 At the start of the Battle of the Somme (July 1916), the German 2nd Army had grown to such an extent, that a decision was made to split it into two armies.The 1st Army was recreated on 19 July 1916 from the right (northern) wing of the 2nd Army.The new commander of the reduced 2nd Army, Max von Gallwitz, was also installed as commander of Army Group Gallwitz ("Heeresgruppe Gallwitz") to co-ordinate the actions of both armies on the Somme.