Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918) (part 3 of 5)

Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918) (part 3 of 5)

RECRUITING.

Westphalia and Rhine Provinces: 369th and 370th Infantry. Thuringia: 371st Infantry.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division suffered heavy losses in Champagne in May, 1917, and at Ypres in September and October, 1917. The division has only moderate value.

1918.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

1. The division remained in line until the attack on the Lys in April. It was engaged north of the La Bassee Canal (Givenchy, Festubert, southeast of Lacre), from April 9 to 24. The losses were heavy, including 700 prisoners. The 360th Regiment suffered the most in the fighting.

2. It was relieved on the 12th and rested in rear of the line until the 29th, when it returned to its former sector at Locre until May 3.

3. The division rested near Roubaix (Bondues, Wambrechies) until the beginning of July. According to reports, sickness was very general throughout the division at the time.

LA BASSEE CANAL.

4. On July 14 the division entered the line south of the La Bassee Canal, coming via Lille and Seclin. It remained in this sector until October 2.

5. It moved southward to reenforce the Cambrai-St. Quentin battle front on October 7, coming into line east of Tilloy. It fell back toward Valenciennes through Escaudoevres, Iwny (Oct. 11), Verchain (Oct. 21), Maing (Oct. 24–25), Famars (Oct. 27), north of Le Quesnoy (Oct. 27). It retired to the second line about November 1, but was reengaged southeast of Antoingt on November 9.

VALUE.

The 10th Ersatz Division was rated as a third-class division. Its service in 1918 was as a sector-holding division. It appears to have been a division of average value.

10th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │ │1 E. │(?) │372. │ │ Konigsberg │ │ │ │ (377). │ │ │ │3 E. │ │373. │ │ Konigsberg │ │ │ │ (378). │ │ │9 Ldw. │24 Ldw. │180. │377. │ │48 Ldw. │ │378. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │91 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. │91 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │97 F. A. Rgt. │97 F. A. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │3 Co. 2 Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ │310 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │437 Inf. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │180. │372. │180. │372. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │377. │ │377. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │378. │ │378. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 7 Dragoon Rgt. │5 Sqn. 7 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │130 Art. Command: │130 Art. Command: │ 97 F. A. Rgt. │ 97 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│410 Pion. Btn.: │3 Field Co. 1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 2. │ 3 Co. 2 Pions. │1 Landst. Co. 5 C. Dist. │ │ Pions. │ 310 T. M. Co. │310 T. M. Co. │ 320 Searchlight Section. │510 Tel. Detch. │ Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │213 Ambulance Co. │213 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │147 Field Hospital. │147 Field Hospital. │148 Field Hospital. │148 Field Hospital. │210 Vet. Hospital. │— Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │— M. T. Col. │— M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │1 Landst. Pion. Btn. (4 C. │ │ Dist.). │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(First District—Eastern Prussia.)

1915.

The present 10th Landwehr Division (the old 10th Landwehr Division took the name of the 1st Landwehr Division) was built around the 9th Landwehr Brigade (Brandenburg), which was brought to Koenigsburg as early as August 14, 1914, to constitute its war garrison. It found at Koenigsburg some of the mobile depot battalions of the regiments of the 1st Army Corps, from which came the three Koenigsburg Ersatz infantry regiments, which became, respectively, the 376th, 377th, and 378th Infantry. The present 372d Infantry is the former Ersatz infantry regiment of the 10th Landwehr Division.

POLAND.

1. These troops, at first fighting in eastern Prussia, took part in the campaign in Poland with the 1st Landwehr Corps, beginning with the first part of 1915.

2. About the end of July, 1915, the division took part in the offensive against the Russians, forced the passage of the Narew, and advanced east of Vilna to the region of Vileiki in September.

LAKE NAROTCH.

3. After the front was stabilized it established itself between Spiagla and Lake Svir, south of Lake Narotch.

1916.

1. The division remained in line near Lake Svir until July, 1916.

VOLHYNIA.

2. About July 27 the units of the division were relieved from the front of Lake Narotch and sent to Volhynia to the Von Linsingen Army. The 9th Landwehr Brigade became independent and did not follow the division, which was reduced to three regiments. These were engaged on the banks of the Stokhod at the end of July at Lokatchi and Kachovka and remained in line in the region of Kisselin and Sviniouki until the beginning of 1918.

1917.

VOLHYNIA.

1. January to December, 1917, in the Kisselin-Sviniouki sector.

2. In November, 1917, the three regiments of the division furnished 60 men per company for the Western Front, picked from the strongest, and received in exchange older men. In October, 16 men per company had already been transferred to the 14th Division following the latter’s losses on the Aisne.

RECRUITING.

The division is sufficiently homogeneous, the regiments as a rule coming from eastern Prussia. However, the necessity of filling up the ranks before being sent to France brought it a number of men from other Provinces.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In spite of its drafts, which are good, and the large number of officers, many of whom are in the active army, the division remained on the Eastern Front until March, 1918. Up to the present time it has received no training with a view to warfare on the Western Front, and must be considered for the time being as of mediocre value (April, 1918). The men of more than 35 years of age were left in Russia as abrüstungs kommando (cleaning up and salvage).

1918.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

1. On June 3 the division entrained in the Woevre and traveled via Conflans-Sedan-Mezieres-Laon to Malmaison, where it detrained on June 4. It marched to the front via Fismes, Fere en Tardenois, and Fresnes. It came into line on the Marne near Mont St. Pere about June 10. Here it was in line until July 15, when it dropped back to permit an attacking division to pass through. In the retreat the division again came into line a few days later and was heavily engaged on the defense until about August 1.

2. Heavy losses, including 300 prisoners on July 23, led to the dissolution of the division. Its effectives were turned into other fresh divisions. The 372d, 377th, and 378th went to the 37th Division, 36th Division, and 201st Division in the order named.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a fourth-class division.

10th Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │20 Bav. │16 Bav. │20 Bav. │16 Bav. │ │6 Bav. Res. │ │6 Bav. Res. │ │8 Bav. Res. │ │8 Bav. Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 5 Bav. Light Cav. Rgt.│5 Bav. Light Cav. Rgt. (3 │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │10 Bav. Brig.: │10 Bav. Brig.: │ 19 Bav. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 19 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ 20 Bav. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 20 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries., of which 3 are │ │ How.). │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│20 Bav. Pion. Co. │20 Bav. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │10 Bav. T. M. Co. │ │10 Bav. Pont. Engs. │ │10 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │ │10 Bav. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[10] ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │20 Bav. │16 Bav. │20 Bav. │16 Bav. │ │6 Bav. Res. │ │6 Bav. Res. │ │8 Bav. Res. │ │8 Bav. Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 5 Bav. Light Cav. Rgt.│3 Sqn. 5 Bav. Light Cav. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │10 Bav. Art. Command: │10 Bav. Art. Command: │ 19 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 20 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 20 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│10 Bav. Pion. Btn.: │10 Bav. Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 20 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 20 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 23 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 23 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 10 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 19 Searchlight Section. │ 19 Searchlight Section. │ 10 Bav. T. M. Co. │ Tel. Detch. │ 10 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ │ 97 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │10 Bav. Ambulance Co. │10 Bav. Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │31 Bav. Field Hospital. │31 Bav. Field Hospital. │34 Bav. Field Hospital. │34 Bav. Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │10 Bav. Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │690 Bav. M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │10 Bav. Cyclist Co. │10 Bav. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │19 Bav. F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────── Footnote 10:

Composition at time of dissolution, August, 1918.

HISTORY.

(16th Bavarian: First Bavarian District—Lower Bavaria. 6th Reserve Bavarian and 8th Reserve Bavarian: Second Bavarian District—Bavarian Palatinate.)

1915.

This division was organized in Belgium in March, 1915. Its three infantry regiments were drawn from already existing Bavarian divisions—the 16th Bavarian from the 1st Bavarian Division, the 6th Reserve Bavarian from the 5th Bavarian Reserve Division, and the 8th Bavarian Reserves from the 4th Bavarian Division.

1. In April, 1915, the division was in the region of Tournai.

SOMME.

2. In May it took over the sector of Lihons-Estrees road to Foucaucourt, which it occupied until the Franco-British offensive of 1916.

3. In October some units of the division were sent as reinforcements to Neuville-St. Vaast and to Champagne.

1916.

SOMME.

1. Remained in the Foucaucourt-Lihons sector until the middle of June, 1916.

2. At the end of June it was sent south of Bapaume and took part in the battle of the Somme near Contalmaison, Bazentin le Petit, and Longueval from July 1 to the end of July. The 6th Reserve Infantry suffered heavily. Its 2d Battalion lost 11 officers and 724 men (casualty lists).

GALICIA.

3. About the middle of August the division was sent to the Eastern Front (Stanislau) and the trip lasted from August 13 to 18.

BUKOVINA.

4. September and October: Bukovina (Dorna-Vatra, Kirlibaba, west of Mont Capoul). It fought against the right wing of the Roumanian Army.

TRANSYLVANIA.

5. From November, 1916, to the end of January, 1917, it held the sector of Tolgyes in Transylvania.

1917.

GALICIA.

1. At the beginning of February, 1917, the division left the Roumanian front and went to Galicia (sector of Zalosce) from February to May, being attached to the 2d Austro-Hungarian Army.

FRANCE.

2. In May the division returned to France, via Zloczow (May 19), Lemberg, Cracow, Breslau, Frankfort on Main, Treves.

ALSACE.

Detrained about May 25 in the region of Mulhouse; then was sent to rest and training in Upper Alsace at the beginning of June and sent to Belgium (June 12 to 14).

FLANDERS.

3. Fought south of the Ypres-Comines canal where it opposed the attack of July 31. It then went to the region of Catelet (sector of Gonnelieu) from August 12 to the end of September. It was near Becelaere in October.

RUSSIA.

4. At the end of October it was again sent to the Eastern Front. After a few weeks’ rest at Brest Litovsk it returned to France without having fought. Entrained November 22 at Brest Litovsk and detrained in Lorraine the 27th. Itinerary: Warsaw-Posen-Erfurt.

LORRAINE.

5. On November 29 to 30 it went into line in the forest of Bezange and was relieved in the middle of January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 16th Infantry: Lower Bavaria. The two other regiments: Bavarian Palatinate.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The greater part of the division is composed of young men. It does not seem to have suffered any losses for a long time. However, its morale seems to have been shaken at times. When it was sent from St. Quentin to Ypres at the end of September, 1917, it is believed that the officers of the 16th Infantry had trouble in preventing a mutiny. (British Information Bulletin, Oct. 12, 1917.)

1918.

1. The division was relieved in the Vosges on May 13 and rested near Dieuze until May 30. It entrained and moved by Metz and Sedan, Charleville, Liart, and detrained near Laon on the 30th–31st. It moved to the front by Bruyeres, Braye en Laennois, Mont Notre-Dame, Neuilly- St. Front.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE AND MARNE.

2. It was reengaged southeast of Troësnes-Passy en Valois (on the Ourcq) from June 5 to July 18. It was thrown back on Rozet St. Albin (July 20) and then west of Armentieres (21st). About that date the division was relieved.

The division was dissolved in August and its units sent to the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division, 11th Bavarian Division, and 14th Bavarian Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a second-class division. In 1918 it saw but six weeks of active fighting before it was dissolved.

11th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │21. │10 Gren. │21. │10 Gren. │21. │10 Gren. │ │38 Fus. │ │38 Fus. │ │38 Fus. │22. │11 Gren. │22. │11 Gren. │22. │11 Gren. │ │51. │ │51. │ │51. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Uhlan Rgt. │1 and 4 Sqns., 2 │ │ │ Uhlan Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │11 Brig.: │11 Brig.: │11 Brig.: │ 6 F. A. Rgt. │ 6 F. A. Rgt. │ 6 F. A. Rgt. (6 │ │ │ 4.9 cm. gun │ │ │ Btries.). │ 42 F. A. Rgt. │ 42 F. A. Rgt. │ 42 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 6:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 6: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ Field Co. 6 Pions.│ 1 Co. 6 Pions. │ │ 11 Pont. Engs. │ 5 Co. 6 Pions. │ │ 11 Tel. Detch. │ 11 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 11 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ 11 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │Anti-aircraft │ │ │ Section. │ │ │38 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │21. │10 Gren. │21. │10 Gren. │ │38 Fus. │ │38 Fus. │ │51. │ │51. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt.│2 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │11 Art. Command: │11 Art. Command: │ 42 F. A. Rgt. │ 42 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ 131 (M) Ft. A. │ │ Btn. (Staff, and │ │ 1, 2, and 3 │ │ Btries.). │ │ 904 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1367 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1368 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│122 Pion. Btn.: │122 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Co. 6 Pions. │ 1 Co. 6 Pions. │ 5 Co. 6 Pions. │ 5 Co. 6 Pions. │ 11 T. M. Co. │ 11 T. M. Co. │ 269 Searchlight │ 187 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 11 Tel. Detch. │11 Signal Command: │ │ 11 Tel. Detch. │ │ 3 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │16 Ambulance Co. │16 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │55 Field Hospital. │59 Field Hospital. │59 Field Hospital. │61 Field Hospital. │61 Field Hospital. │11 Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │544 M. T. Col. │544 M. T. Col. │644 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │Anti-aircraft │ │ Section. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Sixth District—Silesia.)

1914.

FRANCE.

1. The 11th Division belonged to the 6th Army Corps and detrained at Merzig August 10 and 11, 1914, passed through Luxemburg the 17th, and entered Belgian Luxemburg the 18th.

2. It belonged to the 5th Army (Prussian Crown Prince) and took part in the battle of August 22 at Tintigny, St. Vincent, and Belle Fontaine. It crossed the Meuse the 29th below Stenay, passed through Varennes and Ste. Menehould. September 7, at the high point of the German advance, it was near Revigny.

RHEIMS.

3. After the battle of the Marne it established itself at the western edge of the Argonne (from Binarville to Cernay en Bormois).

ARGONNE.

4. October 4 it fought at Binarville. October 21 the 22d Brigade was at Beine, east of Rheims. The 21st Brigade remained in the Argonne.

1915.

1. At the end of January, 1915, the 21st Brigade returned to the Rheims sector.

CHAMPAGNE.

In February the 22d Brigade was attached temporarily in support of the 8th Reserve Corps on the Champagne front (east).

2. About the middle of June the division went to Artois to reinforce the 6th Army in preparation for the French offensive.

SOUCHEZ.

3. At the end of June it held the sector north of Souchez, east of Neuville St. Vaast. It executed many unsuccessful attacks on Souchez and the Chateau of Carleul. It suffered considerable losses during July. September 25 and 26 it had more losses before La Folie. Relieved at the end of September and sent to rest in the region of Cambrai. The casualty lists for the 10th Grenadiers show 432 killed, 1,023 wounded, 64 missing; total, 1,519 men. The losses were hastily made good from October 5 to 14 by replacements with less than three months’ training (oldest class Landsturm 2d Band and 1915 class men who entered service in July). The 9th Company of the 10th Grenadiers received in this way at least 119 men and the 12th Company of the 38th Fusiliers about the same.

4. During the first two weeks of October the division went into line in the sector astride the Somme.

1916.

FRISE.

1. At the end of January, 1916, the division took part in the attack which ended in the taking of the village of Frise and suffered very heavy losses.

2. On May 25 it was relieved, and a short time afterwards took over the sector south of the Amiens-St. Quentin road. (At the end of June the first 1917-class soldiers arrived with older classes put back, taken from the mines and factories of Silesia.)

SOMME.

3. In this sector it opposed the French attack of July 1 and days following. It suffered heavily and lost a large number of prisoners to the French. (The 11th Grenadiers, whose battalions had fought in three different places, separated from the rest of the division, had to have at least 181 replacements to complete the 11th Company. They arrived from July 6 to 20.)

4. It was withdrawn from this sector about the end of July and sent to the region of St. Quentin to be reorganized.

5. On August 1 the division took over the trenches in the sector Andechy-Beuvraignes.

SOMME.

6. September 4 it again went in to the battle of the Somme between Deniecourt and Vermandovillers. During these two actions in the Somme it suffered 83 per cent losses.

7. Relieved October 10 and took over the sector of Prunay the 24th, which it held until December 12, then went to rest near St. Quentin. The 11th Grenadiers left the division in October and were transferred to the 101st Division in Macedonia.

1917.

1. On January 4, 1917, the division went into line in the sector of Lassigny, then on February 10 in the sector of Ablaincourt, south of the Somme.

2. About the middle of the month of March the division retreated, with the other German forces engaged in the Somme, to the Hindenburg line.

3. March 29 it was sent to the Arras front.

ARTOIS.

April 19 it opposed south of the Scarpe the first shock of the British attack. In spite of a desperate defense it was routed and lost 2,200 prisoners to the British. The 51st Infantry was reduced to 600 men (prisoners’ statements) and its 12th Company to 6 men.

4. On April 11 the division was relieved and reorganized in the region of Bruges. It received replacements especially from the 623d Infantry, which was dissolved, organized, and trained at the camp at Neuhammer.

FLANDERS.

5. At the beginning of June it was in support of the Wytschaete-Messines front when the British attacked. It then held this sector until June 26 and suffered heavy losses again (June 8 and 9).

WOEVRE.

6. After a few days’ rest it was sent to Metz and then put in line in the sector of Flirey (in Haye), end of July to September 15.

7. Relieved about the middle of September, and in October took over a sector on the Champagne front.

FLANDERS.

8. At the end of October it was sent to Flanders and went into line near Passchendeale. Withdrawn at the end of December and went to the rear of the front in the region of Maubeuge.

RECRUITING.

The division was recruited in the regions of Breslau, Glatz, and Schweidnitz from a German population. The Poles, therefore, coming from the Province of Silesia, are in the minority. The Sixth District is thickly populated and was able by itself to maintain the division even during the period of heavy losses.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In spite of the heavy losses suffered at the Somme, Arras, and Wytschaete the division always fought well. Its value is diminished by the presence of a certain number of Poles who were generally ready to desert when they had a chance. Lieut. Col. Schwerck, commanding the 51st Infantry, received the order “Pour le Merite” after the battle of Arras. This reward, which has been given to only six other regimental commanders, seems to prove that the fighting value of the 11th Division at Arras in April, 1917, was greatly appreciated by the German High Command.

1918.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 11th Division rested first in the Maubeuge region, and later near Charleville and Laon for about two months. About March 1 it relieved the 51st Reserve Division in the Butte de Mesnil. Here nothing except minor trench raids was attempted. Most of the older men were exchanged for young ones. It was relieved by the 88th Division April 15.

LASSIGNY.

2. April 20 it relieved elements of the 34th and 37th Divisions south of Dives, (east of Lassigny). It was relieved by the 202d Division during the night of May 22–23. It rested then for about 10 days in the Guiscard region.

MONTDIDIER.

3. June 9 it reinforced the Montdidier-Noyon battle front south of Thiescourt (west of Noyon). It attacked the first day of the offensive as an attack division. It attacked on a front of 1,500 yards, with Compiegne as its final objective (its orders were captured), but did poorly, succeeding only in reaching Machemont—less than half way. In this engagement it suffered heavy losses. It was withdrawn the 16th and went to rest in the Guiscard region, where it received some 1,300 replacements.

4. The division relieved the 222d Division near Rubescourt (south of Montdidier) July 19. In the fighting which followed, the division lost heavily. The 10th Regiment received 300 replacements August 2; relieved about the 12th.

5. It reentered line near Varesnes the 22d and was withdrawn the 28th.

ST. QUENTIN.

6. September 8 it came back into line southwest of St. Quentin near Jussy. It was withdrawn about the 20th.

7. Four days later the division was identified north of St. Quentin in the Gricourt sector; withdrawn the 2d of October.

8. It came back into line about the 12th near Barisis (south of LaFere). The division took part in the general German retirement and was identified successively at Remies, Mesbrecourt, Léa Ferte-Chevresis, Monceau le Neuf, Le Herie la Vieville, St. Algis, and Champ Bouvier. It was still in line when the armistice was signed.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 11th is rated as a good second-class division. It did not do well in the battle of the Oise, but everywhere else its conduct under fire was characterized by considerable tenacity. Losses were very heavy. Numerous cases of desertion, especially to the interior; a large number of replacements—returned prisoners from Russia—are said to have mutinied at Breslau.

11th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │21 Res. │10 Res. │21 Res. │10 Res. │23. │10 Res. │ │11 Res. │ │11 Res. │ │22. │23. │22. │23. │22. │ │156. │ │156. │ │156. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Res. Hus. Rgt. (3│ │4 Res. Hus. Rgt. │ Sqns.). │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │11 Res. F. A. Rgt. │11 Res. F. A. Rgt. │11 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (6 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion. Liaisons. │ Btn. No. 6. │ Btn. No. 6. │ Btn. No. 6. │ │11 Res. Pont. Engs.│211 T. M. Co. │ │11 Res. Tel. Detch.│11 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │11 Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │95 Anti-Aircraft │ │ │ Section. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │23. │10 Res. │23. │22. │ │22. │ │156. │ │156. │ │10 Res. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 4 Res. Hus. │1 Sqn. 4 Res. Hus. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(s) Art. Command: │11 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 11 Res. F. A. Rgt.│1 Abt. 5 Res. Ft. │ (9 Btries.). │ A. Rgt. │ │748 Light Am. Col. │ │1242 Light Am. Col. │ │1296 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(311) Pion. Btn.: │311 Pion Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │ 4 Co. 6 Pions. │4 Co. 6 Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. 25 │2 Res. Co. 25 │ Pion. Btn. │ Pions. │ 211 T. M. Co. │211 T. M. Co. │ 4 Heavy Field │39 Searchlight │ Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ │ 411 Tel. Detch. │411 Signal Command: │ │117 Wireless Detch. │ │411 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │506 Ambulance Co. │506 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │29 Res. Field │29 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │32 Res. Field │32 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │411 Vet. Hospital. │411 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Sixth District-Silesia.).

1914.

FRANCE.

1. This division, with the 12th Reserve Division, formed the 6th Reserve Corps.

LORRAINE-MEUSE.

2. At the beginning of the war it belonged to the 5th Army (Prussian Crown Prince). Fought at Arrancy from August 22 to 25; crossed the Meuse the 21st of September. Fought in the region of Cierges September 2; advanced nearly to Triaucourt September 9 and retreated through the east of the Argonne near Montfaucon September 11 to 17.

3. At the end of September it established itself at the eastern edge of the Argonne (Varennes-Malancourt wood). It occupied this region until the Verdun offensive in February, 1916.

1915.

1. January to December, 1915, the division held the sector of Malancourt wood, south of Montfaucon, in Argonne. In April the 11th Reserve Infantry was transferred to form the 117th Division.

1916.

VERDUN.

1. In February, 1916, when the battle of Verdun commenced, the division was still in its sector on the left bank of the Meuse.

2. In March it fought near Bethencourt. It took this village April 9. Relieved about May 15 after suffering very heavy losses (68 per cent of its infantry).

3. Sent to rest and reorganized with replacements from the 1916 class.

SOMME.

4. It was at first army reserve in the region of Cambrai at the beginning of June. Then a hurry call was sent for the division June 27 and it went into the battle of the Somme.

5. July 2 to 3 it relieved some units of the 12th Division and 10th Bavarian Division on the front Hardecourt to the Somme and suffered enormous losses from July 2 to 9.

6. Received replacements July 10 and suffered again heavily between the 10th and 20th in the same region. It was withdrawn from the Somme front about July 24.

FLANDERS.

7. Reconstituted again with replacements from the depots of the 12th Army Corps and sent at the end of July and beginning of August to the east of Armentieres, south of the Lys, and held this sector until September 20 to 27.

SOMME.

8. At the end of September the division returned to the Somme, between the Somme and Barleux. It opposed the attack of the French October 18 to 19 in the sector of Biaches.

9. The division was relieved from the Somme area at the beginning of November.

ARTOIS.

10. Sent to Artois and went into line at the beginning of December in the sector of Lens, between Loos and Lievin.

1917.

1. About March 24 to 25, 1917, the division was withdrawn from the Artois front.

2. In line for six weeks between Cambrai and St. Quentin, in the sector Bellicourt-Bellenglise, from the end of March to May 10. Returned about May 14 to 15 to the region of Lens, where it stayed until August 20. (Attack of the Canadians on its right flank Aug. 15.)

ARTOIS-FLANDERS.

3. At rest in the vicinity of St. Amand (Artois) at the end of August and beginning of September. Held the front south of Lens (sector Frenoy- Acheville) September 9. In November it was sent to Flanders near Passchendaele, where it alternated with the 12th Reserve Division until January, 1918. At rest from the middle of January and went back into line February 24 south of the forest of Houthulst.

RECRUITING.

Silesia. Drafts from other districts—for example, the fourth—to counterbalance the Polish element.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

At the present time (February, 1918) it is difficult to form a precise opinion of the fighting qualities of this division, as it has not been seriously engaged since the battle of the Somme. In the sector of Lens and Frenoy the heavy losses which it suffered from gas have no doubt caused a certain weakening of the morale. (One company of the 156th Infantry was reduced to 24 men.)

In Flanders the division held a difficult sector, but arrived at a time when active operations were coming to an end. The nature of the ground has been the main cause of its losses. (Information from the British, Feb. 9, 1918.)

1918.

PASSCHENDAELE.

1. The division remained in line south of Passchendaele until January 16, when it was relieved by the 31st Division. It then moved to the Oostroosebeke area, where it underwent a course of training in open warfare.

YPRES.

2. February 24 the division relieved the 199th Division astride the Ypres-Staden railway (northeast of Ypres).

ARMENTIERES.

3. It was relieved about the 18th of March by the extension of front of the neighboring divisions, and one regiment was identified by prisoners as having reenforced the front south of Villers-Carbonnel (southwest of Peronne). This regiment was relieved March 26 and went to join the remainder of the division which was resting in the Turcoing area. April 9 the division reenforced the front in the Croix du Bac sector (north of the La Bassee Canal). It was withdrawn about the 16th, after losing heavily, and went to rest in the vicinity of Laventie.

4. April 28 it relieved the 81st Reserve Division southwest of Meteren. It was withdrawn about the 6th of May, going to be reconstituted in the area southeast of Bailleul.

5. It relieved the 12th Division southwest of Meteren during the night of May 18–19, remaining in line until June 7, when it was withdrawn to rest in the Courtrai area.

6. During the night of June 22–23 the division relieved the 216th Division in the Locre sector (west of Kemmel). Here it fought until a day or two before the armistice, when it seems to have been withdrawn.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 11th Reserve is rated as a second-class division. It has fought a great deal during 1918, especially since June, and has lost heavily. Its record has not been brilliant.

11th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │33 Ldw. │75 Ldw. │33 Ldw. │75 Ldw. │ │76 Ldw. │ │76 Ldw. │70 Mixed Ldw. │5 Ldw. │70 Mixed Ldw. │5 Ldw. │ │18 Ldw. │ │18 Ldw. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │92 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. │92 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │98 F. A. Rgt. │98 F. A. Rgt. │ │910 Btry. F. A. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 and 2 Ldw. Pion. Cos. (3 C. Liaisons. │ │ Dist.). │ │311 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │ │11 Ldw. Div. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │33 Ldw. │18 Ldw. │70 Ldw. │18 Ldw. │ │75 Ldw. │ │75 Ldw. │ │76 Ldw. │ │424. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 11 Dragoon Rgt. (?). │1 Sqn. 11 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │131 Art. Command: │98 F. A. Rgt. │ 98 F. A. Rgt. │1018 Light Am. Col. │ 910 Btry. F. A. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(411) Pion. Btn.: │4 Landst. Co. 3 C. Dist. Liaisons. │ │ Pions. │ 1 Co. 1 Pions. │359 Searchlight Section. │ 1 Ldw. Co. 3 Pions. │79 Searchlight Section. │ 311 T. M. Co. │511 Signal Command: │ 353 Searchlight Section. │ 511 Tel. Detch. │ 272 Searchlight Section. │ │ 511 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │217 Sanitary Co. │217 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │10 Ldw. Field Hospital. │105 Field Hospital. │17 Ldw. Field Hospital. │150 Field Hospital. │ │211 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │11 Ldw. Div. Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │70 Ldw. Brig.: │ │ (424 Inf. & Consbruch Rgts. │ │ “1 and 2 Allenstein.”) │ │ (20 C. Dist. 1 and 2 Btns. │ │ Landst.). │ │ 1 Lotzen Landst. Btn. (20 C.│ │ Dist. Btn. No. 4). │ │ Neustadt Landst. Btn. (17 C.│ │ Dist. Landst. Btn. No. 9). │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(18th Landwehr: Twentieth District—Eastern part of West Prussia. 75th Landwehr and 76th Landwehr: Ninth District—Schleswig—Holstein and Mecklemburg.)

1914.

EAST PRUSSIA-POLAND.

1. This division is the former Von Einem Division, which, with the Jacobi Division (former 10th Landwehr Division), formed the 1st Landwehr Corps on the Eastern Front in 1914–15. It took part in the battle of Tannenberg in August and fought near Lyck in October, 1914.

2. From November to December the 1st Landwehr Corps held the defiles of the Masurian Lakes, the 33d and 70th Landwehr Brigades being in the region of Angerburg and Loetzen.

1915.

1. In February, 1915, the 1st Landwehr Corps was identified between Mariampol and Suwalki.

2. From March to August the Von Einem Division, which became the 11th Landwehr Division, was in line before the fortress of Ossowiec.

VICHNEV.

3. The offensive against the Russians brought it to the railroad Molodetchno-Lida, near Vichnev, in September. It established its positions there and remained more than two years, from September, 1915, to the beginning of 1918.

1916.

1. Vichnev-Krevo sector.

2. Toward the end of 1916 the 424th Infantry was assigned to the 11th Landwehr Division, which had given its 5th Landwehr to the 218th Division in October.

1917.

1. Vichnev-Krevo sector.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

On the Russian front since the beginning of the war. Mediocre quality.

1918.

UKRAINE.

1. The 11th Landwehr Division, which was still in line south of Krevo in January, 1918, marched to the east in February. On April 30 it was identified in the Ukraine between Kiev and Koursk. About the middle of May it was in the Soumy region. A man of the 75th Landwehr Regiment wrote on the 16th of June: “I am still at Kiev, but I tell you one thing, it is much worse here than in the trenches, for there one has the enemy in front, while here it is just the opposite. The people are so badly disposed toward us they would eat us alive if they were able, but they can not.”

RUSSIA.

2. The middle of July the division was identified south of Moscow. During all this time men were taken from the division and sent as replacements to the Western Front.

3. Early in November elements of the division were identified along the Danube.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

11th Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │21 Bav. │3 Bav. │21 Bav. │3 Bav. │ │22 Bav. │ │22 Bav. │ │13 Bav. Res. │ │13 Bav. Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │4 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light Cav. Rgt. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │21 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │21 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│19 Bav. Pion. Co. │19 Bav. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │21 Bav. Pion. Co. │21 Bav. Pion. Co. │ │11 Bav. T. M. Co. │ │11 Bav. Pont. Engs. │ │11 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │ │11 Bav. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │21 Bav. │3 Bav. │21 Bav. │16 Bav. │ │22 Bav. │ │3 Bav. │ │13 Bav. Res. │ │22 Bav. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light Cav. Rgt.│2 Sqn. 7 Light Cav. Rgt. │ │ (Bavarian). │2 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light Cav. Rgt.│ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │11 Bav. Art. Command: │11 Bav. Art. Command: │ 21 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 21 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ │ 11 Bav. Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 124 Bav. Light Am. Col. │ │ 125 Bav. Light Am. Col. │ │ 129 Bav. Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(11 Bav.) Pion. Btn.: │11 Bav. Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 19 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 19 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 21 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 21 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 11 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 11 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 11 Bav. Tel. Detch. │11 Bav. Searchlight Section. │ │11 Bav. Signal Command: │ │ 11 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ │ 179 Bav. Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │11 Bav. Ambulance Co. │11 Bav. Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │35 Field Hospital. │35 Bav. Field Hospital. │37 Field Hospital. │37 Bav. Field Hospital. │11 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │691 M. T. Col. │691 Divisional M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │11 Bav. Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │M. G. S. S. Detch. No. 47. │ │308 Supply Train. │ │1107 Wireless Detch. │ │286 and 287 Field Signal │ │ Sections Pigeon Loft. │ │2 Co. 29 Pions. │ │3 Co. 29 Pions. │ │1 Co. 7 Pions. │ │Pfungstadt Landst. Inf. Btn. │ │2 Munster Landst. Btn. │ │1 Co. 60 Labor Btn. │ │1 Co. 12 Labor Btn. (Bayr.). │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(3d Bavarian: First Bavarian District.) (22d Bavarian: Second Bavarian District.) (13th Reserve Bavarian: Third Bavarian District.)

1915.

Organized in April, 1915, in Galicia, in the Carpathians.

GALICIA.

1. This division belonged to Mackensen’s army during the offensive in Galicia and took part in the capture of Przemysl May 31, 1915.

BUG.

2. Sent north, fought at Rava Ruska, and reached the Bug in the region of Cholm-Vlodava. Withdrew from the front at the end of August.

SERBIA.

3. In September and October the division took part in the campaign against Serbia with Mackensen’s army. Crossed the Danube October 8 to 11; Valley of the Morawa; region of Monastir (November).

4. Left the front November 15 and went to rest in Hungary at Weisskirchen until the beginning of February, 1916.

1916.

FRANCE.

1. From February 9 to 10, 1916, the division entrained for the Western Front. Itinerary: Temesvar-Szegedin-Baja-Marburg-Graz-Salzburg-Munich- Ingolstadt-Wurzburg-Frankfort on Main-Coblentz-Cologne-Liège-Malines. Detrained at Antwerp February 15.

2. At rest in the region of Antwerp until March 1, and on that date it entrained for Vouziers.

VERDUN.

3. Sent to the Verdun front (sector of Avocourt wood, Mar. 8), attacked March 20 and 22 and April 11 and suffered considerable losses; 75 per cent of its infantry out of action.

4. Relieved at the beginning of June and sent to rest in the region of Thionville, then sent to Cambrai.

RUSSIA.

5. June 14 it returned to Russia. Itinerary: Solesme Busigny-Maubeuge- Liège-Aix la Chapelle-Hanover-Brest Litovsk-Kovel.

KOVEL.

6. Went into action immediately and counterattacked near the Kovel-Rovno Railroad and suffered heavy losses.

ROUMANIA.

7. In October it took part in the Roumanian campaign (Valley of the Jiul).

1917.

FRANCE.

1. Withdrawn from the Braila front at the beginning of January, 1917, and again entrained for France on the 10th. Itinerary: Bucarest- Budapest-Vienna-Salzburg-Munich. Detrained the 22d at Barr (Alsace).

ALSACE.

2. In April held the sector Burnhaupt-Rhone-Rhine canal.

AISNE.

3. Sent from Mulhouse to Marle April 26 to 28, then to the south of Laon and took over the sector of Cernay May 5 to 6, where its losses were due especially to artillery fire.

4. At rest in the region of Laon June 6 to August 3.

5. Coucy sector August 3 to September 15. The division did not have any hard action here, but suffered again from bombardment.

6. September 15, at rest in the vicinity of Sedan for one month.

FLANDERS.

7. Entrained at Sedan October 15 to 17; detrained at Courtrai October 18; went into line the 22d in the sector of Passchendaele, where it suffered heavily from the British attack of the 26th. Relieved immediately after this engagement and reorganized.

8. November 2 the division went back into line south of Passchendaele, but did not have any serious actions.

9. November 10, relieved and sent to rest.

COTES DE MEUSE.

10. From November 18 to January 12, 1918, the division held the sector Chauvoncourt-Seuzey north of St. Mihiel. It took part in no infantry actions.

RECRUITING.

The whole of the Bavarian country.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

This division may be considered good. It took part on the Eastern and Western Fronts in a large number of battles, “Przemysl, Verdun, Argesul, Filipesci” (speech of William II), and did well everywhere (January, 1918).

1918.

LOUVRE.

1. The 11th Bavarian Division remained in the Seuzey sector, resting and being reconstituted, until relieved by the 82d Reserve Division on January 12.

2. About the middle of February it relieved the 1st Division in the Etain sector. This, too, was a very quiet sector and the division was not identified by contact. It was relieved about March 27 by the 10th Landwehr Division, and remained in rear of the Verdun front for a fortnight. It is probable that it was trained during this period, but the fact has never been definitely established.

ARMENTIERES.

3. The division was then sent to the Armentieres front, where it relieved the 214th Division in the Neuve Eglise sector (northwest of Armentieres) April 13–14. Here it took part in very heavy fighting, especially south of Mount Kemmel, and suffered heavy losses as a result. It was withdrawn on the 26th of April, and proceeded to the area northeast of Ghent, detraining at Wachtebeke on the 29th. Here it was brought up to strength and reviewed by the King of Bavaria on May 20.

SOISSONS.

4. About June 3 the division left the Ghent region; it was identified in rear of the front in the region of Soissons on June 9. A few days later it reinforced the front near Coeuvres (southwest of Soissons). It was relieved by the 14th Division on June 21.

5. After resting immediately in rear of the front, it suffered severe losses from bombardment by gas shells during this period. The division came back into line in the Courmelles sector (south of Soissons) about July 15. July 18 it lost over 2,400 in prisoners alone. It was withdrawn about July 22.

YPRES.

6. The division rested for about a month. It was reconstituted, it being found necessary to dissolve one company in each battalion. August 26 the division relieved the 49th Reserve Division east of Boesinghe (northwest of Ypres). It fought, taking part in the general retirement, until withdrawn October 2, after losing more than 500 prisoners.

GHENT.

7. The division reinforced the front near Beveren (southwest of Ghent), and had not been withdrawn up to the time the armistice was signed.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 11th Bavarian is rated as being in the first of four classes of divisions. It fought well during 1918, but not brilliantly. Its losses were heavy, but not in comparison with other German divisions.

12th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │34. │23. │24. │23. │24. │23. │ │62. │ │62. │ │62. │78. │63. │78. │63. │ │63. │ │157. │ │157. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │11 Horse Jag. Rgt. │ │6 Sqn. 10 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │12 Brig.: │12 Brig.: │12 Brig.: │ 21 F. A. Rgt. │ 21 F. A. Rgt. │ 21 F. A. Rgt. │ 57 F. A. Rgt. │ 57 F. A. Rgt. │ 57 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 6:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 6: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ Field Co. 6 Pions.│ 2 Co. 6 Pions. │ │ 12 Pont. Engs. │ 3 Co. 6 Pions. │ │ 12 Tel. Detch. │ 12 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 12 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ 12 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │17 Antiaircraft │ │ │ section. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │24. │23. │24. │23. │ │62. │ │62. │ │63. │ │63. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt.│4 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │12 Art. Command: │12 Art. Command: │ 21 F. A. Rgt. │ 21 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 68 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 851 Light Am. Col. │ │ 887 Light Am. Col. │ │ 937 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 Pion. Btn. No. 6:│6 Pion. Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │ 2 Co. 6 Pions. │2 Co. 6 Pions. │ 3 Co. 6 Pions. │3 Co. 6 Pions. │ 12 T. M. Co. │12 T. M. Co. │ 6 Searchlight │100 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 10 Tel. Detch. │12 Signal Command: │ 116, 117, and 118 │ 12 Tel. Detch. │ Signal Detch. │ │ │ 182 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │15 Ambulance Co. │15 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │51 Field Hospital. │57 Field Hospital. │57 Field Hospital. │60 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │12 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │27 Supply Train. │545 M. T. Col. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │17 Antiaircraft │ │ section. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(6th Corps District—Upper Silesia.)

1914.

FRANCE.

1. The 12th Division, forming with the 11th Division the 6th Army Corps (Breslau), formed a part of the 5th Army (German Crown Prince) at the beginning of the war, took part in the battle of August 22 at Rossignol les Bulles, entered France August 24, passed the Meuse above Mouzon on August 28, and took part in the battle on September 7 at Laheycourt and Villotte near Louppy.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. After the battle of the Marne it was engaged (Sept. 21) at Berru and at Nogent l’Abbesse (east of Rheims). It remained on the Rheims front until the middle of June, 1915.

1915.

ARTOIS.

1. In April the 12th Division gave the 157th Infantry Regiment to the 117th Division, a new formation.

2. Toward the middle of June, 1915, the 6th Army Corps was relieved on the Rheims front and transferred to Artois. The 12th Division then occupied a sector to the south of Souchez, from which it was relieved toward the end of September. In the Souchez sector it took part in some very heavy engagements (1st to the 16th of July).

3. After a rather short rest period in the region of Cambrai, the division took its position in the sector which crosses the Somme (during the first half of October).

1916.

SOMME.

1. On the 1st of July, 1916, the 12th Division received the entire weight of the English attack north of the Somme (sectors Contalmaison- Hardecourt) and suffered very heavily (losses 61.5 per cent).

2. It was relieved on July 12 and reorganized in the vicinity of Cambrai.

3. About the 20th of July the 12th Division again took part in the battle of the Somme (in the sector northeast of Pozières), where it suffered heavy losses.

4. About the 9th of August it was relieved, and on the 21st went into the calm sector of Monchy aux Bois (south of Arras), which it held until October 16.

ANCRE.

5. The 12th Division then held (Oct. 25 to Nov. 19) the sector north of the Ancre (Beaumont-Hamel) and suffered heavy losses (Nov. 14).

6. It was transferred to Champagne and took over the sector of Prunay on December 12.

RUSSIA.

7. At the end of December it was relieved from this quiet sector and entrained on December 28, at Warmeriville for the Russian front by the route Aix la Chapelle-Cologne-Hanover-Luneburg-Hamburg-Stettin- Königsberg-Tilsit-Chavli-Ponieviej. It detrained southwest of Illuxt on January 2, 1917.

1917.

1. On the Russian front the 12th Division did not take part in any important battles. (Sector in the region of Dwinsk.)

FRANCE.

2. Relieved about the end of May, 1917, it returned to the Western Front. Itinerary Jelowka (May 27) -Insterburg-Posen-Leipzig-Weimar- Cologne-Saarbrucken. Detrained at Metz June 3 and reentrained on the 9th at Ars sur Moselle for Mouscron, by way of Metz-Luxemburg-Namur-Tournai, and detrained at Gheluwe.

