Battle of Vimy Ridge order of battle
Encyclopedia
Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army...
was a military engagement fought as part of the Battle of Arras
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
against three divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle was part of the opening phase of the British-led Battle of Arras
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
, a diversionary attack for the French Nivelle Offensive
Nivelle offensive
The Nivelle Offensive was a 1917 French attack on the Western Front in the First World War. Promised as the assault that would end the war within 48 hours, with casualties expected of around 10,000 men, it failed on both counts. It was a three-stage plan:...
, and took place from 9 April to 12 April 1917.The objective of the Canadian Corps was to take control of the German-held high ground along an escarpment at the northernmost end of the Arras Offensive. This would ensure that the southern flank could advance without suffering German enfilade fire.
This listing covers Allied Powers
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
and Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
formations and units involved in the battle. Although the Canadian side is well studied, historians have had trouble determining the exact dispositions of the German forces and even more trouble assessing the casualties it suffered in the battle. The Canadian Corps suffered 10,602 casualties; 3,598 killed and 7,004 wounded. The German Sixth Army suffered an unknown number of casualties with an approximate 4,000 men becoming prisoners of war.
The significance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge is most strongly felt in Canada. Elsewhere the battle is principally noted as simply being part of the much larger British offensive known as the Battle of Arras. The historical reality of the battle has been reworked and reinterpreted in a conscious attempt to give purpose and meaning to an event which came to symbolize Canada's coming of age as a nation. The idea that Canada achieved nationhood as a direct result of the experiences of the First World War is an opinion widely held in military histories of Canada and also regularly appears in general histories. A 250 acres (101.2 ha) portion of the former battleground now serves as a preserved memorial park and site of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial
Canadian National Vimy Memorial
The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a memorial site in France dedicated to the memory of Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed during the First World War. It also serves as the place of commemoration for First World War Canadian soldiers killed or presumed dead in France who have no known...
.
Allied Powers forces
Canadian CorpsCanadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
commander Lieutenant-General Sir Julian Byng had four attacking divisions, one division of reserves and numerous support units under his command. He was supported to the north by the 24th British Division of I Corps which advanced north of the Souchez
Souchez
Souchez is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Souchez lies north of Arras, at the junction of the D937, D57 and D58 roads. The small river Souchez, a tributary of the Deûle, flows through the town.-Population:-Places of interest:* The...
river and by the advancing XVII
XVII Corps (United Kingdom)
The British XVII Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I.- History :British XVII Corps was formed in France in January 1916 under Lieutenant General Julian Byng. In April 1917 the Corps attacked to the east of Arras near the River Scarpe but became bogged down in rain and snow...
Corps to the south. The 4th Canadian Division
4th Canadian Division
The Canadian Corps - 4th Canadian Division – World War I:The 4th Canadian Division was formed in the Britain in April 1916 from several existing units and others scheduled to arrive shortly thereafter. Under the command of Major-General David Watson, the Division embarked for France in August of...
was responsible for the northern portion of the advance which included the capture of the highest point of the ridge followed by the heavily defended knoll known as "the Pimple" just north of the town of Givenchy-en-Gohelle
Givenchy-en-Gohelle
Givenchy-en-Gohelle is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Givenchy-en-Gohelle is a large farming village situated north of Arras, at the junction of the D51 and the D55 roads...
. The 3rd Canadian Division
3rd Canadian Division
The 3rd Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War.The 3rd Canadian Division was formed in France in December 1915 under the command of Major-General M.S. Mercer. Its members served in both France and Flanders until Armistice Day...
was responsible for the narrow central section of the ridge, including the capture of La Folie Farm. The 2nd Canadian Division
2nd Canadian Division
The 2nd Canadian Division was an infantry formation that saw service in the First World War. A 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was raised for the Second World War.-History:...
