 The German front line regiments held areas 700 – 1 @,@ 200 yards ( 640 – 1 @,@ 100 m ) wide with one ( Kampf ) battalion forward , one ( Bereitschaft ) battalion in support and the third in reserve 3 – 4 miles ( 4 @.@ 8 – 6 @.@ 4 km ) back . The Kampf battalion usually had three companies in the front system ( which had three lines of breastworks called " Ia " , " Ib " and " Ic " ) and one in the Sonne ( intermediate ) line ( with a company of the support battalion , available for immediate counter @-@ attack ) between the front system and the Höhen ( second ) line on the ridge crest . The other three companies of the support battalion sheltered in the Höhen ( second ) line . About 32 machine @-@ gun posts per regimental sector were dispersed around the defensive zone . The German defence was intended to be mobile and Stosstrupps in " Ic " the third breastwork , were to conduct immediate counter @-@ attacks to recapture " Ia " and " Ib " . If they had to fall back , the support battalions would advance to restore the front system , except at Spanbroekmolen Hill , which due to its importance was to be held unbedingtes Halten ( at all costs ) . 