3. It remained in reserve first on the Wytschaete-Messines front, and then (Aug. 1) relieved the 22d Reserve Division in the sector east of Klein-Zillebeke after the Franco-British attack. In this sector the division did not engage in battle but suffered greatly from artillery bombardments.

ITALY.

4. It was relieved on August 20 and transferred to Alsace for reorganization and rest. It remained in the region west of Bale until the end of September. It was then sent to the Italian front, to the 14th German Army, where it was engaged in the Tolmino sector on October 25, and relieved on the Piave about the 8th of December.

FRANCE.

5. The 12th Division was brought back from Italy to the French front about December 25. At the beginning of January, 1918, it was in the neighborhood of Zabern.

RECRUITING.

The 12th Division is recruited from Upper Silesia, a great mining and industrial center, which suffices to insure its own full recruiting and even helps out other districts less populated or temporarily below strength. The sending of these men outside of the district has the advantage of reducing, in its own regiments, the Polish element, which dominates in Upper Silesia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 12th Division fought well at the Somme.

It appears to have been reorganized during its stay at Zabern (January, 1918). It has always been considered a good division.

1918.

LORRAINE.

1. On January 24 the 12th division entered the Domevre sector, relieving the 233d Division. It was relieved on February 20 and went to rest and train in Alsace. On March 18 it entrained at Froeschweiler and moved to Ath, from where it marched to the Gory-Belloune area, south of Douai (a march of 40 miles).

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. On the 23d the division moved to Drury and up the Cambrai-Arras road to Vis en Artois, coming into line on the night of March 23–24. It attacked on the 24th, but was held up by the British artillery fire. It remained in line until April 1, making little progress in spite of heavy and costly fighting.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

3. The division rested in the suburbs of Douai until mid-April. It was engaged northeast of Merris on the 17th. It appears to have received replacements in the interim. The division passed into the second line on May 18, after suffering especially heavy losses. In recognition of the service of the 12th Division, south of Arras and in the Lys battle, Gen. Lequis, the division commander, received the Order of Merit in May.

4. The division was at rest near Renaix (Belgium) from May 29 to July 12. It entrained at Audenarde on the 12th and moved to Perenchies (via Coutrai and Lille).

METEREN.

5. The division was engaged south of Meteren on the night of July 19–20; here it remained until August 28. In a local operation on August 18 the division lost 300 prisoners, otherwise the sector was quiet.

BATTLE OF CAMBRAI.

6. It entrained near Armentieres on August 28 and went to a point north of Douai (Le Forest). It was engaged southeast of Morchies on September 3, and in the days following was driven back on Inchy en Artois, Marquion (3d to 13th). By the end of September it had passed Bourlon, Epinoy, Aubencheul au Bac, and Fressies. The division was relieved about October 6. The division lost more than 1,100 prisoners.

7. It was reengaged on October 11 southeast of Armentieres. It retreated by Lille (Oct. 20) east of Tourcoing, and at Helchin. On the 25th it was relieved.

8. On November 3 it was again in line east of Joulain and remained until the armistice. In withdrawing the division passed Maresches, Jenlain, Autreppe, and Blangies.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a second-class division. It was actively engaged in the spring offensives and did well. After the middle of July it was almost constantly engaged in hard defensive fighting.

12th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │22 Res. │38 Res. │22 Res. │38 Res. │22 Res. │23 Res. │ │51 Res. │ │51 Res. │ │38 Res. │23 Res. │22 Res. │23 Res. │22 Res. │ │51 Res. │ │23 Res. │ │23 Res. │6 Res. │Jag. Btn. │6 Res. │Jag. Btn.│6 Res. │Jag. Btn.│ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │4 Res. Uhlan Rgt. │4 Res. Uhlan Rgt. │4 Res. Uhlan Rgt. │ (3 Sqns.). │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │12 Res. F. A. Rgt. │12 Res. F. A. Rgt. │12 Res. F. A. Regt. │ (6 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2 Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. 6.│ Pion. Btn. No. 6.│ Pion. Btn. No. 6. │ │12 Res. Pont. Engs.│212 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │12 Res. Tel. Detch.│12 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │12 Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │7 and 132 Anti- │ │ │ Aircraft │ │ │ Sections. │ │ │8 Bav. Labor Btn. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │22 Res. │23 Res. │22 Res. │23 Res. │ │38 Res. │ │38 Res. │ │51 Res. │ │51 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ (?) │2 Sqn. 4 Res. Hus. │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │99 Art. Command: │ │ │ 12 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 12 Res. F. A. │ (9 Btries.). │ Regt. │ │ 133 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 830 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1243 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1297 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│312 Pion Btn.: │312 Pion Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Res. Co. 6 │ 1 Res. Co. 6 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. 6 │ 2 Res. Co. 6 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 212 T. M. Co. (23)│ 212 T. M. Co. │ (?) Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │ 412 Tel. Detch. │ 105 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │412 Signal Command: │ │ 412 Tel. Detch. │ │ 114 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │Ambulance Co. │520 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │30 Res. Field │30 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │31 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │412 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │711 M. T. Col. │711 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

12th Reserve Division: (6th Corps District-Silesia).

1914.

The 12th Reserve Division formed, with the 11th Reserve Division, the 6th Reserve Corps, formed in Silesia at the time of mobilization.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

1. At the outbreak of the war, the division detrained at Sarrebruecken; fought in the neighborhood of Arrancy from the 22d to the 25th of August; remained at Mangiennes from the 27th to the 30th; crossed the Meuse on September 1; was beaten back with heavy losses on September 2 near Cierges; was at Rarécourt on the 7th and near Triaucourt on the 9th; spread out to the east of the Argonne upon Gercourt (11th to the 13th) and Montfaucon (Sept. 17).

2. At the end of September to the end of October took up its position east of Varennes in the district of Malancourt-Chattancourt and toward the end of October took its final position north of Bethencourt (southeast of Cuisy-Bois de Forges).

3. The division occupied this sector until the German offensive upon Verdun (end of February, 1916).

1915.

1. January to December, 1915, sector north of Bethencourt-Bois de Forges.

In April the 27th Infantry Regiment Reserve was transferred to the 117th Division, a new formation.

2. In September, 1915, elements of the 12th Reserve Division (battalion of the 23d Reserve Infantry Regiment) were detached in Champagne (Main de Massiges) to reinforce divisions engaged in fighting.

1916.

1. At the end of February, when the Verdun offensive began, the 12th Reserve Division still held the line in the region of Bois de Forges.

VERDUN.

2. On the 6th of March, 1916, the division went into action; it took the village of Forges and, on March 10, the Corbeaux wood. It vainly attacked the Mort Homme.

3. It was withdrawn from the Verdun front in the middle of May, after suffering heavy losses (71 per cent of its infantry). It was first at rest in the Thionville region, and then in reserve in the Cambrai region, at the beginning of June.

SOMME.

4. On July 2 it took part in the battle of the Somme (sector of Montauban-Hardecourt). It counterattacked near the Trônes wood and suffered very heavy losses. It was relieved about July 14, completely exhausted. (On the 10th of July not a single officer remained in the 2d Battalion of the 38th Reserve Infantry Regiment (letter). From the 17th of March to the 5th of July the 5th Company of the 23d Reserve Infantry Regiment received no less than 326 men as replacements).

5. On July 15 it was sent to rest in the Manancourt region. Elements of the division still remained in line, along the Somme near Guillemont, until August 1.

FLANDERS.

6. From the beginning of August until September 26–27, the 12th Reserve Division occupied a sector north of the Lys, near Armentières (Warneton- Messines), where it once more suffered losses.

SOMME.

7. At the end of September the division was once more on the Somme front (Barleux-Berny). It remained there until the beginning of November without suffering any great losses.

ARTOIS.

8. Transferred to Artois, it went into line on Vimy Ridge (sector Vimy- Roclincourt) at the beginning of December. It suffered fairly heavy losses. At the present time, 17 per cent of the prisoners from the 51st Reserve Infantry Regiment belong to the 1917 class.

1917.

1. The 12th Reserve Division remained on the Vimy front until February 27, 1917.

2. It was resting in the Avesnes region during the month of March.

3. From April 9–12 to May 24 it held the lines between Itancourt and the Oise.

ST. QUENTIN.

4. After a fortnight’s rest in the Guise region, it occupied (from the beginning of June to Aug. 6–8), the St. Quentin sector (south of Fayet).

FLANDERS.

5. On August 7 the division entrained for Flanders, at Fresnoy le Grand. Disembarking near Courtrai, it was first in reserve near Passchendaele. A few of the elements of the division engaged in battle at Langemarck on the 17th of August. It was in line in the St. Julien sector (northeast of Ypres) on August 20, and relieved on August 24, after suffering heavy losses.

ST. QUENTIN.

6. In rest at Origny, from August 29 to September 9, the division then occupied the sector southwest of St. Quentin (Sept. 9 to Nov. 11–12).

It left at this latter date to occupy the front south of Passchendaele until the middle of February, 1918, being relieved several times in the interval.

RECRUITING.

Silesia, especially Upper Silesia. In 1916, following the losses suffered at Verdun, a great number of the replacement troops consisted of men from the 3d and 4th Corps Districts (Brandenburg and Prussian Saxony) and of the 1916 class, and of returned convalescents of the 9th and 10th Corps Districts (Schleswig-Holstein and Hanover). This measure was not only dictated by necessity, but contributed to counterbalance the original Polish element.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

At Ypres (August, 1917), a certain number of men of the 51st Reserve Infantry Regiment refused to go into the trenches; according to prisoners, desertions to the rear were frequent, especially among the younger men.

The combat morale of the 12th Reserve Division may, however, have been restored during its long stay in the relatively quiet sector of St. Quentin (September to November, 1917).

1918.

FLANDERS.

1. On February 4 the division relieved the 12th Reserve Division in the Moorslede sector which it held until February 14.

LENS.

2. It was relieved by the 31st Division and moved south to relieve the 17th Division on night of February 17–18. It held this front until about April 10, when it was relieved by the 9th Reserve Division.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

3. The division reinforced the battle front at Neuve Eglise on April 13 and fought until about April 25, suffering heavy losses. One company of the 51st Reserve Regiment was reduced to 9 men.

4. Upon relief, the division returned to its former sector near Lens, where it was identified near Avion on April 27. It remained here until June 14, when it moved north and entered the line northeast of Hinges on June 17–18. About August 6, the division was relieved by the 1st Guard Reserve Division.

ARRAS.

5. It moved to Douai and rested until its return to line near Ecoust on night of August 30–31 to resist the British attack. Before its withdrawal on the 11th it had lost nearly 900 prisoners.

LENS.

6. The division rested at Cambrai during September and reentered the Lens sector on October 2. During October it was engaged at Noyelles (11th), Wattines (19th), and Rumignies (21st). It appears to have been out of line for a few days, returning on the night of November 3–4 west of Orsinval. It was at Wargnies le Petit (5th), St. Waast la Vallee (6th), Bavai (7th), northeast of Taisnieres (9th), and Villers St. Guislain (11th).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It appears to have been used principally as a sector-holding division on moderately active fronts.

12th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │55 Ldw. │87 Ldw. (1 and│55 Ldw. │87 Ldw. │ │ 4 Btns. 87 │ │ │ │ Ldw. and 5 │ │ │ │ Btn. 76 Ldw.│ │ │ │ Rgt.). │ │ │ │99 Ldw. (4 │ │99 Ldw. (4th │ │ Btn.). │ │ Btn.). │82 Ldw. │40 Ldw. │82 Ldw. │40 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │56 Ldw. │ │56 Ldw. │ Gd. Jag. Btn. │ Gd. Jag. Btn. │ Gd. Rifle Btn. │ Gd. Rifle Btn. │ 14 Jag. Btn. │ 9 Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Cavalry. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │1 Ers. Abt. 14 F. A. Rgt. │30 Res. F. A. Rgt. │1 Ers. Abt. 30 F. A. Rgt. │1 Mountain A. Btry. │ │ │ │9 Mountain A. Btry. │ │11 Mountain A. Btry. │ │18 Mountain A. Btry. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │(?) 2 Ldw. Pion. Co. (14 C. Liaisons. │ │ Dist.). │ │312 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │55 Ldw. │56 Ldw. │87 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │87 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │435 Ldw. │ │ │ │ (include 4th│ │ │ │ Btn. 99 Ldw.│ │ │ │ Rgt.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 7 Res. Dragoon Rgt. │1 Sqn. 9 Res. Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │252 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │ 12 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │2 Bav. Ldw. Ft. A. Btn. (2d │ │ Btry.). │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│412 Pion. Btn.: │415 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Ldw. Co. 4 Pions. │ 1 Ldw. Co. 4 C. Dist. Pions. │ 2 Ldw. Co. 14 Pions. │ Landst. Ers. Co. 8 C. Dist. │ │ Pions. │ 2 Ldw. Co. 16 Pions. │ 75 Searchlight Section. │ 312 T. M. Co. │478 Signal Command: │ 268 Searchlight Section. │ 478 Tel. Detch. │ 512 Tel. Detch. │ 140 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │564 Ambulance Co. │564 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │568 Ambulance Co. │ │14 Ldw. Field Hospital. │ │15 Ldw. Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │58 Art. Survey Section. │ │5 Labor Btn. │ │63 Labor Btn. │ │227, 228, and 251 Heavy M. G.│ │ Detch. │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(56th Landwehr Regiment: 7th Corps District-Westphalia. 87th Landwehr Regiment: 18th Corps District-Hesse. 436th Landwehr Regiment: 15th Corps District-Alsace.)

1915.

ALSACE.

1. The 12th Landwehr Division was formed toward the end of April, 1915, with the elements of the Landwehr, which were distributed along the Alsatian front, between the Fecht and the district of Cernay, and which were assigned to the Fuchs Division at the time of the attacks upon Hartmannswillerkopf (March-April). The active brigade of the Fuchs Division having left the Vosges for Champagne, the 12th Landwehr Division grouped these elements of the Landwehr and occupied until May, 1917, the sectors included between the valley of Munster and Cernay. On the 21st of December, 1915, the 14th Jager Battalion, attached to the division, lost at Hartmannswillerkopf 840 killed, wounded, and missing (official list of casualties), and was withdrawn to be reorganized in Belgium.

1916.

ALSACE.

1. Sector Guebwiller-Cernay.

At the end of September, 1916, the 40th Landwehr Regiment left the 12th Landwehr Division to be assigned to the 33d Division. It was replaced by the 436th Landwehr Regiment, which had been formed in May of the preceding year.

In October the battalions of Jagers and of the riflemen of the guard and the 9th Battalion of Jagers, attached to the 12th Landwehr Division, were sent to Macedonia.

1917.

ALSACE.

1. January-May, 1917. Sector Munster-Cernay.

GALICIA.

2. Relieved on the Alsatian front about the middle of May, the 12th Landwehr Division was transferred to Galicia. Itinerary: Cernay- Strassborg-Karlsruhe-Ludwigsburg-Munich, Salzburg-Vienna-Lemberg- Zloczow.

3. It occupied the sector south of Brody and northwest of Zalosce until the beginning of 1918. It took part in the attacks of July, 1917.

In the course of the final months of 1917 the 12th Landwehr Division had numerous troops taken to fill up units on the Western Front or to be sent to the 227th Division, 197th Division, or the 33d Reserve Division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 12th Landwehr Division, which was on the Alsatian front until May, 1917 and then in Galicia, appears to be of mediocre quality.

1918.

1. The history of the component elements of this division after their arrival on the Western Front is uncertain. Between March and June the 56th Landwehr Regiment was in the 6th Army, the 436th Landwehr Regiment was in the 2d Army, and the 87th Landwehr Regiment was in the 18th Army. The men of these units were assigned to various kinds of police work, guarding prisoners, etc. The staff of the division during this period was believed to be in Finland. About July 15 the division had been announced as dissolved by the French, British, and American general headquarters.

ALSACE.

2. On August 7 the 87th Landwehr Regiment and the 436th Landwehr Regiment were joined as infantry under the 21st Landwehr Brigade Staff, Gen. Hoffman, of the 14th Landwehr Division. The 56th Landwehr Regiment was also identified in this region and the division was regarded as reconstituted in October.

3. Later identifications disclosed that the regiments were not forming a division but were acting independently. The division was again classed as dissolved about the middle of October.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a third-class division.

12th Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │22 Bav. │26 Bav. │22 Bav. │26 Bav. │22 Bav. │26 Bav. │ │27 Bav. │ │27 Bav. │ │27 Bav. │ │28 Bav. │ │28 Bav. │ │28 Bav. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light│4 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light│1 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light │ Cav. Rgt. │ Cav. Rgt. │ Cav. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │22 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │22 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │12 Bav. Art. │ │ │ Command: │ │ │ 22 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 8 Bav. Ft. A. Btn. │ │ │ 136 Light Am. Col. │ │ │ 137 Light Am. Col. │ │ │ 138 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│22 Bav. Pion. Co. │(12 Bav.) Pion. │12 Bav. Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ Btn.: │ │ │ 22 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 22 Bav. Pion. Co. │ │ 26 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 26 Bav. Pion. Co. │ │ 12 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 12 Bav. T. M. Co. │ │ 12 Bav. Tel. │ 16 Bav. │ │ Detch. │ Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ │12 Bav. Signal │ │ │ Command: │ │ │ 12 Bav. Tel. │ │ │ Detch. │ │ │ 189 Wireless │ │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │12 Bav. Ambulance │12 Bav. Ambulance Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ Co. │ │38 Bav. Field │38 Bav. Field │ │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │39 Bav. Field │39 Bav. Field │ │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │16 Bav. Vet. │ │ │ Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │M. T. Col. │692 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Bavaria.)

1916.

It was formed about the middle of the summer of 1916. It was assembled in July, 1916, at Grafenwoehr Camp (Bavaria), and remained until the end of July in the Valley of the Fecht, and then entrained for the Roumanian front in October.

ROUMANIA.

1. Composed of the 26th, 27th, and 28th Bavarian Regiments, the division took part in the Roumanian campaign and fought in the region of Campolung (October-November, 1916).

2. In December it took part in the operations north of the road Buzeu- Rimnicu-Sarat.

1917.

FOCSANI.

1. Beginning with January, 1917, the 12th Bavarian Division remained in line north of Focsani.

2. In August it took part in the attacks launched against the Roumanians north of Focsani (from Batinesci to the Sereth) and suffered very heavy losses.

PANCIU.

3. Sent to rest after these engagements, it came back into line at the end of September, south of Panciu (Marasesti District).

4. In December it was in reserve in the Focsani District.

RECRUITING.

The division is recruited from the whole of Bavaria.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

It was on the Roumanian front from October, 1916. Its combat value is mediocre.

1918.

1. The division entrained at Ploesci on April 30 and traveled via Bucharest-Craiova-Budapest-Dresden-Frankfurt on the Main-Mainz-Mezieres to a station between Mezieres and Rethel, where it detrained after a journey of nine days. It rested near Vieil St. Remy (20 kilometers southeast of Mezieres), until May 24, when it marched toward the Aisne by Chateau Porcien, Asfeld, Avaux, and Neufchatel.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

2. The division crossed the old line near Berry au Bac on May 28 and followed the advance through Roucy, Montigny sur Vesle and Lagery. It was engaged on the 30th near Ville en Tardenois, with the Marne between Damery and Cumieres as its final objective. In that sector it stayed until July 13–14. Losses were heavy about the end of May and the 1st of June.

3. It was in reserve in the same sector on the 15th behind the 22d Division, on the 17th it attacked and until the end of July took part in the struggle for Epernay, toward which the division got as far as the Bois Courton.

4. Upon its relief on July 26 the division marched to the Ligny en Cambresis area in stages. There it rested until August 29, when it entrained at Solesmes and traveled via Valenciennes-Condes-Ath-Ghent to Roubaix. After two days’ rest it reentrained and was railed via Courtrai to Isegheim, relieving the 6th Cavalry Division east of Ypres on the night of August 31-September 1.

FLANDERS.

5. In this sector the division sustained an attack by the British on September 28. It was thrown back on Moorslede with a loss of 3,000 prisoners. The division was relieved on October 1.

6. The division rested at Roubaix until October 17, when it returned to line southeast of Herseaux. It continued in this region until the armistice. The last identification was at Cordes.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a third-class division. Its morale appears to have been low in the summer and fall of 1918.

13th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │25. │13. │25. │13. │26. │13. │ │158. │ │158. │ │15. │26. │15. │26. │15. │ │55. │ │55. │ │55. │ │ │11 Jag. Btn. (Oct. │ │ │ │ │ 1914-Mar. 1915). │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │16 Uhlan Rgt. (3 │ │16 Uhlans (2 │ Sqns.). │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │13 Brig.: │13 Brig.: │13 Brig.: │ 22 F. A. Rgt. │ 22 F. A. Rgt. │ 22 F. A. Rgt. │ 58 F. A. Rgt. │ 58 F. A. Rgt. │ 58 F.A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 7:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 7: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ Field Co. 7 Pions.│ 1 Co. 7 Pions. │ │ 13 Pont.-Engs. │ 13 T. M. Co. │ │ 13 Tel. Detch. │ 13 Pont.-Engs. │ │ │ 13 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │26. │13. │26. │13. │ │15. │ │15. │ │55. │ │55. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 16 Uhlan │3 Sqn. 16 Uhlan │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │13 Art. Command: │13 Art. Command: │ 58 F. A. Rgt. │ 58 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 151 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 856 Light Am. Col. │ │ 859 Light Am. Col. │ │ 861 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│124 Pion. Btn. (1 │7 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. │ │ 7): │ │ 1 Co. 7 Pions. │ 1 Co. 7 Pions. │ 2 Co. 7 Pions. │ 2 Co. 7 Pions. │ 13 T. M. Co. │ 13 T. M. Co. │ 7 Searchlight │13 Signal Command: │ Section. │ │ 13 Tel. Detch. │ 13 Tel. Detch. │ │ 5 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │17 Ambulance Co. │17 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital No. │70 Field Hospital. │ 73. │ │Vet. Hospital. │73 Field Hospital. │ │13 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │546 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │41 Anti-Aircraft │ │ Sect. M. G. S. S.│ │ Detch. No. 75. │ │546 Supply Train. │ │265 A. Air. Sqn. │ │10 Air. Sqn. │ │37 Wireless Detch. │ │87 Labor Btn. │ │2 Co. 11 Labor Btn.│ │306 Wagon Train. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1914.

BELGIUM.

1. The 13th Division, forming with the 14th Division the 7th Army Corps, was a part, at the outbreak of the war, of the 2d Army (Von Buelow). It entrained in the vicinity of Eupen from the 9th to the 11th of August, and the 25th Brigade took part in the final operations of the siege of Liège. After the fall of this place the division reassembled, passed through Wavre, Nivelles, Seneffe, crossed the Sambre below Thuin (battle of Charleroi), entered France on August 25, and left the 26th Brigade in front of Maubeuge, where it remained until the city was taken (Sept. 7).

CHAMPAGNE.

2. The 25th Brigade, going forward, fought east of St. Quentin on the 29th, and was at Montmirail on September 6, where it took part in the battle of the Marne. After the 26th Brigade was released it reached Laon on the 10th, and on the 12th the entire 13th Division went into position north of Rheims, forming a part of the 7th Army (Von Heeringen). It remained there until the end of the month.

ARTOIS.

3. At the beginning of October the 13th Division was transferred to Artois, where it remained until the end of March, 1916. It fought in the sector Angres-Souchez in October and November, in that of Fromelles- Aubers in November and December.

1915.

ARTOIS.

In March and in June, 1915, the division underwent two heavy attacks at Neuve Chapelle and at Festubert. The battles from the 6th to the 29th of March, 1915, cost the 13th Infantry Regiment 21 officers and 1,301 noncommissioned officers in killed, wounded, and missing. (Official list of Prussian casualties.)

In March the division transferred the 158th Infantry Regiment to the 50th Division, a new formation.

1916.

VERDUN (HILL 304).

1. Relieved at the end of March, 1916, the 13th Division was sent to rest in the Cambrai area.

2. About the 5th of June the division entrained and was sent to the Verdun area by way of Montmédy-Stenay. It went into line in the sector of Hill 304, which it occupied until the month of September.

SOMME.

3. Transferred to the Somme, it took part in the battle on September 12 (south of Vouchavesnes-Cléry sur Somme). It suffered heavy losses there which necessitated its being relieved on September 19.

4. It was quickly reorganized in the Dun area and put back in the sector of Hill 304 (Oct. 10).

1917.

1. The 13th Division remained in line at Hill 304 until the middle of May, 1917. It was then relieved in this area and sent to the Aisne, where it remained at rest for three weeks near Laon.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

2. On the 9th of June it began to take over the sector of Cerny. It launched an important attack on July 31 upon the Deimling salient, but was not able to retain the ground won. On August 2–3 it attacked again, but without success. The 13th and 15th Infantry Regiments each lost 600 men.

ST. GOBAIN.

3. The 13th Division, very much exhausted, was relieved during the night of August 3–4. It was transferred by railroad to the St. Gobain area without having time to fill up its regiments, and went into line in the Deuillet-Servais sector, which it held from August 10 to September 17.

LA MALMAISON.

4. It was at rest in the area of Crépy en Laonnois (Sept. 20 to Oct. 11). The division was filled up from the recruit depots of neighboring divisions, although they were not Westphalians (5th Reserve Division, 29th Division, and 103d Division). About the 11th of October it again went into line on the Chemin des Dames east of Laffaux mill. Beginning with October 15, it suffered heavy losses from our artillery preparation. On the 23d it underwent the French attack. (Losses: 47 officers and 1,548 men prisoners, including 2 regimental commanders, a third being killed.) The division may be considered as exhausted at the Mennejean Farm.

5. It was sent to the Sedan area and reorganized. About November 10 it received 1,000 men from Russia as replacements (men at least 35 years of age).

MEUSE.

6. About December 18 it occupied the sector of the Bois de Malancourt- Haucourt (and was still there on Jan. 23, 1918).

RECRUITING.

The 13th Division is a Westphalian Division, in addition to contingents from the two principalities of Lippe. These were even mentioned with honor in the German communique of July 1, 1917, a thing which would ordinarily be sufficient to identify the division.

It is manifest, however, that in 1917 the provincial character of the division had been very much changed. The replacements of September (1918 class) were taken from the recruit depots nearby (5th Reserved Division, 29th Division, 103d Division), and introduced, especially in the 15th Infantry Regiment, men from Brandenburg, Baden, and Thuringia. Some Westphalians came in October, but they were mostly older men (classes 1892 to 1903 of the Landsturm), coming from Landsturm battalion of the 7th Corps District.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In the Somme battle (September, 1916) the 13th Division put up a vigorous defense and did not yield any ground.

On the Aisne (June-July, 1916) its combat value was just as great; it attacked vigorously and put up a stubborn resistance to our counterattacks. Besides that, it is mentioned in the German communiques: September, 1916, for its valor on the Somme, December 20, 1916, and January 25, 1917 (Hill 304); January 29, 1917, the 15th and the 13th Infantry Regiments are praised for their heroic resistance. It may be considered as a good division.

It must be noticed, however, that on October 23, on the Chemin des Dames, in spite of stringent orders to hold its position, the 13th Division put up very little resistance; units surrendered en masse with their officers.

The 55th Infantry Regiment is probably only of mediocre worth since its reconstruction after the battle of Malmaison.

1918.

1. The division was relieved from the Verdun front about February 6 and went to rest in the vicinity of Arlon, and after February 15 at Valenciennes and Mons. It marched to the Somme front in four nights, and then rested at Clary for two days.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. On March 21 it was in reserve of the 18th Division, during the advance toward Roisel. It was partially engaged on the 22d and 23d north of Marquaix and Peronne. Two days later the entire division was engaged north of the Somme, and on the 28th it passed to reserve near Morlancourt until April 4, when it returned to the battle front for four days, fighting at Dernancourt. Again the division retired to the second line, and was relieved on the 11th. The losses of the division in this offensive were about 40 per cent of its effectives.

AVRE.

3. After 10 days’ rest (near Maricourt-Carnoy until the 18th and Caix until the 22d) during which it was reconstituted with returned wounded and 1919 recruits, it returned to line on the Avre (Castel) on April 23. The division executed attacks on Hill 82 and on Hailles on April 24. Other local attacks occurred on May 2 and 14. It was relieved on May 18. A further draft of 1,300 men was received on May 3.

THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

4. The division rested near Montdidier in June, probably at Moreuil. On July 1 it relieved the 77th Reserve Division northeast of Villers- Bretonneux. The British attack on the Somme threw the division back on Mericourt with a loss of 2,769 prisoners. On August 12 it was withdrawn.

5. It was in reserve near Mericourt during the middle of August. On the 24th it was reengaged east of Albert (Bazentin). About the 30th it was withdrawn. The total loss in prisoners was 3,400.

ALSACE.

6. The division was moved to Alsace for a rest. It entrained at Schlestadt on September 29 and was moved by Strasbourg, Metz, and Sedan.

BATTLE OF THE ARGONNE.

7. It went into line at Monthois-Challerange on September 30, remaining until October 3, when it went into support near Morel until the 8th, when it fell back toward Bourcq.

8. It was in support between Landres-Saint George and Bantheville on the 15th. It was engaged on the American front on the 16th in the Nantheville region. It was in line until the 30th, when it passed to reserve, but returned to line on the 2d. It continued to hold a sector until the armistice. An epidemic of Spanish fever greatly reduced the number of effectives in all the regiments. The 13th Regiment had less than 200 effectives at the end of October.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a first-class division. Its performance was excellent in the March offensive, but after that it took no special part in any offensive. At the armistice the division had been used up through losses and sickness.

13th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │25 Res. │13 Res. │25 Res. │13 Res. │28 Res. │13 Res. │ │56 Res. │ │56 Res. │ │39 Res. │28 Res. │39 Res. │28 Res. │39 Res. │ │57 Res. │ │57 Res. │ │57 Res. │ 7 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 7 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 7 Res. Jag. Btn. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │5 Res. Hus. Rgt. │5 Res. Hus. Rgt. │5 Res. Hus. Rgt. (2 │ │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │13 Res. F. A. Rgt. │13 Res. F. A. Rgt. │13 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (6 Btries.). │ │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │2 Pion. Btn. No. 7:│2 Pion. Btn. No. 7: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ Res. Co. 7 Pions. │ 4 Co. 7 Pions. │ │ 13 Res. Pont. │ 213 T. M. Co. │ │ Engs. │ │ │ 13 Res. Tel. │ 13 Pont. Engs. │ │ Detch. │ │ │ │ 13 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │28 Res. │13 Res. │28 Res. │13 Res. │ │39 Res. │ │39 Res. │ │57 Res. │ │57 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 5 Res. Hus. │3 Sqn. 5 Res. Hus. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │100 Art. Command: │ │ │ 13 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 13 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ 99 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 738 Light Am. Col. │ │ 812 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(313) Pion. Btn.: │313 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 4 Co. 7 Pions. │ 4 Co. 7 Pions. │ 287 Pion. Co. │ 287 Pion. Co. │ │ │ 213 T. M. Co. │ 213 T. M. Co. │ │ │ Tel. Detch. │ 7 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │413 Signal Command: │ │ 413 Tel. Detch. │ │ 164 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │507 Ambulance Co. │507 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │33 Res. Field │33 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │145 Field Hospital.│34 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │413 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │712 M. T. Col. │712 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │47 Art. Observation │ │ Section. │ │73 Balloon Sqn. │ │216 Pigeon Loft. │ │19 Reconnaissance │ │ Flight. │ │74 Antiaircraft │ │ Section. │ │128 Ft. A. Btn. │ │Elements attached │ │ June, 1918. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1914.

At the beginning of the war the 13th Reserve Division and the 14th Reserve Division formed the 7th Reserve Corps.

MAUBEUGE-AISNE.

1. Assigned to the 2d German Army, the 13th Reserve Division arrived at Liège immediately after the city and the forts were taken (Aug. 14); reached Namur on the 25th, and took part in the siege and taking of Maubeuge. When it was released from this place it was quickly transferred to the front north of the Aisne; fought in the neighborhood of Pontavert-Craonne on September 15; fought near Cerny on the 16th, and took its position on the front of Braye-Cerny en Laonnois at the end of September.

2. On November 3 some elements of the division were engaged at Vailly.

3. The division occupied the sector of Braye en Laonnois until October, 1915.

1915.

1. January-October, 1915, the division occupied the sector Braye en Laonnois-Cerny.

2. At the end of October the 13th Reserve Division was relieved in the Laon area and transferred to the north, between Charleroi and Valenciennes. After a period of training in November and December, it entrained, about December 25, for the Verdun front.

1916.

1. At the beginning of January, 1916, the division was concentrated in the neighborhood of Damvillers (right bank of the Meuse). In January and February it was occupied in preparations for an attack.

VERDUN.

2. Beginning with February 21 some elements were engaged near Haumont, near Haumont wood. It took part in battles, from February 23 until March 10, in the region of Samogneux (sector of Vacherauville-Haudremont and Cote du Poivre). It lost 51 per cent of its infantry there.

3. From the middle of March to the 24th of October it occupied the same sector of Haudremont (west of Douaumont), and only took part in a few local engagements. It underwent the French attack on October 24 and suffered heavily.

4. Until December it held the sector included between the road of Louvemont-Bras and the Chaufour wood. It was relieved between December 8 and 12 and sent to rest in the Marville-Longuyon area.

5. Transferred to Champagne (Dec. 22–24), it went into line east of Rheims (Nogent l’Abbesse) about the 29th.

1917.

1. The division held the sector at Rheims (east of La Pomelle) until May 20, 1917.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Concentrated, at this date, in the neighborhood of Epoye, it relieved the exhausted 242d Division at Cornillet (south of Nauroy). It went into action between Mont Cornillet and Mont Haut (about the end of May).

3. Between June 8 and 15 it returned into line in its former sector east of Rheims (south of Cernay), where it made several surprise attacks.

VERDUN.

4. Relieved about the end of August from the Rheims front, it was sent, after a few days of rest, to the right bank of the Meuse. On September 24 it attacked east of Beaumont, in the Bois le Chaume, and suffered very heavy losses. It made another attack on October 10 in the same sector, which it held until October 12–13.

5. It was sent to rest (Briey area) in the second half of October. In November it appeared on the front east of Verdun, where it was speedily relieved.

RECRUITING.

The division is recruited from Westphalia. In the course of 1917, however, a great number of its replacements came from other districts than Westphalia (9th, 10th, 11th Corps Districts).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 13th Reserve Division appears to be of mediocre quality.

It suffered heavy losses at Verdun. It showed very little brilliance there. During the French attack of October 24, 1916, it offered little resistance to the hostile troops.

On the Rheims front (January to May, 1917) it did not take part in any operation. Quite a large number of men who were captured in the course of raids in this sector surrendered with little resistance.

However, the 13th Reserve Division did not furnish a single prisoner or deserter during its second stay southeast of Rheims (from June 15 to the beginning of September), and on the Verdun front it showed itself quite active (September to October).

1918.

1. The division was relieved in the Avrocourt wood sector by the Bavarian Ersatz Division on the night of April 5–6 and went into rest billets at Villers near Montmedy. On the 16th it entrained at a station near Montmedy and traveled via Carignan-Sedan-Charleville-Givet-Dinant- Namur-Charleroi-Ath-Melle-Ghent-Deyuze to Thielt, where it detrained at 1 a. m. on April 19. After 10 days’ rest at Coolscamp the division marched to Getsberg, and was to have gone into line in the Dixmude sector on April 22, but was suddenly entrained and moved via Roulers to Beythem. From there it marched to the Ledeghem area and rested until April 24, when it marched into line northwest of Wytschaete via Menin- Wervecq and Comines.

YPRES.

2. The division was engaged in the attack on Voormezeele on April 25. After three days’ heavy fighting it was relieved by the 49th Reserve Division. After a few days in the second line the division came back and relieved the 49th Reserve Division. It remained in line until May 11. From the 11th to the 28th the division rested out of line. It was again engaged on May 28 southwest of Merris. It was relieved about June 12.

MERRIS.

3. The division went to rest in the area east of Bruges and later northwest of Ghent. It returned to its former sector west of Merris on July 9, relieving the 4th Bavarian Division. It held the sector until July 27 when its heavy losses at Meteren caused its relief by the 4th Division. Between the 27th and August 18 the division rested in the Douai area.

YPRES-BELGIUM.

4. In line the 18th–19th, it relieved the 35th Division in the sector east of Merckem. Here the division continued until September 29, when it was withdrawn from the line north of Staden after the loss of 1,500 prisoners and severe casualties. It rested two weeks, and on October 14 returned to the battle front at Cortemarck. It fought until the 20th, when it retired for 10 days’ rest in rear of the line. On the 30th it was reengaged near Deynze. The German communique of November 1 and 2 mentioned the 57th and 13th Reserve Regiments for their good work. The division was in line until the armistice. It was last identified at Nazareth on November 3.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 13th Reserve Division was rated as a first-class division. In 1918 it was almost wholly engaged in Belgium, taking a prominent part in the Armentiers offensive in April, and in the defense in October.

13th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │61 Res. │60 Res. │61 Res. │15 Ldw. │ │Cassel Landst.│ │82 Ldw. │ │ Btn. (XI/2).│ │ │ │Mayence │60 Mixed Ldw. │60 Ldw. │ │ Landst. Btn.│ │ │ │ (XVIII/17). │ │ │60 Ldw. │60 Ldw. │ │71 Ldw. │ │71 Ldw. │ 8 Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼───────────────────────────── Cavalry. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │1 Ers. Abt. 25 F. A. Regt. │1 Ers. Abt. of the 25 and 84 │ │ F. A. Regt. │1 Ers. Abt. 81 F. A. Regt. │2 Ers. Btry. (27 F. A. │ │ Regt.). ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│1 Ldw. Pion. Co. (10 C. │1 Ldw. Pion. Co. (10 and 15 Liaisons. │ Dist.). │ C. Dist.). │ │ 313 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │115 Landst. Inf. Regt. │44 Art. Survey Section. │ │44 Labor Btn. │ │12 C. Dist. Landst. Btn. No. │ │ 1. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │60 Ldw. │15 Ldw. │60 Ldw. │15 Ldw. │ │60 Ldw. │ │60 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │82 Ldw. │ │82 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 6 Dragoon Regt. │5 Sqn. 6 Dragoon Regt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │13 Ldw. F. A. Regt. │ │ │ 13 Ldw. F. A. Regt. │1414 Light Am. Col. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│413 Pion. Btn.: │413 Pion Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Ldw. Co. 10 Corps. Pions. │ 1 Ldw. Co. 10 C. Dist. │ │ Pions. │ 1 Ldw. Co. 15 Corps. Pions. │ 1 Ldw. Co. 15 C. Dist. │ │ Pions. │ 313 T. M. Co. │ 313 T. M. Co. │ 513 Tel. Detch. │ 207 Searchlight Section. │ │513 Signal Command: │ │ 513 Tel. Detch. │ │ 22 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │216 Ambulance Co. │216 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │102 Res. Field Hospital. │102 Res. Field Hospital. │16 Ldw. Field Hospital. │513 Vet. Hospital. │513 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │782 M. T. Col. │782 M. T. Col. │809 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(15th Landwehr Regiment: 7th Corps District—Westphalia. 60th Landwehr Regiment: 21st Corps District—Lorraine. 82d Landwehr Regiment: 11th Corps District—Thuringia.)

1915.

LORRAINE.

1. The 13th Landwehr Division was formed in Lorraine about the middle of May, 1915. It was made up at this time of the 61st Reserve Brigade (60th Reserve Landsturm Battalions, Cassel and Mayence) and of the 60th Landwehr Brigade (the 60th Landwehr Regiment, and the 61st Landwehr Regiment). These elements were already in line on the Lorraine front before the formation of the division. The 71st Landwehr Regiment had been sent on August 10, 1914 (with the 82d Landwehr Regiment) to Strassburg as a garrison. The 60th Landwehr Regiment, beginning on August 11, was guarding the railroads of Lower Alsace. The 60th Infantry Regiment had been engaged in August in the Vosges.

2. The 13th Landwehr Division occupied the sector between Abaucourt and the Bezange woods from May, 1915, to February, 1917. Except for a few raids, it remained on the defensive during this long period.

3. At the end of June, 1915, the 82d Landwehr Regiment replaced the 60th Reserve Regiment.

In December the 15th Landwehr Regiment, which had formed the garrison of Thionville at the outbreak of the war, and was in the Vosges after a stay near Morhange, replaced the two battalions of Landsturm (which had been formed into the 115th Landsturm Regiment in July) sent to Serbia.

1916.

LORRAINE.

1. In 1916 the division held the sector Abaucourt-Bezange wood.

In August the 9th Jager Battalion entrained for Galicia.

2. On September 15, 1916, the staff of the 61st Reserve Brigade and the 71st Landwehr Regiment were transferred to the 215th Division, a new formation. The 13th Landwehr Division then received its definite organization: 15th Landwehr Regiment, 60th Landwehr Regiment, 82d Landwehr Regiment (4 battalions each).

1917.

LORRAINE.

1. Relieved on the Lorraine front in the beginning of February, 1917, the 13th Landwehr Division was concentrated in the Chateau Salins front, entrained about the middle of February and sent by way of Metz-Longuyon- Montmedy-Sedan-Laon to the neighborhood of La Fère. It detrained at Versigny. One battalion was taken from each of its regiments to form the 328th Landwehr Regiment, destined to be a part of the 25th Landwehr Division.

2. Until March 18 the 13th Landwehr Division did work along the line Moy-La Fère-Fresne, where the German withdrawal was stopped.

FORÊT DE ST. GOBAIN.

3. On March 19, placed on the east bank of the Ailette, it covered the retreat of the 45th Reserve Division, and at the beginning of April occupied the sector Fresnes-Prémontré, where it was relieved about the 1st of May.

OISE LA FÈRE.

4. After a fortnight’s rest in the forest of St. Gobain, it went back into line on the front south of Alaincourt north of Deuillet (May 16). It occupied the sector of the left bank of the Oise until the offensive of March, 1918.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 13th Landwehr Division is apparently considered by the German High Command as fit only to occupy a quiet sector (February, 1918).