, which later included an additional brigade from the 5th British Division was directly south of 3rd Canadian Division and entrusted with the capture of the town of Thélus
Thélus
Thélus is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Thélus lies north of Arras, at the junction of the N17 and D49 roads. Junction 7 of the A26 autoroute is less than a mile away...
. The 1st Canadian Division
1st Canadian Division
Formed in August 1914, the 1st Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The division was initially made up from provisional battalions that were named after their province of origin but these titles were dropped before the division arrived in Britain on October 14,...
was responsible for the broad southern sector of the corps advance and was expected to make the greatest advance in terms distance. Byng also planned for a healthy reserve for contingencies in case additional troops were needed to relieve forward troops, help in consolidating positions or aiding the 4th Canadian Division with the capture of "the Pimple". As a result, the 9th Canadian Brigade, 15th British Brigade and 95th British Brigade were kept in a corps-level reserve.
Canadian Corps
| Canadian Corps Canadian Corps The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916... (Lieutenant-General Sir Julian Byng) |
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| Corps level troops | |||
| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| Lieutenant-Colonel E.I Leonard (Cavalry) |
Canadian Light Horse | ||
| Brigadier-General Edward Morrison Edward Whipple Bancroft Morrison Sir Edward Whipple Bancroft Morrison, was a Canadian journalist and Major General in the Canadian Army during World War I.... (General Officer Commanding Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps) Brigadier-General Roger Henry Massie (General Officer Commanding Corps Heavy Artillery) | align= center | 1st Canadian Heavy Artillery Group, Canadian Garrison Artillery |
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Support 4th Canadian Division | |
| 2nd Canadian Heavy Artillery Group, Canadian Garrison Artillery |
| align= left | Counter-Battery Group #3 |
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| 18th Heavy Artillery Group |
| align= left | Support 1st Canadian Division |
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| 30th Heavy Artillery Group |
| align= left | Support 4th Canadian Division |
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| 44th Heavy Artillery Group |
| align= left | Support 1st Canadian Division |
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| Brigadier-General William Bethune Lindsay William Bethune Lindsay Major General William Bethune Lindsay CB CMG DSO was a Canadian military officer during World War I.Lindsay was born on 3 November 1880, the son of Dr. W, B. Lindsay, of Strathroy, Ontario, Canada. Lindsay was educated at Strathroy District Collegiate Institute and later enrolled at the Royal... (Chief Engineer, Canadian Corps) |
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| Colonel Raymond Brutinel Raymond Brutinel Brigadier-General Raymond Brutinel CB CMG DSO was a geologist, journalist, soldier, entrepreneur and a pioneer in the field of mechanized warfare who commanded the Canadian Automobile Machine Gun Brigade during World War I.... (Machine guns) |
1st Canadian Motor Machine-Gun Brigade Canadian Automobile Machine Gun Brigade The Canadian Automobile Machine Gun Brigade, also known as Brutinel's Brigade or the Brutinel Brigade, was the first fully mechanized unit of the British Army. It was established on September 9, 1914 by Canadian Brigadier-General Raymond Brutinel, who initiated the program and was the unit's ... |
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| British First Army troops attached to Canadian Corps | |||
| (Heavy Artillery) | 13th Heavy Artillery Group |
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Support 3rd Canadian Division |
| 50th Heavy Artillery Group |
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Counter-Battery Group #1 | |
| 53rd Heavy Artillery Group |
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Support 3rd Canadian Division | |
| 64th Heavy Artillery Group |
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Support 2nd Canadian Division | |
| 70th Heavy Artillery Group |
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Support 2nd Canadian Division | |
| 76th Heavy Artillery Group |
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Counter-Battery Group 3 | |
| 26th Heavy Artillery Group |
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| 1st Canadian Division 1st Canadian Division Formed in August 1914, the 1st Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The division was initially made up from provisional battalions that were named after their province of origin but these titles were dropped before the division arrived in Britain on October 14,... (Major-General Arthur Currie Arthur Currie Sir Arthur William Currie GCMG, KCB , was a Canadian general during World War I. He had the unique distinction of starting his military career on the very bottom rung as a pre-war militia gunner before rising through the ranks to become the first Canadian commander of the four divisions of the... ) |
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| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| (Divisional Troops) |
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| Brigadier-General Herbert Cyril Thacker Herbert Cyril Thacker Major-General Herbert Cyril Thacker, CB CMG DSO was a Canadian soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Army from 1927 until 1929.-Military career:... (1st Canadian Divisional Artillery) |
