Early in the morning of 27 March, German troops near St Eloi heard noises underground and then British mines exploded.
The ground around the craters of mines 2, 3, 4 and 5 was lost immediately but the British failed to take craters 4 and 5.
The German infantry were not able to mount an immediate counter-attack (Gegenstoß in der Stellung immediate counter-attack within the position) amid the confusion and the quantity of British artillery-fire.
After dark, counter-attacks from both flanks were repulsed; Kathen suspended the attacks and ordered forward every spare man from the 46th Reserve Division and parties from the 45th Reserve Division and 123rd Division, to dig another front position, which was done under British artillery-fire.
On 30 March, patrols from II Battalion, RIR 216 scouted craters 4 and 5 but counter-attacks on 31 March by II Battalion and III Battalion against the British trenches covering craters 2 and 3 failed.
The intense British artillery-fire was taken to be the preliminary of another attack and an extra battalion was sent to reinforce the 46th Reserve Division but craters 4 and 5 were lost.
The advance of reserves to reinforce the defenders was stopped by British artillery fire and the confusion caused by the mine explosions.
Early in the morning of 27 March, German troops near St Eloi heard noises underground and then British mines exploded. The ground around the craters of mines 2, 3, 4 and 5 was lost immediately but the British failed to take craters 4 and 5. The German infantry were not able to mount an immediate counter-attack (Gegenstoß in der Stellung immediate counter-attack within the position) amid the confusion and the quantity of British artillery-fire. After dark, counter-attacks from both flanks were repulsed; Kathen suspended the attacks and ordered forward every spare man from the 46th Reserve Division and parties from the 45th Reserve Division and 123rd Division, to dig another front position, which was done under British artillery-fire. On 30 March, patrols from II Battalion, RIR 216 scouted craters 4 and 5 but counter-attacks on 31 March by II Battalion and III Battalion against the British trenches covering craters 2 and 3 failed. The intense British artillery-fire was taken to be the preliminary of another attack and an extra battalion was sent to reinforce the 46th Reserve Division but craters 4 and 5 were lost. The advance of reserves to reinforce the defenders was stopped by British artillery fire and the confusion caused by the mine explosions.
Actions of St Eloi Craters