Shock troops have been formed from its regiments, but the men appear to have been trained for patrol work rather than for making genuine assaults.

1918.

PICARDY.

1. The division was relieved about March 24. It passed the night at Versigny, and on the 25th reached Laon, passing by Crepy and Aulnois.

LAON.

2. On the 26th the division came into line south of Laon, relieving the 75th Reserve Division. It was engaged about Chevregny, Chavignon, and Urcil until May 27.

3. It did not advance in the Aisne offensive. The attacking divisions passed through, and it was withdrawn and transported to Lorraine at the beginning of June.

BATTLE OF ST. MIHIEL.

It entered the line in the Woevre in the Combres Les Eparges sector about the 1st of June and continued to hold the front until the armistice. In the American attack on the St. Mihiel salient the division lost about 800 men, principally prisoners. It was pushed back to Champlon and Marcheville, which sector it held until November 11.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a fourth-class division. It was an inferior sector-holding unit of mediocre morale.

14th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │27. │16. │27. │16. │79. │16. │ │53. │ │53. │ │56. │79. │56. │79. │56. │ │57. │ │57. │ │57. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │16 Uhlan Rgt. (3 │ │4 Sqn. 16 Uhlan │ Sqns.) │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │14 Brig.: │14 Brig.: │14 Brig.: │ 7 F. A. Rgt. │ 7 F. A. Rgt. │ 7 F. A. Rgt. │ 43 F. A. Rgt. │ 43 F. A. Rgt. │ 43 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 8 Trench Gun │ │ │ Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 7:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 7: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ Field Co. 7 Pions.│ 2 Co. 7 Pions. │ │ 14 Pont. Engrs. │ 1 Co. 7 Pions. │ │ 14 Tel. Detch. │ 14 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 14 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ 14 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │68 M. G. S. S. │ │ │ Detch. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │79. │16. │79. │16. │ │56. │ │56. │ │57. │ │57. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 16 Uhlan │5 Sqn. 16 Uhlan │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │14 Art. Command: │14 Art. Command: │ 43 F. A. Rgt. │ 43 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 1 Abt. 21 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (1 and 3 │ │ Btries.). │ │ 1216 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1218 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1222 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│122 Pion. Btn.: │124 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 3 Co. 7 Pions. │ 3 Co. 7 Pions. │ 5 Co. 7 Pions. │ 5 Co. 7 Pions. │ 14 T. M. Co. │ 14 T. M. Co. │ 295 Searchlight │ 218 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 14 Tel. Detch. │14 Signal Command: │ │ 14 Tel. Detch. │ │ 14 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │18 Ambulance Co. │18 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │66 Field Hospital. │66 Field Hospital. │71 Field Hospital. │71 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │14 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │547 M. T. Col. │547 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1914.

FRANCE.

1. The 14th Division was mobilized at the outbreak of the war with two of its three peace-time brigades (27th and 79th Brigades) and sent its 28th Brigade to the 7th Reserve Corps (14th Reserve Division). The 27th Brigade (Cologne) was immediately sent against Liége, where it attacked with the five other brigades of five different army corps. On August 13 the entire division was before Liége, where the other division of the 7th Army Corps was on the 14th. With this latter division it formed part of the 2d Army (Von Buelow), of which it formed the right wing. It entered Belgium by way of Wavre and Nievelles, was engaged west of Charleroi, entered France by the valley of the Oise and took part in the battle of the Marne, at Petit Morin, southeast of Montmirail.

2. At the end of the retirement it stopped at the Chemin des Dames; was sent a short time afterwards to the area north of Rheims, from which place it was transferred, at the time of the race to the sea, to Lille, with the entire 7th Army Corps (at the beginning of October).

ARTOIS.

3. Beginning with November, 1914, it occupied different sectors around Lille, La Bassée, and Lens until the spring of 1916.

1915.

ARTOIS.

1. The losses of the 14th Division were not very important during the first two years of the war. However, in March, 1915, and in June, 1915, it underwent two strong British attacks at Neuve Chapelle and Festubert, which inflicted heavy losses upon it, following which it had to be reenforced. From March 7 to March 12 the 3d Battalion of the 16th Infantry Regiment had no less than 589 casualties, 16 of whom were officers (official list of casualties).

1916.

1. The 14th Division was relieved at the end of 1916 from the Artois sector and, after a long period of rest near Tournai, was transferred to the Verdun area.

VERDUN.

2. In June and July it occupied the Mort Homme sector.

3. At the end of July it crossed over to the right bank of the Meuse and held the sector of Thiaumont until August 25, where it suffered heavily.

4. It then returned to the left bank of the Meuse (Cumieres) after a short rest. It was again sent to the rear area about the middle of October.

5. When the French attack of October 24 broke out the 14th Division went into action north of Douaumont on the 27th.

6. On December 16 it suffered the shock of the French offensive and had to be retired at the end of the month, very much weakened (65 per cent casualties).

1917.

1. After a month behind the Verdun front the 14th Division once more took over its former sector at the beginning of February, 1917, on the left bank of the Meuse, north of Chattancourt (Cumieres, Mort Homme).

2. Relieved between April 14 and 20, it entrained between the 21st and the 25th at Sivry sur Meuse and Vilosnes and was transferred to the Aisne.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

3. After a few days of rest in the Marchais area, at Sissonne Camp, it was brought back to the front, and on May 5 reenforced the sector between Ailles and Hurtebise, which was being held by guard divisions very much weakened by our attacks.

4. From May 7 to 12 it replaced the 1st Guard Division in line (west of Hurtebise) and then was sent to rest east of Laon. It remained in reserve, not taking part in any action as an entire division.

5. After a rest in the area northwest of Liesse, it came back into line in the sector Ailles-Hurtebise (June 20, 21) and there, on the 25th, underwent the French attack. It lost the Cave of the Dragon; the 57th Infantry Regiment lost 191 prisoners.

6. On July 26 the 14th Division attacked between Hurtebise and La Bovelle. Its efforts to regain the positions lost were futile. On Aug. 1 the 1st Battalion of the 56th Infantry Regiment was commanded by a first lieutenant (document).

7. At the end of July, very much weakened by its losses, it was sent to rest in the Vervins area and reconstituted (principally by men of the 1918 class from the Bevelloo Camp). Between December 21, 1916, and August, 1917, no less than 326 men came as replacements to the 9th Company of the 56th Infantry Regiment.

8. On September 17 the 14th Division came back into line in the Laffaux area, underwent our attacks on October 23, suffered heavy losses from our preparation fire, and left to the French the greater part of its artillery and numerous prisoners (1,763 men and 43 officers).

9. An eye witness reckons the number of infantrymen left after the battle at not more than 1,400 (letter). It was filled up with returned wounded, men borrowed from Landsturm battalions of the 11th Corps District and men coming from the Russian front.

10. After being thus reorganized, in the Vervins area, the division was sent to Haye in the Flirey sector, where it was engaged from the 5th of November on. It was relieved January 13, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 14th Division is recruited principally from the Rhine districts of the 7th Corps District, and it is for this reason that it is called “Troops from the Lower Rhine” in the German communiques of July 27, 1917.

This region, very populous, suffices for its own recruiting. It is to be noticed, however, that in the course of the year 1917, in spite of the growing tendency to emphasize the sectional character of the large units, the 14th Division received replacement troops from other districts besides the seventh; in May, men from the 6th Corps District trained in the fourth (class of 1918); in August, men from the third, fourth, and eighth (class of 1918); in October, Pomeranians from the 22d Landwehr Division. The seventh district hardly counts except in the replacements of October, with convalescents and men from the Westphalian Landsturm battalions. The heavy losses suffered since December, 1916 would explain, to a certain extent, this falling off in numbers. It may also be that the morale of an industrial region such as Westphalia had been sufficiently shattered to make a mixture advisable.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

During the French offensive of December 15, 1916, the 14th Division behaved very well.

South of Ailles (at the end of June, 1917) it attempted to regain lost ground with great tenacity.

It put up a strong resistance to the attacks of October 23.

“The 14th Division is a good division. It has just been withdrawn from a quiet sector to take part in a war of movement. It is a division destined to attack.” (Jan. 18, 1918—note from the 1st French Army.)

1918.

1. The 14th Division was relieved in the Flirey sector (east of St. Mihiel) by the 78th Reserve Division during the night of January 13–14.

PICARDY.

2. After having gone through some maneuvers in the region of Mars la Tour the division entrained at that place (also Chambley) on March 27 and detrained at St. Quentin on the 29th. It remained in support for a few days and then reenforced the battle front west of Moreuil (northwest of Montdidier) on April 4. The same day attacked Rouvrel, but could make no progress. It suffered severely, and was withdrawn on the 11th, very much exhausted, to rest in the region of Bohain, where it was reconstituted, and went into intensive training for open warfare.

AISNE.

3. On May 27 the division entrained at Bohain, and detrained to the west of Laon, where it assembled in the forest of Coucy, and followed the offensive of the Aisne in the second line. It crossed the Aisne on May 30, and marched via Crécy au Mont to Hautebraye. Its objective was Vic sur Aisne, but it was completely checked with heavy losses. It was withdrawn about June 11.

4. On June 14 it relieved the 51st Reserve Division near St. Bandry (southwest of Soissons). It was badly shattered in the fighting that followed and was withdrawn about July 2.

5. On July 16 the division reinforced the front near Osly-Courtil (north of the Aisne—west of Soissons); it was withdrawn about the 26th of August.

CHAMPAGNE.

6. During the night of September 18–19 the division relieved the 3d Guard Division southeast of Auberive; it was withdrawn about October 12 and went to rest in the area north of Rethel.

SOLESMES.

7. The division marched by easy stages, and entered line near Englefontaine (east of Solesmes) during the night of October 25–26. It was still in line at the time of the signing of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 14th Division is rated as being in the second of four classes. Despite its two training periods (March and May), it did not distinguish itself on the offensive, being decidedly checked at Moreuil and Hautebraye. On the defensive, however, it fought tenaciously; it suffered heavy losses, the regiments being reduced to three companies. There is evidence supporting the view that there were not more than 1,800 rifles in the division the end of October.

14th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │27 Res. │16 Res. │27 Res. │16 Res. │27 Res. │16 Res. │ │53 Res. │ │53 Res. │ │53 Res. │28. │39 Fus. │28. │39 Fus. │ │159. │ │159. │ │159. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │8 Res. Hus. Rgt. (3│8 Res. Hus. Rgt. │5 Res. Hus. Rgt. (? │ Sqns.). │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │14 Res. F. A. Rgt. │14 Res. F. A. Rgt. │14 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (6 Btries.). │ │ (8 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2 Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. 7.│ Pion. Btn. No. 7.│ Pion. Btn. No. 7. │ │14 Res. Pont. Engs.│ 282 Pion. Co. │ │ │ │ │14 Res. Tel. Detch.│ 214 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ 14 Res. Pont. │ │ │ Engrs. │ │ │ 14 Res. Tel. │ │ │ Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │Electric Power │ │ │ Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │27 Res. │16 Res. │27 Res. │159. │ │53 Res. │ │16 Res. │ │159. │ │53 Res. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. Res. Uhlan │1 Sqn. 5 Res. Hus. │ Rgt. (?). │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │102 Art. Command: │ │ │ 14 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 14 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ 1 Abt. 16 Ft. A. │ │ Btn. (1, 3, and 4 │ │ Btries.). │ │ 1169 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1170 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1193 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│314 Pion. Btn.: │314 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Res. Co. 7 │ 1 Res. Co. 7 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. 7 │ 2 Res. Co. 7 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 214 T. M. Co. │ 214 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 414 Tel. Detch. │ 66 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │414 Signal Command: │ │ 414 Tel. Detch. │ │ 150 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │521 Ambulance Co. │521 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │34 Res. Field │35 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │35 Res. Field │36 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │(?) 414 Vet. │414 Vet. Hospital. │ Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │713 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │6 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │410 Ft. A. Btn. │ │2 Res. Ft. A. Btn. │ │19 Res. Ft. A. Btn. │ │74 Art. Observation │ │ Section. │ │23 Sound Ranging │ │ Section. │ │49 Balloon Sqn. │ │265 Reconnaissance │ │ Flight. │ │(Elements attached, │ │ July, 1918; from │ │ German │ │ document.). ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(7TH CORPS DISTRICT—WESTPHALIA.)

1914.

BELGIUM.

1. The 14th Reserve Division belongs, like the 13th Reserve Division, to the 7th Reserve Corps. It was formed from the Reserve Brigade at the Senne Camp and from one brigade, surplus, of the 14th active division (28th Brigade). One regiment of this brigade, the 39th Fusiliers, from Dusseldorf, appeared in front of Liege on August 8, while the rest of the division was being assembled at Dueren.

MAUBEUGE.

2. Entering into Belgium by way of Verviers, on August 16, the 14th Reserve Division then formed a part of the 2d German Army. It was in front of Namur on August 21, with the reserve corps of the Guard and the 11th Corps. After Namur was taken it went to invest Maubeuge with the 13th Division.

AISNE.

3. Set free on September 7 by the fall of this place, it left on the 10th to strengthen the Aisne front. About the 13th of September it occupied the heights around Cerny-en-Laonnois.

1915.

AISNE.

1. The division held the sector between Cerny and Craonne (north of Paissy) until the beginning of November, 1915. In March it gave the 39th Fusiliers to the 50th Division, a new formation.

2. About November 2 it was transferred to the Charleroi area where it rested and had further training.

3. At the end of December it was sent north of Verdun, near Romagne sous les Cotes.

1916.

VERDUN.

1. In January and until February 20, 1916, it was employed in works preparatory to the attack (Damvillers area).

2. On February 23 it was in line on the right bank of the Meuse. It took part, from the very beginning, in the German offensive against Verdun, attacked Samogneux, Poivre Hill, and the Hill of Talou and Vacherauville. (On the 3d of April, the 11th Company of the 16th Reserve Infantry Regiment had already received more than 118 men as replacements. On May 14, at least 153 had been sent to the 8th Company of the 53d Infantry Reserve Regiment.)

3. Until the end of December the 14th Reserve Division occupied this sector (of the Meuse (Champneuville) at Poivre Hill). On December 15, it underwent the French counteroffensive, to the west of Douaumont, which caused it to suffer very heavy losses. Then it took over the sector of Hill 344 for one week.

4. The division was relieved from December 22–25, concentrated in the Damvillers area and transferred to Champagne where it was reorganized.

1917.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. On January 1, 1917, it went into line north of Prunay and remained in this sector (quiet) until October 22–25.

2. In May the division sent some of its elements as reenforcements to units attacked at Cornillet and at Monthaut.

FORET DE COUCY.

3. It entrained on October 26 at Chatelet and was transferred to the area of Cerny-en-Laonnois. On the 28th it was interpolated between two divisions (the 10th Division and the 27th Division) on the front Bassoles-Fresnes, in the upper Coucy wood, which it occupied until the middle of February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 14th Reserve Division is recruited from Westphalia. As it suffered very little in 1917, the division probably did not receive in the course of that year the heterogeneous replacements which were sent—perhaps intentionally—to the other Westphalian divisions.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 14th Reserve Division did not participate in any important action in the course of the year 1917. It was thoroughly reorganized during its long stay in Champagne. It is composed for the most part of young men (20 to 30 years of age) and has suffered but few losses (a slight proportion of the 1918 class).

Its valor has not been put to any serious test since Verdun. It appears capable of serious effort.

1918.

LAON.

1. The division was withdrawn from line in the St. Gobain region and went to rest in the neighborhood of Laon. It was trained in open warfare during the weeks that followed.

2. On March 16 some equipment belonging to the 53d Reserve Regiment was found west of Laon, near Champs, but it is unlikely that the division was in line there; it was not identified in any other way. It was identified in line in that region, however, on the 6th of April. It was withdrawn on May 29.

AISNE.

3. The division went immediately to the Aisne battle front, where it was identified by prisoners in the Vierzy sector (south of Soissons) on May 31. It was withdrawn about the 10th of June and rested for a month in the region of Fere en Tardenois.

4. On July 8 it relieved the 47th Reserve Division near Chavigny (south of Soissons). The 47th Reserve Division relieved part of the 14th Reserve Division on the 12th, and the 14th Reserve seems to have come back in its entirety on the 16th. During this fighting, the division lost more than 1,500 prisoners. It was withdrawn on July 20, and went to rest and refit in the neighborhood of Mulhouse.

NESLE.

5. The division entrained on the 22d of August at Birnsweiler and traveled via Saarbruecken-Trier-Herbesthal-Liége-Namur-Charleroi-Condé, detraining at Tincourt the night of August 23–24. On the 26th it reinforced the front near Thilloy (southwest of Nesle). It was withdrawn on September 9, after losing some 1,300 prisoners, and went to rest in Alsace in the neighborhood of Oltingen.

CHAMPAGNE.

6. On October 9, it reinforced the front near Orfeuil (southwest of Vouziers).

7. On October 28, the division was moved eastward to Boult, so as to help to hinder the American advance. It was still in line on November 11.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

After the division’s participation in the battle of the Aisne, Lieut. Gen. Loeb, its commander, was awarded the order Pour le Mérite. Again, the German communiqué of September 2 spoke highly of the fighting of the 56th Reserve Regiment. A captured regimental order mentions the fact that there had been many cases of the grippe. The division suffered such severe losses that most of the men from the 47th Reserve Division, dissolved in July, were sent to it. Nevertheless, the battalions were reduced to three companies in August. Despite its subsequent heavy losses (the 159th Regiment was reduced to 600 men, and the other regiment to about the same size), the division is still considered as being first class.

14th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │21 Ldw. │10 Ldw. │21 Ldw. │10 Ldw. │ │38 Ldw. │ │38 Ldw. │ │101 Ldw. │46 Ldw. │101 Ldw. │ │103 Ldw. │ │103 Ldw. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │93 Cav. Regt. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │82 F. A. Rgt. (1 Ers. Abt.). │217 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │908 F. A. Btry. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Ers. Co. 23 Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ │314 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │ │155 Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │10 Landst. Inf. Rgt. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │21 Ldw. │10 Ldw. │ │337 (2 Btn.). │ │38 Ldw. │ │ │ │346. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 6 Cuirassier Rgt. │1 Sqn. 17 Uhlan Rgt. │2 Sqn. 93 Cav. Rgt. │2 Sqn. 17 Uhlan Rgt. │1 Body Hus. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │253 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. (3d Btry. │ │ 1st Abt.) │ 217 F. A. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(414) Pion. Btn.: │272 Searchlight Section. Liaisons. │ │ │ 2 Ldw. Co. 3 C. Dist. Pions.│514 Tel. Detch. │ 1 Ers. Co. 23 Pions. │ │ 314 T. M. Co. │ │ 338 Searchlight Section. │ │ 514 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │218 Ambulance Co. │257 Field Hospital. Veterinary.│ │ │143 Field Hospital. │167 Field Hospital. │257 Field Hospital. │ │170 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │473 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │155 Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(346th Infantry Regiment: 5th Corps District—Posen. 10th and 38th Landwehr Regiments: 6th Corps District—Silesia.)

1915.

RUSSIA-POLAND.

1. The 14th Landwehr Division appeared in Poland about the middle of July, 1915, in the Sierpec area.

It appeared to be made up at this time of the 21st Mixed Brigade of Landwehr (10th and 38th Landwehr Regiments, taken from the Breslau Corps), elements of the Graudenz Corps, the 46th Landwehr Brigade (Pfeil Brigade—101st and 103d Landwehr Regiments). At all events, the 14th Landwehr Division does not appear to have received its complete coherence until the stabilization of the front which followed the summer offensive against the Russians.

SMORGONI.

2. The division then took position in the Smorgoni sector (September). It remained there until February, 1918.

1916.

1. In 1916 the division remained in the Smorgoni sector.

1917.

1. In 1917 the division remained in the Smorgoni sector.

2. About the month of April, 1917, the 101st and 103d Landwehr Regiments (Saxon) were taken from the 14th Landwehr Division and assigned to the 46th Landwehr Division, a new formation on the Eastern Front. They were replaced in the 14th Landwehr Division by the 346th Regiment, which formerly belonged to the 87th Division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division is of mediocre value.

1918.

MINSK.

1. At the beginning of 1918 the 14th Landwehr Division was still on the Smorgoni front, which it left about the middle of February to march farther toward the east. “We are advancing right into Russia,” wrote a man of the 38th Landwehr Regiment on March 7. About the middle of March the division went into cantonment in the vicinity of Orcha and Kochanovo on the Minsk-Smolensk Railroad. It was still there at the end of April.

2. Sent to France during May, the 14th Landwehr Division arrived in Alsace with only two regiments, the 10th and 38th Landwehr Regiments. The division seems to have been dissolved soon afterwards, the 10th Landwehr seeming to be attached to the 301st Division and the 38th Landwehr to the 4th Cavalry Division.

3. The latter part of June the division was reconstituted on the Russian front after the departure of these two regiments for the West, with the following units: 103d Landwehr (from the 46th Landwehr Division), 343d Ersatz (from the 87th Division), and the 3d Landsturm (14th Landwehr Division). On the 30th of July the division was identified in the Orcha region. Late in September the division was identified in the same region.

VALUE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

14th Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[11] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │8 Bav. │4 Bav. │8 Bav. │4 Bav. │8 Bav. │4 Bav. │ │8 Bav. │ │8 Bav. │ │8 Bav. │ │29 Bav. │ │25 Bav. │ │25 Bav. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │4 Sqn. 8 Bav. Light│4 Sqn. 8 Bav. Light │ │ Cav. Rgt. │ Cav. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │23 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │14 Bav. Art. │14 Bav. Art. │ │ Command: │ Command: │ │ 23 Bav. F. A. Rgt.│ 23 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ │ (10 Btries.). │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │14 Bav. Pion. Btn.:│14 Bav. Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 10 Bav. Res. Pion.│ 10 Bav. Res. Pion. │ │ Co. │ Co. │ │ 11 Bav. Res. Pion.│ 11 Bav. Res. Pion. │ │ Co. │ Co. │ │ 14 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 101 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ 101 Searchlight │ 14 Bav. T. M. Co. │ │ Section. │ │ │ 14 Bav. Tel. │ 14 Bav. Tel. │ │ Detch. │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │14 Bav. Ambulance │14 Bav. Ambulance Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ Co. │ │1 Bav. Field │1 Bav. Field │ │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │47 Bav. Field │47 Bav. Field │ │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │694 M. T. Col. │694 Bav. M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 11:

Composition at time of dissolution, Sept. 1, 1918.

HISTORY.

(4th and 8th Bavarian Infantry Regiments: Second Bavarian District. 25th Bavarian Infantry Regiment: Bavarian District.)

1916.

The 14th Bavarian Division was formed, at the beginning of August, 1916, with the 8th Bavarian Brigade (4th and 8th Bavarian Infantry Regiments), withdrawn from the 33d Reserve Division, and with the 29th Bavarian Infantry Regiment, formed at this time.

VERDUN.

1. The 14th Bavarian Division, going into line at the end of August, 1916, in the Vaux Chapitre wood, launched a violent attack on September 3 to the southwest of the fort of Vaux and continued to hold this sector until October 10.

At the end of October, the 29th Bavarian Infantry Regiment, whose losses in the Vaux sector were considerable, was dissolved and replaced by the 25th Bavarian Infantry Regiment, taken from the 192d Division, and raised from two to three battalions.

2. Having thus received its present composition, the 14th Bavarian Division went back into line on the Haute de Meuse (Calonne trench) on October 22.

SOMME-ANCRE.

3. Relieved at the beginning of November and sent to rest, it was then sent to the Somme, where, about November 26, it took over the sector north of the Ancre.

1917.

1. The 14th Bavarian Division left the Ancre front at the end of January, 1917, passed the month of February at rest in the Denain area, and came back into line on the Somme, northeast of Gueudecourt, on February 26. It was withdrawn on March 20 at the time of the German retirement.

ARTOIS.

2. At the beginning of April it went into action against the British offensive in the Roclincourt (north of Arras) and suffered heavily (about 2,800 prisoners on Apr. 9).

RUSSIA-RIGA.

3. Sent to rest in Belgium, it remained for several days in the Ghent area, and then entrained for the Eastern Front (Apr. 26–28). About May 14 it went into line near Lipsk (south of Baranovitchi); in June it took over the sector of Tsirin, where it remained until the end of the August. It was then transferred to the Riga front (Sept. 1) and went into action on September 14 in the neighborhood of Uxkuell. It left there on September 18.

4. About September 20 it went into line west of Jakobstadt and took part in the action of the 21st.

5. At the end of October the 14th Bavarian Division was sent to Galicia. It was identified in the neighborhood of Tarnopol on November 1 and, for the last time, on December 14 (fraternizing).

FRANCE.

6. The division left the Tarnopol area on December 19 for the Western Front. Itinerary: Posen-Leipzig-Frankfort-Kreuznach-Thionville. It detrained at Wasigny and Saulces-Monclin (near Rethel) on December 23.

RECRUITING.

The 14th Bavarian Division is recruited from the 2d and 3d Bavarian Corps Districts.

VALUE.

The 8th Bavarian Brigade (4th and 8th Bavarian Infantry Regiments), which helped form the 14th Bavarian Division, is a strong body belonging, in peace times, to the garrison at Metz.

It distinguished itself at the battle of Eparges (March-April, 1915), at the attack of September 3, 1916 (Vaux-Chapitre wood).

The morale of the 14th Bavarian Division appears to be high. No deserter has been found since the arrival of the division on the Western Front (December, 1917). The 14th Bavarian Division has always been a good division (January, 1918).

1918.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 14th Bavarian Division embarked at Tarnopol on December 19 and traveled via Kalicz-Posen-Leipsic-Frankfort-Kreusnach-Thionville- Wassigny (north of Rethel), where it detrained on the 23d. On January 12 it relieved the 7th Reserve Division in the Mont Haut sector. It was relieved by the 80th Reserve Division on April 22.

PICARDY.

2. On the 26th the division entrained at Neuflize, detraining on the following day near Mericourt (northeast of St. Quentin). From there it marched via Bellenglise-Vermand-Mons en Chaussee-Brie-Foucaucourt to Framerville. On May 3 it relieved the 208th Division in the Hangard sector (southeast of Amiens). It was relieved on the 21st by the 225th Division.

3. The division remained in close support, and relieved the 15th Division one sector to the south on the 23d. It was withdrawn during the night of June 20–21, and rested in rear of the front for over a month.

4. About July 23, it relieved the 21st Division in the Castel sector (north of Hangard). In the fighting that followed the division suffered heavy losses, especially in the British attack of August 8. It was withdrawn about the 13th in a badly shattered condition, it having lost some 2,500 prisoners.

5. It was in line again on the 29th northwest of Villers-Carbonnel (southwest of Peronne), and was withdrawn about the 2d of September. Soon thereafter, the 14th Bavarian Division was disbanded—the 4th Bavarian went to the 4th Bavarian Division to replace the 5th Bavarian Reserves (dissolved); the 8th Bavarian went to the 16th Bavarian Division to replace the 21st Bavarian Reserves (dissolved); the 25th Bavarian went to the 6th Bavarian Reserves Division to replace the 17th Bavarian Reserves (dissolved). The commanding general and his staff were identified at Malineson October 24, but there is nothing to show what they were doing there, or where they went.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

Previous to 1918 the 14th Bavarian was always considered a first-class division. Since then, however, it seems to have fallen off somewhat; it was not used in any of the German offensives, and it is significant that a battalion of the 2d Bavarian Division was used in its sector (south of Hailles) when it was desired to make a raid, and also that two of the divisions receiving regiments when the 14th Bavarian was disbanded were second class. The division lost over 2,000 prisoners, including all three regiment staffs and the staffs of several of the battalions.

15th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┴───────── Infantry. │29. │25. │29. │25. │Jan. to Aug., 1916. │ │161. │ │161. │29. │25. │80. │65. │80. │65. │ │161. │ │160. │ │160. │80. │65. │ │ │ │ │ │160. │ │ │ │ │Aug. to Nov., 1916. │ │ │ │ │ │186. │ │ │ │ │ │160. │ │ │ │ │ │389. │ │ │ │ │ After Nov. │ │ │ │ │ │69. │ │ │ │ │ │160. │ │ │ │ │ │389. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │ │7 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │15 Brig.: │15 Brig.: │15 Brig.: │ 59 F. A. Rgt. │ 59 F. A. Rgt. │ 59 F. A. Rgt. │ 83 F. A. Rgt. │ 83 F. A. Rgt. │ 83 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 8:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 8: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ Field Co. 8 Pions.│ 1 Co. 8 Pions. │ │ 15 Tel. Detch. │ 5 Co. 8 Pions. │ │ 15 Pont. Engs. │ 15 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 15 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ 15 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │69 Anti-Aircraft │ │ │ Section. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │80. │69. │80. │69. │ │160. │ │137. │ │389. │ │160. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 7 Hus. Rgt. │2 Sqn. 7 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │15 Art. Command: │15 Art. Command: │ 59 F. A. Rgt. │ 59 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 135 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 707 Light Am. Col. │ │ 744 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1295 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│125 Pion. Btn. (1 │125 Pion. Btn. Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. │ │ 8): │ │ 1 Co. 8 Pions. │ 1 Co. 8 Pions. │ 5 Co. 8 Pions. │ 5 Co. 8 Pions. │ 15 T. M. Co. │ 15 T. M. Co. │ 15 Tel. Detch. │ 108 T. M. Co. │ │ 41 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │15 Signal Command: │ │ 15 Tel. Detch. │ │ 113 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │19 Ambulance Co. │19 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │82 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │83 Field Hospital. │ │15 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. No. 800.│548 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(8th Corps District—Rhine Province.)

1914.

1. Upon mobilization, the 15th Division (Aix la Chapelle, Cologne, Bonn, etc.) formed with the 16th Division an organic part of the 8th Army Corps and was in the 4th Army (Duke of Wuerttemberg).

2. Temporarily detaching the 25th Infantry Regiment (Aix la Chapelle) from the corps at the siege at Liege, the 15th Division entered, on August 6, into Luxemburg, where it had been preceded by the 16th Division (Treves). It entered into Belgian Luxemburg on the 19th and 20th of August. Went into action on the 22d and 23d—Porcheresse, Graid, Bièvre—and entered France on the 26th. While the 29th Brigade was crossing the Meuse at Sedan the 80th entered at Mezieres. Again uniting on the 30th, the 15th Division went through Champagne by way of Somme Py and Suippes and took part in the battle of the Marne at Vitry le Francois. It then withdrew to Souain and Perthes, where it remained as a whole until November.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. At this time the 29th Brigade was taken to the Ypres front until the end of December, at which date it went to the south of Alsace, making a part of the combined division of Fuchs. The separation of the two brigades lasted until May, 1915. The 29th Brigade lost heavily in Alsace, where the 25th Infantry Regiment was reduced to 600 men on March 26, 1915 (soldier’s notebook).

1915.

1. The 15th Division, in which the 29th Brigade was temporarily replaced by the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Brigade, remained in Champagne until the beginning of April, 1915. At that date it went to reenforce the 3d Bavarian Corps near St. Mihiel in the Ailly wood.

ARTOIS.

2. At the end of May the 15th Division again had both its brigades (29th and 80th) and went into action at Artois until the middle of June. It suffered heavy losses. The 161st Infantry Regiment lost 31 officers and 1,653 men (official list of casualties).

AISNE.

3. From June, 1915, until June, 1916, the 15th Division occupied various sectors of the Aisne: Vailly-Pommiers (end of July), Nouvron (September), Ste. Marguerite-Bucy le Long (October).

1916.

SOMME.

1. July, 1916, the 15th Division was transferred to the Somme. It took part in the battle and participated in the attack at Biaches, where it suffered heavy losses.

2. At the end of August it again took over its sector, St. Marguerite- Bucy le Long. Its composition was modified by the temporary loss of the 160th Infantry Regiment, sent to the combined division of Dumrath (August), by the definite transfer of the 65th Infantry Regiment and the 161st Infantry Regiment to the 185th Division, and of the 25th Infantry Regiment to the 208th Division.

3. At the beginning of October it had received in exchange for the regiments transferred the 186th Infantry Regiment (temporarily) and the 389th Infantry Regiment, a new formation (men taken from various Rhine regiments), and received the 160th Infantry Regiment again (the Dumrath Division having been dissolved). It reappeared on the Somme front (Sailly-Saillisel), where it again suffered heavy losses.

AISNE.

4. At the end of October it returned to the Aisne and occupied the sectors of Nuvron-Moulin sous Touvent. It was reorganized finally in November and received its definitive composition.

RUSSIA.

5. About the middle of November the 15th Division was withdrawn from the front, entrained after a few days’ rest, and transferred to the Eastern Front. It went into line north of Kisselin.

1917.

1. In February, 1917, the division was in Transylvania (upper valley of the Olta).

2. In April it was in reserve at Vladimir-Volynski.

FRANCE.

3. Transferred to the French front (entrained at Kovel, detrained at Vigneulles, at the end of April), the division occupied the sector of Vaux les Palameix (Meuse).

CALIFORNIE PLATEAU.

4. At the end of May it was relieved and sent (night of May 29–30) to the Vauclerc Plateau and the Californie Plateau. On June 2 and 3 it took part in the violent attack upon these plateaus. It renewed these attacks upon July 3 and again suffered heavy losses.

LORRAINE.

5. The division was relieved on the night of July 8–9 and then sent to the Lys area, from which it was transferred into the zone Richecourt- Avricourt. It was put in line (July 15) near Blamont.

FLANDERS.

6. It was relieved about September 4, sent to rest in the Verdun area, and transferred to Belgium on October 7, where it was in action and suffered heavily on the Ypres front (north of the Ypres-Menin road) until November 13.

7. The division was then sent to the rear (area of Bruges-Knocke).

8. It again went into line east of Ypres about December 18 (east of Passchendaele). In the middle of January, 1918, it was withdrawn from this sector and sent to the Bruges area.

RECRUITING.

The 15th Division is easily recruited from the populous districts of the Rhine Provinces. In case of heavy losses and urgent necessity for reenforcements, the need has been felt for having recourse to the rest of the Rhine country in the widest sense of the word, that is to say, Rhenish Hessia and the Grand Duchy of Baden, in return for reenforcements sent elsewhere. The frequence of the relation and the community of interests which unites these regions assures the 15th Division, under all circumstances, the advantages of regional homogeneity.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 15th Division, in spite of the lack of success of its efforts, has given the impression of being a good division.

On June 2 and 3, 1917, the 69th Infantry Regiment and the 389th Infantry Regiment, attacked vigorously upon the casemates and Californie Plateaus. The 389th Infantry Regiment, especially, showed a great deal of dash in the course of these actions (July, 1917).

The division is composed, for the most part, of young and well trained elements; it has the experience gained from a very active sector (September, 1917).

1918.

BELGIUM.

1. The division relieved the 25th Division east of Passchendaele on February 10 and occupied the sector until February 20–25 when it moved south and took over the Zonnebeke sector from the 31st Division. About March 21, it was relieved by the 39th Division. It entrained at Muelebeke on the 23d and detrained at Mons en Pevele (north of Douai). From there it went by marches to Cambrai (31st), Sailly Saillisel, Bray sur Somme and Suzanne, and Caix (Apr. 7–12).

PICARDY.

2. On April 12 it was engaged in the Bois Senecat, northwest of Moreuil. During the French attack of the 18th the division lost 700 prisoners. It was relieved about April 22.

3. It rested until mid-May near Busigny. The 389th Regiment is known to have received 600 men as a draft at this time. On May 18, the division returned to line near Castel, and was engaged until May 22.

4. It rested in the Somme area (at Rosieres en Santerse June 1, and Peronne on the 9th), until June 17 when it came into line before Moreuil. It suffered heavy losses during the French attack of the 17th but continued in line until the 26th. It rested east of Roye in June and from the 3d to the 5th of July was in reserve south of Blerancourt.

BATTLE OF THE OISE-AISNE.

5. The division was engaged in the Nampcel-Autreches sector from July 5 until August 22. It was pushed back to Caisnes (Aug. 18) and as a result of the French attack lost 1,880 prisoners.

6. The division was moved to rest at Damvillers north of Verdun in early September. On the 26th it left that place and marched to Flabas, east of the Meuse.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

7. On September 26 the division was in line in the Bois des Caures. It continued to hold a sector in the region until the armistice. The last identification was northwest of Ornes on November 10.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. Its heavy losses at Moreuil in June and the ravages of the grippe in the summer lowered the morale. On the other hand, a document of October 4 indicated that the division had been congratulated by the Kaiser for its “heroic conduct.”

15th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │25 Res. │29 Res. │25 Res. │29 Res. │25 Res. │ │69 Res. │ │69 Res. │ │69 Res. │ │17 Res. │80 Res. │17 Res. │80 Res. │17 Res. │ │30 Res. │ │30 Res. │ │30 Res. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │5 Res. Uhlan Rgt. │5 Res. Uhlan Rgt. │5 Res. Uhlan Rgt. │ (3 Sqns.). │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │15 Res. F. A. Rgt. │15 Res. F. A. Rgt. │15 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (6 Btries.). │ (after Mar., │ (8 Btries.). │ │1915, 8 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│4 Field Co., 2 │4 Field Co., 2 │4 Field Co., 2 Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. 8.│ Pion. Btn. No. 8.│ Pion. Btn. No. 8. │ │15 Res. Pont. Engs.│2 Co. 31 Pion. Rgt. │ │15 Res. Tel. Detch.│5 Co. 31 Pion. Rgt. │ │ │215 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │15 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │15 Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd units. │ │ │78 Anti-Aircraft │ │ │ section. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │30 Res. │17 Res. │30 Res. │17 Res. │ │25 Res. │ │25 Res. │ │69 Res. │ │69 Res. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │5 Res. Uhlan Rgt. │2 Sqn. 8 Cuirassier │ (? 3d Sqn.) │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │104 Art. Command: │104 Art. Command: │ │ │ 15 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 15 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ 125 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ (Staff, 1, 2, and │ │ 3d Btries.). │ │ 1064 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1066 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1067 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│315 Pion Btn.: │315 Pion Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 4 Co. 8 Pion. │ 4 Co. 8 Pion. │ 6 Co. 8 Pion. │ 6 Co. 8 Pion. │ 215 T. M. Co. │ 53 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 257 Searchlight │ 215 T. M. Co. │ Section. │ │ 415 Tel. Detch. │415 Signal Command: │ │ 415 Tel. Detch. │ │ 37 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │508 Ambulance Co. │508 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │37 Res. Field │37 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │38 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │415 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │714 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd units. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │504 F. A. Rgt. │ │ (Staff, 2 and 3 │ │ Abt.). │ │3 Abt. 4 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. │ │708 Transport Park. │ │30 Ammunition Col. │ │133 and 18 Bav. │ │ Supply Trains. │ │238 Reconnaissance │ │ Flight. │ │119 Balloon Sqn. │ │136 Labor Btn. │ │92 Art. Observation │ │ Section. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴─────────────────── (Elements attached Oct. 12, 1918, from German document.)

HISTORY.

(25th Reserve Infantry Regiment, 69th Reserve Infantry Regiment: 8th Corps District—Rhine Province. 17th Reserve Infantry Regiment: 21st Corps District—Lorraine.)

1914.

1. In August, 1914, the 15th Reserve Division which was a part of the 8th Reserve Corps (with the 16th Reserve Division) and of the 4th Army, was concentrated on the Luxemburg frontier, which it crossed on the 19th. Entering Belgium on the 21st, it fought on the 22d at Maissin and Paliseul, and between the 25th and 27th it crossed the Meuse near Sedan, losing heavily. On August 28, the 2d Battalion of the 69th Reserve Infantry Regiment was reduced to 140 men (soldier’s notebook).

CHAMPAGNE.

2. From this place, by way of le Chesne, Vouziers, Tahure, the division advanced as far as Marne Canal to the Rhine, at Vitry le Francois (Brusson Dompremy, Sept. 6), where it took part in the battle of the Marne.

3. The division retired between September 9 and September 16 by way of Suippes to Servon, Binarville, Massiges (Sept. 18 to 27), and established itself north of Massiges.

1915.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 15th Reserve Division occupied the front north of Massiges and of Mesnil les Hurlus in the Souain area. In the course of various small actions, especially in May, it suffered heavily, so much so that by June 30, the losses suffered since the beginning of the campaign amounted to 2,316 men for the 2d Battalion of the 17th Reserve Infantry Regiment (official list of casualties).

2. In September, 1915, the elements of the 15th Reserve Division divided between the Liebert Division (17th and 69th Reserve Infantry Regiments) and the Ditfurth Division (25th and 30th Reserve Infantry Regiments) took part in the battle of Champagne near Tahure, east of Somme Py (from Sept. 25 to the beginning of October). They suffered considerable losses.

AISNE.

3. Toward the end of October the 15th Reserve Division was relieved from the Tahure sector and reorganized. At the beginning of November it went into line between Vailly and the Oise-Aisne Canal.

1916.

1. The division occupied the sector Chavonne-Soupir south of Braye en Laonnois until the end of June, 1916.

SOMME.

2. At the beginning of July, as soon as the Franco-British offensive began, the 15th Reserve Division detached some of its elements to reenforce divisions engaged along the Somme, especially at Flaucourt (July 2 and 3), Hem wood, and the Vermandovillers area (August).

AISNE.

3. Some of these elements returned to the Aisne and were reassigned to the Liebert (new 15th Reserve Division) and the Dumrath Division.

SOMME.

4. The 17th and 30th Reserve Infantry Regiments remained in the Somme area. Separated at first, at the end of August they formed the 32d Brigade reattached to the 35th Division which held the front in the area of Estrees-Ablaincourt (September).

5. At the beginning of October the 15th Reserve Division once more reorganized its original elements, and occupied the lines between Fouquescourt and the north of Andechy.

6. The division was relieved from the Somme front about December 15.

1917.

SOMME.

1. Once more in line in the Fouquescourt sector, the division took part in the German withdrawal by way of Ercheu, Moyencourt (Mar. 17), Ham (Mar. 19).

2. It was sent to rest in the Maubeuge area (?) (end of March and April).

ARTOIS.

