Editing Battle of Passchendaele (section)

===German defences===

{{main|Western Front tactics, 1917#German defensive preparations, June–July 1917|l1=German defensive preparations, June–July 1917}}

[[File:German defences east of Ypres mid-1917.jpg|thumb|The British front line and the German defences in the area east of Ypres, mid-1917]]
The 4th Army held a front of {{cvt|25|mi}} with three {{lang|de|Gruppen}}, composed of a corps headquarters and a varying complement of divisions; Group Staden, based on the headquarters of the [[Guards Reserve Corps]] was added later. Group Dixmude held {{cvt|12|mi}} with four front divisions and two {{lang|de|[[Eingreif division|Eingreif]]}} divisions, Group Ypres held {{cvt|6|mi}} from Pilckem to Menin Road with three front divisions and two {{lang|de|Eingreif}} divisions and Group {{lang|de|Wijtschate}} held a similar length of front south of the Menin road, with three front divisions and three {{lang|de|Eingreif}} divisions. The {{lang|de|Eingreif}} divisions were stationed behind the Menin and Passchendaele ridges. About {{cvt|5|mi}} further back, were four more {{lang|de|Eingreif}} divisions and {{cvt|7|mi}} beyond them, another two in OHL reserve.{{sfn|Wynne|1976|pp=297–298}}

The Germans were anxious that the British would attempt to exploit the victory of the [[Battle of Messines (1917)|Battle of Messines]], with an advance to the Tower Hamlets spur beyond the north end of Messines Ridge. On 9 June, [[Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria|Crown Prince Rupprecht]] proposed a withdrawal to the {{lang|de|Flandern}} line east of Messines. Construction of defences began but was terminated after [[Fritz von Loßberg]] was appointed Chief of Staff of the 4th Army.{{sfn|Wynne|1976|pp=282–283}} Loßberg rejected the proposed withdrawal to the {{lang|de|Flandern}} line and ordered that the front line east of the ''Oosttaverne'' line be held rigidly. The {{lang|de|Flandernstellung}} (Flanders Position) along Passchendaele Ridge, in front of the {{lang|de|Flandern}} line, would become {{lang|de|Flandern I Stellung}} and a new position, {{lang|de|Flandern II Stellung}}, would run west of Menin, northwards to Passchendaele. Construction of a {{lang|de|Flandern III Stellung}} east of Menin northwards to Moorslede was also begun. From July 1917, the area east of Ypres was defended by the front position, the {{lang|de|Albrechtstellung}} (second position), {{lang|de|Wilhelmstellung}} (third position), {{lang|de|Flandern I Stellung}} (fourth position), {{lang|de|Flandern II Stellung}} (fifth position) and {{lang|de|Flandern III Stellung}}, the sixth position (incomplete). Between the German defences lay villages such as Zonnebeke and Passchendaele, which were fortified and prepared for all-round defence.{{sfn|Wynne|1976|p=284}}

On 25 June, [[Erich Ludendorff]], the First Quartermaster General, suggested to Crown Prince Rupprecht that Group Ypres should withdraw to the {{lang|de|Wilhelmstellung}}, leaving only outposts in the {{lang|de|Albrechtstellung}}. On 30 June, the army group Chief of Staff, [[General von Kuhl]], suggested a withdrawal to the {{lang|de|Flandern I Stellung}} along Passchendaele ridge, meeting the old front line in the north near Langemarck and Armentières in the south. Such a withdrawal would avoid a hasty retreat from Pilckem Ridge and force the British into a time-consuming redeployment. Loßberg disagreed, believing that the British would launch a broad front offensive, that the ground east of the {{lang|de|Sehnenstellung}} was easy to defend and that the Menin road ridge could be held if it was made the {{lang|de|Schwerpunkt}} (point of main effort) of the German defensive system. Pilckem Ridge deprived the British of ground observation over the Steenbeek Valley, while the Germans could see the area from Passchendaele Ridge, allowing German infantry to be supported by observed artillery-fire. Loßberg's judgement was accepted and no withdrawal was made.{{sfn|Wynne|1976|pp=286–287}}