Diary June 20, 1916

06-1916, Diary WWI, Year 1916 / 1 minute of reading

German heavy field howitzer 'schwere Feldhaubitze 13' — The crew of a German heavy field howitzer ‘schwere Feldhaubitze 13’ in firing position.

Diary for Tuesday, June 20, 1916:

Western Front

Verdun: Tremendous German barrage begins. New French standard-gauge railway ready.

Southern Fronts

Trentino: Slight but very cautious Italian advances on Asiago Plateau (until June 21).
France: Prime Minister Briand defends French Balkans policy and wins 300+ majority in secret Chamber debate, but Delcasse wishes 400,000-500,000 enemies were at Salonika and not opposite Verdun.

Middle East

Mesopotamia: Kut PoWs entrain at Ras-al-Ain in open trucks.

African Fronts

East Africa: 5th South African Infantry lose heavily to Boedecker detachment 6 miles south of Pongwe.
Southern Tunisia: c.800-2,000 Tripolitanians attack 2,000 strong Dhibat garrison, wipe out 100-man relief force but routed at Battle of Bir-el-Moghri (until June 30), still 12,684 French soldiers in area.

Sea War

Mediterranean: Vice-Admiral Sir C Thursby takes over Royal Navy Eastern Mediterranean Squadron from Robeck (to 3rd Battle Squadron, Grand Fleet).

Air War

North Sea: French-supplied pigeons help rescue downed Royal Navy Air Service seaplane (and on June 24).

Politics

France: Anglo-French tank developers first meet when British tank Mk I is demonstrated to Estienne at Morly.

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.