3. About May 2 it went into line in the Fresnoy sector (north of Arras), where it went into action about May 3.

4. It was withdrawn from the Artois front on May 10 and transferred to the Eastern Front (May 21 to May 28).

GALICIA.

5. Sent to Galicia, it occupied the sector south of Brzezany, where it underwent the Russian attack of July 1. Then it took part in the offensive against the Russians at the end of July, and suffered heavy losses near Husiatin, where it remained until August 24. Sent to the rear of Zbrucz it held this sector from September 15 to December 7.

FRANCE.

6. Relieved at this date, it remained in the Jablona area until December 19, and entrained on the 30th for the Western Front. Itinerary: Brest Litowsk-Warsaw-Karlish-Halle-Frankfort on the Main-Mayence- Sarrebruecken-Thionville-Sedan. It detrained on January 7, in the Dun area, where it went to rest.

The 15th Reserve Division suffered very heavy losses in Galicia (July and Aug., 1917).

At the end of February, 1918, these losses, according to the statements of deserters, had not yet been made good by sufficient replacements.

In Russia there was no exchange of the older men of the division for men of the 1919 class.

RECRUITING.

The 15th Reserve Division is recruited from the Rhine districts in general. The elements from the 9th Corps District, introduced by the assignment of one battalion of the 76th Landwehr Regiment to the 69th Reserve Infantry Regiment, have almost disappeared with the arrival of successive replacements.

1918.

1. During its occupancy of the Verdun sector the division underwent intensive training which was to fit it for operations on the Western Front. It was relieved about April 15. The division commenced entraining at Stenay about April 23 and traveled via Givet-Dinant-Namur-Charleroi- Braine le Comte-Ath-Tournai, and detrained between Tournai and Lille. One regiment marched to Haubourdin (12 miles), where it rested several days.

HINGE.

2. On the night of May 1–2 the division came into line east of St. Venant. It held this sector for 10 months. Toward the end of June it was relieved by the 23d Reserve Division.

ARRAS.

3. On July 11 the division entered the line southwest of Oppy. It was engaged at Gavrelle, Oppy, and Arleux until October 9 when the 187th Division relieved it.

4. The division returned to line on the 12th to reinforce the front east of Bohain and fought until the end of October in the region east of Wassigny. There was some talk in the division of the dissolution, as no drafts of importance were received during September or October.

5. On November 6 the division was again in line. In the closing days of the war it was engaged north of Beaurepaire, southeast of Limont- Fontaine, southwest of Aites and Obrechies (10th).

VALUE.

The division was rated as third class. During 1918 the division was almost constantly in line holding defensive sectors, which it did with fair success.

15th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │10 Ldw. │12 Ldw. │10 Ldw. │12 Ldw. │ │52 Ldw. │ │52 Ldw. │27 Ldw. │53 Ldw. │27 Ldw. │53 Ldw. │ │55 Ldw. │ │55 Ldw. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │1 Ldw. Sqn. 3 C. Dist. │ │2 Ldw. Sqn. 7 C. Dist. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │1 and 2 Landst. 3 C. Dist. F.│15 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │ A. Btries. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │Landst. F. A. Btry. 7 C. │ │ Dist. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │246 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │247 Pion. Co. │ │315 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │42 Art. Survey Section. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[12] ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │10 Ldw. │12 Ldw. │ │53 Ldw. │ │52 Ldw. │ │ │ │53 Ldw. │ │ │ │55 Ldw. │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 5 Hus. Rgt. │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │15 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. (Regt. │ │ Staff, 2 Abt. Staff, and 4 │ │ and 6 Btries., 3 Abt. │ │ Staff, 7 and 9 Btries. not │ │ included). │ 15 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│415 Pion. Btn. │109 Wireless Detch. Liaisons. │ │ │ 246 Pion Co. │ │ 247 Pion. Co. │ │ 315 T. M. Co. │ │ 247 Searchlight Section. │ │ Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │552 Ambulance Co. │7 Ldw. Field Hospital. Veterinary.│ │ │3 Ldw. Field Hospital. │515 Vet. Hospital. │7 Ldw. Field Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────── Footnote 12:

The elements below are those grouped under the 797 Postal sector. Other elements belonging to the 15th Landwehr Division, but operating under other division staffs, are listed as attached to such division.

HISTORY.

(12th Landwehr Regiment: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg. 53d and 55th Landwehr Regiments: 7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1915.

OISE.

1. The 15th Landwehr Division (Sack Division) was formed about the month of March, 1915, from two independent Landwehr brigades (the 10th and 27th) which had been holding, since September, 1914, the sectors of the Oise south of Noyon.

2. The 10th Brigade, entering Belgium on August 19, was at Tirlemont on September 1 and had been sent rapidly to the Oise at the beginning of the retreat from the Marne. It had gone into action at Blerancourt, Bellefontaine, Cuts, on September 15 and 16. The 27th Brigade, coming from Aix la Chapelle August 17, had advanced by way of Louvain, Douai, Cambrai, Bepaume, and Amiens and had likewise been in action on September 15 and 16 at Rivecourt and Nampcel.

3. After its formation the 15th Landwehr Division continued to occupy the Oise sector of Thiescourt (Ribecourt) until 1917.

1916.

1. The division held the Oise sector of Thiescourt (southwest of Noyon).

1917.

1. The Oise sector of Thiescourt was held by the division until 1917.

In the middle of March, 1917, the 15th Landwehr Division took part in the withdrawal of the German troops and retired southeast of St. Quentin by way of Salency, Chauny, and La Fere.

GALICIA.

2. Relieved at the end of March, it was transferred to the Eastern Front. Itinerary: Charleroi-Luxemburg-Treves * * * Breslau-Cracow- Lemberg. (Some elements of the division had already left before the withdrawal to the Hindenburg line and had entrained at Noyon.)

3. In Galicia the 15th Landwehr Division occupied the sector west of Brody until the beginning of 1918.

Almost immediately after its arrival the 52d Landwehr Regiment was withdrawn from the division (April, 1917).

Like the other Landwehr divisions on the Eastern Front, the 15th Landwehr Division at the end of 1917 had given its best elements to divisions operating in France (especially to the 111th Division).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division is purely a sector division.

1918.

UKRAINE.

1. Early in March the 15th Landwehr Division marched toward Rovno; from there it was transported to Kiev.

2. On May 11 the division was south of Ekaterinoslav; the 12th Landwehr Regiment at Sebastopol and the 53d Landwehr Regiment likewise being in the Crimea.

CAUCASUS.

3. Toward the end of May elements of the division were identified in the Kertch region, the 12th Landwehr Regiment, however, being on the Vardar front. The division was still here the latter part of September. During this time all of the younger men were sent to the Western Front.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

15th Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │23 Bav. │30 Bav. │23 Bav. │30 Bav. │ │31 Bav. │ │31 Bav. │ │32 Bav. │ │32 Bav. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light Cav. │3 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light Cav. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │7 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 7 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │23 Bav. Ft. A. Btn. │ │148 Bav. Light Am. Col. │ │152 Bav. Light Am. Col. │ │155 Bav. Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│15 Bav. Pion. Btn.: │15 Bav. Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 24 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 24 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 25 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 25 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 15 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 15 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 15 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ 15 Bav. Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │15 Bav. Signal Command: │ │ 15 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ │ 170 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │25 Bav. Ambulance Co. │25 Bav. Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │64 Bav. Field Hospital. │64 Bav. Field Hospital. │65 Bav. Field Hospital. │65 Bav. Field Hospital. │15 Bav. Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │696 M. T. Col. │696 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(30th Bavarian Infantry Regiment: 1st Bavarian Corps District. 31st Bavarian Infantry Regiment: 2d Bavarian Corps District. 32d Bavarian Infantry Regiment: 3d Bavarian Corps District.)

1917.

The 15th Bavarian Division was formed in December, 1916, and January, 1917, at Nuremburg, of elements coming from the three Bavarian corps districts in the manner of the divisions 231–242; that is to say, a very large proportion of the men of the 1918 class, together with returned wounded and sick and men taken from units at the front.

1. From February 1 to March 1, 1917, the three regiments of the division received instruction for mountain troops in Upper Bavaria, near the Austrian frontier.

2. On March 1 the 15th Bavarian Division was transferred to the Charleroi area, where it remained one month; there it received training in the war of movement.

LORRAINE.

3. At the end of March it was transferred to Lorraine; it occupied the Leintrey sector (Parroy wood) until the beginning of May.

AISNE.

4. From Lorraine it went to the Laonnois area (Sissonne, La Selve, May 12); went into line southwest of Juvincourt on May 19–20; launched an attack on June 28–29 southeast of Corbeny, and left the front at the end of July.

5. After a rest in the Sedan area the division entrained on August 20 for the Verdun front.

MEUSE (HILL 304).

6. Detraining at Stenay and Dun (Aug. 22–24), it went into line north of Hill 304 (Forges Stream). The French attack on the 24th occasioned serious losses.

MEUSE (RIGHT BANK).

7. The 15th Bavarian Division was relieved from Hill 304 about October 16; went from there to the right bank of the Meuse, and then into line at Beaumont (Oct. 24).

RECRUITING.

The 15th Bavarian Division is recruited from all of Bavaria.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In September, 1917, the 15th Bavarian Division appeared strong.

In the 31st Bavarian Infantry Regiment two-thirds of the men were recruits belonging to the 1918 class.

The division suffered few losses on the Verdun front after November, 1917.

1918.

1. During the spring the division made use of the quiet Bezouvaux sector to train the men in machine gun and assault tactics. It was relieved on July 23 and rested south of Longwy (Villers la Montagne) until July 4. It was moved to Sault St. Remy, by Carignan, Sedan, Rethel (July 4–5). Until the 11th it rested in a camp, when it marched by night toward the front.

BATTLE OF RHEIMS.

2. On the 15th it was engaged in the offensive east of Prunay. It advanced to north of Thuizy, suffering very heavy losses, estimated to have been 30 to 40 per cent. It remained in line until mid-August. After 10 weeks’ rest the division was again engaged about September 1 north of Prosnes until September 29.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

3. The division was placed in line farther to the east, near Somme Py, where it remained until about September 29, at which time it was put in reserve north of Bouillon. In the fighting all three regiments were exhausted, but the losses of the 31st Bavarian Regiment were particularly heavy. Six hundred prisoners were taken from the division at this time.

4. The division rested from October 5 to 10. At this time the 18th Bavarian Reserve Regiment, from the disbanded Bavarian Ersatz Division, was divided among the three regiments of the division.

5. It came into line on October 13 east of Grandpre and was engaged on the United States front until November 11. It did not offer a vigorous resistance to the American attacks at first, but in late October and early November it did all in its power to check the American advance.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a third-class. The heavy losses in Champagne in September and October, the prevalent sickness, political discontent, and dissatisfaction with Prussia continued to give the division a low morale.

16th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │30. │28. │30. │28. │30. │28. │ │68. │ │68. │ │68. │31. │29. │31. │29. │31. │29. │ │69. │ │69. │ │69. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │8 Cuirassier Rgt. │ │8 Cuirassier Rgt. │ │ │ (3 and 4 Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │16 Brig.: │16 Brig.: │16 Brig.: │ 23 F. A. Rgt. │ 23 F. A. Rgt. │ 23 F. A. Rgt. │ 44 F. A. Rgt. │ 44 F. A. Rgt. │ 44 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│2 and 3 Field Cos. │1 Pion. Btn. No. 8:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 8: Liaisons. │ 1 Pion. Btn. No. │ │ │ 8. │ │ │ │ 2 Field Co. 8 │ 2 Co. 8 Pions. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 3 Field Co. 8 │ 3 Co. 8 Pions. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 16 Pont. Engs. │ 16 T. M. Co. │ │ 16 Tel. Detch. │ 16 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ 16 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │113 Labor Btn. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │30. │28. │30. │28. │ │29. │ │29. │ │68. │ │68. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 7 Hus. Rgt. │1 Sqn. 7 Hus. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │16 Art. Command: │16 Art. Command: │ 23 F. A. Rgt. │ 23 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 32 Ft. A. Btn. (3 │ │ Btries.). │ │ 1252 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1253 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1307 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│125 Pion Btn. (1 │8 Pion. Btn: Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. │ │ 8): │ │ 2 Co. 8 Pions. │ 2 Co. 8 Pions. │ │ │ 3 Co. 8 Pions. │ 3 Co. 8 Pions. │ │ │ 169 T. M. Co. │ 169 T. M. Co. │ 293 Searchlight │ 44 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 16 Tel. Detch. │16 Signal Command: │ │ 16 Tel. Detch. │ │ 120 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │20 Ambulance Co. │20 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │80 Field Hospital. │76 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │80 Field Hospital. │ │16 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │549 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │188 and 417 Pigeon │ │ Lofts. │ │208 Balloon Sqn. │ │7 Reconnaissance │ │ Flight. │ │57 Art. Observation │ │ Section (Flash- │ │ spotters). │ │10 Co. 97 Labor │ │ Btn. │ │38 Div. Pont. Engs. │ │1294 Light Am. Col. │ │(Elements attached │ │ July 17, 1918; │ │ from German │ │ documents.) ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(8th Corps District—Rhine Province.)

1914.

ARDENNES-MARNE.

1. In August, 1914, the 16th Division (belonging to the 8th Army Corps, together with 16th Division) was a part of the 4th German Army (Duke of Wurttemberg). It entered Luxemburg at the beginning of August (28th Infantry Regiment), there received the rest of its reservists on the 7th, entered Belgian Luxemburg on the 20th, and went into action on the 23d at Bièvre and Gédinne. From there, by way of Sedan and Donchery (Aug. 26), forming the extreme right of the 4th Army, it went through Champagne, reached Suippes on September 3, and crossed the Marne near Vitry le François, where it came into contact with the French forces. It retired, having suffered heavily, by way of Somme-Yèvre—Herpont-St. Mard sur Auve-Somme Bionne, and stopped near Perthes les Hurlus, where it made a stand.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. The 16th Division occupied the sector Souain-Perthes during the winter of 1914 and 1915; it there withstood strong attacks.

BELGIUM.

3. In November and December, 1914, the division detached certain of its elements (31st Brigade, 29th and 69th Infantry Regiments) in Belgium, in the Langemarck area.

ALSACE.

4. In the middle of December the 31st Brigade was sent to Alsace for work near Mulhouse. It formed a part of the Fuchs Division, was in line north of Thann and rejoined the 30th Brigade opposite Perthes at the end of December.

1915.

ARTOIS.

1. Withdrawn from the Champagne front about April 18–19, 1915, the 16th Division was sent to rest in the Briey area, then transferred, about May 15, north of Arras.

2. It lost very heavily at Souchez and Neuville-St. Vaast, withstanding the offensive of May. The 69th Infantry Regiment lost 42 officers and 1,609 men. (Official List of Casualties.)

AISNE.

3. The division left Artois in the middle of June and, after a few days of rest near St. Quentin, went into line in the middle of July, east of Soissons (Chavonne-Soupir sector).

NOUVRON.

4. At the end of October it took over the sector of Nouvron, west of Soissons.

1916.

1. The 16th Division remained on the Aisne front until the end of July, 1916.

SOMME.

2. Entraining at Folembray, it was transferred to Ham and Nesle. After a short stay in the Maucourt sector (northwest of Roye) at the beginning of August, it took part in the battle of the Somme near Pozières- Thiepval, where it suffered very heavy losses (Aug. 10–24); the 3d Company of the 29th Infantry Regiment lost 131 men at Pozières (letter).

BERRY AU BAC.

3. In September the reorganized 16th Division (especially with men of the 1917 class) occupied a quiet sector west of Berry au Bac. In October the 69th Infantry Regiment was withdrawn from the 16th Division, which now has three regiments (30th Brigade).

SOMME.

4. Relieved about the 3d of October from the sector west of Berry au Bac, the division entrained at Laon and was transferred to the Somme. It went into line (Lesboeufs-Sailly-Saillisel) on October 9 and suffered heavy losses.

RUSSIA.

5. On October 26 the division left the Somme, returned for a few days (Nov. 5–16) to the front northwest of Soissons and entrained for Russia on November 20. Itinerary: Liege-Aix la Chapelle-Dusseldorf-Hanover- Magdeburg-Berlin-Skernewitzy-Warsaw-Brest- Litowsk-Kovel-Turisk. It detrained on November 25.

1916.

GALICIA.

1. On the Russian front the 16th Division occupied the Kiselin sector, south of Kovel (until the beginning of May, 1917).

FRANCE.

2. On May 17, entraining near Kieslin, the division returned to France via Vladimir Volynski-Kovel-Brest Litowsk-Warsaw-Kalich-Cottbus-Leipzig- Cassel-Coblentz-Gerolstein-Sedan-Attigny, where it detrained on May 21.

FLANDERS.

3. After a rest at Ecordal, on June 4 the division was sent to Flanders. Detraining at Orchies, it marched to Wambrechies; it there remained for 12 days. On June 26 it went into line at Warneton, where the British attack of July 31 did not cause it any serious losses.

4. About the 23d of September the 16th Division was sent to rest in the Bruges area.

YPRES.

At the beginning of October it was sent to the Ypres front.

Some elements were engaged on October 3 and 4 against the British attacks east of Zonnebeke. On October 6 the division went to the southeast of Poelcappelle and supported the local offensives, against the British troops (Oct. 9–12).

The 16th Division remained behind the front from October 12 to November 24.

At this date it took over the sector north of Becelaere and a short time afterwards that of Passchendaele (east), where it was relieved about the middle of January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 16th Division is recruited almost exclusively from the Rhine Provinces.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Before being engaged on the Somme the 16th Division had gained a wonderful reputation. It was known as the “Iron Division.” In the battle of the Somme it did not, however, distinguish itself in any way.

At Warneton and at Ypres (June and October, 1917) it fought stubbornly in spite of its heavy losses.

1918.

YPRES.

1. The division was at rest in Belgium (Meulebeke area) until about March 1, when it was engaged east of Passchendaele until March 23.

2. It entrained at Pitthem and moved to reserve at Tourcoing until April 4. Later it was at Lille until April 10.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

3. The division was engaged on April 4 north of Neuve Chapelle and south of Merville on the 12th. On the 17th the 68th Regiment was to attack but was unable to do so through weakness and lack of food. Two regimental commanders were included in the heavy casualties. It was relieved east of St. Venant on May 1.

MERVILLE.

4. The division rested in Belgium (Braine, south of Brussels) for about two weeks. On the 19th it was in line southwest of Merville. It was relieved by the 25th Division on the night of July 6–7. After 10 days’ rest the division returned to its former sector and continued in line until August 18.

5. After leaving the line on August 18 it rested near Haubourdin until the 26th, when it entrained for Raches (north of Douai). It marched toward the front east of Arras by Douai and Vitry, entering the line near Vis en Artois on August 30.

THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

6. The division fought near Dury and Hendecourt until mid-September, losing more than 1,500 prisoners. It rested at Bruges until its return to line north of Lens on September 26. It was driven back toward Pont a Vendin and Courrieres, northwest of Orchies, Hollain, and Antoing. The division was withdrawn about November 6 from the Antoing area.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a second-class division. During 1918 it fought entirely on the British front, chiefly on the defensive.

16th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │29 Res. │28 Res. │29 Res. │28 Res. │29 Res. │28 Res. │ │68 Res. │ │68 Res. │ │68 Res. │31 Res. │29 Res. │31 Res. │29 Res. │31 Res. │29 Res. │ │65 Res. │ │65 Res. │ │65 Res. │ │ │ │ │ Feb. to July. │ │ │ │ │ │28 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │68 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │25 Res. │ │ │ │ │ Aug. to Sept. │ │ │ │ │ │190. │ │ │ │ │68 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │Hippe │ │ │ │ │ │ Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ Sept. to Dec. │ │ │ │ │ │190. │ │ │ │ │ │29 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │390. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Heavy Res. Cav. │2 Heavy Res. Cav. │2 Heavy Res. Cav. │ Rgt. (3 Sqns.). │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │16 Res. F. A. Rgt. │16 Res. F. A. Rgt. │16 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (6 Btries.). │ (8 Btries.). │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2 Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. 8.│ Pion. Btn. No. 8.│ Pion. Btn. No. 8. │ │16 Res. Pont. Engs.│10 Co. 28 Pions. │ │ │ │ │16 Res. Tel. Detch.│216 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │16 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │16 Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │31 Res. │29 Res. │31 Res. │29 Res. │ │30 Res. │ │30 Res. │ │68 Res. │ │68 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 (?) Heavy Res. │4 Sqn. 8 Cuirassier │ Cav. Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │106 Art. Command: │106 Art. Command: │ │ │ 16 Res. F. A. │ 16 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Regt. (9 │ │ Btries.). │ │ │ 127 Ft. Art. Btn. │ │ 724 Light Am. Col. │ │ 810 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1352 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(316) Pion. Btn.: │316 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Res. Co. 8 │ 1 Res. Co. 8 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. 8 │ 2 Res. Co. 8 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 216 T. M. Co. │ 8 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 416 Tel. Detch. │ 216 T. M. Co. │ │416 Signal Command: │ │ 416 Tel. Detch. │ │ 130 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │512 Ambulance Co. │512 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │39 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │416 Vet. Hospital. │40 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │416 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │715 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │16 and 134 Art. │ │ Observation │ │ Section. │ │16 Balloon Sqn. │ │213 Reconnaissance │ │ Flight. │ │2.208 Pigeon Loft. │ │(Elements attached │ │ Sept. 30, 1918; │ │ from German │ │ documents.) ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(8th Corps District—Rhine Province.)

1914.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 16th Reserve Division with the 15th Reserve Division was a part of the 8th Reserve Corps and belonged to the 4th Army (Duke of Wurttemberg).

CHAMPAGNE.

2. On August 14, 1914, it entered Luxemburg; on the 21st, Belgium. It went into action at St. Hubert on the 22d; at Matton on the 24th; crossed the Meuse at Sedan with heavy losses August 26–28. Entering Champagne by way of Vouziers, it took part in the battle of the Marne, along the canal from the Marne to the Rhine (Heiltz le Maurupt- Bignicourt-Le Buisson).

3. On September 9 it began its retreat, and retired by way of Suippes (Sept. 14) to Cernay en Dormois. About September 20 it stopped in the area of Minaucourt-Massiges and took up its position there.

4. The 16th Reserve Division occupied this sector of Champagne (north of Massiges) until the month of October, 1915. (On the 30th of January, 1915, the 29th Reserve Infantry Regiment had had a total of 79 officers and 3,090 men casualties.)

1915.

1. At the time of the French offensive in Champagne the 16th Reserve Division went into battle east of the road from Tahure to Perthes les Hurlus (Sept. 25). It was then a part of a new group under the orders of Gen. Ditfurth.

2. Having suffered heavily from these attacks, the 16th Reserve Division was relieved about October 15 and sent to the rest in the Chesne area. Between October 8 and 14 no less than 223 men came to the 5th Company of the 68th Reserve Infantry Regiment as replacements (in this number, recruits of the 1915 class who had had four months’ instruction).

AISNE.

3. At the end of October the 16th Reserve Division was sent north of the Aisne, where it took over the sector between Soissons and Vailly.

1916.

1. The 16th Reserve Division remained in line east of Soissons until February 16, 1916.

AISNE.

2. In the middle of February it went to the west of Soissons, in the sector of Moulin sous Touvent-Autreches, which it occupied until the month of October.

3. In February the 16th Reserve Division lost two of its regiments, the 65th and 29th Reserve Infantry Regiments, which were replaced by a single regiment, the 35th Reserve Infantry Regiment. It was then composed of the 25th, 28th, and 68th Reserve Infantry Regiments.

4. At the beginning of the battle of the Somme, July 2, the 25th Reserve Infantry Regiment (2 battalions) was sent by itself as a reinforcement in the Barelaux area. The 28th Reserve Infantry Regiment left the 16th Reserve Division at the end of July to be attached to the 185th Division, likewise on the Somme.

5. The 16th Reserve Division, composed of the 68th Reserve Infantry Regiment and of two other regiments, the 190th Infantry Regiment and the Provisional Hippe Regiment, continued to occupy the sector of Moulin sous Touvent (August).

6. The 68th Reserve Infantry Regiment in its turn was sent to the Somme. It went into action near Deniécourt (September-October). One may calculate its losses by the fact that the 5th Company received at least 55 men as replacements between October 2 and 6.

7. The 16th Reserve Division then comprised the 29th Reserve Infantry Regiment, once more attached to the division, the 190th Infantry Regiment, and the 390th Infantry Regiment, which replaced the Hippe Regiment above mentioned. Thus constituted, it was retained in the area Moulin sous Touvent-Autreches until the month of October.

SOMME.

8. Relieved on October 15, it entrained at Tergnier and was transferred to the Somme. It took part in the St. Pierre-Vaast wood in local operations, in the course of which it suffered heavily (Nov. 4 to 28).

9. About December 12 the 16th Reserve Division was sent north of the Aisne. It went into line in the Cerny en Laonnois area.

At this time the division was once more reorganized. It again received the 68th Reserve Infantry Regiment, which came back from the Somme. The 190th Infantry Regiment was transferred to the 47th Division, and the 390th Infantry Regiment, which was assigned to the 211th Division, was replaced by the 30th Reserve Infantry Regiment.

1917.

1. With this composition (29th, 68th, and 30th Reserve Infantry Regiments) the 16th Reserve Division occupied the sector of Cerny en Laonnois from January to April, 1917.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

2. It underwent the French offensive of April 16 between Chivy and the Cerny sugar refinery, where it suffered very heavily (1,100 prisoners).

3. Relieved on the Aisne front about April 20, the division was sent to the Sissonne Camp, where it was reorganized (beginning of May).

LORRAINE.

4. About May 10 it went into line between the Sanon and Gondrexon, in Lorraine.

ALSACE.

5. The division was sent to Alsace about June 20 and remained in the Ferette area, where its training was vigorously carried out.

GALICIA.

6. On July 7, 1917, the 16th Reserve Division entrained for the Eastern Front.

7. Detraining on the 12th in the area of Rohatyn-Bourchtyn (Galicia), it went into action on the 15th near Halucz, along the Dneister, and reached Khotin, where the Russian retreat halted.

8. At the end of August it occupied a new sector north of Bojan, east of Czernowitz (taking of Bojan, Aug. 27).

FRANCE.

9. The 16th Reserve Division was withdrawn from the front about November 15 and entrained for France near Czernowitz (Nov. 20). Itinerary: Kolomea-Stanislau-Lemberg-Przeymsl-Cracow-Oppeln-Breslau-Dresden- Chemnitz-Nuremberg-Karlsruhe-Haguenau-Saareguemines-Thionville-Sedan- Bucy les Pierrepont, where it detrained on November 29.

CAMBRAI.

10. Going into action southwest of Cambrai (Marcoing) on December 6, it was still in this sector at the beginning of March, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 16th Reserve Division is recruited from the Rhine Province and all the Rhine districts. Thus, in October, 1916, it received men from the mining district of Westphalia, and also in March, 1917.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 16th Reserve Division was a good division. It was very much exhausted on April 16 and 17, 1917, in the Cerny sector. During this action the 30th Reserve Infantry Regiment was remarkable for its desperate resistance and had only 50 prisoners taken.

During its stay in Lorraine (May and June, 1917) the 16th Reserve Division maintained a purely defensive attitude. The losses suffered on the Aisne and the nature of the replacements received appear to have sensibly diminished the combat value of the 30th Reserve Infantry Regiment.

In October, 1917, on the Galician front, the 16th Reserve Division was considered incapable of participating in active operations because of the large proportion of older men and the weakness of its effectives (according to prisoners’ statements).

1918.

PICARDY.

1. The division attacked on March 21 south of Marcoing. It was taken out on the 3d day of the offensive and sent to rest in the Ancre area. About April 10 the division relieved the 107th Division on the Ancre and held a sector until the 107th Division returned and relieved on April 27.

BATTLE OF THE SCARPE-SOMME.

2. The division rested near Puisieux until May 15, when it entered the line northwest of Beaumont Hamel and remained until about June 15. It rested in the neighborhood of Haplincourt until about July 4, when it returned to the Beaumont-Hamel sector. The British attack in August forced the division to retire through Muraumont (23d), Grandcourt (24th), Le Barque (25th), and Flers (27th). It was withdrawn on August 28, after suffering heavy losses.

3. The division again came into line on September 5 north of Equancourt. In five days’ fighting it lost 600 prisoners. On September 10 it went to rest in the Bruges area, where it was until October 1.

BELGIUM.

4. On October 1 the division relieved the 16th Bavarian Division on the Ypres battle front, southeast of Staden. Throughout October it was engaged at Hooglede, Staden, and near Wynghene. It was withdrawn on October 28 and remained out of line in the Ghent area until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was engaged as a sector- holding unit in active fronts during 1918.

16th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │2 Ldw. │3 Ldw. │2 Ldw. │3 Ldw. │ │374 (Jacobi │ │374. │ │ Rgt.). │ │ │ │379 Ldw. │ │379 Ldw. │ │ (Tietz │ │ │ │ Rgt.). │ │ │ │378 (3 C. │ │ │ │ Dist.). │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │94 Cav. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │ │101 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │2 Ers. Co. 18 Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │ │157 Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │2 Ldw. │3 Ldw. │2 Ldw. │3 Ldw. │ │374. │ │374. │ │ │ │ │ │379 Ldw. │ │379 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 8 Cuirassier Rgt. │1 Sqn. 6 Cuirassier Rgt. │5 Sqn. 94 Cav. Rgt. (?) │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │101 F. A. Rgt. │ 101 F. A. Rgt. │791 Light Am. Col. │ │794 Light Am. Col. │ │1046 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(416) Pion Btn.: │3 Ers. Co. 18 Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ 2 Co. 34 Res. Pions. │1 Landst. Co. 8 C. Dist. │ │ Pions. │ 3 Ers. Co. 18 Pions. │83 Searchlight Section. │ 316 T. M. Co. │516 Signal Command: │ 2 Light Fort Searchlight │ 516 Tel. Detch. │ Section. │ │ Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │71 Ambulance Co. │71 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │21 Field Hospital. │21 Field Hospital. │142 Field Hospital. │216 Vet. Hospital. │151 Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │996 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │1 C. Dist. Landst. Inf. Btn. │ │ No. 22. │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(374th Infantry Regiment and 3d Landwehr Regiment: 1st Corps District—East Prussia. 379th Landwehr Regiment: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg.)

1915.

POLAND.

1. The 16th Landwehr Division (Landwehr Division of Koenigsberg, Sommer Division), providing the war garrison of Koenigsberg, took part in the battles on the East Prussian frontier in October, 1914, with a few of its future elements (1st Ersatz Battalion of the 12th Landwehr Regiment).

It was in the region of Mariampol from April until the end of August, 1915. It was identified in the Lipsk sector on August 30.

RUSSIA.

2. After the summer offensive it was sent to the sector between Krevo and Smorgoni (September).

1916.

1. The division was in the Krevo-Smorgoni sector during 1916.

1917.

1. Krevo-Smorgoni sector.

On July 22 and 23, 1917, the 16th Landwehr Division suffered very heavy losses withstanding Russian attacks in this area.

During the months which followed it gave its best elements to troops on the Western Front or to those assigned to the Western Front. At the end of November 70 per cent of the men of the 379th Landwehr Regiment were between the ages of 40 and 47 years (Russian interrogatory).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 16th Landwehr Division has always been on the Russian front. Its combat value appears mediocre.

1918.

1. The 16th Landwehr Division was still in line near Krevno in January. Moving then toward the east, it was near Orcha in April, and near Kharkov early in May. The 346th Infantry Regiment, which had remained in Russia after the departure for France of the two other regiments of the 14th Landwehr Division seems to have been attached to the 16th Landwehr Division.

SEA OF AZOV.

2. Early in September the division was identified in the Taganrog region.

ROUMANIA.

3. The division left the Don region and went to Constantinople. It did not remain here however, but left immediately for Roumania, being identified at Constanza on October 28.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

16th Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │9 Bav. │11 Bav. │9 Bav. │8 Bav. │ │14 Bav. │ │11 Bav. │ │21 Bav. │ │14 Bav. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light Cav. │4 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light Cav. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │8 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 3 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │1 Abt. 5 Bav. Ft. A. Rgt. │ │709 Light Am. Col. │ │130 Bav. Light Am. Col. │ │144 Bav. Light Am. Col. │ │161 Bav. Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(16 Bav.) Pion. Btn.: │16 Bav. Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 14 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 14 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 15 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 15 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 16 Bav. T. M. Co. │16 Bav. Signal Command: │ 16 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ 16 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ │ 104 Bav. Wireless Detch. │ │ 16 Bav. T. M. Co. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │8 Bav. Ambulance Co. │8 Bav. Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │29 Bav. Field Hospital. │29 Bav. Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │52 Bav. Field Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transports. │Mt. Col. │697 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(3d Bavarian Corps District.)

1917.

The 16th Bavarian Division was formed at the end of January, 1917, by taking three infantry regiments from existing Bavarian divisions—the 6th Bavarian Division furnished the 11th Bavarian Infantry Regiment; the 5th Bavarian Division the 14th Bavarian Infantry Regiment; the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division the 21st Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment. The 3d Field Artillery Regiment came from the 6th Bavarian Division.

ARTOIS.

1. On February 12, 1917, the 16th Bavarian Division replaced the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division south of Lens, opposite Souchez. It suffered serious losses there in February and March (raids by Canadian troops). After a period of rest, in March, in the Douai area, the division returned opposite Souchez and suffered in the British attack of April 9, which forced it back beyond Vimy Ridge. It was relieved on April 11, very much exhausted.

FLANDERS-MESSINES.

2. Toward the end of April the 16th Bavarian Division took over the calm sector of Armentieres (East), south of the Lys (Deulemont-Frelinghien). At the beginning of June, on account of the menace of the British attack on the Messines front, the division was transferred north of the Lys. During the battle which started on June 9 it was not engaged as a whole; it sent some of its elements southeast of Messines to reenforce the 4th Bavarian Division.

3. The 16th Bavarian Division left the Lys sector, beginning of September, to go into reserve near Dadizeele, east of Ypres.

4. On September 20 it came up to replace the Bavarian Ersatz Division, which was very much exhausted by the British attack. It counterattacked north of the Lys. Its losses were such that it was relieved the next day.

5. After a period of rest at Bruges, the 16th Bavarian Division occupied the coast sector (Lombartzyde) from October 25 to November 22.

CAMBRESIS.

6. Transferred to the Cambrai front, it went into line on December 3 (Bullecourt-Queant) and launched a local attack on the 12th.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 16th Bavarian Division appears to be of good combat value. It may be compared with the best Bavarian Divisions. It was very much exhausted at Ypres in 1917, but in general its morale remained high.

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division did not participate in the initial attack of March 21, but remained in reserve of the front at Rumancourt. On the 23d it marched toward the front through Vaulx Vraucourt. The division was engaged at Sapignies on March 25, and on the 27th advanced on Gomiecourt, Courcelles, and Moyenneville. The division was relieved on April 7 and rested until the 26th.

YPRES.

2. It was reengaged south of the Scarpe, south of Feuchy, until May 19, when it moved north and took over a sector at Dranoutre. The route followed was through Cambrai-Tourcoing-Bousbecque. On June 20 it went out to rest in the Lille area until the beginning of July. It returned to its former sector on July 4 and remained there until the end of July.

BATTLE OF THE SCARPE-SOMME.

3. It rested in the Lille area until August 20, when it moved south and was engaged west of Bapaume (Grevillers) in a German counterattack. It was thrown back on Avesnes les Bapaume (26th), Bancourt (30th), Villers au Flos (1st), until its relief on September 5. Losses of the division were heavy in this fighting.

4. The division went into reserve in Belgium at Iseghem until the 28th. At this time the 8th Bavarian Regiment, coming from the 14th Bavarian Division, replaced the 21st Bavarian Reserve, which was disbanded.

BATTLE OF DIXMUDE.

5. It was engaged north of Ypres and west of Roulers (Westroosebeke) from September 28 to October 5, with very heavy losses. The division was out of line for 10 days and then came back on the 15th southwest of Thourout. The Belgium advance forced it back southeast of Bruges (Oct. 18–19). On the 28th the division was relieved, but was obliged to return to line on November 3 and fought until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was engaged largely in holding defensive but active sectors on the British front in 1918.

17th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │33. │75. │33. │75. │34. │75. │ │76. │ │76. │ │89 Gren. │34. │89 Gren. │34. │89 Gren. │ │90 Fus. │ │90 Fus. │ │90 Fus. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │16 Dragoon Rgt. (3 │ │16 Dragoon Rgt. (3 │ Sqns.). │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │17 Brig.: │17 Brig.: │17 Brig.: │ 24 F. A. Rgt. │ 24 F. A. Rgt. │ 24 F. A. Rgt. │ 60 F. A. Rgt. │ 60 F. A. Rgt. │ 60 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 9:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 9: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ Field Co. 9 Pions.│ 1 Co. 9 Pions. │ │ 17 Tel. Detch. │ 17 T. M. Co. │ │ 17 Pont. Engs. │ 17 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ 17 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │13 Anti-Aircraft │ │ │ Sections. │ │ │33 Balloon Sqn. │ │ │ │ │ │39 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │34. │75. │34. │75. │ │89 Gren. │ │89. │ │90 Fus. │ │90. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 16 Dragoon │4 Sqn. 16 Drag. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │17 Art. Command: │17 Art. Command: │ 60 F. A. Rgt. │ 60 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 1 Abt. 24 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (2, 3, and 4 │ │ Btries.). │ │ 940 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1329 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1270 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│126 Pion. Btn.: │126 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Co. 9 Pions. │ 1 Co. 9 Pions. │ 5 Co. 9 Pions. │ 5 Co. 9 Pions. │ 17 T. M. Co. │ 17 T. M. Co. │ 17 Tel. Detch. │ 62 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │17 Signal Command: │ │ 17 Tel. Detch. │ │ 138 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │22 Ambulance Co. │22 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │84 Field Hospital. │84 Field Hospital. │89 Field Hospital. │89 Field Hospital. │17 Vet. Hospital. │17 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │550 M. T. Col. │550 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │52 M. G. S. S. │ │ Detch. │ │13 Anti-Aircraft │ │ Section. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(9th Corps District—Hanseatic cities and Mecklenburg.)

1914.

Upon mobilization, the 17th Division with the 18th Division formed the 9th Army Corps (Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklemburg). It gave its 81st Brigade to the 17th Reserve Division (9th Reserve Corps) (new organization).

BELGIUM.

1. August, 1914, the 17th Division formed a part of the 1st German Army (Von Kluck). On the 3d of August it sent one of its brigades, the 34th (Mecklenburg), to Liege, where it was rejoined by its reservists and by the other brigade, the 33d (Hanseatic), (Aug. 9–13). On August 20 the division was with the 9th Corps of Louvain. It went into action against the British troops on the 24th. It went around Maubeuge on the 25th and passed through Nesle, Roye, Vezaponin (north bank of the Aisne) September 1.

MARNE.

2. The division took part in the battle of the Marne at Chatillon sur Morin (Sept. 6), Esternay-Courgivaux (Sept. 7 and 8). It withdrew by way of Betz, Crépy en Valois Pierrefonds, crossed the Aisne at Rethondes (Sept. 11), and stopped in the area Carlepont, Nampcel, Audignicourt (Sept. 13). It went into action on the front Tracy le Mont east of Moulin sous Touvent (Sept. 16–21).

OISE.

3. In October it took up the position near Bailly (from the Oise to east of St. Mard) and remained there until the middle of November, 1915. Some of its elements occupied the right bank of the Oise near Connectancourt (Oct. 5 to Dec. 25).

4. November 17 it attacked Tracy le Val.

1915.

From January to October, 1915, it held the sector on the left bank of the Oise, east edge of the St. Mard wood. At the end of March the 76th Infantry Regiment was withdrawn and transferred to the 111th Division.

1. June 14 to 16 certain elements of the division counterattacked at Quennevieres.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Withdrawn from the sector of the Oise (about Oct. 15), the division was transferred to Champagne. It occupied the front between the road Souain, Somme Py, and St. Hilaire, St. Souplet. It launched an attack on December 7.

1916.

1. The division was retained on the Champagne front northwest of Souain until June, 1916.

2. Relieved in the middle of June, it was sent to rest in the area southwest of Charleville (second half of June).

SOMME.

It entrained for the Somme between July 2 and 4. Certain elements of the 17th Division appeared in the sector of Biaches la Maisonnette, on July 9 and 10. The entire division was in line between Barleux and Belloy (July 10 to 25) and suffered heavy losses.

3. The division was withdrawn from the front and reorganized (end of July to Aug. 15).

4. From August 16 to August 20 to the middle of September it again occupied the sector of Barleux-Belloy.

ARTOIS.

5. At the beginning of October the division was sent to Artois. It held the line opposite Arras, between Roclincourt and Bailly, until December 24.

1917.

SOMME.

1. About January 9, 1917, the 17th Division occupied the sector of Py, south of the Ancre. Local combats in the neighborhood of Grandcourt and Miraumont (in January and February) caused it serious losses.

2. The division was withdrawn from the Somme front about March 20, at the time of the German retirement. It rested southwest of Douai (end of March and beginning of April).

ARTOIS.

3. On April 10 it was sent as a reenforcement to Arras to oppose the British offensive. It held the sector of Oppy-Gavrelle and suffered a great deal in the course of counterattacks. It was relieved on April 25. From March 27 to April 24 the 7th Company of 90th Fusiliers lost 115 men. (British Summary of Information.)

4. After a rest in the Tournai area until May 9 the 17th Division went into line in the sector of Boursies, Demicourt (west of Cambrai).

5. Relieved from this calm sector on May 28, it was sent to rest in the Cambrai area until June 9.

FLANDERS.

6. On this date it was transferred to Roulers by way of Valenciennes- Mons and put on the Ypres front north of Hooge. It was withdrawn three days before the British attack, on July 27, but suffered heavy losses from the bombardment.

7. For five weeks, until September 23, the division occupied the calm sector of Havrincourt (south of the road Bapaume-Cambrai).

8. On September 23 it again entrained for Flanders. Sent by way of Cambrai to Ledeghem, it went into action in the Polygon wood sector (northeast of Ypres). On September 26 it counterattacked without success and with great losses. It only remained in line for two days. In these engagements the 75th Infantry Regiment lost 30 officers and 1,000 men (British Summary of Information.)

