von Below ) from Foucaucourt south of the Somme northwards across the Ancre to Serre and at Gommecourt , beyond , in the Third Army area .

The objective of the attack Attack was to capture the German first and second positions from Serre south to the Albert–Bapaume road and the first position from the road south to Foucaucourt .

The German defeats Conquering from Foucaucourt to the Albert–Bapaume road , left the German defence Defending on the south bank incapable of resisting Defending another attack Attack ; a substantial German retreat began Process_start from the Flaucourt plateau to the west bank of the Somme close to Péronne ; north of the Somme in the British area , Fricourt was abandoned GiveUp overnight .