Gentelles is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. It is part of the arrondissement of Amiens and the canton of Amiens-4.

Geography

Gentelles is situated on the D168 road, some 8 mi southeast of Amiens.

History

The village has been known by various name through its history: Gentilla, Gentella, Gentèle, Gentela, Gentelles, Gentilles, Le Gendalle and finally Gentelles. It was the first town to be given to the abbey of Corbie by Clovis II and Saint Bathilde. On November 27, 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, Gentelles was the scene of a skirmish between the 20th Battalion of Chasseurs and the Germans. There were 25 fatalities, of which 12 were French, who are buried in the cemetery, where later a memorial was erected. During World War I, the village was at the centre of fighting during the Battle of the Somme and was all but destroyed.

Population