9. Relieved on September 28 from the Flanders front, the 17th Division was sent south of Lens on October 17. It was still there on February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 17th Division is recruited from the Hanseatic towns and the Duchies of Mecklenburg. The sectional character was accentuated in June 1917, when the 89th Grenadiers took from the regiments of the 18th Division all the inhabitants of Mecklenburg who were in them. (Summary of Information, June 28.)

However, one must take into account a certain proportion of Poles from the 6th Corps District, received in the replacements of 1917.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

On July 11, 1916, the following appreciation was written of the 9th Army Corps:

“The 9th Army Corps gives the impression of a very good corps which would be a formidable adversary. The intellectual level of officers and men is appreciably higher than that ordinarily encountered in the German Army. This fact is due to the recruiting which, in most cases, is done in Hamburg, Bremen, and Luebeck.”

After the last combats of Flanders (July and September, 1917), the 17th Division was considered as having its combative force perceptibly diminished on account of its losses.

In a general manner, the division has given a good account of itself in the course of its battles.

The Danes, who are numerous in its ranks, fight well and do not appear to occasion any weakness. (October, 1917.)

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division was relieved on the Acheville sector on February 17–18 by the 12th Reserve Division and went to rest near Douai until mid- March. On March 21 it was engaged near Lagnicourt and Moreuil (southeast of Arras), north of Vaulx-Vraucourt (22d), at Beliagnies and Lapigines (24th). The division was relieved on the 25th, after losing 50 per cent of its effectives. It rested until April 1, when it was reengaged near Bucquoy until the 10th.

2. The division was relieved by the 5th Bavarian Division, retired to the Favreuil-Sapignies-Beugnatre area on the 10th, and the next day went into billets near Cambrai. Later it moved to the Valenciennes area. On May 24 it left Bouchain and traveled via Marquion to Bapaume, where it came into line on that evening. While resting the division had undergone no special training. It is known to have received 1,300 men as a draft during this period.

3. It was reengaged in the Bucquoy sector from May 24 to June 23, when it returned to rest near Bouchain until July 17. The division was moved to Laon on July 24–25 and from there marched to the Vesle front by stage.

VESLE.

4. About August 1 the division went into line between Bazoches and Mont Notre Dame. It fell back on the Aisne toward Bourg et Comin from September 3–4, where it was relieved on September 15–16. The German communique of August 28 mentioned the 89th Grenadier Regiment for its conduct against the Americans at Bazoches.

AISNE-AILETTE.

5. The division was again in line on September 18 at Jouy-Aizy sector (north of Vailly). It retired to the Ailette on the 30th and shifted by rail to Semide.

CHAMPAGNE.

6. On October 4 it was engaged southeast of Machault (Somme Py road). The French attack forced it back to east of Attigny, where it was relieved on the 19th.

7. The division rested five days near Mouzon. It entrained on October 26 and moved to Rozoy, reaching there on the 27–28th.

ARDENNES.

8. It was put into line northwest of Chateau Porcien on the St. Fergeux- Recouvrance Road on October 28–29th. For its fighting east of Banonge on the 29th, the 90th Regiment was complimented by the German communique of the 30th. (558 prisoners were lost by the division on the 29th.) In November the division was driven back through Seraincourt, Remaucourt, Chaumont Porcien, Rocquigny, St. Jean aux Bois.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as first class. It was one of the best German divisions. Its conduct in the March offensive won the Kaiser’s praise. Until August it was relatively fresh, but after that was engaged almost constantly in efforts to check the Allied offensive in Champagne. At the end the division was so reduced in numbers that it could muster but one or two battalions.

Its morale was excellent until late in the fall, when it was lowered noticeably. A mutiny and other acts of indiscipline were reported.

17th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │81. │162. │81. │162. │81. │162. │ │163. │ │163. │ │163. │33 Res. │75 Res. │33 Res. │75 Res. │33 Res. │75 Res. │ │76 Res. │ │76 Res. │ │76 Res. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │6 Res. Hus. Rgt. (3│6 Res. Hus. Rgt. │6 Res. Hus. Rgt. │ Sqns.). │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │17 Res. F. A. Rgt. │17 Res. F. A. Rgt. │17 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (6 Btries.). │ (8 Btries.). │ (10 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion. Liaisons. │ Btn. No. 9. │ Btn. No. 9. │ Btn. No. 9. │ │17 Res. Pont. Engs.│340 Pion. Co. │ │17 Res. Tel. Detch.│217 T. M. Co. │ │ │17 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │17 Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │81. │16. │81. │162. │ │162. │ │163. │ │76 Res. │ │76 Res. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 6 Res. Hus. │1 Sqn. 16 Res. Hus. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │110 Art. Command: │110 Art. Command: │ │ │ 17 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 17 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (10 Btries.) │ │ (Nov. 4). │ │ │ 3 Abt. 26 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (7 and 9 │ │ Btries.). │ │ 703 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1245 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1299 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(317) Pion. Btn.: │317 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 4 Co. 9 Pions. │4 Co. 9 Pions. │ 340 Pion. Co. │340 Pion. Co. │ 217 T. M. Co. │42 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 255 Searchlight │417 Signal Command: │ Section. │ │ 417 Tel. Detch. │417 Tel. Detch. │ │111 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │509 Ambulance Co. │509 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │501 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │41 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │417 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │716 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(9th Corps District.—Schleswig—Holstein and the Hanseatic cities.)

1914.

1. The 17th Reserve Division formed with the 18th Reserve Division, the 9th Reserve Corps. One of its brigades is a surplus brigade of the 9th Army Corps (the 81st).

2. During the first part of the month of August, 1914, the 17th Reserve Division was used to guard the coast of Schleswig-Holstein.

BELGIUM.

3. Entraining on August 23 for Belgium, it was at Louvain on the 25th, at Brussels on the 30th (until Sept. 3). It reached Termonde on September 4, and remained outside of Antwerp.

OISE.

4. On September 9, it was transferred in haste to the Valenciennes area and then sent to the Oise. It detrained on the 13th at Chauny and went into action on the right bank of the Oise, south of Noyon (Sept. 15 to 20).

5. About October 7 the 17th Reserve Division was sent to the vicinity of Roye, where it lost heavily.

6. About the middle of November the division occupied the front between the Avre and Roye. On December 20 it was in line between Ribecourt and Thiescourt.

1915.

On January 4, 1915, the 75th Reserve Infantry Regiment entrained at Noyon for Upper Alsace (Hartmannswillerkopf), and did not return to the division until May.

ROYE (SOMME).

1. On February 6 the division left the banks of the Oise to go back to the area south of the Avre, between Lassigny and Roye. It remained in this sector until the month of October.

2. Toward the end of September elements of the division formed a part of the Hartz Division in Artois (Sick and Balthasar Regiments).

ARTOIS.

3. In October the 17th Reserve Division was withdrawn from the front south of Roye and sent to Artois, near Lens (Liévin-Givenchy).

1916.

1. The 17th Reserve Division remained in Artois until the battle of the Somme. In February it launched several attacks.

SOMME.

2. About the beginning of July the 163d Infantry Regiment was sent, temporarily, to reinforce the 185th Division, engaged along the Somme near Cantalmaison.

3. The 17th Reserve Division was in line as a whole north of the Somme about July 25 (Bazentin-Pozières). It remained there until August 9–14.

4. It was sent to rest and to be reorganized near Valenciennes.

5. At the end of August it occupied the sector of Loos-Hulluch (north of Lens). In September the 75th Reserve Infantry Regiment was sent to the 211th Division.

6. About September 21 the division returned to the Somme (Le Transloy- Combles), where it lost heavily (losses, 51 per cent).

7. Relieved about October 10 it was transferred to Belgium.

8. From October 23–25 to the end of January, 1917, it was in line between Het Sas and the Ypres-Roulers railroad.

1917.

1. At the end of January, 1917, the 17th Reserve Division was sent for a month’s rest near Bruges, and again took over its sector.

ARTOIS.

2. It left the Ypres salient at the end of March and went into line southeast of Arras. On April 9 it suffered very heavy losses from the British offensives (2,100 prisoners).

3. On April 12–13 the division was relieved and sent to rest and to be reorganized.

CAMBRESIS.

4. On April 27 it took over the sector of Havrincourt (southwest of Cambrai) and occupied it until June 1.

ARTOIS.

5. Transferred to the Arras front, the 17th Reserve Division went back into line in the sector Guémappe-Monchy le Preux, where it launched several violent battles during the month of June. At the end of July it extended its sector toward the north (south of the Scarpe).

6. Relieved at the end of August it went back into line at the beginning of September southeast of Arras (Vis en Artois). It lost especially heavy during the gas attacks. (It received, on Oct. 23, 40 men per company, coming from Hamburg and Beverloo, slightly trained, and on Nov. 10 men taken from the Russian front.) (Summary of Information, Dec. 2.)

7. The 17th Reserve Division left Artois in the middle of November.

FLANDERS.

8. Sent to Flanders the division took over the sector at Becelaere about November 18. The division was engaged against the British attack of December 3 and suffered heavy losses. It underwent violent attacks and left the front in the beginning of January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The division is recruited in Schleswig-Holstein, the Hanseatic cities, and adjacent parts of Hanover. Some replacement troops were from Westphalia, and in September, 1916, men from Brandenburg of the 1917 class.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

During the year 1917 the 17th Reserve Division launched a great number of terrible attacks on the Arras front and in Flanders.

At Becelaere (Dec., 1917) it gave proof of great stubbornness. The 162d Infantry Regiment carried out a successful attack in this sector on December 14. However, a few months before, on June 18, the 163d Infantry Regiment is said to have refused to advance. (Summary of Information, June 19.)

Although this division is not one of the best in the German Army and its morale is mediocre it is capable of offering serious resistance.

1918.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

1. The northern sector was a fairly quiet front in the winter months and the division remained in line here until just before the German offensive on the Lys of April 9. Prior to this attack all of the division but one battalion of the 76th Reserve Regiment was withdrawn and sent hurriedly to the vicinity of Messines. It attacked there with other German divisions on the morning of April 9 under orders to take Messines by the evening of the 10th and to push ahead as far as possible. It gained considerable ground at heavy cost. Elements of the 7th Division relieved part of the 17th Reserve Division a few days later, but the bulk of the division remained in line until about April 22, when it was relieved by the 13th Reserve Division and the 19th Reserve Division.

2. On April 24 the division arrived in the Maldeghem area for a long rest. While there the divisional and the brigade commanders were decorated for their part in the Lys offensive. Death notices published in the German newspapers disclosed the death of two battalion and many company commanders on the Lys. While at rest the division went through courses of training. On June 4 it entrained at Eecloo and moved via Mons and Marle to Tergnier. At this time the Noyon offensive (June 9) was being organized. The division marched at night to Boulogne la Grasse (10th) and went into line on the evening of the 11th near Mery, relieving the 227th Division.

OISE.

3. The division was in heavy fighting immediately and suffered severely in the successful French counteroffensive of June 16.

BATTLE OF THE MATZ.

4. The French attack in August threw the division back on Canny sur Matz and later north of Fresnieres. It passed to second line about August 31, but was reengaged on September 5 at Esmery-Hallon. It suffered heavy losses and was taken out on September 9.

5. The division was moved to Lorraine, where it rested a month and returned to Le Cateau on October 10.

6. The division was engaged at Le Cateau on October 11 and resisted the British attack until November 3. It fought near Le Cateau (Oct. 18), Bazuel (21st), Forest (23d), Landrecies (24th), and Bois L’Eveque (Oct. 27). The division received the men of the 265th Reserve Regiment (108th Division) as a draft in October.

7. The division was out of line from November 3 to the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as first class. Its effectives were generally young; 31 per cent belong to the 1919 class and 18 per cent to the 1918 class on October 1. It took a prominent part in the Lys and Noyon offensives, winning a reputation for its vigorous attacks. Its defensive work in October around Le Cateau was of a high order.

17th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │182 Ldw. │380 │182 Ldw. │380. │ │ (Kurhatowski│ │ │ │ Rgt.). │ │ │ │381 (Nussbaum │ │381. │ │ Rgt.). │ │ │ │23 Landst. │ │23 Landst. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │1 Landst. Sqn. (1 C. Dist.). ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │ │235 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │ Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │2d Cyclist Co. 1 Jag. Btn. │2 Cyclist Co. 1 Jag. Btn. │ │16 Cav. Brig. (7 and 8 Horse │ │ Jag. and 5 Res. Drag. │ │ Rgts.). │ │9 C. Dist. Landst. Inf. Btn. │ │ No. 13. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[13] ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │182 Ldw. │380. │182 Ldw. │330. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │381. │ │380. │ │ │ │ │ │23 Landst. │ │23 Landst. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │1 Landst. Sqn. (1 C. Dist.). │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │ │ 235 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 828 F. A. Btry. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(417) Pion. Btn.: │87 Searchlight Section. Liaisons. │ │ │ 2 Ers. Co. 23 Pion. │517 Signal Command: │ 317 T. M. Co. │517 Tel. Detch. │ 182 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │206 Ambulance Co. │206 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │152 Field Hospital. │171 Field Hospital. │206 Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │2 Cyclist Co. 1 Jag. Btn. │ │158 Cyclist Co. 91 Cav. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │7 C. Dist. Landst. Inf. Btn. │ │ No. 50. │ │9 C. Dist. Landst. Inf. Btn. │ │ No. 13. │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────── Footnote 13:

The elements below are those listed under the 700th Postal Sector. Other elements belonging to the 17th Landwehr Division, but in other sectors, are listed as attached to whatever divisions may hold those sectors.

HISTORY.

(380th Infantry Regiment: 1st and 17th Corps Districts. 381st Infantry Regiment: 12th and 5th Corps Districts.)

1915.

1. The 17th Landwehr Division, formed on the Eastern Front in the Niémen Army, with the elements of the former Esebeck Brigade, appeared about the month of December, 1915.

RUSSIA.

2. Before forming a part of the 17th Landwehr Division the Esebeck Brigade took part in the offensive against the Russians north of Kovno (July-August, 1915), was east of Vilna about the end of September, and took up its position west of Kosiany (northwest of Postavy) in October.

POSTAVY.

3. The 17th Landwehr Division, being formed in this sector by the addition of the 23d Landsturm Regiment to the Esebeck Brigade, remained in line in the area of Vidzy-Postavy (Tveretch), from the end of 1915 to the beginning of 1918.

1916.

1. The Division remained in the Tveretch sector.

1917.

1. The Division remained in the Tveretch sector.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division is of mediocre value.

1918.

1. The 17th Landwehr Division was identified in the Tveretch region toward the end of January.

2. About the middle of March it advanced into Russia and was identified in the Polotsk-Vitebsk region in March, April, and June.

3. The division was identified on the Don on September 26.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

18th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │35. │84. │35. │84. │36. │31. │ │86 Fus. │ │86 Fus. │ │85. │36. │31. │36. │31. │ │86 Fus. │ │85. │ │85. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │16 Dragoon Rgt. (3 │ │16 Dragoon Rgt. (3 │ Sqns.). │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │18 Brig.: │18 Brig.: │18 Brig.: │ 9 F. A. Rgt. │ 9 F. A. Rgt. │ 9 F. A. Rgt. │ 45 F. A. Rgt. │ 45 F. A. Rgt. │ 45 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 9:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 9: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ Field Co. 9 Pions.│ 2 Co. 9 Pions. │ │ 18 Pont. Engs. │ 18 T. M. Co. │ │ 18 Tel. Detch. │ 18 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 18 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │57 Anti-Aircraft │ │ │ Section. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │36. │31. │36 │31. │ │85. │ │85. │ │86 Fus. │ │86. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 16 Drag. │2 Sqn. 16 Drag. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │18 Art. Command: │18 Art. Command: │ 45 F. A. Rgt. │ 45 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 2 Abt. 28 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (4 and 5 │ │ Btries.). │ │ 749 Light Am. Col. │ │ 753 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1,362 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 Pion. Btn. No. 9:│9 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 2 Co. 9 Pions. │ 2 Co. 9 Pions. │ 3 Co. 9 Pions. │ 3 Co. 9 Pions. │ 18 T. M. Co. │ 18 T. M. Co. │ 18 Tel. Detch. │ 101 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │18 Signal Command: │ │ 18 Tel. Detch. │ │ 54 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │23 Ambulance Co. │23 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │90 Field Hospital. │90 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │92 Field Hospital. │ │18 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │551 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │47 Anti-Aircraft │ │ Section. │ │505 Anti-Aircraft │ │ Btry. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(9th Corps District—Schleswig—Holstein.)

1914.

BELGIUM-MARNE.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 18th Division (of the 9th Army Corps, with the 17th Division) formed a part of the 1st Army (Von Kluck). Entraining at Aix la Chapelle August 8–10, it was before Liege on the 13th, went into action at Tirlemont on the 18th, at Mons on the 23d, entered France on the 25th, crossed the Marne at Chateau Thierry on September 3, and took part in the battle of the Marne on September 6 and 7, at Esternay and Courgivaux.

AISNE.

2. After the retreat it took up its position north of the Aisne, where it remained for more than a year in various parts of the sector.

1915.

In March, 1915, the 84th Infantry Regiment was taken from the 18th Division to help in the formation of the 54th Division.

AISNE.

1. Until October, 1915, the 18th Division occupied the sectors of the Aisne. On June 3 the 86th Fusiliers attacked at Quennevieres, suffering enormous losses. (Between June 18 and July 3 its 5th Company received at least 115 men as replacements; the 8th Company, 120.)

CHAMPAGNE.

2. From October, 1915, until June, 1916, the 18th Division was in Champagne (Souain area).

1916.

1. On February 25, 1916, the 31st Infantry Regiment suffered heavy losses south of St. Marie a Py; its 11th Company was entirely destroyed or captured.

SOMME.

2. From July to September, 1916, the 18th Division was in action along the Somme (south of the Somme). At Belloy, on September 4, the 4th Company of the 86th Fusiliers was destroyed with the exception of 23 men.

ARTOIS.

3. From October until the beginning of December the division was in the Arras area (east).

4. It left Artois about December 12 to take over a sector along the Somme (Grandcourt).

1917.

SOMME.

1. About February 18, 1917, the 18th Division was withdrawn from the front, then sent back into line at the beginning of March, at Puisieux- Gommecourt (Somme).

ARTOIS.

2. At the end of March it was transferred to Artois, north of the Scarpe, and went into action at Roeux and Fampoux, from April 10 to April 23.

3. Relieved at the end of April, it went back into line about May 8, in the area south of Arras, and from that date until the end of August occupied sectors in the vicinity of Cambrai (Villers-Plouich, Havrincourt, Marcoing).

FLANDERS.

4. On August 27 the 18th Division was relieved from the Cambrai front (Ribecourt-Marcoing sector) and entrained for Flanders, where it was made an army reserve in the Ruddervoorde (northeast of Thourout). It was there reorganized with replacements coming from troops of the 9th Corps District stationed in Russia (taken from the 426th Infantry Regiment, the 31st Landwehr Regiment, and the 3d Ersatz Reserve Regiment).

5. It went into the sector Mangelaere about September 16 and underwent the Franco-British attack of October 9, which caused it rather serious losses.

RUSSIA.

6. The 18th Division was relieved about October 14 and transferred to Russia, where it made a rather short stay in the Vilna area.

ALSACE.

7. It was back in Upper Alsace about the end of November, in the region of Mulhouse, at the beginning of February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 18th Division is recruited from Schleswig-Holstein (Prussians and Danes). A certain proportion of Poles from Silesia appeared in the replacements of 1917 (especially in the 31st Infantry Regiment).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 18th Division has always passed as being a good division. However, in the course of the Franco-British attack of October 9, 1917, none of its elements carried out the counterattacks described by their leaders; however, in order to form a correct judgment of this, one must take account of the intensity of the bombardment, the state of the terrain, and the weakness of the effectives in line at that moment.

1918.

CAMBRAI.

1. The 18th Division left Alsace, entraining at Mulhouse, about the 12th of February, and traveled via Thionville and Sedan to Bertry, where it detrained after a journey of 2½ days. It relieved the 107th Division near Gonnelieu (south of Cambrai) the 16th. It was withdrawn the beginning of March, and had a few days’ training near Ligny en Cambresis.

2. It left here on the 17th and marched to Malincourt, where it stayed three days.

ST. QUENTIN.

3. It reenforced the battle front near Hargicourt (north of St. Quentin) on March 21. The next day the division commander was killed. The division was withdrawn about the 26th.

SOMME.

4. During the night of March 29–30 the division relieved the 1st Division near Sailly le Sec (south of Albert). Here again heavy losses were suffered. The division received a draft of 500 men, mostly returned wounded. It is not clear just what happened during this period and as late as about the 18th of May, when the division was withdrawn, but it seems as though its regiments and the regiments of the 50th Reserve Division and the 199th Division inter-relieved each other.

TOURNAI.

5. The division went to the Tournai region, where it rested, was completely reconstituted, and trained.

SOISSONS.

6. On August 1 it reenforced the battle front near Launoy (southwest of Soissons), after having left Tournai July 21 and having detrained at La Fere the following day. Toward the end of its tour in line (it was withdrawn during the night of Oct. 12–13), it retreated along the line Froidmont-Eppes.

OISE.

7. The division was transported by truck and relieved the 22d Reserve Division near Bernoville (northeast of St. Quentin) on October 15. On the 17th it withdrew to Grougis, and then to the Sambre Canal. During these operations it lost more than 500 prisoners. It was withdrawn about the 28th.

8. On November 4 the division reenforced the front near Hannapes (north of Guise) and withdrew, with the remainder of the line, through Iron, the Nouvion region, Boulogne sur Helpe, and Etroeung. It was still in line on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 18th Division is rated as being first class. Since the spring, however, it has not been used to any great extent where heavy fighting was in progress, and it may well be it has deteriorated. It is known that part of the 6th Company of the 86th Regiment refused to go into line on October 25 until it was threatened with being shot.

18th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │53 Res. │84 Res. │35 Res. │84 Res. │35 Res. │31 Res. │ │86 Res. │ │86 Res. │ │84 Res. │36 Res. │31 Res. │36 Res. │31 Res. │ │86 Res. │ │90 Res. │ │90 Res. │ │ │ 9 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 9 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 9 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │7 Res. Hus. Rgt. (3│7 Res. Hus. Rgt. │7 Res. Hus. Rgt. │ Sqns.). │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │18 Res. F. A. Rgt. │18 Res. F. A. Rgt. │18 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (6 Btries.). │ (8 Btries.). │ (10 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2 Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. 9.│ Pion. Btn. No. 9.│ Pion. Btn. No. 9. │ │18 Res. Pont. Engs.│218 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │18 Res. Tel. Detch.│18 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │18 Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │95 Labor Btn. Anti- │ │ │ Aircraft Section. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │35 Res. │31 Res. │35 Res. │31 Res. │ │84 Res. │ │84 Res. │ │86 Res. │ │86 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 6 Res. Hus. │2 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt. │ Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │112 Art. Command: │112 Art. Command: │ │ │ 18 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 18 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ 126 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 757 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1250 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1304 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(318) Pion. Btn.: │318 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Res. Co. 9 │ 1 Co. 9 Res. │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. 9 │ 2 Co. 9 Res. │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 218 T. M. Co. │ 218 T. M. Co. │ 9 Res. Searchlight│ 48 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 418 Tel. Detch. │418 Signal Command: │ │ 418 Tel. Detch. │ │ 115 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │513 Ambulance Co. │513 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │400 Field Hospital.│400 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │44 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │418 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │717 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(9th Corps District—Schleswig—Holstein and Mecklenburg.)

1914.

1. The 18th Reserve Division formed the 9th Reserve Corps, with the 17th Reserve Division.

BELGIUM.

2. From the outbreak of the war until August 22, 1914, the 18th Reserve Division was guarding the coast of Schleswig-Holstein. Entraining about this time, it went into Belgium, where it advanced rapidly. After taking and sacking Louvain (Aug. 25) it occupied Hamme (Sept. 1), Termonde (Sept. 4).

OISE.

3. On the 9th it was hastily transferred by way of Tournai and Valenciennes to the Oise area. Entraining on the 13th at Chauny, it reenforced the front south of Noyon and went into action between Carlepont and Lassigny (Sept. 15–21).

4. At the beginning of October the 18th Reserve Division was taken to the valley of the Avre. It fought in the vicinity of Roye (Laucourt, Oct. 2–3). At the beginning of November the division front extended between the Avre and Beuvraignes.

LASSIGNY.

5. On November 15 it bore to the south and held the region of the Loges- Lassigny wood.

1915.

In March, 1915, it gave the 90th Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 54th Division, a new formation.

1. The 18th Reserve Division occupied the Lassigny area until October, 1915, without any serious engagements. In October it took over elements of the Hartz Division (6th Army), among others the 3d Battalion of the 31st Infantry Regiment which contained four battalions from May, 1915, to September, 1916.

ARTOIS.

2. About October 23 the division was sent to Artois (Givenchy), where it launched several local attacks.

1916.

1. The 18th Reserve Division remained in the Liévin-Givenchy sector until July, 1916.

SOMME.

2. After a few days at rest, July 13 to July 28, it took part in the battle of the Somme, north of Pozieres, in several serious attacks.

3. It was reorganized in the Valenciennes area during the second half of August.

4. At the end of August, it was sent northeast of Lens (Pont a Vendin).

5. At the beginning of October the 18th Reserve Division again went into action along the Somme, north of Combles, (Morval, Sailly Saillisel). It suffered heavily in a series of local attacks.

FLANDERS.

6. Withdrawn from the front about October 12–16, the division was transferred to Belgium. On October 23–25 it went into line north of Ypres.

1917.

1. The 18th Reserve Division occupied the Ypres salient (Pilkem) until the end of March, 1917.

ARTOIS.

2. After a short rest at Roulers, the division was concentrated at Vitry en Artois (Apr. 1). Going into action southeast of Arras (Heninel), it underwent the British attack (Apr. 9), which caused it heavy losses (500 prisoners).

3. The division left the Artois front about April 15, and after a few days at rest took over the sector of Cherisy-Guemappe (southeast of Arras in May).

4. At the beginning of June the 18th Reserve Division was relieved and sent to rest.

FLANDERS.

5. Transferred to Flanders about June 16, it first remained in reserve behind the Messines front. On July 3 the division was in action west of Houthem and suffered severe losses in consequence of local actions and bombardments.

6. Relieved about August 8, it was at rest in the Cambrai area until August 16. It then occupied the quiet sector of Queant (west of Cambrai) until the middle of October.

7. It was sent to Flanders again on October 20, and went into line near the Ypres-Menin railroad (Oct. 28–29).

RECRUITING.

The 18th Reserve Division is recruited in Schleswig-Holstein.

The Mecklenburgers, according to an order in 1917, had to return to their national regiment, the 90th Infantry Reserve Regiment, which no longer belonged to the division. A limited number of men from the 7th and 10th Corps districts (Westphalia and Hanover) is found.

VALUE 1917—ESTIMATE.

The 18th Reserve Division has the same value as the 17th Reserve Division. At the end of 1917 it is difficult to form an opinion as to its combat value. It has not been in any serious action since the battle of Arras, having arrived in Flanders when the autumn operations were about at an end. The morale of the division may be considered as passable. (British Summary of Information, February, 1918.)

1918.

1. The 18th Reserve Division was relieved by the 214th Division in the Gheluvelt sector on January 6. It went to rest in the vicinity of Menin and while there was intensively trained in open warfare.

YPRES.

2. On February 18 the division relieved the 214th Division in its former sector north of Gheluvelt (east of Ypres). It was relieved by the 7th Reserve Division about March 31.

LA BASSEE.

3. It reinforced the battle front near Locon (northwest of La Bassee) on April 9, and was withdrawn about the 18th, going to rest in the Sainghin area (southeast of Lille).

4. On May 14 it relieved the 25th Division west of Locon, and was relieved by the extension of fronts of the neighboring divisions about the 18th of June, when it went to rest in the region of Gondecourt (east of La Bassee).

5. About the 14th of July it relieved the 1st Guard Reserve Division near Givenchy (north of the La Bassee Canal—west of La Bassee); relieved September 3, it went to rest in the region north of Denain.

CAMBRAI.

6. On the 29th of September the division reentered the line near Proville and Rumilly (south of Cambrai), and was still in line when the armistice was signed. It was thought that it had been withdrawn October 8, again on the 18th, and on the 4th of November, but considering the speed with which the German withdrawal was executed, the confusion necessarily incident thereto, and the fact that the division always turned up a day or two later in the same relative position it had previously occupied, it seems best to assume that it was continuously in line.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 18th Reserve is considered a second-class division. It did not distinguish itself in the Lys offensive, and it is reported that thereafter it was to be used only as a holding division. At any rate, it engaged in no other German offensives, and, indeed, no other heavy fighting, until the beginning of October or sometime after practically the whole front had become active on account of the combined allied push.

18th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1914–15 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │19 Ldw. │19 Ldw. │20 Ldw. │19 Ldw. │ │47 Ldw. │ │47 Ldw. │ │72 Ldw. │28 Ldw. │133 Ldw. │ │133 Ldw. │ │57 Ldw. │ │ │ │72 Ldw. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │Ers. Sqn. 1 Horse Jag. Rgt. │ │Ers. Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │ │5 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │ │835 F. A. Btry. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │2 Res. Co. 1 Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ │344 Pion. Co. │ │166 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │ │Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │43 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │19 Ldw. │47 Ldw. │19 Ldw. │47 Ldw. │ │57 Ldw. │ │57 Ldw. │ │72 Ldw. │ │72 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │Ers. Sqn. 12 Drag. Rgt. │4 Sqn. 4 Drag. Rgt. │Ers. Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │5 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │ 5 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│43 Pion. Btn.: │2 Landst. Co. 3 C. Dist. Liaisons. │ │ Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. 1 Pions. │117 Searchlight Section. │ 344 Pion. Co. │518 Signal Command: │ 166 T. M. Co. │ 518 Tel. Detch. │ 218 Searchlight Section. │ │ Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │258 Ambulance Co. │258 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │296 Field Hospital. │305 Field Hospital. │305 Field Hospital. │18 Ldw. Field Hospital. │18 Ldw. Field Hospital. │130 Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │534 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │60 Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │43 Labor Btn. │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(47th Landwehr Regiment: 5th Corps district.—Posen.) (57th Landwehr Regiment: 7th Corps district.—Westphalia.) (72d Landwehr Regiment: 4th Corps district.—Prussian Saxony.)

1914–15.

RUSSIA.

1. The 18th Landwehr Division is the former Bredow Division.

POLAND.

2. After being engaged in September, 1914, in the battle of the Mazurian Lakes, the Bredow Division fought in the Polish campaign: Battle of Warsaw (Oct. 9–19, 1914); battles on the Rawka (Oct. 22–28); near Czenstochow (Nov. 10-Dec. 15); between Pilica and Nidi, in the mountainous region of Kielce (December, 1914, to July, 1915).

3. In the middle of July, 1915, the division was in action near Sienno and before Ivangorod (breaking of the Russian front), crossed the Vistula (end of July), was in action between the Vistula and the Bug (Aug. 8–18), and advanced in action as far as Slonim and the Upper Chtchara (September). The front becoming stabilized in this area, the Bredow Division took up its position southeast of Novo-Grudok (near Goroditche in October and November). At the end of November it went into the sector southeast of Liakhovitchi (south of Baranovitchi). The number 18 appears to be given to the Bredow Division in December.

1916.

BARANOVITCHI.

1. The 18th Landwehr Division remained on the front south of Baranovitchi (Liakhovitchi) for more than two years (November, 1915, to the beginning of 1918). From July 2 to July 9, 1916, it withstood the Russian attacks in this area.

2. In June, 1916, two regiments of the division, the 57th Landwehr and the 133d Landwehr, were transferred to Volhynia (north of Lutsk), assigned to the Rusche Division and were in action against the offensive of Broussilov. The 57th Landwehr Regiment rejoined the 18th Landwehr Division near Baranovitchi in August. The 133d Landwehr Regiment was provisionally a part of the 92d Division.

1917.

1. The division held the sector Baranovitchi-Liakhovitchi.

2. In October 900 men from the 18th Landwehr Division, chosen from among the youngest, were entrained for the western front. In April a number had been taken from the 72d Landwehr Regiment for the 5th Reserve Division. In November the 47th Landwehr Regiment furnished men to the 15th Division. As the 18th Landwehr Division had received no replacements since the end of July, the trench strength of the 72d Landwehr Regiment had fallen, at the end of October, to 50–60 men per company (Russian interrogation).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division has been on the Russian front since the beginning of the war. Combat value appears to be mediocre.

1918.

1. In February, 1918, the 18th Landwehr Division advanced into the interior of Russia. The 72d Landwehr Regiment was identified between Mohilev and Gomel on February 2. In May the 57th Landwehr Regiment held the very long front from north of Kopys to south of Chklov.

2. In the middle of June the division was in the Orcha region. It was again identified in the region of Mohilev on the 22d of September.

3. There were rumors during October that the division had come to the Woevre, but since the division was never actually identified it is not believed that it left Russia.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

19th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │37. │78. │37. │78. │37. │74. │ │91. │ │91. │ │78. │38. │73 Fus. │38. │73 Fus. │ │91. │ │74. │ │74. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │17 Hus. Rgt. (3 │17 Hus. Rgt. (3 │17 Hus. Rgt. (2 │ Sqns.). │ Sqns.). │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │19 Brig.: │19 Brig.: │19 Brig.: │ 26 F. A. Rgt. │ 26 F. A. Rgt. │ 26 F. A. Rgt. │ 62 F. A. Rgt. │ 62 F. A. Rgt. │ 62 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 10: │ 10: │ │ Field Co. 10 │ 1 Co. 10 Pions. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 19 Pont. Engs. │ 19 T. M. Co. │ │ 19 Tel. Detch. │ 19 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ 19 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │37. │74. │37. │74. │ │78. │ │78. │ │91. │ │91. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 17 Hus. Rgt.│3 Sqn. 17 Hus. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │19 Art. Command: │19 Art. Command: │ 26 F. A. Rgt. │ 26 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 93 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 740 Light Am. Col. │ │ 905 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1156 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(1/10 or 127) Pion.│127 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ Btn.: │ │ 1 Co. 10 Pions. │ 1 Co. 10 Pions. │ │ │ 5 Co. 10 Pions. │ 5 Co. 10 Pions. │ 19 T. M. Co. │ 19 T. M. Co. │ 296 Searchlight │ 50 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 19 Tel. Detch. │19 Signal Command: │ 19 Pont. Engs. │ 19 Tel. Detch. │ │ 4 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │25 Ambulance Co. │25 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │6 Field Hospital. │95 Field Hospital. │95 Field Hospital. │97 Field Hospital. │97 Field Hospital. │19 Vet. Hospital. │19 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │552 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(10th Corps District—Hanover and the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg.)

1914.

1. The 19th Division constituted, at the outbreak of the war, with the 20th Division, the 10th Army Corps (Hanover), which was a part of the 2d Army (Von Buelow).

BELGIUM-MARNE.

2. On August 3 one of its brigades, the 38th, was at Malmedy for the attack upon Liége, where it went into action on the 5th. After the fall of Liége the 19th Division, going around Namur on the north, fought at Charleroi on the 23d, entered France on the 25th, and went into action at Guise, at St. Quentin. It took part in the battle of the Marne on the right of the 20th Division, and then withdrew with that division to the northwest of Reims.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. In October it was in the same sector attached to the 7th Army (Von Heeringen) and remained during the winter of 1914–15.

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. In March, 1915, the 73d Fusiliers left the division to become a part of the 111th Division (a new formation).

2. In April the 19th Division was sent (with the 20th) to Galicia, where it took part in the offensive of Mackensen’s army. This campaign caused heavy losses; in the 91st Infantry Regiment, between May and September, the casualties totaled 127 officers and 4,291 men. (Official List of casualties.)

3. Entraining at Warsaw on September 17 the 19th Division, together with the 20th, was taken to Antwerp, then, by way of Namur and Givet, to Champagne. There it remained behind the front to reinforce the 3d Army at the time of our attack on the Champagne front (September).

FRANCE.

4. It was relieved about October 17. After a few days rest in the area of Grandlup, Missy les Pierrepont, it occupied the Hurtebise-Vauclerc line at the end of October.

AISNE.

5. About December 19 it was withdrawn to the rear (Parfondru area). It remained in reserve of the army and received training.

1916.

1. The division again went into line at the beginning of January, 1916 (Hurtebise-Vauclerc sector) and remained there until the middle of May. Then it was sent to Sissonne and received training until June 7.

RUSSIA.

2. About June 8 it left Sissonne and entrained for the Eastern Front. Itinerary: Laon-Sedan-Trèves-Coblentz-Limberg-Marburg-Cassel-Leipzig- Breslau-Bautzen-Iwagorod-Kovel (June 12).

3. The division was retrained on the Russian front from June until November. It underwent the Broussilov offensive, and in November formed a part of the 4th Austrian Army in action on the Volhynia front.

FRANCE.

4. About November 8 it entrained and left Russia to return to the Western Front. Itinerary: Kovel-Brest-Litowsk-Warsaw-Thorn-Berlin- Hanover-Aix la Chapelle-Liége-Namur-Givet-Hirson.

5. After a few days of rest, the 19th Division entrained for Rethel. It was billeted in the vicinity until the end of December.

1917.

1. After a stay in Alsace (January, 1917) the 19th Division came into reserve in Champagne in February.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. On February 24 it occupied the sector Ripont, Cernay en Dormois.

3. On March 6 it was transferred to the Rheims front (Brimont, Cavaliers de Coucy in April and May). Only its right wing was engaged in the French offensive.

4. Relieved on the 10th of June and sent to rest, it was in action shortly afterwards southwest of Moronvilliers, then on the Cornillet- Monc St. Blond front, where it underwent the French attacks of July 14 and suffered heavy losses.

5. On July 20, it left this area and in two days marched to the sector north of Ville sur Tourbe.

MEUSE.

6. About September 7 it was sent to the Verdun area (Beaumont- Samogneux). It there launched several attacks.

7. Relieved from the Beaumont sector at the end of December, the 19th Division occupied the Forges sector (left bank of the Meuse) about January 6, 1918. There it was relieved by the 84th Division beginning of February.

RECRUITING.

The 19th Division is recruited from Hanover. The 91st Infantry Regiment is recruited in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. There were very few replacements from other corps districts.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 19th Division must be considered a good division (September, 1917).

1918.

1. The division rested at Stenay until March 6, when it entrained and traveled via Sedan-Charleville-Anor to Landrecies, going into billets at Hecq. On the 17th it marched to Croix and in the evening proceeded via Le Cateau to Honnechy. On the night of March 19–20 it marched to Brancourt, and on the 21st followed up the attack as far as Maissemy. The 91st Regiment crossed the Somme at Brie on the 25th and by the 28th had reached Harbonnieres.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. It was in support until the 31st, when it was engaged near Marcelcaves. In the fighting in this locality between the 30th and April 6, the division lost 50 per cent of its effectives. The heaviest losses were incurred on March 31 at Brie where a battalion commander, ordered to attack, was unable to do so because of his losses.

3. The division rested until April 16 in the neighborhood of Proyart and Framerville. About 1,000 men were received as reinforcements at this time.

SOMME.

4. It was engaged on April 18, north of Hangard, until the 20th. Two days of rest at Harbonnieres followed, and it returned to line on the 24th. The French attack of the 26th caused the division severe losses and it withdrew on April 28. It was reengaged on the same sector on May 6 and in line until May 29. While in line the division received drafts of 1,200 men.

5. The division rested until the 1st of June in the vicinity of Cambrai. It marched toward the Lassigny front by night, passing through Ham (June 2), Esmery-Hallon, Tilloloy (June 7–8).

NOYON.

6. It was engaged on June 9 in the Lataule wood and was in line until the 14th. It entrained on the 21st and moved to Lorraine, where it relieved the 3d Guard Division at Bezanges on June 25. It rested on this quiet front until July 29, when the 81st Reserve Division from Flanders relieved it.

VESLE.

7. The division rested near Fort Brimont until mid-August, when it moved by stages to the Vesle front. It entered the line northeast of Fismes on September 1 and remained during the month. The division withstood the French attack of the 31st, losing about 700 prisoners. It was forced to retire on Ventelay and Chaudardes (Oct. 1), and later on Pontavert, Craonne, toward Sissonne (Oct. 11–12). It was in second line about the 13th to 18th.

LAON.

8. On October 19 it was again in line near Sissonne. In the retreat it retired by Boucourt, la Ville aux Bois, Montcornet. After November 4 it was identified near Renneval, Iviers, and Aubenton (Nov. 8).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as first class. It was regarded as one of the best German divisions. It resisted with great obstinacy the French counterattack at Hangard, April 26. Its morale remained good until the end of October.

19th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │37 Res. │73 Res. │37 Res. │73 Res. │37 Res. │73 Res. │ │78 Res. │ │78 Res. │ │78 Res. │39 Res. │74 Res. │39 Res. │74 Res. │ │79 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ (2 │ │ │ │ │ │ Btns.) │ │92 Res. │ │92 Res. │39 Res. │74 Res. │ │79 Res. │ │79 Res. │ │92 Res. │ │ (2 │ │ (2 │ │ │ │ Btns.) │ │ Btns.) │ │ │ 10 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 10 Res. Jag. Btn. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │6 Res. Dragoon Rgt.│6 Res. Drag. Rgt. │6 Res. Drag. Rgt. │ (3 Sqns.). │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │19 Res. F. A. Rgt. │19 Res. F. A. Rgt. │19 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (6 Btries.). │ (8 Btries.). │ 2 Mountain Btry. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2 Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. │ Pion. Btn. No. │ Pion. Btn. No. │ 10. │ 10. │ 10. │ │19 Res. Tel. Detch.│6 Field Co. 1 Pion. │ │ │ Btn. No. 10. │ │19 Res. Pont. Engs.│219 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │19 Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │19 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │39 Res. │73 Res. │39 Res. │73 Res. │ │78 Res. │ │78 Res. │ │92 Res. │ │92 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 6 Res. Drag.│3 Sqn. 6 Res. Drag. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │19 Res. F. A. Rgt. │19 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │2 Abt. 3 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (Staff, and │ │ 5, 7, and 9 │ │ Btries.). │ │741 Light Am. Col. │ │742 Light Am. Col. │ │745 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│319 Pion. Btn. │319 Pion. Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 1 Res. Co. 10 │ 1 Res. Co. 10 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 219 T. M. Co. │ 2 Res. Co. 10 │ │ Pions. │ 290 Searchlight │ 54 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 419 Tel. Detch. │419 Signal Command: │ │ 419 Tel. Detch. │ │ 32 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │510 Ambulance Co. │510 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │46 Res. Field │46 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │47 Res. Field │48 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │48 Res. Field │200 Vet. Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │718 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(10th Corps District.—Hanover; Grand Duchy of Oldenburg; Duchy of Brunswick.)