1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 2nd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 3rd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 1st Division Trench Mortar Group |
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1st Canadian Divisional Engineers |
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| Colonel F.S.C Ford | Assistant Medical Director, 1st Division |
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| Brigadier-General William Antrobus Griesbach William Antrobus Griesbach Major General William Antrobus Griesbach CB CMG DSO was a Canadian politician, decorated soldier, mayor of Edmonton, and member of the Canadian House of Commons and Senate of Canada.-Early life:... |
1st Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Brigadier-General Frederick Loomis Frederick Loomis Sir Frederick Oscar Warren Loomis enlisted as a private in the Canadian Militia in 1886 and served there until retiring in 1919. During the First World War he was given command of the Royal Highlanders of Canada and later led the 3rd Canadian Division during the last two months of the First World... |
2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Brigadier-General George Stuart Tuxford | 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade |
16th Canadian Battalion (The Canadian Scottish), CEF The 16th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, was organized at Valcartier on 2 September 1914 in response to the Great War and was composed of recruits from the 91st Canadian Highlanders , the 79th Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, the 72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, and the 50th Regiment... |
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| Troops attached to 1st Canadian Division | |||
| N/A (31st Divisional Artillery) |
165th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 170th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 72nd (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 26th (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 5th (Army) Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery |
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| 2nd Canadian Division 2nd Canadian Division The 2nd Canadian Division was an infantry formation that saw service in the First World War. A 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was raised for the Second World War.-History:... (Major-General Henry Edward Burstall Henry Edward Burstall Sir Henry Edward Burstall, was a Canadian general.-Education:Born at Domaine Cataraqui, Quebec City, Quebec, the son of the wealthy merchant John B. Burstall and Fanny Bell Forsyth, daughter of Joseph Bell Forsyth , the first Chancellor of Bishop's University and the builder of Domaine... ) |
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| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| (Divisional Troops) |
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includes 8 x Mk II Tanks | |
| Brigadier-General H.A. Panet (2nd Canadian Divisional Artillery) |
4th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery | ||
| 5th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 6th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 2nd Division Trench Mortar Group |
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| Lieutenant-Colonel S.H. Osler | 2nd Canadian Divisional Engineers |
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| Colonel H.M Jacques | Assistant Medical Director, 2nd Division |
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| Brigadier-General R. Rennie | 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Brigadier-General Archibald Hayes Macdonell Archibald Hayes Macdonell Archibald Hayes Macdonell, C.M.G., D.S.O. was a Canadian soldier and politician.Born in Toronto, Ontario, the third son of late Angus Duncan Macdonell and Pauline Rosalie De-la-haye, Macdonell served in the Canadian Militia in South Africa, Southern Nigeria, and West Africa. He attended staff... |
5th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Brigadier-General Huntly Ketchen Huntly Ketchen Major General Huntly Douglas Brodie Ketchen, CMG was a Canadian soldier and politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as a Conservative representative from 1932 to 1945.... |
6th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion, CEF The 27th City of Winnipeg Battalion was the first independent battalion to be raised in Manitoba in the First World War. Officially it was not given a name and fell among the many nameless Canadian battalions raised to conform with the new numbering system introduced by Col... |
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| Troops attached to 2nd Canadian Division | |||
| 28th (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 93rd (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 3rd Canadian Division 3rd Canadian Division The 3rd Canadian Division was a formation of the Canadian Corps during the First World War.The 3rd Canadian Division was formed in France in December 1915 under the command of Major-General M.S. Mercer. Its members served in both France and Flanders until Armistice Day... (Major-General Louis Lipsett Louis Lipsett Major General Louis James Lipsett CB, CMG , was a senior officer in the British Army and Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War. He commanded the 3rd Canadian Division during some of the bitterest battles of the war, taking over in 1915 after his predecessor was killed... ) |
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| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| (Divisional Troops) |
