Serre image - Grabenkrieg: The Great War 1914–1918 mod for Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad

Serre hamlet was the at the northern edge of the battlefront of the Somme in 1916. Placed at the western end of a ridge that stretched 4km to the east, originally taken by the Imperial German Army in 1914, several attacks were made, but the occupation of the Entente forces only ever lasted a few hours. Ultimately the British only took full occupation when the Germans carried out a controlled retreat from the area as part of operation Albrecht, but the Imperial German Army came back and retook the area in March 1918 as part of the Spring offensive.

The location was pivotal as it was one of three strong points or redoubts (along with Gommecot and "the Quadrelateral" ) which were gateways for troops garrisoned at the former to enter the trench systems to the south. The village overlooks a valley 200 yards wide, at the base of which (500m from Serre) the Triple Entente trenches ran. In effect German troops based at Serre had a wide field of fire over the enemy immediately opposite, and also could over the troops advancing on their trenches to the south.

On these screenshots you can see the work in progress shots of the british trenches around Serre by our mapper Jannick. Please take note that these shots are heavy work in progress and lighting aswell as assets are mostly placeholders at the moment as our environment designers are working on creating some great custom assets for our maps.