The German trenches and dugouts were occupied by the 119th Reserve Infantry Regiment, which had been here for nearly 20 months. Drawn largely from the coalmining region of Lorraine, since 1871 sequestered by Germany, the garrison had benefitted from both time and experience, and had established a layered defence bolstered by a system of deep dugouts and tunnels in which the troops were able to shelter from the British barrage.