 Gruppe Wijtschate with three divisions under the command of the headquarters of XIX Corps ( General Maximilian von Laffert ) , held the ridge , as part of the 4th Army ( General Friedrich Bertram <unk> von Armin ) . The ridge garrison was reinforced with the 24th Division in early May . The 35th and 3rd Bavarian divisions were brought up as Eingreif divisions and Gruppe Wijtschate was substantially reinforced with artillery , ammunition and aircraft . The vulnerability of the northern end of Messines Ridge , where it met the Menin Ridge , led to the German command limiting the frontage of the 204th ( Württemberg ) Division to 2 @,@ 600 yards ( 2 @,@ 400 m ) . The 24th Division to the south held 2 @,@ 800 yards ( 2 @,@ 600 m ) and the 2nd Division at Wijtschate held 4 @,@ 000 yards ( 3 @,@ 700 m ) . In the south @-@ east , 4 @,@ 800 yards ( 4 @,@ 400 m ) of the front line either side of the river Douve , was defended by the 40th Division . The front @-@ line was lightly held , with fortifications distributed up to 0 @.@ 5 @-@ mile ( 0 @.@ 80 km ) behind the front line . At the end of May , British artillery fire was so damaging that the 24th and 40th divisions were relieved by the 35th and 3rd Bavarian ( Eingreif ) divisions , which were replaced by the 7th and 1st Guard Reserve divisions in early June and relief of the 2nd Division was promised for 7 / 8 June . 