1914.

BELGIUM-MARNE.

1. The 19th Reserve Division, constituting at the outbreak of the war, with the 2d Reserve Guard Division, the 10th Reserve Corps, was a part of the 2d Army (Von Buelow). It entrained near Cologne August 10–12, was concentrated at the Elsenhorn Camp and entered Belgium on the 15th by way of Spa. Going down the left bank of the Meuse near Liége, it crossed the Sambre west of Charleroi on the 22d; went into action on the 23d at Nalinnes; entered France on the 26th at Avesnes, and fought on the 29th and 30th between St. Quentin and Ribemont. Continuing on its way through Braine, it crossed the Marne at Dormans and took part in the battle of the Marne between Vauchamps and Montmirail (Sept. 6 to 7).

2. It retired on the 7th by way of Orbais, Vertus, Epernay, Rilly la Montagne (Sept. 10), Rheims (Sept. 12).

CHAMPAGNE.

3. It fought, in the middle of September, north of Rheims and established itself on the front Brimont-Courcy-Bétheny (October- December).

1915.

1. The division occupied the sector north of Rheims until the beginning of February, 1915.

PERTHES.

2. About February 2, elements of the division were transferred to the Somme Py and went into action in the Perthes les Hurlus area, where they took part in serious battles.

3. The division remained in Champagne (Souain-Perthes) until the month of April.

ALSACE.

4. About the end of April it was sent to Alsace (valley of the Fecht). At this time, the 10th Reserve Corps was broken up because of the employment of its two divisions on two separate fronts (19th Reserve Division, Vosges, 2d Reserve Guard Division, in the north). These two divisions are now independent. The 19th Reserve Division suffered very heavily in Alsace (valley of the Fecht) and lost 154 officers and 5,033 men (Official List of Casualties), of whom 60 officers and 1,964 men belong to the 74th Reserve Infantry Regiment.

CHAMPAGNE.

5. On September 30 the 37th Reserve Brigade entrained to reenforce the units engaged in the Tahure sector (Champagne), where it went into action on October 8.

ALSACE.

6. The 37th Reserve Brigade rejoined the 39th Reserve Brigade in Alsace at the beginning of November. At this time the entire division was concentrated in the vicinity of Mulhouse.

7. In December elements of the 19th Reserve Division took part in the struggle for the possession of Hartmannswillerkopf (Dec. 21–29).

1916.

1. The 19th Reserve Division remained in the Meuse area until March, 1916.

VERDUN.

2. About March 15 the division entrained and was transferred to Verdun. It went into action in the sector Douaumont-Haudremont-Thiaumont (Apr. 17 to June 21). Its regiments made successive attacks and suffered heavily (attacks of Apr. 17, 24, May 7, and June 21). At the end of April and during the month of May, elements of the division were sent to rest in the vicinity of Montmédy.

ARGONNE.

3. At the beginning of July the 19th Reserve Division was withdrawn from the Verdun front and went into the Argonne (La Harazee). It had lost 79 per cent of its infantry at Verdun. From April 25 to July 19 the 4th Company of the 74th Infantry Regiment had received no less than 195 men as replacements; the 9th Company of the 73d Infantry Regiment, 211 men.

SOMME.

4. On October 10 it was transferred to the Somme (sector of Gueudecourt les Boeufs) and took part in limited actions which caused serious losses.

CÔTES DE MEUSE.

5. Relieved on October 26–28, it went into line on the Côtes de Meuse (Les Éparges) on October 31.

1917.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

1. On February 18, 1917, the 19th Reserve Division left the Éparges sector for the front south of Laon. Concentrated in the region of Arrancy-Ste. Croix, it went into line about March 1, on the crest of the Chemin des Dames (Ailles-Hurtebise). It underwent the French attack of April 16, which caused it to suffer severely (900 prisoners).

On April 20 elements of the Division launched a counterattack (Poteau d’Ailles). The 19th Reserves Division remained in line until April 21.

RUSSIA.

2. After two weeks’ rest in the vicinity of Sissonne, the division was transferred to Russia. It entrained at La Capelle on May 7. Itinerary: Charleroi-Namur-Liége-Aix le Chapelle-Dusseldorf-Hanover-Berlin- Bromberg-Koenigsberg-Shavli-Mitau; detraining at Gross-Ekkau on May 11, it was called on July 23 to help the exhausted 226th Division between Smorgoni and Krevo.

RIGA.

3. At the end of August or the beginning of September the division took part in the operations which began at the taking of Riga and of Duenamuende (September).

FRANCE.

4. On September 11 the division entrained near Uxkull for the Western Front. Itinerary: Mitau-Shavli-Koenigsberg-Posen-Cottbus-Leipzig-Gotha- Mayence-Kreuznach-Luxemburg-Sedan-Hirson. It detrained at Vervins on September 17.

FLANDERS.

5. Transferred to Flanders (Sept. 20–24) it occupied the Polygon wood sector east of Ypres (Sept. 28). It underwent the British attack of October 4, when it lost very heavily. It was relieved immediately. (On Sept. 29 the 12th Company of the 92d Reserve Infantry Regiment had only 3 officers and 86 men.)

MEUSE.

6. After a rest near Sedan, in the course of which it was reorganized with mixed replacements from Beverloo and the recruit depot of the 228th Division, the division went northwest of Verdun in October (Malancourt sector).

7. Sent to rest in the Stenay area on December 22, the 19th Reserve Division occupied the Chaume wood sector on January 15, 1918. It was still there at the beginning of March.

RECRUITING.

The 19th Reserve Division is recruited from the 10th Corps District (Hanover, Oldenburg, Brunswick). There are few elements foreign to the district.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

During the French offensive on the Chemin des Dames on April 16 the 19th Reserve Division gave the impression of having energetic and intelligent leadership. The attitude of the men was generally good.

The division suffered enormous losses on the Aisne.

The quality of the replacements received and its stay on the Russian front have diminished the value of this division, which was a good combat unit.

The presence of a certain number of Poles and Alsatians must be noted who are inclined to desertion (67 deserters from the 73d Reserve Infantry Regiment on Sept. 28, 1917). (November, 1917.)

1918.

1. About April 6 the division was relieved and moved to Belgium, entering line at Dixmude on April 17.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

2. On the 25th the division moved south and reenforced the battle front at Vierstraat. It fought in the Ypres area until May 1, when it was relieved, after losing about 40 per cent of its effectives.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. The division appeared in Champagne on May 10, taking over the sector west of the Suippe from the 232d Division. About June 1 a battalion of the 78th Reserve Regiment was detached and took part in the attack on Rheims. Afterwards it returned and the complete division was in its sector on June 15. The division was withdrawn from Champagne just before the July offensive.

4. It was reengaged in Champagne on July 27 south of Le Mont sans Nom. It continued in this sector until the 1st of September.

5. The division moved directly from line in Champagne to line south of Concy le Chateau, where it was engaged until October 14. Withdrawn from the Selle front, elements of the division were immediately engaged on the Oise at Mont d’Origny (Oct. 17), but the bulk of the division was not identified until October 24, south of Catillon. Until the armistice the division fought in the vicinity of Catillon (Nov. 4), Fesmy (5th), Prisches (6th), Lemont Fontaine (8th).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as first class. In 1918, except for the Lys offensive in April, the division was engaged only on the defensive.

19th. Ersatz Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │Ers. │45 Mixed │23 Ers. │45 Mixed │23 Ers. │ │ Btns.: │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │45 Mixed │45 and │ │32 Ers. │ │32 Ers. │ Ers. │ 46. │ │ │ │ │ │63 and │47 Mixed │47 and 48│47 Mixed │24 Ers. │ │ 64. │ Ers. │ (Brig. │ Ers. │ │ │ │ │ Ers. │ │ │ │ │ │ Btns.).│ │ │47 Mixed │47 and │ │ │ │40 Ers. │ Ers. │ 48. │ │ │ │ │ │88 and │ │88 and 89│ │ │ │ 89. │ │ (Brig. │ │ │ │ │ │ Ers. │ │ │ │ │ │ Btns.).│ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │ │4 and 5 Sqns. 19 │ │ │ Hus. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │1 Ers. Abtls. of │1 Ers. Abtls. of 28│45 Ers. F. A. Rgt. │ the 28 and 48 F. │ and 48 F. A. │ │ A. Rgts. │ Rgts. │ │1 Ers. Abtls. of 32│1 Ers. Abtls. of 32│47 Ers. F. A. Rgt. │ and 77 F. A. │ and 77 F. A. │ │ │ Rgts. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 Ers. Co. 12 │1 Ers. Co. 12 │1 Ers. Co. 12 Liaisons. │ Pions. │ Pions. │ Pions. │1 Ers. Co. 22 │1 Ers. Co. 22 │1 Ers. Co. 22 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ Pions. │ │254 Pion. Co. │254 Pion. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │88 Res. Pion. Co. │ │ │164 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │5 Bav. Ldw. Brig. │5 Bav. Ldw. Brig. │21 Labor Btn. │ (4 Bav. Ldw. and │ (4 Bav. Ldw., 5 │ │ 5 Bav. Ldw. │ Bav. Ldw., and 60│ │ Rgts.) │ Res. Rgts.). │ │ │100 Ldw. Inf. Rgt. │85 Labor Btn. │ │9 Jag. Btn. │4 Btn. 15 Ldw. Rgt. │ │ │ (Until April.) │ │ │60 Res. Inf. Rgt. │ │ │100 Ldw. Inf. Rgt. │ │ │ (Until October.) ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │45 Ers. │23 Ers. │45 Ers. │23 Ers. │ │ │ │ │ │24 Ers. │ │24 Ers. │ │ │ │ │ │32 Ers. │ │32 Ers. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 19 Hus. Rgt.│5 Sqn. 19 Hus. Rgt. │ │ │1 Ers. Sqn. 12 C. │ │ List. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │47 Ers. F. A. Rgt. │47 Ers. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│519 Pion. Btn.: │519 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Ers. Co. 12 │ 1 Ers. Co. 12 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 1 Ers. Co. 22 │ 1 Ers. Co. 22 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 254 Pion. Co. │ 164 T. M. Co. │ 164 T. M. Co. │ 1 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 253 Searchlight │569 Signal Command: │ Section. │ │ 569 Tel. Detch. │ 569 Tel. Detch. │ │ 47 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │272 Ambulance Co. │272 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │506 Field Hospital.│506 Field Hospital. │507 Field Hospital.│518 Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │766 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(12th and 19th Corps Districts—Saxony.)

1914.

VOSGES.

1. The 19th Ersatz Division (Saxon) detrained on August 18, 1914, before Strassburg. In action in the Vosges on the 20th, it went up the valley of the Bruche and fought on the Meurthe below St. Die, at St. Michel, and advanced to La Salle (Sept. 6).

LORRAINE.

2. Having suffered in these engagements, the division was withdrawn. On September 19 it was in the Blamont area, where it was reenforced by the 5th Bavarian Landwehr Brigade. It occupied the sector of Blamont-Ember- Menil-Parroy.

1915.

LORRAINE.

1. In 1915, and until October, 1916, it guarded the same front in Lorraine (from the canal of the Marne to the Rhine as far as the Cirey area).

2. About the month of April the 100th Landwehr was reattached to the division, the battalions of which were grouped in July into 4 Ersatz Regiments (Nos. 23, 32, 24, 40).

1916.

LORRAINE.

1. During its stay in Lorraine the 19th Ersatz Division was not engaged in any serious fighting. The 23d Ersatz alone took part in the affair of Thiaville, February 28, 1916.

COTES DE MEUSE.

2. Relieved in the area of Badonviller-Leintrey, at the beginning of October, 1916, the 19th Ersatz Division was reduced to three regiments (23d, 32d, 24th Ersatz) and sent to the Briey area (Oct. 8) and from there to Verdun (sector of Watronville-Damloup).

1917.

COTES DE MEUSE.

1. The 19th Ersatz Division remained in the same sector of the Cotes de Meuse for almost all of the year 1917. It lost very slightly.

2. Withdrawn from the sector Moranville-Watronville about November, the division was sent to rest in the Longwy area.

BEZONVAUX.

3. About December 8, it was assembled and sent to Spincourt where, on December 11, it went into line north of Bezonvaux.

RECRUITING.

The 19th Ersatz Division is recruited from the Kingdom of Saxony.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 19th Ersatz Division remained in Lorraine for a long time; it did not take part in any serious battles. After October, 1916, it only occupied quiet sectors on the Cotes de Meuse.

It can not be considered as an attack division.

1918.

1. The division occupied the quiet Beaumont sector until June 30, when it was put at rest near Longuyon until July 11. During this time the division was given training to fit it for a war of movement. On July 16 it was moved to the Rheims front. Entrained at Montmedy on the 12th, the division reached Nouvion Porcien the next day, and went by stages to Bermericourt (northeast of Rheims), where it rested in reserve. On the 17th it moved to the vicinity of Rozoy.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE AND MARNE.

2. From July 20 to 31 the division was engaged in severe fighting at Plessier-Huleu and Grand Rozoy.

3. It rested near Marle until the 21st of August undergoing reconstruction. It entrained on that date at Voyenne and reached La Fere the next day, from where it marched to Barisis and Folembray.

BATTLE OF THE AILETTE.

4. The division entered the line in the Quierzy-Manicamp-Champs area on August 23. It sustained a French attack on the 28th, losing nearly 500 prisoners. The division was withdrawn on September 3.

5. The division was moved by train from Voyenne to Haboudange via Marle, Montcornet, Sedan, Montmedy, Longuyon, Audun le Roman, Thionville, Metz, and Benestroff. It marched to Hampont to the Huhnerwald Camp, where it rested until September 15.

LORRAINE.

6. It entered line at Arracourt on the 15th and occupied that quiet sector until the end of hostilities.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. In 1918 it saw but two weeks’ service on an active front.

19th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │91 Res. │383 Ldw. │91 Res. │383 Ldw. │ │383 Ldw. │ │385 Ldw. │ │385 Ldw. │ │385 Ldw. │ │388 Ldw. │ │388 Ldw. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │ (?) │2 Sqn. 6 Res. Hus. │ │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │281 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │ │ │ 91 F. A. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(419) Pion. Btn.: │519 Signal Command: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 303 Pion. Co. │ 519 Tel. Detch. │ │ 319 T. M. Co. │ │ │ Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │226 Ambulance Co. │226 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │396 Field Hospital.│396 Field Hospital. │ │91 Res. Field │10 Field Hospital. │ │ Hospital. │ │ │519 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │788 M. T. Col. │788 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(383d Landwehr Regiment: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg. 385th Landwehr Regiment: 7th Corps District—Westphalia. 388th Landwehr Regiment: 12th Corps District—Saxony.)

1916.

BELGIUM.

1. The 19th Landwehr Division was formed at the same time as the divisions of the 200 Series (September-October, 1916). It was formed at Cortemarck on September 29, 1916, by the union of the 383d, 385th, and 388th Landwehr Regiments. These were made up of Landsturm battalions (Service of Supplies) of the 4th Army in Belgium, to which were added returned wounded. The 3d Battalion of the 388th Landwehr Regiment (Saxon) is the old 4th Battalion of the 100th Landwehr.

DIXMUDE.

2. In the beginning of October, 1916, the 19th Landwehr Division replaced the 204th Division in the Dixmude-Steenstraat sector. It remained there more than a year.

1917.

RUSSIA.

1. Relieved from the Dixmude front about the middle of October, 1917, the 19th Landwehr Division was transferred to Russia at the beginning of November.

RIGA.

2. Arriving in the Riga area about November 15, it went into line near the coast.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 19th Landwehr Division is made up either of elderly soldiers or those of mediocre physical strength, forming a body of men incapable, it appears, of an offensive effort.

In Belgium, however, the division organized an assault troop capable of making assaults.

1918.

LIVONIA.

1. The 19th Landwehr Division was identified on the shores of the Baltic in March. The 383d Landwehr Regiment was at Libau on May 8; the 385th Landwehr Regiment at Riga on the 15th.

FINLAND.

2. Toward the end of July all three regiments of the division were identified in Finland, but seem to have gone to Esthonia by August, where they were again identified in October.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

20th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │39. │79. │39. │79. │40. │77. │ │164. │ │164. │ │79. │40. │77. │40. │77. │ │92. │ │92. │ │92. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │17 Hus. Rgt. (3 │ │17 Hus. Rgt. (2 │ Sqns.). │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │20 Brig.: │20 Brig.: │20 Brig.: │ 10 F. A. Rgt. │ 10 F. A. Rgt. │ 10 F. A. Rgt. │ 46 F. A. Rgt. │ 46 F. A. Rgt. │ 46 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 10: │ 10: │ │ Field Co. 10 │ 2 Co. 10 Pions. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 20 Pont. Engs. │ 20 T. M. Co. │ │ 20 Tel. Detch. │ 20 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 20 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │40. │77. │40. │77. │ │79. │ │79. │ │92. │ │92. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 17 Hus. Rgt.│5 Sqn. 17 Hus. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │20 Art. Command: │20 Art. Command: │ 46 F. A. Rgt. │ 46 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 155 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 813 Light Am. Col. │ │ 921 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1339 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(1/10 or 127) Pion.│10 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ Btn.: │ │ 2 Co. 10 Pions. │ 2 Co. 10 Pions. │ │ │ 3 Co. 10 Pions. │ 3 Co. 10 Pions. │ 20 T. M. Co. │ 20 T. M. Co. │ (296) Searchlight │ 90 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 20 Tel. Detch. │ 20 Signal Command: │ │ 20 Tel. Detch. │ │ 83 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │24 Ambulance Co. │24 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │100 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │93 Field Hospital. │ │20 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │553 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │3 Gleiwitz Landst. │ │ Depot │ │Btn. (6 C. Dist. │ │ Btn. No. 26). │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(10th Corps District—Hanover and Brunswick.)

1914.

The 20th Division and the 19th Division formed the 10th Army Corps (Hanover).

FRANCE.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 20th Division went to the Elsenborn Camp, August 8–10, and entered Belgium on the 11th. It was a part, with the 10th Corps, of the 2d Army (Von Buelow). It fought at Charleroi, at Guise, at St. Quentin. It took part in the battle of the Marne from September 6 to 9 (Congy, Mondement), after which it retired by way of Neufchâtel sur Aisne to the northwest of Rheims. It took up its position between the Aisne and Brimont.

1915.

At the beginning of 1915 it was still holding the lines in the vicinity of Rheims. At the end of March the 164th Infantry Regiment was transferred to the 111th Division (new formation).

GALICIA.

2. At the end of April, with its regiments raised to four battalions each, the 20th Division (as well as the 19th Division) was sent to Galacia, where it took part in the operation of Mackensen’s army. It lost very heavily there. From July 28 to September 23 the 11th Company of the 77th Infantry Regiment received at least 133 men as replacements.

FRANCE.

3. Brought back to France in September, the 20th Division took part, in the month of October, in the battles in the Champagne.

4. From November, 1915, to June, 1916, it held a sector north of the Aisne (west of Craonne).

1916.

RUSSIA.

1. On June 8, 1916, the 20th Division, with all of the 10th Army Corps, was transferred again to the Eastern Front. In four days it arrived in the Kovel area by way of Berlin and Brest Litowsk.

2. On June 13 it was engaged in stopping the Russian advance and then occupied a sector near Kiselin. Its regiments were filled up in September and October.

From June to November the losses of the 92d Infantry Regiment had averaged 160 men per company. (Statements of deserters.) This is the number of the replacements received during the same period by the 9th Company of the 77th Infantry Regiment.

FRANCE.

3. The 20th Division was relieved on November 11 and entrained on the 15th for France. Itinerary: Warsaw-Kalich-Berlin-Dusseldorf-Aix la Chapelle-Liége-Namur. Billeted first in the area of Anor Hirson, the 20th Division was sent to the Sissonne Camp, where its regiments received training.

4. At the end of December the division took over the sector of Moulin sous Touvent, Chevillecourt, where it was relieved on January 30, 1917.

1917.

1. In February, 1917, the 20th Division was transferred to Alsace (Sundgau) in anticipation of a French offensive.

2. In the beginning of March it was brought back to the Laon area, where it was billeted until the French attack of April 16; its regiments received some replacements.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

3. In the night of April 16 all the units of the division were assembled. On April 17–18 they took their positions along the plateau of the Chemin des Dames on both sides of Cerny en Laonnois, relieving the 16th Reserve Division, which had suffered heavy losses. Between April 18 and May 5 the three regiments of the 20th Division suffered heavy losses from bombardments. On May 5 (renewal of the general attack by the French) the division again lost heavily. It was relieved immediately after the attack. (Apr. 27 to Aug. 10, the 10th Company of the 77th Infantry Regiment had received not less than 211 men as replacements.)

4. After a few weeks of rest, the division was put into line (end of May) in a sector of Champagne (Moronvilliers).

RUSSIA.

5. In the beginning of July it was relieved and transferred for a third time to the Russian front, first in Galicia and then in Courland. It remained there until September 19. At this date it entrained at Riga and was brought back to France by way of Chavli, Kovno, Grodno, Bromberg, Berlin, Hanover, Cologne, Aix la Chapelle, Mons, Valenciennes.

FLANDERS.

6. Arriving at Roulers on September 27, it immediately went into action in an attacking sector, north of Zonnebeke, without having any rest, on October 4.

ARTOIS.

7. Relieved almost immediately, it was put into line on October 17 in the Queant sector, where it still was at the beginning of February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

It is recruited from the Province of Hanover in the Duchy of Brunswick.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

It had very heavy losses on May 5, 1917 (many killed, 700 prisoners), which, joined to the preceding losses, lessened the value of the 20th Division very much.

It is to be noted that two weeks before the attack of May 5 the units of the division defended themselves obstinately.

1918.

CAMBRAI.

1. The division was relieved by the 119th Division about the middle of January; it, in turn, relieved the 119th Division during the first week in February. It was relieved by the 195th Division on February 16, and marched to Aubigny au Bac; it reached Basaecles (southeast of Tournai) the 18th. Here it was given a month’s course of training in open warfare.

2. On March 14 the division marched to Peruwelz and then via St. Amand- Lourches-Bouchain, arriving at Pronville, where it entered line on the 20th. It advanced through Noreuil, Bapaume, Grevillers, Irles, and Miraumont. During this fighting the division suffered severely, its casualties amounting to 50 per cent of its effectives; very few officers left. It did not advance with the rest of the line during the night of the 24–25th, its place being taken by the 24th Division. It followed in support of the line, however, and relieved the 24th Division east of Colincamps on the 29th. A document captured on the 28th shows that the strength of the 3d Battalion of the 77th Regiment (excluding the machine gun company) was reduced to 214 men. Another battalion was reduced to 80 men and 1 officer.

WOEVRE.

3. The division was withdrawn early in April, and was sent to the Mars la Tour region, where it rested and was reconstituted. About the 20th it relieved the 82d Reserve Division in the Seuzey-Lamorville-Spada sector (north of St. Mihiel); relieved toward the end of the month, it went to the Arlon area, where it received large drafts (in large part of the 1919 class), and where it was put through a long and thorough course of training. Toward the end of June it was transported to the Sedan area, from which it marched (about July 15) toward Soissons.

SOISSONS.

4. On the 21st of July the division reinforced the front near Villemontoire (south of Soissons). Here heavy losses were again suffered. It was relieved by the 50th Reserve Division on the 29th and went to rest in the Chimay area, where it received a draft from the disbanded 260th Reserve Regiment (78th Reserve Division).

ARRAS.

5. On the night of the 27–28th of August the division moved up into the Drocourt-Queant line, south of Drocourt, and during the following days went into line in the Oppy sector (northeast of Arras), where a British attack was expected. The division was withdrawn again during the night of September 1–2.

6. On the 3d of September it came into line near Ecourt St. Quentin (south of Arleux), and covered the withdrawal across the Canal du Nord. It was withdrawn on the 10th.

CAMBRAI.

7. On the 12th it counterattacked in the Havrincourt sector (southwest of Cambrai). During the subsequent fighting the division suffered heavy losses. It was withdrawn on the 1st of October.

8. After a few days’ rest it relieved the 21st Division in the Montbrehain sector (southeast of Cambrai), where it fought until the 13th, when it was relieved and went to the vicinity of Montmedy, where it rested for about three weeks. Losses, 70 per cent.

MEUSE.

9. The division was expected to enter line west of the Meuse, but the orders were changed suddenly, and it entered line to the east of it near Reville on November 5. It remained in line until the 11th, not being heavily engaged, however, all the prisoners captured subsequently stating that they were members of rear-guard detachments.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 20th is rated as a first-class division. It fought well throughout the year and suffered enormous losses. Besides the replacements already noted, the division received a large draft from its recruit depot in September (about 50 men per company); September 28, the 92d Regiment received 93 men; October 30, the companies received 30 men apiece from the 27th Reserve Regiment (197th Division, dissolved); the companies had a combat strength of 80 to 100 men.

20th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[14] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │384 Ldw. │9 Ers. │384 Ldw. │9 Ers. │386 Ldw. │ │386 Ldw. │ │386 Ldw. │ │ │ │387 Ldw. │ │387 Ldw. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │3 Sqn. 4 Res. Hus. │3 Sqn. 4 Res. Hus. │ │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │ │Art Command: │282 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ (Staff and 2 │ │ │ Abt.). │ │ 282 F. A. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │420 Pion. Btn.: │1 Ldw. Co. 9 C. Liaisons. │ │ │ Dist. Pions. │ │ 1 Ldw. Co. 9 │520 Signal Command: │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 3 Ers. Co. 24 │ 520 Tel. Detch. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 320 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 520 (Wurtt.) Tel. │ │ │ Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │227 Ambulance Co. │227 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │88 Field Hospital. │520 Vet. Hospital. │ │183 Field Hospital.│ │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 14:

The units below are those grouped under the divisional postal sector (660). Other units belonging to the 20th Landwehr Division, but operating under other divisions, are listed as attached to such division.

HISTORY.

(384th Landwehr Regiment: 4th Corps District-Prussian Saxony. 386th Landwehr Regiment: 9th Corps District-Mecklenburg. 387th Landwehr Regiment: (?).)

1916.

BELGIUM.

1. The 20th Landwehr Division dates from September 29, 1916. It was formed at Roulers from the 384th, 386th, and 387th Landwehr Regiments. These regiments, formed at this time, respectively, at Menin, Renaix, and Cooescant, were formed two-thirds of men from the Landsturm battalions assigned to the Service of Supplies in Belgium, and one-third of returned wounded.

DIXMUDE.

2. At the beginning of October, 1916, the 20th Landwehr Division relieved the 206th Division in the sector Dixmude-Schoorbakke. It was retained there until the middle of November, 1917.

1917.

CAMBRAI.

1. Sent into line southwest of Cambrai (Nov. 1917), the division suffered heavily in the British offensive of November 20, when it lost 2,773 men as prisoners. It was relieved the day after this action.

RUSSIA.

2. Between November 28 and December 5, the 20th Landwehr Division was transferred to the Eastern Front.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division is of mediocre value.

1918.

PINSK-UKRAINE.

1. After having held the sector south of Pinsk from December, 1917, to February, 1918, the 20th Landwehr Division went into the Ukraine in March. The 384th Landwehr Regiment was in the region west of Gomel on April 23; the division was at Jitomir in May. The division was still in Ukraine on the 16th of October.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

21st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │41. │87. │41. │87. │42. │80 Fus. │ │88. │ │88. │ │81. │42. │80 Fus. │42. │80 Fus. │ │87. │ │81. │ │81. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │6 Uhlan Regt. │ │6 Uhlan Regt. (3 │ │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │21 Brig.: │21 Brig.: │21 Brig.: │ 27 F. A. Rgt. │ 27 F. A. Rgt. │ 27 F. A. Rgt. │ 63 F. A. Rgt. │ 63 F. A. Rgt. │ 63 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 21: │ 21: │ │ Field Co. 21 │ 1 Co. 21 Pions. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 21 Pont. Engs. │ 5 Co. 21 Pions. │ │ 21 Tel. Detch. │ 21 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ 21 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ 21 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │42. │80 Fus. │42. │80. │ │81. │ │81. │ │87. │ │87. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │(?) 5 Sqn. 6 │2 Sqn. 6 Drag. Rgt. │ Dragoon Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │21 Art. Command: │21 Art. Command: │ 27 F. A. Rgt. │ 27 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 2 Abt. 14 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (5, 6, and 7 │ │ Btries.). │ │ 731 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1101 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1131 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(1/21 or 134) Pion.│21 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ Btn.: │ │ 1 Co. 21 Pions. │ 1 Co. 21 Pions. │ │ │ 5 Co. 21 Pions. │ 5 Co. 21 Pions. │ 21 T. M. Co. │ 18 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 21 Searchlight │ 21 T. M. Co. │ Section. │ │ 21 Tel. Detch. │21 Signal Command: │ │ 21 Tel. Detch. │ │ 41 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │46 Ambulance Co. │46 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │36 Field Hospital. │154 Field Hospital. │21 Vet. Hospital. │303 Field Hospital. │ │21 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │554 M. T. Col. │554 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │54 M. G. S. S. │ │ Detch. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(18th Corps District—Hesse—Nassau, Hesse—Hombourg, Frankfort.)

1914.

The 21st Division belonged organically with the 25th Division of the 18th Army Corps District (Frankfort on the Main).

ARDENNES.

1. In August, 1914, it formed a part of the 4th Army (Duke of Wurttemberg). Entering Luxemburg on August 10, Belgium August 12, it fought on the 20th at Neuf Chateau, on the 22d at Bertrix and Orgeo, on the 24th at Matton, and crossed the Meuse on the 28th.

MARNE.

2. In September it took part in the battle of the Marne between Vitry and Sermaize (Etrepy, Pargny sur Saulx). From there it retired in the direction of Rheims, being in action northwest of the city from September 15 to 20.

3. In October it was reassigned with the 18th Army Corps to the 2d Army, which at this time formed the right flank of the German Army (vicinity of Roye).

1915.

SOMME.

1. It was retained with its army corps for a year in the vicinity of Roye (until Oct. 15, 1915). In March, the 25th Division transferred the 88th Infantry Regiment for the formation of the 56th Division.

2. On October 15, 1915, it was withdrawn from the front and sent for a long rest near St. Quentin.

1916.

The 80th Fusiliers took part in the attack at Frise on January 29, 1916. A few days afterwards the 21st Division was transferred north of Verdun.

VERDUN.

1. From February 27 to March 16 it was engaged at Verdun (Caures wood, Louvemont, Douaumont).

2. From March 17 to April 9 it was reorganized (imperial review on Apr. 1, at Marville).

3. From April 10 to 25 it again attacked at Verdun. One may judge of the losses by the replacements destined to make them good: From February 27 to May 10 the 1st Company of the 80th Fusiliers received at least 205 men; the 5th Company of the 81st Infantry Regiment at least 306 (Soldbuecher). The total losses of the 21st Division from March 15 to May 19, 1916, amounted to 8,549 officers and privates for the infantry alone. (Official List of Casualties.)

4. About May 15 the 21st Division occupied the sector west of Craonne, where it was relieved in September. Two battalions of the 87th Infantry Regiment were sent in haste to Fricourt at the time of the Somme offensive (July 2).

SOMME.

5. Between September 12 and 15 the 21st Division was transferred to the Somme (sectors of Clery-Bouchavesnes), where it suffered heavily.

6. At the beginning of October it was withdrawn from the Somme front and sent to the Cotes de Meuse in the Apremont area, which it occupied until November 10.

7. At the end of November it again went into action on the Somme (sector of Gomiecourt wood of Kratz) and remained there until February 10, when it went to rest near Chaumont Porcien.

1917.

AISNE.

1. On February 26, 1917, the 21st Division was taken to the front south of Berry au Bac, between the Godat and Loivre.

2. The three regiments of the division were on line on April 16 and underwent our attack, which caused them very heavy losses (2,319 prisoners).

RUSSIA.

3. Relieved, about April 19, the 21st Division rested for a few days in the Neufchatel area and then entrained for the Eastern Front (about May 9). On the 16th it detrained at Vilna. After reorganization, it took over a sector, on June 14, in the neighborhood of Postavy (north of Lake Narotch), which it occupied until the end of September. There was no important operation during this period.

FRANCE.

4. On September 25 it was again transferred to France. Itinerary: Vilna- Posen-Leipzig-Frankfort on the Main-Saarebruecken-Luxemburg-Sedan.

5. Arriving from Russia on October 1, it went into line about the 28th, in the sector northeast of Rheims. After a rest in January, it returned there in February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 21st Division is recruited in Hesse-Nassau, Hesse-Homburg, and Frankfort. They have borrowed very few from other districts, except from the 8th (Rhine Province), its neighbor.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 21st Division showed itself, in the course of our attack of April 16, 1916, as a good division, which put up a serious resistance.

The 81st Infantry Regiment, however, was criticised for its conduct on April 4. (Order of the 42d Brigade, of Apr. 9.) (See Appendix to the British Summary of Information of May 12, 1917.)

On the Russian front, according to the statement of a deserter (Nov. 7, 1917), the attempts at fraternization and exchange of the Russians were badly received by order of the German commanders.

1918.

1. The division held the Clonay-La Pompelle sector until April 23. A local operation was attempted on March 1, with the demolition of Fort La Pompelle as the objective.

2. When relieved on April 23, the division rested several days at Warmeriville before being transported to St. Quentin. From there it marched by stages to Rosieres en Santerre (May 1) and later to the Avre front.

PICARDY.

3. It relieved the 2d Bavarian Division, on May 3–4 in the sector south of Thennes and held that sector for five weeks. On June 12, the division moved into second line, and reappeared in line west of Castel-Bois Senecat in mid-June. During local operations, June 26 and July 2, the division lost a number of prisoners. It was relieved about the end of July.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

The division returned to line on August 13 to oppose the British drive on the Somme. It was engaged north of Lihons (13th) and east of Proyart. Toward the end of August it was forced to retreat through Cappy, Frise, Clery, and Le Mont St. Quentin, until its relief on September 1. Twelve hundred prisoners were lost during the fighting.

LA CHATEAU.

5. On September 9, the division was reengaged northwest of Jeancourt for four days, again losing heavily in prisoners. From the 13th to the 30th the division rested in the vicinity of St. Quentin, close to the front. It was put back in line at Bellicourt on the 30th and remained in until October 7.

6. The division rested in the Charleroi area and later at Ghent. It was brought back to the front by stages and reengaged east of Deynze (Petegem-Ouest de Nazareth) on October 31. In the closing days, the division was identified south of Heurne (Nov. 5), Gelsen (8th), Wendle (8th), south of Ghent (10th).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as first class. In 1918 it was used entirely on the defensive. At the end the regiments had been reduced to two battalions of three companies. Morale was very low in the fall. Between August 14 and the middle of October the division lost 2,473 prisoners on the Somme battle front.

21st Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │41 Res. │80 Res. │41 Res. │80 Res. │41 Res. │80 Res. │ │87 Res. │ │87 Res. │ │87 Res. │42 Res. │81 Res. │42 Res. │81 Res. │42 Res. │81 Res. │ │88 Res. │ │88 Res. │ │88 Res. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │7 Res. Drag. Rgt. │7 Res. Drag. Rgt. │7 Res. Drag. Rgt. │ (3 Sqns.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │21 Res. F. A. Rgt. │21 Res. F. A. Rgt. │21 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (6 Btries.). │ │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 and 5 Field Cos. │4 and 5 Field Cos. Liaisons. │ Btn. No. 11. │ 2 Pion. Btn. No. │ 2 Pion. Btn. No. │ │ 11. │ 11. │ │21 Res. Pont. Engs.│221 T. M. Co. │ │21 Res. Tel. Detch.│21 Pont. Engs. │ │ │21 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │44 Anti-aircraft │ │ │ Section. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │41 Res. │80 Res. │41 Res. │80 Res. │ │87 Res. │ │87 Res. │ │88 Res. │ │(?). │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 4 Res. Drag.│3 Sqn. 4 Res. Drag. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. │1 Sqn. 7 Res. Drag.│ │ Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │126 Art. Command: │ │ │ 21 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 21 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ 136 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 808 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1286 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1350 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(321) Pion. Btn.: │11 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 4 Co. 11 Pions. │ 4 Co. 11 Pions. │ 5 Co. 11 Pions. │ 5 Co. 11 Pions. │ 221 T. M. Co. │ 221 T. M. Co. │ 421 Tel. Detch. │ 27 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │421 Signal Command: │ │ 421 Tel. Detch. │ │ 129 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │517 Ambulance Co. │517 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │51 Res. Field │51 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │52 Res. Field │69 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │421 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │749 M. T. Col. │719 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │21 Bav. Ft. A. Btn. │ │ (Staff, 1 and 3 │ │ Btries.). │ │1 Ft. A. Rgt. │ │ (Staff, 5 and 6 │ │ Btries.). │ │821 Light Am. Col. │ │90 Artillery │ │ Observation │ │ Section. (Flash │ │ Spotters.) │ │103 Sound Ranging │ │ Detch. │ │202 Balloon Sqn. │ │208 Reconnaissance │ │ Flight. │ │237 Carrier Pigeon │ │ Loft. │ │364 Carrier Pigeon │ │ Loft. │ │Elements attached │ │ Aug. 24, 1918. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(18th Corps District—Hesse—Nassau and the south of Westphalia.)

1914.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 21st Reserve Division formed, with the 25th Reserve Division, the 18th Reserve Corps. It belonged to the 4th Army (Prince Albrecht of Wurttemberg). Detraining near Saarburg (Rhine Province) on August 10–12, it passed to the north of Luxemburg and entered Belgian Luxemburg, by Martelange.

ARDENNES.

2. After fighting at Neufchateau on August 22, the 21st Reserve Division reached Carignan on the 25th, fought at Mouzon on the 28th, crossed the Meuse at that point, and from there, by Grandpré, skirting the Argonne to the west, it arrived at the Marne-Rhine Canal on September 6.

ARGONNE-CHAMPAGNE.

3. At the battle of the Marne it went into action on the Saulx in the vicinity of Mognéville (Sept. 7–10, south of Revigny). It effected its retreat by way of the Givry en Argonne, Ste. Menehould, Vienne la Ville, and stopped on the heights to the south of Cernay en Dormois on September 14.

4. The 21st Reserve Division established its positions in the sector of Ville sur Tourbe and remained there until June, 1916.

1915.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. From January to December, 1915, the division was in the sector of Ville sur Tourbe north of Massiges à L’Aisne.

2. In September the division took part in the Champagne battle.

1916.

1. The 21st Reserve Division continued to occupy the Massiges sector from January to June, 1916.

VERDUN.

2. After a rest in the Briey area from the end of June until July 15, the division was sent to Verdun (sector of Fumin wood) where it went into action from July 15–25 to the beginning of September. During this period it suffered heavy losses, which made it necessary to give men as replacements on August 12, taken from the 83d Landwehr Regiment and the 36th Reserve Infantry Regiment, taken in haste from the Argonne; at the end of August it received conscripts of the 1917 class who had only been called up in May, many of whom came from depots in Baden.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. At the beginning of September, the 21st Reserve Division came back into its own sector of Ville sur Tourbe. A short time afterwards it gave the 81st Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 222d Division a new formation.

4. In the middle of October it was sent to rest in the Rethel area.

VERDUN.

5. On August 26 and 27 it was concentrated in the vicinity of Senon- Foameix. It occupied the sector of Hardaumont until December 7. After a few days’ rest it was brought back into line at Verdun (Bezonvaux, on Dec. 16).

1917.

1. The division left the Verdun front on January 11, 1917, very much exhausted.

LORRAINE.

2. On February 24, 1917, it took over the sector Letricourt-Moncel in Lorraine.

AISNE.

3. After a few days’ rest at Morhange it entrained on April 14 for the Aisne. Detraining between Hirson and Vervins, it was concentrated in the vicinity of Prouvais-Amifontaine. On April 18 and 19, after the French advance of April 16 in the vicinity of Juvincourt, it took up its position between the Miette and the Aisne as a reenforcement division, and then to replace units in the line. It attacked on May 18, near the Mauchamp Farm, and suffered heavy losses.

4. Relieved between the 27th and 30th of May, it was sent to rest and reorganized (June replacements; mostly men of the 1918 class).

CHAMPAGNE.

5. It then occupied a sector in Champagne southwest of Nauroy from July 19–20 to October 22.

CAMBRAI.

6. After a rest in the vicinity of Cambrai in November, it went into action at the end of November, east of Cambrai (southeast of Bourlon). It remained in line south of the Bapaume-Cambrai road until the end of December.

RECRUITING.

The division is recruited in Hesse-Nassau and the extreme southern part of Westphalia. It received few outside elements except under exceptional circumstances (e. g., on Aug. 12, 1916, at Verdun).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 21st Reserve Division is a good division. (October, 1917.)

On the Aisne front (April to May, 1917) the 21st Reserve Division held a difficult sector. The unsuccessful counterattacks which it launched there diminished its offensive value. Nevertheless, on the whole, it gave a good account of itself.

In Champagne (August to October, 1917) its activity was limited to a few assaults carried out energetically.

1918.

1. In the March offensive the division advanced from la Vacquerie to Beaumont Hamel, which it reached on March 27. Here the line stabilized and it held this sector throughout April, May, and June. It was relieved by the 16th Reserve Division on the night of July 3–4.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

2. The division rested in the Bapaume area until it returned to line northwest of Hamelincourt on August 6–7, relieving the 5th Bavarian Division. It met the British attack in the region and was driven back through Croisilles, Cherisy, and St. Leger until its withdrawal on August 30. Nine hundred prisoners were lost in the engagement.

