Villers-Bretonneux lies around 23 kilometres to the east of Amiens in the Somme department of Northern France. Amiens was one of the most important communication and logistics hubs in the Somme region during the Great War (WWI). Capturing Villers-Bretonneux would put Amiens within range of German guns. The village could also be used as a staging area should the German Army wish to launch a major assault on Amiens – something unthinkable for Allied military planners. Holding Villers-Bretonneux was incredibly important!
As with many World War One battles, the fighting at Villers-Bretonneux was a bloody affair. Of the 3,500 men of the 9th Australian Brigade who led the counter at the First Battle, 2,400 were killed, captured, or wounded. Across both battles, British and Australian losses were just shy of 13,000 men. French casualties totalled 3,500 whereas their German opponents suffered between 8,000-10,500 men killed, captured, or wounded.
The Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux (also Actions of Villers-Bretonneux, after the First Battles of the Somme, 1918) took place from 24 to 27 April 1918, during the German spring offensive to the east of Amiens. It is notable for being the first occasion on which tanks fought against each other; it was the biggest and most successful tank action of the German army in the First World War.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_Villers-Bretonneux
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Villers-Bretonneux
https://www.awmlondon.gov.au/battles/villers-bretonneux#battle-photos