The two German armies on the Somme made corps headquarters permanent geographical entities, with divisions temporarily attached, before relief by fresh formations. On the south bank, was formed from the XVII Reserve Corps. Eventually the area north of the Somme to the Ancre was held by (VI Reserve Corps) from the Somme to Hardecourt, (IV Corps) from Hardecourt to Pozières on the Albert–Bapaume road and (XIV Reserve Corps) from Pozières, across the Ancre to Gommecourt. On 2 July, Loßberg surveyed the battlefield near Péronne, then began to arrange defensive positions like those used in the Second Battle of Champagne in September 1915. Front-line positions were to be thinly held, maintained regardless of loss and recaptured by (immediate counter-attacks). If immediate counter-attacks failed, (organised counter-attacks) were to be made.