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| Brigadier-General J.H. Mitchell (3rd Canadian Divisional Artillery) |
8th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 9th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 10th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery |
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| 3rd Division Trench Mortar Group |
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| Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Victor Anderson Thomas Victor Anderson Major-General Thomas Victor Anderson DSO CD was a Canadian soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Army from 21 November 1938 until 6 July 1940.-Education:... |
3rd Canadian Divisional Engineers |
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| Colonel A.E Snell | Assistant Director Medical Services, 3rd Division |
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| Brigadier-General Archibald Cameron Macdonell Archibald Cameron Macdonell Lieutenant General Sir Archibald Cameron Macdonell, KCB, CMG, DSO was a Canadian police officer and soldier.-Education:... |
7th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
The Royal Canadian Regiment The Royal Canadian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the Primary Reserve... Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is one of the three regular force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army. The regiment is composed of four battalions including a primary reserve battalion, for a total of 2,000 soldiers... |
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| Brigadier-General James H. Elmsley | 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
5th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles The 5th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles were a mounted infantry unit of the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War I. The unit was raised from volunteers of the 7th and XIth Hussars from the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Formed in 1915, they were transported to England later that year... |
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| Brigadier-General Frederick William Hill | 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Troops attached to 3rd Canadian Division | |||
| Brigadier-General C.H. de Rougemont (63rd (Royal Naval) Divisional Artillery) |
223rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 317th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 4th Canadian Division 4th Canadian Division The Canadian Corps - 4th Canadian Division – World War I:The 4th Canadian Division was formed in the Britain in April 1916 from several existing units and others scheduled to arrive shortly thereafter. Under the command of Major-General David Watson, the Division embarked for France in August of... (Major-General David Watson David Watson (general) Major General Sir David Watson, was a Canadian journalist, newspaper owner, and general.Born in Quebec City, Quebec, the son of William Watson and Jane Grant, Watson was a journalist with the Quebec Morning Chronicle... ) |
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| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| (Divisional Troops) |
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| N/A (British (Lahore) Reserve Divisional Artillery) |
5th (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 11th (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| Reserve Divisional Trench Mortar Group |
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| N/A | 4th Canadian Divisional Engineers |
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| N/A | Assistant Director Medical Services, 4th Division |
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| Brigadier-General Edward Hilliam | 10th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
46th Battalion, CEF 46th Battalion, CEF is battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The Saskatchewan Dragoons perpetuated the 46th Battalion, CEF.... |
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| Brigadier-General Victor Odlum Victor Odlum Victor Wentworth Odlum, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. was a Canadian journalist, soldier, and diplomat. He was a prominent member of the business and political elite of Vancouver, British Columbia from the 1920s until his death in 1971... |
11th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Brigadier-General James Howden MacBrien James Howden MacBrien Major-General Sir James Howden MacBrien, KCB, CMG, DSO, CStJ was a Canadian soldier and Chief of the General Staff, the head of the Canadian Militia from 1920 until 1927.... |
12th Canadian Infantry Brigade |
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| Troops attached to 4th Canadian Division | |||
| Brigadier-General GH Sanders (2nd Divisional Artillery) |
41st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 36th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 18th (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 76th (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| 242nd (III South Midland) (Army) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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| British 5th Division (attached from I Corps) (Major-General R.B. Stephen) |
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| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| (Divisional Troops) |
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Attached to 4th Canadian Division | |
| N/A (5th Divisional Artillery) |
15th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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Attached to 2nd Canadian Division |
