Field Marshal Sir John French , commander of the British Expeditionary Force ( BEF ) , co-operated Collaboration with the French strategy to capture Vimy Ridge , by planning British attacks against Aubers Ridge .

The French attacked Attack Vimy Ridge and the British attacked Attack further north in the Battle of Aubers Ridge ( 9 May ) and the Battle of Festubert The battle was fought Hostile_encounter during the German offensive of the Second Battle of Ypres which the Germans ended to reinforce the Artois front .

The initial French attack broke Bodily_harm through and captured Conquering Vimy Ridge but reserve units were not able to reinforce Cause_change_of_strength the troops on the ridge , before German counter-attacks forced them back about half-way to their jumping-off points .

The French offensive had advanced Cause_to_make_progress the front line about towards Vimy Ridge , on an front .

The British Third and First armies achieved Achieve the deepest advance since trench warfare began Process_start , along the Scarpe river in the Battle of Arras , which inflicted Causation many losses on the Germans , attracted reserves and captured Conquering Vimy Ridge to the north .