Editing Battle of Vimy Ridge (section)

===Belligerents===
{{see also|Battle of Vimy Ridge order of battle}}
[[File:Defender and Attackers - Vimy Ridge.jpg|thumb|upright|Position of the defending and attacking forces before the battle]]

German [[6th Army (German Empire)|6th Army]] commander General [[Ludwig von Falkenhausen]] was responsible for the Cambrai–Lille sector and commanded 20 divisions, plus reserves.{{sfn|Nicholson|1962|p=246}} Vimy Ridge itself was principally defended by the ad hoc {{lang|de|Gruppe Vimy}} formation based under I Bavarian Reserve Corps commander {{lang|de|General der Infanterie}} [[Karl von Fasbender]].{{sfn|Williams|1983|p=149}} However, a division of {{lang|de|Gruppe Souchez}}, under VIII Reserve Corps General of the Infantry Georg Karl Wichura, was involved in the frontline defence along the northernmost portion of the ridge.{{sfn|Godefroy|2007b|pp=228–229}}

Three divisions were responsible for manning the frontline defences opposite the Canadian Corps. The [[16 Bavarian Division (German Empire)|16th Bavarian Division]] was located opposite the village of Souchez and responsible for the defence of the northernmost section of the ridge. The division had been created in January 1917 by amalgamating existing Bavarian formations and had so far only opposed the Canadian Corps.{{sfn|Nicholson|1962|p=246}} The [[79th Reserve Division (German Empire)|79th Reserve Division]] was responsible for the defence of the vast central section, including the highest point of the ridge, Hill 145.{{sfn|Hopkins|1919|p=157}} The 79th Reserve Division had fought for two years on the [[Eastern Front (World War I)|Eastern Front]] before being transferred to the Vimy sector at the end of February 1917. The [[1st Bavarian Reserve Division]] had been in the Arras area since October 1914 and held the villages of Thélus, Bailleul and the southern slope of the ridge.{{sfn|Nicholson|1962|p=246}}

Byng commanded four attacking divisions, one division in reserve and numerous support units. He was supported to the north by the [[24th Division (United Kingdom)|24th Division]], I Corps, which advanced north of the Souchez River and by the XVII Corps to the south. The 4th Canadian Division was responsible for the northern portion of the advance that included the capture of the highest point of the ridge, followed by the elaborately fortified Pimple just west of the village of [[Givenchy-en-Gohelle]]. The [[3rd Canadian Division]] was responsible for the narrow central section of the ridge, including the capture of La Folie Farm. The [[2nd Canadian Division]], which later included a brigade from the 5th Division, was directly south of the 3rd Canadian Division and entrusted with the capture of the village of Thélus. The 1st Canadian Division was responsible for the broad southern sector of the corps advance and expected to cover the longest distance. Byng planned for a healthy reserve for contingencies that included the relief of forward troops, help in consolidating positions and aiding the 4th Canadian Division with the capture of the Pimple. As a result, the 9th Canadian Brigade and the British 15th and 95th Brigades were kept in corps reserve.{{sfn|Turner|2005|p=39}}
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