| 27th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery |
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Attached to 2nd Canadian Division | |
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Attached to 2nd Canadian Division | ||
| 5th Division Trench Mortar |
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| N/A | 5th Divisional Engineers |
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| Brigadier-General L.O.W. Jones | 13th Infantry Brigade |
King's Own Scottish Borderers The King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours... The Birmingham Pals The Birmingham Pals were the three battalions of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment raised from men volunteering in the city of Birmingham in September 1914. They became respectively the 14th, 15th and 16th Battalions of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment... , Royal Warwickshire Regiment The Birmingham Pals The Birmingham Pals were the three battalions of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment raised from men volunteering in the city of Birmingham in September 1914. They became respectively the 14th, 15th and 16th Battalions of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment... , Royal Warwickshire Regiment |
Attached to 2nd Canadian Division |
| Brigadier-General Lord Esme Charles Gordon-Lennox | 95th Infantry Brigade |
East Surrey Regiment The East Surrey Regiment was a regiment in the British Army formed in 1881 from the amalgamation of the 31st Regiment of Foot and the 70th Regiment of Foot... Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles.... |
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| Brigadier-General M.N. Turner | 15th Infantry Brigade |
The Birmingham Pals The Birmingham Pals were the three battalions of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment raised from men volunteering in the city of Birmingham in September 1914. They became respectively the 14th, 15th and 16th Battalions of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment... , Royal Warwickshire Regiment Royal Norfolk Regiment The Royal Norfolk Regiment, originally formed as the Norfolk Regiment, was an infantry regiment of the British Army. The Norfolk Regiment was created on 1 July 1881 as the county regiment of Norfolk... Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment was the final title of an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army originally formed in 1688... Cheshire Regiment The Cheshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division.The regiment was created in 1881 as part of the Childers reforms by the linking of the 22nd Regiment of Foot and the militia and rifle volunteers of Cheshire... |
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Central Powers forces
German Sixth Army commander General Ludwig von FalkenhausenLudwig von Falkenhausen
Ludwig Freiherr von Falkenhausen was a German general most notable for his activities during World War I.- Biography :Falkenhausen was born in Guben. His parents were the Prussian Lieutenant-General D...
had 20 divisions (plus reserves) responsible for the Cambrai–Lille sector. Vimy Ridge itself was principally defended by the ad hoc formation based under I Bavarian Reserve Corps commander Karl Ritter von Fasbender. However, a division of , under VIII Reserve Corps General Georg Karl Wichura, was also involved in the frontline defence along the northernmost portion of the ridge.
Three divisions were ultimately responsible for manning the frontline defences opposite the Canadian Corps. The 16th Bavarian Infantry Division was located opposite the town of Souchez
Souchez
Souchez is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Souchez lies north of Arras, at the junction of the D937, D57 and D58 roads. The small river Souchez, a tributary of the Deûle, flows through the town.-Population:-Places of interest:* The...
and responsible for the defence of the northernmost section of the ridge. The division had been created in January 1917 from existing Bavarian formations and had so far only opposed the Canadian Corps
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
. The 79th Reserve Division
79th Reserve Division (German Empire)
The 79th Reserve Division was a unit of the Imperial German Army in World War I. The division was formed at the end of December 1914 and organized over the next month, arriving in the line in early February 1915. It was part of the second large wave of new divisions formed at the outset of World...
was responsible for the defence of vast central section including the highest point of the ridge, Hill 145. The 79th Reserve Division had fought for two years on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War I)
The Eastern Front was a theatre of war during World War I in Central and, primarily, Eastern Europe. The term is in contrast to the Western Front. Despite the geographical separation, the events in the two theatres strongly influenced each other...
and was transferred to the Vimy sector at the end of February 1917. The 1st Bavarian Reserve Division
1st Bavarian Reserve Division (German Empire)
The 1st Bavarian Reserve Division was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army, part of the German Army, in World War I. The division was formed on mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. The...
had been in the Arras area since October 1914 and was holding the towns of Thélus
Thélus
Thélus is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Thélus lies north of Arras, at the junction of the N17 and D49 roads. Junction 7 of the A26 autoroute is less than a mile away...