3. The division rested in the Tournai area until September 18, when it reenforced the front south of Villers-Guislain. About this time the 81st Reserve Regiment was broken up and distributed among the regiments of the 21st Reserve Division. The division fought at Gouzeaucourt (28th), Gonnelieu (30th), Banteux (30th), Gouy (Oct. 3), Beaurevoir (5th), Villers Outreaux (8th), Clary (9th), Le Cateau (11th). After losing 1,550 prisoners the division was withdrawn on October 17. According to a divisional order of October 1, the strength was so low as to warrant the reduction in half of the normal allotment of kitchen and supply wagons.

4. The division returned from close reserve on October 23 northeast of Haussy. In the closing days it fought at Vendegies (24th), Ruesnes (24th), Orsinval (Nov. 2), southwest of Wargnies le Grand (4th), east of Villers Pol and in the Gommegnies sector (5th). The division withdrew on November 8.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. During 1918 its service was entirely in the area north and south of the Somme, where it saw a great deal of heavy fighting.

21st Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │11 Ldw. │20 Ldw. │11 Ldw. │20 Ldw. │ │35 Ldw. │ │35 Ldw. │ │435 Ldw. │ │435 Ldw. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 6 Cuirassier Rgt. │4 Sqn. 6 Cuirassier Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │ (?) │ 253 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(421) Pion. Btn.: │414 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Landst. Co. 14 C. Dist. │ 1 Ldw. Co. 3 C. Dist. │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 406 T. M. Co. │ 1 Landst. Co. 15 C. Dist. │ │ Pions. │ 521 Tel. Detch. │ 80 Searchlight Section. │ │521 Signal Command: │ │ 521 Tel. Detch. │ │ 175 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │553 Ambulance Co. │553 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │54 Res. Field Hospital. │54 Res. Field Hospital. │105 Res. Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transports. │797 M. T. Col. │797 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(20th and 35th Landwehr Regiments: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg. 435th Landwehr: Mixed—11th and 14th Corps Districts.)

1917.

BELGIUM.

1. The 21st Landwehr Division was formed in April, 1917, by the addition of the 435th Regiment to the two regiments of the 11th Landwehr Brigade. This brigade, until then independent, had come to Belgium the 2d of August, 1914, had detached certain of its elements in Picardy, from the end of September to the end of November, and had fought near Ypres in November and December. From March to October, 1915, it acted as garrison at Brussels and Antwerp. At the end of December, 1915, it reappeared on the Belgian front between Dixmude and Ypres (from Steenstraat to the Ypres-Zonnebeke road).

RUSSIA.

2. In May, 1917, the 21st Landwehr Division was identified in the vicinity of Arras. On May 16 it entrained for the Eastern Front. Itinerary: Liege-Aix la Chapelle-Paderborn-Halle-Posen-Warsaw. Detraining at Brest-Litovsk on May 21, it remained in training for 10 days, was then sent to the Niémen front, and occupied the Vichnev sector until March, 1918.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 21st Landwehr Division did work in the service of supplies in Belgium and held very calm sectors in Russia. Its offensive value seems mediocre.

On the Russian front in January, 1918, the 20th Landwehr Regiment received 600 men of the 1919 class in exchange for its men of 25 to 35 years of age sent to the Western Front. Before being brought back to France in March, 1918, the 35th Landwehr Regiment left its older men in Russia and received 900 men of 19 to 30 years of age.

1918.

1. The division held the Badonviller sector from April 29 until the armistice. The division was strong in the number of effectives, but their quality and morale was low. The division was rated as a fourth- class division.

22d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │43. │82. │43. │82. │43. │82. │ │83. │ │83. │ │83. │44. │32. │44. │32. │ │167. │ │167. │ │167. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │6 Cuirassier Rgt. │ │6 Cuirassier Rgt. │ (3 Sqns.). │ │ (2 Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │22 Brig.: │22 Brig.: │22 Brig.: │ 11 F. A. Rgt. │ 11 F. A. Rgt. │ 11 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 47 F. A. Rgt. │ 47 F. A. Rgt. │ 47 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 11: │ 11: │ │ Field Co. 11 │ 2 Co. 11 Pions. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 22 Pont. Engs. │ 22 T. M. Co. │ │ 22 Tel. Detch. │ 22 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ 22 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │2 Cyclist Co. (11 │ │ │ Jag. Btn.). │ │ │36 Air Sqn. │ │ │109 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │43. │82. │43. │82. │ │83. │ │83. │ │167. │ │167. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 6 Cuir. Rgt.│6 Sqn. 6 Cuirassier │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │22 Art. Command: │22 Art. Command: │ 11 F. A. Rgt. │ 11 F. A. Rgt. (not │ │ including 4 and 5 │ │ Abt.). │ │ 50 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 1140 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1141 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1142 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(1/11 or 128) Pion.│128 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ Btn.: │ │ 1 Co. 11 Pions. │ 1 Co. 11 Pions. │ │ │ 2 Co. 11 Pions. │ 2 Co. 11 Pions. │ 22 T. M. Co. │ 225 T. M. Co. │ 51 Searchlight │ 51 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 22 Tel. Detch. │22 Signal Command: │ │ 22 Tel. Detch. │ │ 109 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │Ambulance Co.: │26 Ambulance Co.: Veterinary.│ │ │ 103 Field │ 103 Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │ 107 Field │ 107 Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │ 110 Field │ 148 Vet. Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │ Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │52 Supply Train. │ │51 Supply Train. │ │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │2 Cyclist Co. (11 │ │ Jag. Btn.). │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(11th Corps District—Electorate of Hesse.)

1914.

1. The 22d Division formed a part of the 11th Army Corps (Cassel) with the 38th Division.

BELGIUM.

2. One of its brigades, the 43d, was sent to Liege and entrained on August 2–3, 1914. The other rejoined it there and after the surrender of the city the 22d Division, with the rest of the 11th Army Corps, formed a part of the 3d Army (Von Hausen). It went to Namur and then to Eastern Prussia.

RUSSIA.

3. In October the 22d Division (and the 11th Army Corps) was in Poland, where it remained until May, 1915. It took part in the violent attacks along the Bzura and the Rawka.

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. In April, 1915, the division gave the 32d Infantry Regiment to the 103d Division (a new formation).

2. In July it was separated from the 38th Division. It took part in the offensive of the 11th Army (Mackensen), and arrived on the Styr in October. It then formed a part of the 4th Austrian Army.

1916.

1. In the spring of 1916 the 22d Division was in the rear of Vilna (May), after having been at Mitau. On June 11 it entrained at Mitau for Vilna.

GALICIA.

2. It then formed a part of the troops destined to withstand the Russian offensive in Galicia and took up its position on the Lipa.

ROUMANIA.

3. In December it was sent to Roumania and operated in Moldavia.

1917.

GALICIA.

1. It returned in January, 1917, to the 4th Austrian Army on the Lipa.

2. At the beginning of July it was in Volhynia (Mikolajow, northwest of Brody).

3. On July 7–9 the division was relieved and sent to the area south of Tarnopol. It arrived there on July 15 and took part in the offensive against the Russians. It suffered rather heavy losses in the beginning, the Russians having resisted for several days.

4. The 22d Division remained in this area until October 7. On this date it was relieved and entrained for the Western Front (itinerary: Brzezany-Torgau-Erfurt-Frankfort on the Main-Mayence-Sarrebrucken- Thionville-Montmedy), detraining at Douzy (east of Sedan) about October 14.

At the end of October the division, after a few days of rest, was put in line in the Forges sector (Verdun area), where it had a few losses (November, December). January 1918, it was on the front north of Verdun (right bank of the Meuse).

RECRUITING.

The 22d Division is recruited from the electorate of Hesse. Alsace- Lorrainers were numerous during its stay on the Eastern Front.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 22d Division, coming from Russia, where it had had rather easy victories, appeared to have a relatively good morale. Its spirit, however, did not appear very combative (Nov. 1917).

1918.

1. The division was in line on the right bank of the Meuse (Samogneux- Cote 344) from January, 1918, to the end of May, when it was relieved by the 6th Bavarian Division.

2. It was in reserve southwest of Reims on June 16, and came into line at Anthenay on June 20. About the 1st of July the 103d Division relieved the 22d Division, which went to rest in the neighborhood of Fismes and Hourges.

BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

3. The division was engaged southeast of Ville en Tardenois (Chambrecy, Champlat, Velval) July 15–26. It fell back in the line Romigny-Ville en Tardenois and was relieved on August 7. About 400 prisoners were lost in this fighting.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

4. The division rested in the Cambrai area until August 29, when it was moved up to the line. On the 1st of September it was engaged on the Arras-Cambrai road near Bullecourt. The British attack rolled it back on Inchy and Marquion, where it was withdrawn on the 10th. The division lost 1,100 prisoners in the week of fighting.

THE SCARPE.

5. It rested until September 28, when it came into line north of Cambrai (Epinoy), Sancourt, Blécourt. About October 1 it was moved north and relieved the 48th Reserve Division north of the Scarpe. In the sector it fought until October 23 (south east of Lille, St. Amand, southwest of Odomez).

6. Upon its relief, the division marched from Thulin, west of Mons, on October 24 to the Le Quesnoy area, and on the next day relieved the 185th Division east of Gussignies. In November it was in the fighting around Le Quesnoy and Gommegnies until its withdrawal on November 7.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was employed in the July offensive, but made little headway. On the defensive the division appears to have done better than many divisions of a higher rating.

22d Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │43 Res. │71 Res. │43 Res. │71 Res. │43 Res. │71 Res. │ │94 Res. │ │94 Res. │ │82 Res. │44 Res. │32 Res. │44 Res. │32 Res. │ │94 Res. │ │82 Res. │ │82 Res. │ │ │ 11 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 11 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 11 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │1 Res. Horse Jag. │1 Res. Horse Jag. │1 Res. Horse Jag. │ Rgt. (3 Sqns.). │ Rgt. │ Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │22 Res. F. A. Rgt. │22 Res. F. A. Rgt. │22 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (6 Btries.). │ │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2 Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. 4.│ Pion. Btn. No. 4.│ Pion. Btn. No. 4. │ │22 Res. Pont. Engs.│222 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │22 Res. Tel. Detch.│22 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │22 Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │43 Res. │71 Res. │43 Res. │71 Res. │ │82 Res. │ │82 Res. │ │94 Res. │ │94 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 1 Res. Horse│1 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt. │ Jag. Rgt. │ │2 Sqn. 1 Res. Heavy│ │ Cav. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │22 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 22 Res. F. A. Rgt.│43 Ft. A. Btn. │ (9 Btries.). │ (Staff, and 1, 2, │ │ and 3 Btries.). │ │737 Light Am. Col. │ │1379 Light Am. Col. │ │1380 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(322) Pion. Btn.: │322 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Res. Co. 4 │ 1 Res. Co. 4 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. 4 │ 2 Res. Co. 4 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 222 T. M. Co. │ 103 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 27, 251, and 271 │422 Signal Command: │ Searchlight │ │ Sections. │ │ 422 Tel. Detch. │ 422 Tel. Detch. │ │ 35 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │511 Ambulance Co. │511 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │21 Res. Field │23 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │50 Res. Field │50 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │422 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(11th Corps District—Electorate of Hesse and Thuringia.)

1914.

1. At the beginning of the war the 22d Reserve Division formed the 4th Reserve Corps with the 7th Reserve Division. It was a part of the 1st Army (Von Kluck).

BELGIUM.

2. Concentrated at Dusseldorf (Aug. 10) the 22d Reserve Division reached Brussels by way of Aix la Chapelle, Tongres, and Louvain. The 94th Reserve Infantry Regiment remained at Brussels until September 5, when it was hastily called to rejoin the division. The 71st Reserve Infantry Regiment remained there until August 31 and then figured in the battle of the Marne on September 6.

MARNE.

3. The 44th Reserve Brigade joined to the 7th Reserve Division went to Ath, Conde, Amiens (Aug. 30–31), and Creil (Sept. 2), almost without combat, but by forced marches to the extreme right flank of the 1st Army. In action on the right bank of the Ourcq, it withdrew to the north of the Aisne.

4. The 43d Reserve Brigade, of which only one regiment had fought with the 44th from September 6 to 9 was filled upon the 9th and went to Peronne. On September 11, strengthened by the 72d Reserve Regiment, detached from the 7th Reserve Division, it was concentrated north of Compiegne.

TRACY LE MONT.

5. Until September 20 the 43d Reserve Brigade fought in the vicinity of Tracy le Mont with some elements of the 7th Reserve Division. The 44th Reserve Brigade was engaged with the majority of this division on the Nouvron Plateau.

NOUVRON.

6. On September 20 the 43d Reserve Brigade rejoined the 44th (Hautebraye-Chevillecourt.)

7. On November 12 elements of the division took part in the attack on the Nouvron Plateau and suffered rather heavy losses.

1915.

AISNE.

1. The 22d Reserve Division occupied the lines between the Aisne and the Oise until the autumn of 1915.

2. In January, 1915, elements of the division took part in the battle around Soissons. In April, 1915, the 32d Reserve Infantry Regiment became a part of the 113th Division.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. At the end of October the 22d Reserve Division left the area northwest of Soissons to go to Champagne (Souain sector).

1916.

1. The 22d Reserve Division left Champagne at the end of January, 1916; it went to rest at Attigny, which it left on February 29.

VERDUN.

2. From March 1 to 5, at the height of the Verdun offensive, the division was reassembled between Dun and Vilosnes behind the front. On March 6 it attacked on the left bank of the Meuse. It took part in the operations in this sector (valley of the Forges and Corbeaux wood) until the middle of April. In the first attacks of March the 6th Company of the 82d Reserve Infantry Regiment required replacements of 90 men, among whom were recruits from the 1916 class. After a few days of rest the 22d Reserve Division again attacked at Verdun, south of Corbeaux wood and near the Mort Homme (May 23 to beginning of June). It lost very heavily. Its attacks at Verdun had cost it 90 per cent of its infantry. From April 24 to June 26 the 1st and 4th Companies of the 11th Battalion of Reserve Chasseurs had each received at least 204 men as replacements; the 6th Company of the 94th Reserve Infantry Regiment, from March 9 to June 15, 217 men; the 8th Company, 207 men.

3. The division rested and was reorganized in the vicinity of Fourmies- Hirson; it was then sent between St. Quentin and Tergnier.

SOMME.

4. At the beginning of the Somme offensive the 22d Reserve Division was concentrated southeast of Peronne on July 2. It went into action south of the Somme (Biaches-Belloy), and suffered heavy losses (1,500 prisoners between July 2 and July 10).

CHAMPAGNE.

5. Transferred to Champagne, it rested for a few days and then went into line east of Rheims (Auberive sector) and in the Prosnes sector at the end of August.

6. At the end of October, after it had rested in the Rethel-Vouziers sector until November 10, the division was placed behind the Cambrai-St. Quentin sector.

SOMME.

7. It went back to the Somme at the beginning of December east of Rancourt and remained there until December 20.

1917.

1. The 22d Reserve Division passed the month of January, 1917, at rest in the Valenciennes area.

2. In February it took over the Saillisel sector, where it took part in secondary action. In March the division took part in the withdrawal and established itself in the Hindenburg line between Gonnelieu and Le Catelet.

3. About May 20 the 22d Reserve Division went to rest in the neighborhood of Lens and Tourcoing.

FLANDERS.

4. On June 14 it went into line in the Comines sector, west of Warneton, where it remained until the end of June.

5. After a period of rest north of Lille (end of June to July 23–24) it went into action southeast of Zillebeke, where it underwent the British attack of July 31, and suffered very heavily.

6. Relieved immediately after the attack, the division was sent to the Bullecourt sector (Aug. 10-Sept. 22).

7. Until October 5 it rested in the vicinity of Courtrai. At this date it occupied the Becelaere sector as a counterattacking division, supporting the 4th Guard Division, and suffered heavily from bombardments (Oct. 5–21).

LORRAINE-ALSACE.

8. At the beginning of November it was in line in Lorraine, southwest of Delme, then in Alsace (sector of Aspach south of the Rhone-Rhine Canal in December).

RECRUITING.

The 22d Reserve Division is recruited from the Electorate of Hesse and Thuringia. In case of emergency replacements are occasionally furnished by neighboring corps districts (8th Corps in June, 1916). At the end of October, 1917, unequally trained men were received from the Eastern Front (the 71st Infantry Reserve Regiment receiving men from the depot of the 146th Infantry Regiment, men from the Service of Supplies, convalescents, or men of mediocre physical quality).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 22d Reserve Division is a mediocre division (December, 1917). The units of the 11th Corps District have generally fought well during the entire war.

The 22d Reserve District lost very heavily in the battles of Verdun and the Somme and from artillery fire at Ypres.

1918.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

1. The division left Alsace about April 6 and came into the Lys battle line on April 16 northeast of Bailleul. Its former sector in the Vosges was taken over by an extension of the neighboring divisions. The route of the division lay through Strasbourg, Treves, Cologne, Verviers, Liege, Brussels, Courtrai-Roubaix, a journey of two days. The division participated in heavy fighting about Kemmel until its relief on May 1.

2. When relieved by the 117th Division, it marched to Roubaix, where it rested for two days. From there it marched to Waereghem, where the 82d Reserve Regiment rested for about eight days. About May 11 the 22d Reserve Division entrained at Audenarde and was railed to Rieux, 5 miles east of Cambrai. The division marched via Cambrai to the Montauban- Longueval-Gullemont area, where it went into rest billets. On the night of May 31-June 1 the 1st Battalion, 82d Reserve Regiment, reenforced the 122d Fusilier Regiment (243d Division) near Avelcy.

VERDUN.

3. The division entrained in the Cambrai area on June 8 and traveled via Valenciennes-Mons Charleroi-Dinant-Mezieres-Sedan to Ligny sur Meuse, where it detrained on June 9. The next day it relieved the 53d Reserve Division east of Bethincourt. It held the sector until about July 25.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. Entraining at Brieulles, the division moved by Sedan and Vouziers to St. Morel and Savigny sur Aisne, where it rested until August 5. On the 6th it came into line in the St. Souplet-Somme Py sector, which it held until August 23.

5. The division left Champagne and moved from Semide by Laon-La Fere- Tergnier to the Noyon area. Relieved August 24–27, it detrained at Flavy le Martel and La Fere, and rested a day at Cugny, Petit Detroit, Bois de Genlis, and Bois de Frieres before moving east of Noyon to cover the retreat of elements of the 71st Division and the 105th Division.

NOYON.

6. On August 29 it came into line and held the sector Mont St. Simeon- Baboeuf. The division resisted the French attack until September 3, when it fell back slowly toward the Crozat Canal, offering resistance at Behericourt-Baboeuf (4th), Cuivry-Caillouel-Crepigny-Bethancourt (5th), and Villequier Aumont (6th). It was relieved on the night of September 7–8 by the 11th Division and rested at Ribemont and then farther north in the billets at Fontaine Notre Dame, Regny, and Homblieres.

ST. QUENTIN.

7. From September 10 to 12 the division was relieving the 75th Reserve Division in the sector Castres-Contescourt-Hill 98. The division held in this vicinity until September 28 when the British advance north of St. Quentin compelled it to retreat. Between October 2 and 5 the division held the line Harley-Neuville-St. Amand. On the 8th it was again forced to retreat. The division was relieved on October 15–16. In this fighting the division lost at least one-third of its effectives. The battalion had but three companies, and the effective strength of the infantry companies averaged about 35. The entire division had but about 1,300 infantry combatants.

8. After its relief by the 18th Division on the night of October 15–16, the division remained near the front at Grand Verly, Hannappes, and Lesquielles. It was suddenly alerted on October 17 and obliged to return to support the 18th Division west of Petit Verly. It put up a stiff resistance on October 18, but was thrown back east of the Sambre Canal, losing a large number of prisoners.

In the closing week the division was at Favril (5th), Marvilles (6th).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was heavily engaged at Kemmel in April, after which it did not appear in an active front until the autumn. The division resisted the Allied advance on the St. Quentin area in September and October with great tenacity.

22d Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[15] ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │6 Ldw. │34 Ldw. │ │34 Ldw. (3d │ │ │ │ Btn.). │ │49 Ldw. │ │49 Ldw. (2d │ │ │ │ Btn.). │ │10 Landst. (4│ │ │ │ Btns.). │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │ (z) │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │219 F. A. Rgt. (Staff and 3 │ │ Abt.). │ 219 F. A. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(422) Pion. Btn.: │522 Signal Command: Liaisons. │ │ │ (322) T. M. Co. │ 522 Tel. Detch. │ 30 Searchlight Section. │ │ 284 Searchlight Section. │ │ Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │551 Ambulance Co. │11 Res. Field Hospital. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │139 Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

Footnote 15:

The units below are those grouped under the 22d Landwehr Division Postal Sector (380). Other units of the 22d Landwehr Division, but functioning with other divisions, are carried as attached to such division.

HISTORY.

(2d Corps District—Pomerania.)

1917.

RUSSIA.

1. The 22d Landwehr Division was formed on the Eastern Front in the vicinity of Riga, at the end of March, 1917. The 6th Landwehr Brigade, which entered into its composition, had belonged to the 1st Landwehr Division (former Jacobi Division), then had become independent when the latter left the Riga front to go to Volhynia. It is then that the addition of the 10th Landsturm Battalion to the Mitau group made the 22d Landwehr Division from the 6th Landwehr Brigade.

COURLAND.

2. From April to October, 1917, the 22d Landwehr Division remained on the Riga front (vicinity of Olai).

VOLHYNIA.

3. In October, it was transferred to the west of Kachovka (Volhynia), where it remained until February, 1918.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 22d Landwehr Division remained on the Russian front from the time of its formation, March, 1917.

1918.

UKRAINE.

1. In February, 1918, the 22d Landwehr Division advanced into the Ukraine, where it was between Kiev and Koursk on the 24th of March. On May 9 the division was near Jitomir. The 219th Field Artillery Regiment was at Kiev on the 24th of May. On September 7 the division was identified near Stochod.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

23d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │45. │100 Gren.│45. │100 Gren.│45. │100 Gren. │ │101 Gren.│ │101 Gren.│ │101 Gren. │46. │108 Fus. │46. │108 Fus. │ │108 Fus. │ │182. │ │182. │ │ │ 12 Jag. Btn. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │20 Hus. Rgt. │ │18 Hus. Rgt. (3 │ │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │23 Brig.: │23 Brig.: │23 Brig.: │ 12 F. A. Rgt. │ 12 F. A. Rgt. │ 12 F. A. Rgt. │ 48 F. A. Rgt. │ 48 F. A. Rgt. │ 48 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 12: │ 12: │ │ Field Co. 12 │ 1 Co. 12 Pions. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 23 Pont. Engs. │ 23 T. M. Co. │ │ 23 Tel. Detch. │ 23 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ 23 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │45. │100 Gren.│45. │100. │ │101 Gren.│ │101. │ │108 Fus. │ │108. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Sqns. 20 Hus. │1 Sqn. 20 Hus. Rgt. │ Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │23 Art. Command: │23 Art. Command: │ 12 F. A. Rgt. │ 12 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 1 Abt. 19 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (1 and 3 │ │ Btries.). │ │ 891 Light Am. Col. │ │ 959 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1100 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(1/12) Pion. Btn.: │23 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Co. 12 Pions. │ 1 Co. 12 Pions. │ │ │ 3 Co. 12 Pions. │ 3 Co. 12 Pions. │ 6 Co. 12 Pions. │ 23 T. M. Co. │ 23 T. M. Co. │ 125 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 23 Tel. Detch. │23 Signal Command: │ │ 23 Tel. Detch. │ │ 12 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │30 Ambulance Co. │30 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │114 Field Hospital.│114 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │117 Field Hospital. │ │23 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(12th Corps District—Saxony.)

1914.

BELGIUM.

1. The 23d Division, on mobilization, was a part of the 12th Army Corps with the 32d Division (2d Army, Von Hausen). It detrained on August 9–11, 1914, at Eifel, north of Treves, and entered Belgium on the 18th by the north of Luxemburg.

MARNE.

2. It went into action on August 23 at Dinant, crossed the Meuse on the 24th, entered France on the 26th, went to the west of Chalons and took part in the battle of the Marne on September 7 at Sompuis (west of Vitry le Francois).

AISNE.

3. The 23d Division, with the 2d Army Corps, established itself in the area northwest of Rheims.

1915.

AISNE.

1. The division held the front Craonne-Berry au Bac until July, 1916. In this sector the losses were very slight.

2. In March, 1915, some of its elements were in Champagne for a short time. In April, the 182d Infantry Regiment was taken for the 123d Division (a new formation).

1916.

SOMME.

1. On July 3, 1916, at the beginning of the Franco-English offensive, the 23d Division detached some elements of the 101st and 108th Regiments to reinforce the divisions engaged in the attack (region of Sovecourt- Vermandovillers).

2. From the end of July and until the 1st of September the 100th Grenadier Regiment was incorporated in a new division (Franke Division), which held the front from Deniecourt to Vermandovillers.

3. The other regiments of the 23d Division continued to occupy the sector of Craonne-Berry au Bac until the end of August.

4. On September 4 the 101st and 108th Regiments, coming from Berry au Bac, were sent to the Somme. They suffered considerable losses.

5. About September 15 the 23d Division was regrouped with its normal elements (the Franke Division being dissolved) and received 2,700 men as replacements (men of the Landstrum called in April and May and young men of the 1917 class, most of them having had not more than two or three months’ service. The 12th Company of the 100th Grenadier Regiment received at least 108 men as replacements on September 20).

6. From October 1 to 6 the 23d Division went back into line between the Chaulnes Railroad and the south of Vermandovillers. It again lost very heavily during the time it remained in line until October 20. (The 2d Company of the 108th Riflemen received, on Oct. 27, replacements of at least 97 men, most of whom were returned wounded and convalescents. Since Sept. 17 it had received at least 198 newcomers; the same holds true for the 4th Company of the 104th Grenadier Regiment).

7. Relieved about October 25, the division was sent to a sector in the Roye (Beuvraignes) area in November.

1917.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. It occupied this sector (between Armancourt and Roye) until the moment of the German retirement and retired to St. Quentin on March 25, 1917.

2. Relieved and sent to rest at the beginning of April in the Sedan area, it went up in the middle of the month to the sector in Champagne between Hill 232 (east of Nauroy) and the Suippe.

3. On April 19 the 101st and 108th Infantry Regiments counterattacked energetically and in very good order between the Teton and the Suippe and obtained some local success for a short time. On April 20 the 100th Infantry Regiment went into action in its turn.

4. Upon the conclusion of these operations, the 23d Division took up its position on the new front (west of Auberive) and remained there until the beginning of December, after making up for the heavy losses suffered in April. At the beginning of January, 1918, the 23d Division went to occupy the sector of Loivre, northwest of Rheims, and in February the sector of Courcy.

RECRUITING.

The 23d Division is purely Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 23d Division is very good.

It lost very heavily at the time of the offensive, April, 1917, in Champagne, but still appeared good.

1918.

In February, 1918, the morale of the division seemed high.

1. The division continued in the sector northwest of Rheims (Courcy- Brimont) until about February 20, where it was relieved by the 213th Division and moved toward the Somme front.

2. It was transported to Neufchatel on the 23d. From there it proceeded by stages to north of Guise (Esqueheries, La Neuville-le-Dorengt). It rested and underwent training in this area until March 18. It marched by night toward the front by way of Bohain, Fresnoy le Grand (where the Kaiser inspected it), Le Verguier (evening of Mar. 21–22).

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

3. The division followed the advance in third line from March 22 to 29 through Holnon, Beauvois, Athies, St. Christ, Chaulnes, Rosieres, Beaucourt en Santerre. It was engaged from March 29 to April 3 (Mezieres, Villers aux Erables, La Neuville Sire Bernard). Its advance continued to a line east of Mailly-Rainval, Sauvillers. It was in second line from April 2 to 7, when it returned to line near Grievesnes until April 13. The division’s losses were estimated to have been about 70 per cent in the fighting.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. When withdrawn from the Somme, on the 13th, the division was moved to Champagne and took over a quiet sector east of Auberive on the 31st, which it held until June 6. While in line the division was reconstituted.

5. The division rested in the vicinity of Bazoches from June 5 to 15, undergoing intensive training. It came into line on the night of June 19–20 at St. Pierre Aigle, relieving the 45th Reserve Division. It was retired from the front at Villers Cotterets about July 1. It rested near Braisne until the 12th, when it marched toward the Marne front (Foret de Ris) on July 12.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

6. It reinforced the battle front southwest of Dormans on the 15th. It crossed the Marne east of Courcelles north of Sawigny and advanced to La Chapelle Monthodon. On the 17th it was checked and rolled back by the Foret de Fere to Fresnes (south of Fere en Tardenoise, July 26).

ARTOIS.

7. The division was withdrawn about the end of July and went to Chimay to rest. On August 13 it entrained and moved to the Douai area via Valenciennes, where it came into line on August 24 southwest of Arras. The British attack forced it to give way to the line Beugny-Morchies, with a loss of 700 prisoners. On the 5th the division withdrew from line.

8. The division rested until September 27, when it appeared in line northeast of Bixschoote, southeast of the forest of Houthulst. After five days of heavy fighting it was withdrawn from line. Eight hundred prisoners were taken from the division. It was at rest near Gits until the 14th, when it was again engaged north of Roulers until October 20. On that date it passed to second line southeast of Ghent, where it was again in contact with the Allies on November 8. The last identification was at Sommersaeke, Aecke, on November 9.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a third-class division. Its use in two offensives of 1918 and its constant employment on active sectors in the last six months of the war would seem to warrant a higher rating.

At the end the effectives of the division was very much reduced.

23d Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │45 Res. │100 Res. │45 Res. │100 Res. │45 Res. │100 Res. │ │ Gren. │ │ Gren. │ │ Gren. │ │101 Res. │ │100 Res. │ │101 Res. │46 Res. │102 Res. │46 Res. │102 Res. │46 Res. │102 Res. │ │103 Res. │ │103 Res. │ │103 Res. │ 12 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 12 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 12 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │Res. Hus. Rgt. (3 │ │Res. Hus. Rgt. │ Sqns.). │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │23 Res. F. A. Rgt. │23 Res. F. A. Rgt. │23 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ (6 Btries.). │ │ │32 Res. F. A. Rgt. │32 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ (6 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(?) Res. Co. 2 │4 Field Co. 2 Pion. Liaisons. │ │ Pion. Btn. No. │ Btn. No. 12. │ │ 12. │ │ │23 Res. Pont. Engs.│2 Res. Co. 2 Pion. │ │ │ Btn. No. 12. │ │23 Res. Tel. Detch.│223 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │23 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │23 Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │45 Res. │100 Res. │46 Res. │100 Res. │ │ Gren. │ │ │ │102 Res. │ │102 Res. │ │392. │ │392. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. Res. Hus. │2 Sqn. 18 Res. Hus. │ Rgt. (Saxon). │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │118 Art. Command: │118 Art. Command: │ │ │ 23 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 23 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ 1 Abt. 15 Res. Ft. │ │ A. Rgt. │ │ 875 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1002 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1003 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│323 Pion. Btn.: │323 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 4 Co. 12 Pions. │ 4 Co. 12 Pions. │ │ │ 2 Res. Co. 12 │ 4 Res. Co. 22 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 5 Res. Co. 12 │ 223 T. M. Co. │ Pions. │ │ 223 T. M. Co. │ 133 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 423 Tel. Detch. │423 Signal Command: │ │ 423 Tel. Detch. │ │ 143 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │270 Ambulance Co. │270 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ (Sax.). │ │520 Ambulance Co. │4 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │4 Res. Field │8 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │8 Res. Field │423 Vet. Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │423 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │721 M. T. Col. │721 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(12th Corps District—Saxony.)

1914.

BELGIUM-ARDENNES-CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 23d Reserve Division, forming on mobilization the 12th Reserve Corps, with the 24th Reserve Division, was a part in 1914 of the 3d German Army (Von Hausen). It detrained on August 12–13 at Wengerohr (Coblentz-Treves line), remained for a few days on the frontier north of Luxemburg, and entered Belgium on the 19th. It crossed the Meuse at Antree, below Dinant (Aug, 23), and entered France on the 27th by way of Phillipville (Marienburg and Couvin). It went across Champagne by Chateau Porcien, Tagnon, and Le Chatelet (Sept. 1), went to the east of Rheims, crossed the Marne east of Epernay, and reached the railroad from Sezanne to Vitry le Francois between Vassimont and Sommesous on September 8.

MARNE.

2. Engaged in the battle of the Marne, on the extreme right of the 3d Army, the 23d Reserve Division suffered heavy losses (Sept. 8–9).

CHAMPAGNE.

3. It retired, by way of Mourmelon, to the region of Moronvilliers Auberive and took up its position there (end of September).

1915.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 23d Reserve Division occupied the Champagne front (Auberive sector) until the month of July, 1916.

2. On September 25 it received the French offensive, which caused it very heavy losses. At this time the 103d Reserve Infantry Regiment was detached from the 23d Reserve Division and assigned to the Liebert Division. In October it rejoined the 23d Reserve Division after being reorganized. Its losses in the Champagne battle had been 140 killed, 751 wounded, and 1,369 missing. On October 2 at least 115 men had been sent to the 8th Company of the 103d Infantry Regiment as replacements.

1916.

1. The 23d Reserve Division was relieved from the sector of Auberive-St. Souplet sector between July 15 and 20, 1916, and transferred to the north of Peronne.

SOMME.

2. It was engaged in the battle of the Somme (north of Hem to the Monacu Farm) until August 12–14. The 100th Reserve Grenadier Regiment lost 1,700 men there (letter). The 7th Company of the 103d Infantry Regiment received at least 113 men as replacements between August 1 and 17.

ARTOIS.

3. After a rest in the vicinity of Douai, the division was sent south of Lens (Angres-Souchez from the beginning of September to Oct. 20). Its composition was modified by the substitution of the 392d Infantry Regiment, formed by men taken from various Saxon regiments, for the 103d Reserve Infantry Regiment.

SOMME.

4. About the middle of October it was again on the Somme (north of Gueudecourt). It remained there for five weeks and suffered very little.

ARTOIS.

5. Relieved from the Somme on December 3 and 4 the 23d Reserve Division remained at rest for a few days near Cambrai, and then took over the sector east of Arras (between Roclincourt and Beaurains). The 101st Reserve Infantry Regiment was transferred to a new Saxon Division, the 119th, and the 23d Reserve Division was reduced to three regiments.

1917.

1. The division occupied the Artois front during the winter of 1916–17.

2. It was withdrawn at the end of March to go to Belgium.

FLANDERS.

3. Sent to rest in the Bruges area for a fortnight; it then went in line for a month north of Ypres (calm sector).

4. It was in reserve in June and then went to the front on July 10 between the railroad from Ypres to Staden and the Ypres-Roulers Railroad. In the course of its relief (July 31) it suffered heavily from the bombardment which preceded the British attack.

5. Retained in Flanders, it took part on September 22 in the fighting in the Passchendaele sector and underwent the British attack of September 26, which caused it heavy losses. (The 2d Company of the 100th Reserve Infantry Regiment was reduced to 25 men.)

RUSSIA.

6. After five days in line the 23d Reserve Division was relieved and transferred to Russia, where it arrived on October 8.

7. It appeared in the Vilna area between October 10 and 17. In the middle of November it was identified near Postavy, where it still was at the end of January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 23d Reserve Division is purely Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 23d Reserve Division was not seriously engaged during the first half of 1917, but has suffered heavily since that time.

After the losses which it suffered in July, 1917, it received mediocre replacements (elderly men and returned convalescents.)

If one adds to that the heavy losses which it suffered at Passchendaele in September, and in its four months’ stay on the Eastern Front, one may rest assured that the morale and general quality of the division had diminished in value for more than a year. (British Summary of Information, Feb., 1918.)

1918.

ARTOIS.

1. In March the division was transferred to the Western Front. It entrained near Dvinsk on March 16 and traveled via Vilna-Koenigsberg- Marienburg-Schneidemuhl-Berlin-Hanover-Menden-Krefeld-Aix la Chapelle- Hasselt-Louvain-Brussels-Courtrai-Lille, and detrained at Libercourt (16 km. south of Lille) on March 22. It left for the front on March 26.

It came into line in the Oppy sector on March 28. In the attack on this day all three regiments of the division suffered heavy casualties. The division continued in line in the vicinity until about June 25.

FLANDERS.

2. When relieved in the Arras sector the division marched north and relieved the 15th Reserve Division near Calonne sur la Lys about June 27. In later August the division extended its sector to the south to include the front southwest of Vielle Chapelle, southeast of Merville and east of Laventie.

The division held this front through August and September. On September 30 the resting regiment of the division—the 100th Reserve Regiment—was sent up to reenforce the Ypres front. It was engaged for two weeks in the vicinity of Ledeghem. In October the division was engaged in the Little area until about the 20th. It was taken out of line north of Tournai and sent to relieve the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division on the night of October 22–23 at Octeghem. It remained in line until a few days before the armistice. The last identification was at Audenarde on November 2.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its record of more than eight months’ constant service in line in fairly active sectors indicated considerable power of resistance.

23d Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │14 Ldw. │27 Ldw. │13 Ldw. │26 Ldw. │ │26 Ldw. │ │27 Ldw. │ │66 Ldw. │ │66 Ldw. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │ (?) │6 Sqn. 10 Hus. Rgt. │ │43 Res. Cav. Detch. │ │91 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. │ │ (Schutz.). ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │ │ 103 F. A. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(423) Pion. Btn.: │1 Landst. Co. 7 C. Dist. Liaisons. │ │ Pions. │ 347 Pion. Co. │264 Searchlight Section. │ (323) T. M. Co. │283 Searchlight Section. │ 523 Tel. Detch. │112 Searchlight Section. │ │523 Signal Command: │ │ 523 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │558 Ambulance Co. │558 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │70 Res. Field Hospital. │99 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │70 Res. Field Hospital. │ │106 Res. Field Hospital. │ │523 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transports │M. T. Col. │760 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony.)

1917.

1. The 23d Landwehr Division, formed at the end of April, 1917, in the Argonne, was composed of the independent 13th Landwehr Brigade (26th and 27th Landwehr Regiments) and of the 66th Landwehr Regiment taken from the 5th Landwehr Division. This latter division furnished the staff of its infantry brigade (14th Landwehr Brigade).

2. After being assigned to the 23d Landwehr Division, the 13th Landwehr Brigade occupied the sector of Boureuilles north of Vienne la Ville in the Argonne. It was in the Argonne from September 1914.

RUSSIA.

3. Almost as soon as it was formed the 23d Landwehr Division was transferred to the Eastern Front (entraining of the 26th Landwehr Regiment on May 19). Itinerary: Carignan-Liége—Coblentz-Cassel-Halle- Cottbus-Gnessen-Graudenz-Koenigsberg-Chavli-Poneviej. Going into line about May 25 in the vicinity of Illukst (Courland) the division remained in this sector until February, 1918. It was too much weakened to contribute replacements to the division destined to operate in France, as, for example, the 87th Division. On December 28 the 1st and 2d Companies of the 347th Infantry Regiment each received some 75 to 80 men from the 23d Landwehr Division.

VALUE.

The 23d Landwehr Division is composed entirely of elderly men; in May 1917, the recruit depots of the division furnished men from 40 to 46 years of age. At the end of 1917 the best elements had been taken for use on the Western Front.

1918.

DVINSK.

1. Beginning in February, the 23d Landwehr Division occupied the Dvinsk region. A man of the division wrote from that city under date of March 15: “We have been here since the 20th of February. The 23d Landwehr Regiment, to which I belong, is to remain in Russia for guard duty. We hold the new frontier.” The 26th Landwehr and 27th Landwehr Regiments and divisional headquarters were identified here on May 9. On the 18th of May, elements of the 27th Landwehr Regiment were in the vicinity of Riejitsa.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

24th. Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │47. │139. │47. │139. │47. │139. │ │179. │ │179. │ │133. │48. │106. │48. │106. │ │179. │ │107. │ │107. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │18 Uhlan Rgt. │ │(?) Sqn. 19 Hus. │ │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │24 Brig.: │24 Brig.: │24 Brig.: │ 77 F. A. Rgt. │ 77 F. A. Rgt. │ 77 F. A. Rgt. │ 78 F. A. Rgt. │ 78 F. A. Rgt. │ 78 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 22: │ 22: │ │ Field Co. 22 │ 1 Co. 22 Pions. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 24 Tel. Detch. │ 24 T. M. Co. │ │ 24 Pont. Engs. │ 24 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ 24 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │24 Art. Survey │ │ │ Section. │ │ │53 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │89. │133. │89. │133. │ │139. │ │139. │ │179. │ │179. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 19 Hus. Rgt.│1 Sqn. 19 Hus. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │24 Art. Command: │24 Art. Command: │ 77 F. A. Rgt. │ 77 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 96 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ (Staff, and 1, 2, │ │ and 3 Btries.). │ │ 818 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1277 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1278 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(1/22) Pion. Btn.: │22 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 2 Co. 22 Pions. │ 2 Co. 22 Pions. │ │ │ 5 Co. 22 Pions. │ 5 Co. 22 Pions. │ 2 Ers. Co. 24 │ 134 Searchlight │ Pions. │ Section. │ 24 T. M. Co. │24 Signal Command: │ 22 Searchlight │ 24 Tel. Detch. │ Section. │ │ 24 Tel. Detch. │ 93 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │47 Ambulance Co. │47 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │307 Field Hospital.│307 Field Hospital. │(?) 24 Vet. │311 Field Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │ │24 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(19th Corps District—Saxony.)

1914.

1. The 24th Division belongs to the 19th Army Corps. It is recruited in the western part of the Kingdom of Saxony (Leipzig).

MARNE.

