 Russian units held the front of Champagne while French units were battling at Verdun.Russians occupied the Fort de la Pompelle near Reims.Following heavy losses during the offensive of April 1917 (bataille du Chemin des Dames) for the taking of Courcy and the Fort of Brimot, the 1st and 3rd Russian Brigades which had been placed under the French 7th Army Corps of general de Bazelaire, were both cited at the orders of armed forces, and paused at camp de La Courtine.