, Bailleul and the southern slope of the ridge.
I Bavarian Reserve Corps
| - I Bavarian Reserve Corps (General der Infanterie Karl Ritter von Fasbender) |
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| Corps level troops | |||
| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| 9th Field Artillery Regiment | |||
| 69th Field Artillery Regiment |
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| 25th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment |
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| 66th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment |
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| 79th Reserve Division 79th Reserve Division (German Empire) The 79th Reserve Division was a unit of the Imperial German Army in World War I. The division was formed at the end of December 1914 and organized over the next month, arriving in the line in early February 1915. It was part of the second large wave of new divisions formed at the outset of World... (Lieutenant-General Ernst August Marx von Bacmeister) |
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| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| Colonel Bleidorn (79th Reserve Field Artillery Brigade) |
63rd Reserve Field Artillery Regiment |
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| N/A (Cavalry Squadron) |
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| N/A (Engineers) |
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| N/A (Medical) |
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| Lieutenant-General Alfred Dieterich (79th Reserve Brigade) |
261st Reserve Infantry Regiment |
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| 262nd Reserve Infantry Regiment |
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| 263rd Reserve Infantry Regiment |
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| Troops attacked to attached to 79th Reserve Division | |||
| (56th Infantry Division) | 118th Reserve Infantry Regiment |
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Battle reinforcement, sent on 9 April |
| (80th Infantry Division) | 34th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment |
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Battle reinforcement, sent on 9 April |
| 1st Bavarian Reserve Division 1st Bavarian Reserve Division (German Empire) The 1st Bavarian Reserve Division was a unit of the Royal Bavarian Army, part of the German Army, in World War I. The division was formed on mobilization of the German Army in August 1914. The division was disbanded in 1919 during the demobilization of the German Army after World War I. The... (Major-General Friedrich Freiherr von Pechmann) |
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| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| Colonel Graf von Zech auf Neuhofen (13th Bavarian Artillery Command) |
1st Bavarian Reserve Field Artillery Regiment | ||
| N/A (Cavalry Squadron) |
3rd Chevauxleger Regiment |
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| N/A (Engineers) |
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| N/A (Medical) |
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| Major-General Lamprecht (1st Bavarian Reserve Infantry Brigade) |
1st Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment |
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| 3rd Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment |
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| Troops attacked to attached to 1st Bavarian Reserve Division | |||
| (17th Division) | 225th Infantry Regiment |
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Battle reinforcement, sent on 9 April |
VIII Reserve Corps
| - VIII Reserve Corps (General der Infanterie Georg Karl Wichura) |
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| Corps level troops | |||
| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| 16th Bavarian Infantry Division (Major-General Arnold Ritter von Mohl) |
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| Commander | Formation | Unit | Notes |
| Major-General Treutlein-Mordes (16th Bavarian Artillery Command) |
8th Bavarian Field Artillery Regiment |
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| N/A (Cavalry Squadron) |
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| N/A (Engineers) |
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| N/A (Medical) |
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| Major-General Lamprecht (9th Bavarian Infantry Brigade) |
11th Bavarian Regiment |
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| 14th Bavarian Regiment |
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1st Battalion used as battle reinforcements, 2nd Battalion kept in reserve | |
| 21st Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment |
|
Battle reinforcements, remainder of regiment not committed | |
| Troops attacked to attached to 16th Bavarian Infantry Division | |||
| (4th Guards Division) | 5th Grenadier Guard Regiment |
|
Battle reinforcements |
| 93rd Reserve Infantry Regiment |
|
Battle reinforcements | |