 The German defensive positions on Verrières Ridge remained very strong . The forward infantry positions were well dug @-@ in , with wide fields of fire . The main concentration of one hundred 75 mm and 88 mm anti @-@ tank guns was deployed around the villages of Cramesnil and Saint @-@ Aignan @-@ de @-@ Cramesnil 3 mi ( 4 @.@ 8 km ) behind the forward positions to halt any breakthrough by tanks along the Caen @-@ Falaise road . The front line and defences in depth were held by the 89th Infantry Division , 85th Infantry Division ( recently arrived from Rouen ) and the remnants of the 272nd Grenadier Infantry Division ( severely depleted by the Canadians in Operation Atlantic ) . The 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend with an attached heavy tank battalion , with fifty tanks , was in reserve a further 3 mi ( 4 @.@ 8 km ) back . Some of the infantry were commanded by the German LXXXVI Korps , but most of the sector ( and the 12th SS Panzer Division ) was under the command of the I SS Panzer Corps , which had arrived during Operation Goodwood . 