2. At the outbreak of the war it formed a part with the 19th Army Corps, of the 3d German Army (Von Hausen). One of its brigades, the 48th, sent away secretly, detrained on August 4 at Pruem (Eifel), and entered the north of Luxemburg on the 5th. The division concentrated in the Houffalize on August 11, arrived on the banks of the Meuse on the 22d, which it crossed on the 24th and 25th above Dinant. It was at Châlons on September 5, and took part in the battle of the Marne on the 7th and 8th between Vitry le François and Maisons en Champagne. From there it returned to St. Hilaire le Grand.

FLANDERS.

3. In October, 1914, the 24th Division went over to the 6th Army (Crown Prince of Bavaria), and took up its position, which crosses the Lys (Flanders).

1915.

FLANDERS.

1. In March, 1915, the 106th and 107th Infantry Regiments were transferred to the 58th Division. The 24th Division, reduced to two regiments, was filled up by taking the 133d Infantry Regiment from the 40th Division. The 19th Army Corps retained the Lys sector until the month of August, 1917. It detached elements from its divisions to reenforce other sectors at various times.

2. In January, 1915, the 24th Division had elements in action at L’Epinette.

3. At the battle of Neuve Chapelle (March, 1915) and at Festubert (May- June, 1915), it reinforced the 7th Army Corps.

4. At the time of the Franco-British offensive in Artois, units of the 24th Division again acted as reenforcements at La Bassee-Souchez (June and October, 1915).

1916.

SOMME.

1. Relieved at the beginning of August, 1916, in the sector of the Lys, the 19th Army Corps was sent, about August 8, to the Somme, north of Pozières, where it suffered considerable losses.

2. At the end of August it was placed for several weeks in the sector of Neuve Chapelle-La Bassée, then of Le Sars-Butte de Warlencourt. It took part a second time in the battle of the Somme (October).

The two divisions of the corps suffered very heavily during these two engagements in the Franco-British offensive. The 24th division lost 6,217 men; that is, 69 per cent of its effectives.

3. The 24th Division was withdrawn from the Somme about November 11 and transferred to Flanders, where it occupied the line between the Ypres- Comines Canal and the Douve (December and the first months of 1917).

1917.

FLANDERS.

1. When the British offensive was being prepared on the Wytschaete- Messines front, the 24th Division was withdrawn from the Ypres-Comines sector and stationed behind Lille (beginning of April, 1917).

On the 7th of June it was sent toward the front; the 179th Infantry Regiment was in action east of Wytschaete on the 8th, and the division occupied the sector of Hollebeke, where it was retained until June 27.

During this period the division suffered heavily.

2. Relieved and sent to rest at the end of June, it went back into line in Belgium (sector southwest of Houthem) during the month of August.

3. It left the line at the beginning of October, and, after a few days of rest, again took over a sector in the area southeast of Ypres northwest of Zandvoorde—west of Gheluvelt. It left there at the end of October to go to the south of the Scarpe, at Monchy le Preux, where it was still in line at the beginning of February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 24th Division is purely Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In a general manner, the attitude of the 19th Army Corps has been rather passive since trench warfare succeeded the war of movement.

We may say that the Saxon is a courageous adversary.

The 24th Division is good.

1918.

1. The division held the Monchy le Preux sector until about February 11, when it was relieved by the 185th Division and transferred to the area north of Valenciennes to rest and train. On March 16 it began to march toward the Cambrai front. The route lay through Raismes, Haveluy, Wallers, Aniche, Aubigny au Bac, Marquion. It reached the original German front line on March 22 at 9 a. m.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

2. The division followed the advance in reserve until the night of March 24–25, when it came in line south of Bapaume (Ligny-Tilloy). It advanced in first line by Grevillers (26th), Achiet le Petit, Hebuterne (27th and 29th). From March 30 to April 5 it was in reserve. On the 6th the division was reengaged near Hebuterne and Bucquoy until April 15.

According to the German press, the Kaiser on March 27 telegraphed the King of Saxony felicitating him on the success of the 24th Division.

3. The division was at rest from April 15 to the end of May, first at Bapaume and later at Valenciennes.

PICARDY.

4. The division was engaged from May 28 to June 16 in the sector of the Bois d’Aveluy (north of Albert). When relieved from this front it went by railroad to the Cambrai area. The 139th Regiment went into camp at Eswars and St. Martin; the 133d, at Raillencourt; the 179th, at Ramillies and Escaudoewres. The division underwent training and executed divisional maneuvers. Between the 5th and 10th of July the division marched by Cambrai, Flesquieres, Havrincourt, Bertincourt to the region Haplincourt Bus for the purpose of reengaging in the Aveluy sector where the Germans expected an attack by the English. It remained a week in the region and returned to its cantonments in the Cambrai area.

About July 18 an order was issued placing the division at the disposition of the 6th Army for a projected offensive in Flanders. This order was revoked, and about July 20 the division entrained at Ivuy and Sancourt and moved to Chaulnes (via Peronne). It remained in the vicinity several days and then moved to Quesnel by narrow-gauge railroad.

AVRE.

5. From the 1st of August until the 17th the division opposed a lively resistance to the French attack in the Avre. In this fighting the division lost 800 prisoners.

LAON.

6. The division rested a week west of Ham. It was engaged west of Coucy le Chateau (Champs Folembray) from August 30 to September 9. It retreated about the 9th to Baresis. On October 3 the division was relieved north of the St. Gobain-Baresis railroad.

ST. QUENTIN.

7. It was moved by trucks to Fontaine-Uterte (north of St. Quentin) and engaged on October 4 near Sequehart. The division was forced back on Montbrehain and Andigny. Three hundred and forty-five prisoners were lost on the 8th. Two days later the division was relieved. On the 17th the division was again identified in line at Vaux-Audigny, but was withdrawn in a day or two.

8. It arrived in an area northeast of Fourmies on October 23 and was still there on the 26th. No later identification was secured.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a third-class division. Its conduct in the March offensive and in the defensive in August and October was above the average and would warrant a higher rating.

24th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │47 Res. │104 Res. │47 Res. │104 Res. │48 Res. │104 Res. │ │106 Res. │ │106 Res. │ │107 Res. │ │13 Res. │ │13 Res. │ │133 Res. │ │ Jag. │ │ Jag. │ │ │ │ Btn. │ │ Btn. │ │ │48 Res. │107 Res. │48 Res. │107 Res. │ │ │ │133 Res. │ │133 Res. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │Saxon Res. Hus. │Saxon Res. Hus. │3 Sqn. Saxon Res. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. │ Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │24 Res. F. A. Rgt. │24 Res. F. A. Rgt. │24 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ (6 Btries.). │ │ │40 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ (6 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │Res. Co. 2 Pion. │3 Res. Co. 12 Liaisons. │ │ Btn. No. 12. │ Pions. │ │24 Res. Pont. Engs.│4 Res. Co. 12 │ │ │ Pions. │ │24 Res. Tel. Detch.│224 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │24 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │24 Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │28 Labor Btn. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │48 Res. │104 Res. │48 Res. │104 Res. │ │107 Res. │ │107 Res. │ │133 Res. │ │133 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. Saxon Res. │3 Sqn. 18 Res. Hus. │ Hus. Rgt. │ Rgt. (Saxon). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │120 Art. Command: │120 Art. Command: │ │ │ 40 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 68 F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ 5 Btry. 7 Res. Ft. │ │ A. Rgt. │ │ 64 (Saxon) Ft. A. │ │ Btn. │ │ 1115 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1116 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1117 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│324 Pion. Btn.: │324 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 5 Res. Co. 12 │ 1 Res. Co. 12 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 6 Res. Co. 12 │ 6 Res. Co. 12 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 224 T. M. Co. │ 126 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 424 Tel. Detch. │424 Signal Command: │ │ 424 Tel. Detch. │ │ 138 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │271 Ambulance Co. │271 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │1 Res. Field │1 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │424 Vet. Hospital. │7 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │424 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │722 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │50 M. G. S. S. │ │ Detch. │ │207 Reconnaissance │ │ Flight. │ │50 Balloon Sqn. │ │17 Sound Ranging │ │ Section. │ │40 Art. Observation │ │ Section. │ │(Elements attached │ │ June, 1918. │ │ German document, │ │ June 15–16, │ │ 1918.) ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(19th Corps District—Saxony.)

1914.

1. The 24th Reserve Division (12th Reserve Corps with the 33d Reserve Division) belonged at the outbreak of the war to the 3d German Army (Von Hausen).

2. Detraining on August 12–13, 1914, northeast of Trèves, (Coblentz- Trèves railroad), entering Belgium by way of Viel-Salm on the 19th, it advanced into France by way of the Ardennes and Champagne and from there to Sompuis (west of Vitry le François, Sept. 8).

MARNE.

3. Going into action on September 8 and 9 in the vicinity of Mailly, it retired by way of Mourmelon and Sept-Saulx to the east of Rheims (Moronvilliers-Vaudesincourt). It made a stand in this sector and established its position there (end of September).

1915.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 24th Reserve Division remained in line on the Champagne front (north of Souain, south of St. Souplet-Moronvilliers) from September, 1914, until the beginning of July, 1916. In April, 1915, the 106th Reserve Infantry Regiment was transferred to the 123d Division, a new formation.

2. At the end of September, 1915, it suffered very heavy losses while opposing the French offensive.

1916.

SOMME.

1. Relieved from its sector in Champagne about the beginning of July, 1916, the 24th Reserve Division was transferred to the Somme. It went into action between Longueval and Hardecourt, from the middle to the end of July.

2. Some elements of the division were still fighting on the Somme (near Martinpuich in September).

ARTOIS.

3. About September 21, the 24th Reserve Division was put in line north of Arras (area from Lievin to Roclincourt).

SOMME.

4. It left Artois in the middle of November to return to the Somme, south of Bapaume (Le Transloy-Gueudecourt). It remained there until December 12, then returned to Artois (sector east of Arras) at the end of December.

1917.

ARTOIS.

1. The 24th Reserve Division occupied the sector east of Arras until March 25, 1917. Relieved at this date, it was sent to rest northeast of Ghent.

GALICIA.

2. On April 26 it entrained for the Eastern Front. Itinerary: Herbestal- Aix la Chapelle-Dusseldorf-Barmen-Leipzig-Dresden-Georlitz-Lemberg. Detraining in Galicia, it went into line south of Brzezany, at the beginning of May. It underwent the Russian offensive at the beginning of July, in the course of which prisoners of the three regiments and a part of the artillery of the division were left in the hands of the Russians (366 prisoners from the 133d Reserve Infantry Regiment).

3. Withdrawn from the front and reorganized, the 24th Reserve Division again went into action on July 20 (German counterattack). It advanced as far as Zbrucz and suffered new losses.

4. About August 16 it took over the sector of Skala.

5. Entraining for the Western Front on October 24, it detrained at Bruges on the 31st. Itinerary: Stanislau-Lemberg-Breslau-Dresden- Leipzig-Cassel-Trèves—Brussels.

CAMBRAI.

6. After a rest in Belgium during the month of November, the 24th Reserve Division fought at Cambrai (end of November). It remained in the sector Flesquieres-Graincourt until the end of February, 1918.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 24th Reserve Division took part in numerous battles; it is a fairly good division.

1918.

1. The division was relieved in the Cambrai sector on February 6 by the 27th Division and went to rest in the Ivny area. On the 28th it marched via Cambrai-Sains Inchy to Prouville and went into line.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

2. It took part in the initial attack and by the 22d had reached Boursies. On the following day, the division advanced through Hermies to Ruyaulcourt and was relieved in the evening. The division rested until April 6 when it came into line north of Hangard where it was engaged until April 19, when the 19th Division relieved it. The division suffered very heavily from artillery and machine gun fire in this sector.

3. The division was at rest until May 1, when it returned to the front south of the Somme, relieving the 1st Division. About the 24th of May the division sideslipped north and took the sector astride the Somme. It was relieved about the middle of June.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

4. The division rested in the Cambrai area undergoing training. It left Cambrai about July 19 and was engaged west of Fere en Tardenois on July 24. The division took part in the fighting on the Aisne until about September 5. It passed to second line for about two weeks and returned to line at Pinon on September 20. Until the armistice, it was constantly engaged in resisting the Allied advance. It was identified at Verneuil (Oct. 19), Chalaudry (21st), Mortiers (26th), Crecy (28th), and south of Landouzy on November 7.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was used as an attack division in March, but thereafter was engaged entirely on the defensive. It appears to have resisted as well as the average German division.

24th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[16] ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │9 Landwehr. │24 Landwehr. │ │24 Landwehr. │ │48 Landwehr. │ │48 Landwehr. │ │427. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │ │ 250 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

Footnote 16:

The 24th Landwehr Division is considered as dissolved.

HISTORY.

(24th and 48th Landwehr Regiments: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg.)

1917.

RUSSIA.

1. The 24th Landwehr Division was formed on the Eastern Front about October, 1917, by the transformation of the 9th Landwehr Brigade (24th and 48th Landwehr Regiments).

This brigade, after forming a part of the war garrison of Koenigsberg (August, 1914), then of the Sommer Division, had gone over to the new 10th Landwehr Division in 1915.

Becoming independent, it held the sector of Lake Svir until September, 1915.

SPIAGLA.

2. Made up of the 24th and 48th Landwehr Regiments, to which was temporarily joined the 427th Infantry Regiment coming from the 205th Division, the 24th Landwehr Division occupied the sector south of Lake Narotch-Spiagla until February, 1918.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 24th Landwehr Division is of mediocre quality.

1918.

1. In January, 1918, the division was reduced to two regiments, the 427th Regiment having been sent to the Western Front.

LIVONIA.

2. In March the division advanced into Russia and was identified about the middle of May in the Ostrov-Reijitsa region. The 427th Regiment was dissolved, but the 48th Landwehr Regiment was identified in Russia on the 19th of September. It seems possible that the divisional staff was also disbanded and that the 9th Landwehr Brigade, with the 48th Landwehr Regiment under its orders, again became independent.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

25th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │49. │115 Body │49. │115 Body │49. │115 Body │ │ Gd. │ │ Gd. │ │ Gd. │ │ Inf. │ │ Inf. │ │ Inf. │ │116. │ │116. │ │116. │50. │117 Body │50. │117 Body │ │117 Body │ │ Inf. │ │ Inf. │ │ Inf. │ │118. │ │118. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │6 Dragoon Rgt. │ │6 Dragoon Rgt. (3 │ │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │25 Brig.: │25 Brig.: │25 Brig: │25 F. A. Rgt. │ 25 F. A. Rgt. │ 25 F. A. Rgt. │61 F. A. Rgt. │ 61 F. A. Rgt. │ 61 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 21: │ 21: │ │ Field Co. 21 │ 2 Co. 21 Pions. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 25 Tel. Detch. │ 89 Res. Pion. Co. │ │ 25 Pont. Engs. │ Field Co. 25 │ │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 25 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 25 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 25 Pont. Engs. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │14 Anti-Aircraft │ │ │ Section. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │49. │115 Body │49. │115. │ │ Gd. │ │ │ │ Inf. │ │ │ │116. │ │116. │ │117 Body │ │117. │ │ Inf. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 6 Drag. Rgt.│1 Sqn. 6 Drag. Rgt. │ (?) │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │25 Art. Command: │25 Art. Command: │ 61 F. A. Rgt. │ 25 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 1 Abt. 24 Res. Ft. │ │ A. Rgt. │ │ 823 Light Am. Col. │ │ 866 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1294 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(1/21 or 134) Pion.│129 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ Btn.: │ │ 2 Co. 21 Pions. │ 3 Co. 21 Pions. │ │ │ 3 Co. 21 Pions. │ 89 Res. Pion. Co. │ 89 Res. Pion. Co. │ 68 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 25 T. M. Co. │25 Signal Command: │ 25 Tel. Detch. │ 25 Tel. Detch. │ │ 7 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │45 Ambulance Co. │45 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │298 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │304 Field Hospital. │ │25 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │14 Anti-Aircraft │ │ Section. │ │16 Anti-Aircraft │ │ Section (3.7 cm. │ │ automatic guns). │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(18th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Hesse.)

1914.

LUXEMBURG.

1. The 25th Division, also known as the Hessian Grand Ducal Division, formed, in August, 1914, with the 21st Division, the 18th Army Corps. On August 3 its 50th Brigade set out for Koenigsmacher, near Thionville, as covering troops. On August 10 and 11 the 25th Division entered the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, which it crossed, and entered Belgian Luxemburg on the 19th.

ARDENNES.

2. It formed a part of the 4th Army (Duke of Wurttemberg) and fought at Maissin, northwest of Neufchateau on August 22. On August 24, it entered France; on the 27th it crossed the Meuse below Mouzon. (On Aug. 31 the losses had been such that the remnants of the 116th Infantry Regiment formed only four companies.)

MARNE.

3. On September 6 and the days immediately following the 25th Division took part in the battle of the Marne between Vitry and Sermaize. In the middle of the month, it was northwest of Rheims, on the Aisne-Marne Canal. On September 26 it entrained at Laon for Ham.

SOMME.

4. In October the 18th Army Corps was reattached to the 2d Army which formed at this time the extreme right flank of the German Army (Péronne area) and the division went into line—the Lihons-Chaulnes road to the banks of the Avre.

1915.

SOMME.

1. The 25th Division was retained in this sector north of the Avre until October 15, 1915. During this time it did not take part in any important action. In March it ceded the 118th Infantry Regiment to the 56th Division, a new formation.

2. After a long rest in the St. Quentin area (the staff of the 18th Army Corps was at Fresnoy le Grand in December, 1915, and that of the 25th Division at Busigny in January, 1916) the 25th Division was transferred to the sector north of Verdun at the beginning of February, 1916.

1916.

VERDUN.

1. On February 21, 1916, it took part in the general attack north of Verdun. After advancing rapidly, the 18th Army Corps was stopped in the area west of Douaumont. On March 9 it failed in its attacks on the Haudremont Farm.

2. The Army Corps was then sent to rest in the rear area to be reorganized.

3. About April 10, the 18th Army Corps reappeared in line (Caillette wood). The 25th Division suffered very heavy losses in its attacks.

4. Relieved about April 25, it was put in line about the middle of May in the vicinity of Craonne.

SOMME.

5. It was withdrawn from this sector about the 1st of September and transferred to the Somme, where it went into action from September 15 to October 1, and again lost very heavily.

6. At the beginning of October the 25th Division left the Somme to occupy the sector Apremont-Ailly wood in the Woevre.

7. Again transferred to the Somme at the end of November, it was put into line in the area north of Chaulnes (sector from Kratz wood to the Demi-Lune). It was in this sector at the time of the retirement on March 16, 1916.

1917.

1. On this date it carried out its retreat by way of Villecourt-Matigny- Douchy-Roupy, in the direction of St. Quentin.

ST. QUENTIN.

2. On March 20 it began to withstand our advance on the line. Savy- Dallon-Giffecourt, and when the front was stabilized on April 4 it occupied the sector in front of St. Quentin and did not leave until the end of May, after having pillaged the town.

3. It spent the month of June at rest (area of Neuvillette-Bernot).

4. On July 2 it went into line (Itancourt sector), and on July 18 launched an attack upon the salient Moulin de Tous Vents (south of St. Quentin).

FLANDERS.

5. Relieved about the middle of September, it was sent to the active sector of Flanders (north of Zandvoorde).

6. At the beginning of October it was sent to rest in the Ghent area.

7. It reappeared on the front, near Passchendaele, in the middle of November, and remained there except for a few short intervals until its relief on February 10, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 25th Division is recruited from the Grand Duchy of Hesse. Men are furnished principally from the rest of the 18th Corps District and the Rhine District (7th and 8th Corps Districts).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 18th Army Corps has been considered one of the best corps in the German Army.

In September, 1917, the morale of the 25th Division appeared good. At this time, as the division had not taken part in any important actions since September, 1916, it was difficult to form a judgment as to the combat value of this organization.

Its local operation on the salient of Moulin de Tous Vents (July 18, 1917) was carried out energetically.

1918.

1. The reports concerning the location of the 25th Division during January and early February are conflicting, mention being made in some of two reliefs; it seems most likely, however, that the division was not relieved until February 10, when the 15th Division took over its sector east of Passchendaele.

MONS.

2. On the 15th it entrained at Iseghem and traveled via Courtrai-Ath- Mons to Givry; from here it marched to Bavai (southwest of Mons), where it underwent a course of intensive training in open warfare; cooperation with tanks was featured.

ST. QUENTIN.

3. The division marched from Pommereuil on the 16th, via Le Cateau and Busigny, to Becquigny, and from there, on the 19th, to Wiancourt, reenforcing the battle front near Le Verguier (northwest of St. Quentin) on the 21st. It was relieved about the 30th, after having suffered heavy losses.

AMIENS.

4. On April 1 it went back into line southeast of Hangard en Santerre (southeast of Amiens); it was withdrawn about the 12th and moved by easy stages to the Lille area, where, on account of its good fighting on the St. Quentin and Amiens fronts, it was inspected by the Kaiser on April 20. The commander of the 115th Regiment received Pour le Mérite at the same time.

BETHUNE.

5. During the night of the 26–27th of April it relieved the 240th Division near Hinges (north of Bethune); relieved by the 36th Reserve Division on the 10th of May, it went to rest in the area north of Douai.

LYS.

6. On July 4 the division moved up into close reserve in the Laventie- Estaires area, and during the night of the 6–7th it relieved the 16th Division near Merville, north of the Lys. On the 20th it was withdrawn, the 16th Division coming back into line, and went to the Lille area.

SOMME.

7. After about a month’s rest it reenforced the front near Montauban (southeast of Albert). The front was being forced back here, and so the division passed successively through Hardecourt, Combles, and the St. Pierre-Vaast wood, where it was withdrawn September 5, after losing about 900 prisoners, and went to rest in the Bohain-Malincourt area.

CAMBRAI.

8. The division reenforced the front near Briastre (east of Cambrai) on October 11, and was withdrawn about the 28th.

VALENCIENNES.

9. On November 1 it came back into line north of Valenciennes, and had not been withdrawn on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 25th is rated as a first-class division. It did very well in the large amount of heavy fighting in which it participated during 1918, and as a result suffered exceedingly heavy losses, especially in officers. It received numerous large drafts, and so the division’s strength was rather larger than the average.

25th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │116 Res. │49 Res. │116 Res. │50 Res. │83 Res. │ │118 Res. │ │118 Res. │ │118 Res. │ │83 Res. │50 Res. │83 Res. │ │168. │ │168. │ │168. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │4 Res. Dragoon Rgt.│4 Res. Dragoon Rgt.│4 Res. Dragoon Rgt. │ (3 Sqns.). │ │ (2 Sqns.). │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │25 Res. F. A. Rgt. │25 Res. F. A. Rgt. │25 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (6 Btries.). │ │ (9 Btries., Nos. │ │ │ 4–12). │ │13 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 and 2 Res. Cos., │1 and 2 Res. Cos., │1 and 2 Res. Cos., Liaisons. │ 2 Pion. Btn. No. │ 2 Pion. Btn. No. │ 2 Pion. Btn. No. │ 11. │ 11. │ 11. │ │25 Res. Pont. Engs.│1 Co. 29 Pions. │ │ │ │ │25 Res. Tel. Detch.│2 Co. 29 Pions. │ │ │ │ │ │225 T. M. Co. │ │ │25 Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │25 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[17] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │50 Res. │83 Res. │50 Res. │168. │ │118 Res. │ │83 Res. │ │168. │ │118 Res. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 4 Res. │2 Sqn. 4 Res. Drag. │ Dragoon Rgt. │ Rgt. │ │4 Sqn. 4 Res. Drag. │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │127 Art. Command: │127 Art. Command: │ │ │ │ │ 25 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 25 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ (6 4-gun 6 4-how. │ │ Btries.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(325) Pion. Btn.: │2 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 11: │ │ │ 1 Res. Co. 11 │ 1 Res. Co. 11 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. 11 │ 2 Res. Co. 11 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 225 T. M. Co. │ 286 Pion. Co. │ 20 Ldw. Field │ 225 T. M. Co. │ Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │ 425 Tel. Detch. │ 425 Tel. Detch. │ │ 151 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │518 Ambulance Co. │518 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │67 Field Hospital. │67 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │68 Field Hospital. │68 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │518 M. T. Col. │M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴─────────────────── Footnote 17:

Composition at time of dissolution, October, 1918.

HISTORY.

(168th and 118th Reserve Regiments: 18th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Hesse. 83d Reserve Regiment: 11th Corps District—Electorate of Hesse.)

1914.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 25th Reserve Division, forming with the 21st Reserve Division the 18th Reserve Corps, belonged to the 4th Army (Duke of Wurttemberg).

BELGIUM-ARGONNE.

2. It detrained August 9–11 at Hermeskeil (southeast of Treves); entered Luxemburg the 16th (by way of Remich); crossed Luxemburg on the 19th; entered Belgium on the 20th. On the 22d it fought at Neufchateau; on the 22d, at Tremblois; crossed the Meuse on the 28th. To the west of the Argonne the 25th Reserve Division advanced to the area of Revigny. At the battle of the Marne it fought on the Saulx, in the neighborhood of Brabant le Roy (Sept. 7–10). It retired by way of Ste. Menehould, Moinemout, to the south of Cernay en Dormois (Sept. 14).

FLANDERS.

3. In October the 25th Reserve Division was sent to Flanders, south of the Lys. Toward the end of November it occupied a sector north of Wytschaete.

RUSSIA.

4. In December the division was transferred to the Eastern Front. It took part, with the Fabeck Corps, in the operations on the Bzura (December, 1914, to February, 1915).

1915.

GALICIA.

1. At the end of February, 1915, it was engaged in the Carpathians north of the Dniester (Von der Marwitz Detachment); in June at Przemysl, then at Lemberg.

BREST-LITOWSK.

2. In July, the 25th Reserve Division took part in the offensive on Brest-Litowsk. Its successes occasioned it heavy losses; the 5th Company of the 168th Infantry Regiment received not less than 199 men as replacements from June 19 to August 17.

SERBIA.

3. The division took part in the Serbian campaign (October-November).

FRANCE.

4. It was transferred to the Western Front at the beginning of December, 1917. It entrained at Weisskirchen (Hungary). Itinerary: Temesvar- Budapest-Vienna-Ulm-Stuttgart-Spire-Deux Ponts-Saarbrucken-Sedan (detrained on Dec. 11).

ARGONNE.

5. On December 18, the 25th Reserve Division went into line on the Argonne (La Harazee).

1916.

1. The division remained in the Argonne until the end of July, 1916.

VERDUN.

2. At the beginning of July it was transferred to the Verdun area. It was engaged in the sector of Thiaumont (July-August); in the Nawe wood (August) and suffered heavy losses. It was again very much exhausted resisting the French attack of October 24.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. Relieved after this attack, the 25th Reserve Division was sent to rest in vicinity of Jametz and was reorganized. On November 16 it went into line east of Auberive. In the course of November it received important replacements, including a large proportion of the 1917 class. Its reconstitution was not completed until February; 1917.

1917.

1. The division was retained on the Champagne front (Auberive) until the end of January, 1917.

MEUSE.

2. On February 27 it went into line on the right bank of the Meuse (sector of Louvemont-Chambrettes-Caurieres wood) and remained there, without any important losses, until June 20.

3. After resting until July 6 in the vicinity of Juvigny, Jametz, Marville, the 25th Reserve Division again occupied the front near Verdun (north of Vacherauville). North of Louvemont it withstood the French attack of August 20, which caused it to suffer very heavy losses (47 officers and 1,150 men prisoners, of whom 1,012 belonged to 168th Infantry Regiment).

VOSGES.

4. The 25th Reserve Division, already weakened by an epidemic of dysentery, was almost completely exhausted, when it was relieved on August 25 on the Verdun front. Sent to rest in the vicinity of Sarreburg, it took over a sector of the Vosges (Blamont), about September 4.

CHAMPAGNE.

5. Relieved on September 25 and entraining on the 27th at Rechicourt, the division was transferred to Champagne, where it occupied the sector Nogent-l’Abbesse (Nov. 11 to beginning of February, 1918).

RECRUITING.

The 25th Reserve Division is recruited from the Grand Duchy of Hesse, the Electorate of Hesse, and Hesse-Nassau. At times replacements were furnished from the Rhine districts, including the Grand Duchy of Baden (especially in 1916).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 25th Reserve Division put up a splendid defense against the French at the time of the attack on August 20, 1917.

It was an excellent organization at the outbreak of the campaign, but it seems (in spite of recent assertions of prisoners that it is still unfit to attack and was put in the fourth class, Arbeits Division) that the 25th Reserve Division, although it is exhausted by too long stays in line, is capable of rendering services even on an active front. Therefore it must be considered as a good division of the second class until more detailed information is received (Mar. 30, 1918).

1918.

1. The 25th Reserve Division was relieved by the 21st Division in the Nogent-l’Abbesse sector on February 6, and went to the Vouziers area, where it was put through a course of training, but not in open warfare.

AISNE.

2. On the 20th it relieved the 10th Reserve Division near Juvincourt (northwest of Rheims); it was withdrawn on April 11.

MONTDIDIER.

3. The division moved north by easy stages, and relieved the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division, west of Montdidier, on the 21st. Here it lost near Cantigny (north) heavily while trying to prevent Cantigny from falling to the Americans. It also lost even more heavily during the offensive of August 9, and was pushed back to Dancourt (southwest of Roye). It was withdrawn about the 18th.

ST. QUENTIN.

4. On September 1 it reenforced the front near Voyennes (west of St. Quentin). In the fighting that followed the division was forced back to the Holnon wood (west of St. Quentin); it was withdrawn here about the 20th.

5. On the 30th, it again reenforced the front in the Lehaucourt sector (north of St. Quentin). It was withdrawn on October 11, and dissolved. 168th Regiment was transferred to the 21st Reserve Division. 83d Reserve Regiment was disbanded and drafted to the 22d Division. 87th Reserve Regiment was disbanded and drafted to the 48th Reserve Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

Until 1918 the 25th Reserve had been considered a second-class division. It is to be noted, however, that although it was trained in February, the training it received was not in open warfare—not to fit it to become an attack division. Prisoners captured soon after stated that the Germans considered it as little better than “a labor division.” It was not used in any of the offensives made by the Germans, and was not very tenacious on the defense in any sector that was at all active. Moreover, two of the divisions that received replacements from the division when it was disbanded were second class and the other was rated as a fourth- class division. It was probably a third-class division.

25th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │25 Mixed │13 Ldw. │32 Res. │13 Ldw. │32 Res. │13 Ldw. │ Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ │16 Ldw. │ │16 Ldw. │ │16 Ldw. │ │ │ │328 Ldw. │ │328 Ldw. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 6 Res. Drag.│2 Sqn. 6 Res. Drag.│2 Sqn. 6 Res. Drag. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │254 F. A. Rgt. │244 Art. Command: │244 Art. Command: │ │ 254 F. A. Rgt. │ 254 Ldw. F. A. │ │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│407 T. M. Co. │425 Pion. Btn.: │425 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │525 Tel. Detch. │ 1 Res. Co. 21 │ 4 Co. 27 Pions. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 4 Co. 27 Pions. │ 3 Landst. Co. 6 C. │ │ │ Dist. Pions. │ │ 407 T. M. Co. │ 12 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │525 Tel. Detch. │525 Signal Command: │ │ │ 525 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 81 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │554 Ambulance Co. │554 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │414 Field Hospital.│414 Field Hospital. │ │6 Ldw. Field │6 Ldw. Field │ │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │525 Vet. Hospital. │525 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │M. T. Col. │790 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1916.

AISNE.

1. The 25th Landwehr Division was organized in part from the former 25th Mixed Landwehr Brigade, independent (13th and 16th Landwehr Regiments), which entered Belgium on August 20, 1914, and went immediately after the battle of the Marne to the Laon area, where it occupied the Craonne-La Ville aux Bois sector from the end of September, 1914, until almost the end of 1916.

2. In October, 1916, the 25th Landwehr Brigade was transformed into the 25th Landwehr Division by the addition of a third regiment, the Schuster Regiment, which had existed for only a short time.

3. The division was then sent to the west and sent into line between Vailly and Chavonne (October).

1917.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

1. At the beginning of February, 1917, the 186th Infantry Regiment was added as a third regiment to the 25th Landwehr Division. The division was still occupying the sector east of Vailly when the French offensive was launched on April 16. The division suffered heavy losses, retiring to the Chemin des Dames by way of Ostel, Aizy, Jouy (Apr. 16–22).

UPPER ALSACE.

2. Relieved north of the Aisne about April 25, the 25th Landwehr Division was transferred to Upper Alsace. At the beginning of May it went into line near the Swiss frontier (Hirtzbach, Largitzen, Bisel). It did not leave this sector since that time.

3. In May the 186th Infantry Regiment was replaced by a new regiment, the 328th Landwehr Regiment, formed by taking one battalion of each of the three regiments of the 13th Landwehr Division.

RECRUITING.

The division has a marked sectional quality; the infantry and field artillery come entirely from Westphalia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

This is purely a sector division. The 25th Landwehr Division has been in line near the Swiss frontier for more than a year.

Since its arrival in Upper Alsace (May, 1917) the division has possessed an assault detachment supposed to carry out raids (June, 1918).

1918.

ALSACE.

1. The division remained in the Hirzbach-Swiss frontier sector all through the year until the signing of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 25th Landwehr Division is rated as a fourth-class division, as being fit to hold only a quiet sector. On the 11th of November, soon after the hour fixed for the suspension of hostilities, a number of men came over to the French lines to fraternize; they were taken prisoners. It seems that there had been a great deal of revolutionary agitation in the division. On October 8 a doctor had had his epaulettes cut to pieces; on the 9th the Soldiers’ Council had come together and had elected representatives; on the 10th the company commander (of at least one company) had read the program for the organization of the Soldiers’ Council. Prisoners state that the causes of this state of mind were the recent defeats suffered by the German forces, the weariness caused by four years of war, and the Kiel disturbances. From the 10th of November on none of the advanced posts had been occupied, and the men refused to do any work, the war having come to an end, to their mind.

26th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │51. │119 Gren.│51. │119 Gren.│51. │119 Gren. │ │125. │ │125. │ │121. │52. │121. │52. │121. │ │125. │ │122 Fus. │ │122 Fus. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │20 Uhlan Rgt. │20 Uhlan Rgt. │20 Uhlan Rgt. (3 │ │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │26 Brig.: │26 Brig.: │26 Brig.: │ 29 F. A. Rgt. │ 29 F. A. Rgt. │ 29 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ 65 F. A. Rgt. │ 65 F. A. Rgt. │ 65 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 Field Co. 1 Pion.│1 Field Co. 1 Pion.│1 and 5 Field Cos. Liaisons. │ Btn. No. 13 │ Btn. No. 13: │ 1 Pion. Btn. No. │ │ │ 13: │ │ 26 Pont. Engs. │ 26 T. M. Co. │ │ 26 Tel. Detch. │ 26 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ 26 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │51. │119 Gren.│51. │119. │ │121. │ │121. │ │125. │ │125. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │20 Sqn. 20 Uhlan │2 Sqn. 19 Uhlan │ Rgt. (?). │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │26 Art. Command: │26 Art. Command: │ 29 F. A. Rgt. (9 │ 29 F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ │ 2 Abt. 5 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (5, 6, and │ │ 13 Btries.). │ │ 1376 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1377 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1378 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(1/13 or 129) Pion.│143 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ Btn.: │ │ │ │ 1 Co. 13 Pions. │ 1 Co. 13 Pions. │ 5 Co. 13 Pions. │ 5 Co. 13 Pions. │ 26 T. M. Co. │ 26 T. M. Co. │ 311 Searchlight │ 140 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ Tel. Detch. │26 Signal Command: │ │ 26 Tel. Detch. │ │ 70 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │3 Ambulance Co. │33 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │33 Ambulance Co. │250 Field Hospital. │250 Field Hospital.│259 Field Hospital. │259 Field Hospital.│26 Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │599 (?) M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(13th Corps District—Wurttemberg.)

1914.

LORRAINE-ARGONNE.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 26th Division formed the 13th Army Corps, with the 27th Division, and was a part of the 5th Army (German Crown Prince), and went into action on August 22 at Baranzy, northwest of Longwy, and on August 24 near Longuyon. On August 31 it crossed the Meuse in the vicinity of Sassey, proceeded between the Meuse and the Argonne by way of Epinonville, Cheppy, Clermont, and Thiaucourt, fought on September 6, 7, 8, and 9 near Pretz and Beauzée, and retired toward Evre, Wally, and the Argonne (Apremont-Grurie wood). (On Sept. 11 the 8th Company of the 119th Grenadier Regiment had already had 3 officers and 168 men as casualties; the 10th Company was reduced to 2 officers and 59 men.)

FLANDERS.

2. Separated then from the 27th Division, which remained in the Argonne, the 26th Division was transferred west of Lille on October 8, and fought at Fromelles, Aubert, and Maisnil from October 20 to 28.

3. At the end of the month it went north and took part in the attacks upon Messines on October 31.

RUSSIA.

4. At the end of November the division entrained for Russia with the 25th Reserve Division, these two divisions forming the reorganized 13th Army Corps.

POLAND.

5. In December and January, 1915, it was a part of the Fabeck Corps, and fought in Poland on the Bzura and the Rawka where it suffered heavily.

1915.

1. In March, 1915, the 26th Division was sent to the front north of Prasnysz. It then composed the 13th Army Corps, with the 4th Guard Division and the 3d Division. In May it gave the 122d Fusilier Regiment to the 105th Division, a new formation. In June and July it took part in the offensive upon the Narew.

SERBIA.

2. Assigned to the army of Gen. von Koevess, it took part in the campaign against Serbia (October) and advanced along the Morava to Kragujevatz.

BELGIUM.

3. Sent to rest at Belgrade, at the end of November, before its departure for the Western Front, it entrained at Semlin on November 26 and was transferred to Belgium. (Itinerary: Budapest-Vienna-Munich-Ulm- Deux Ponts-Saarbrücken; detraining at Bertrix on Nov. 20.)

4. In December it was concentrated in the vicinity of Courtrai, where the 27th Division was and again formed the 13th Army Corps with this division as it had done originally.

1916.

1. In January, 1916, the 26th Division went into line southeast of Ypres (between Hooge and the south of Sanctuary wood). It held this sector until the month of July and suffered heavy losses July 2 (Zillebeke).

SOMME.

2. At the end of July the division was sent to the Somme and opposed the British troops on the Longueval front. It lost very heavily while resting at Guillemont. (Aug. 18–19).

FLANDERS.

3. Relieved on August 25, it took over the sector of Wytschaete (September to November 11).

SOMME.

4. About November 11 the division left Flanders and returned to the Somme. It occupied the Transloy sector from December 7 to the beginning of March, 1917.

1917.

ARTOIS.

1. The division was in reserve during the month of March behind the Artois front; went into action south of the Scarpe at the time of the British offensive. On April 25 it launched a counterattack at Monchy le Preux.

2. Relieved in a fortnight and sent to rest, it went back to the same sector (south of the Scarpe); remained there from May 31 to the end of July without any important losses and went to rest near Cambrai during the first half of August.

FLANDERS.

3. From August 16 to September 4 it occupied the sector north of Langemerck, where the artillery caused it heavy losses.

LORRAINE.

4. Sent to rest in Lorraine, it was trained and was outfitted for mountain warfare and then sent to the Italian front at the end of September.

ITALY.

5. It formed a part of the Berrer Corps (14th German Army) on October 20, fought northwest of Tolmino on October 24, entered Udine on the 28th, and reached the Tagliamento on the 29th.

RECRUITING.

The 26th Division is recruited entirely in Wurttemberg.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 26th Division conducted itself well in the numerous battles in which it took part. It is to be especially noted that at Poelcappelle, in August, 1917, some units mutinied and left the first line vacant, when the relief did not arrive quickly enough. This weakening of the morale of the 26th Division was probably only temporary and will disappear, no doubt, after a period of rest. (British Summary of Information, October, 1917.)

1918.

FRANCE.

1. The 26th Division, after having done very well in Italy, was transported to the Western Front, detraining in the Freiburg region (southeast of Dieuze), and remaining here until March 10.

CAMBRAI.

2. The division entrained at Strassburg on the 11th and 12th, and detrained near Peruwelz on the 13th and 14th, remaining in the neighborhood of Valenciennes until the 17th; from here it proceeded by night marches via Denain and Aniche to the Estrées-Ecourt-St. Quentin region (south of Douai), where it arrived on the 20th. On the 26th it went into close reserve near Fontaine les Croisilles, and the next day it entered line near Hamelincourt (south of Arras). It attacked the next day, but made no headway. It was relieved by the 111th Division on the 31st, and rested near Croisilles until April 3.

3. Then it marched via Bapaume and Miraumont and entered line south of Hébuterne (south of Arras), taking part in the unsuccessful attack of the 5th. It was relieved about the 12th of May by the 16th Reserve Division, and went to the Denain region to rest and refit. On June 15 it was in army reserve in the Roye-Carrépuis area.

RHEIMS.

4. About July 3 it went to the vicinity of Neuflize (northeast of Rheims); the 15th it entered line north of Prosnes (southeast of Rheims), and was withdrawn on the 17th.

5. By traveling in trucks, the division reached Bazoches on the 21st; it remained in reserve the 23d and 24th, and relieved the 45th Reserve Division east of Saponay (northwest of Fere-en-Tardenois) during the night of July 25–26. The Allied push forced the front back here, and the division was identified north of Saponay on August 2, northeast of Fismes on the 18th, east of Braine on the 20th. It was relieved about the 10th of September and went to rest north of Pont Arcy (northwest of Fismes).

6. On the 3d of October it came back into line north of Soupir (east of Vailly), and was still in line on November 11.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 26th is rated as a first-class division. While it was in Alsace (January, February, and the first part of March) it was thoroughly trained in open warfare, and so it was used as a shock division, but it did not succeed in making much headway in its first two engagements. It did fight tenaciously, however, then and in subsequent fighting, and was mentioned in the German communiques of October 27 and November 2 as having particularly distinguished itself. It suffered heavy losses, so that despite the large numbers of reenforcements sent it from time to time, its battalions were reduced to three companies.

26th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │51 Res. │121 Res. │51 Res. │121 Res. │51 Res. │119 Res. │ │180. │ │180. │ │180. │ │99 Res. │ │99 Res. │52 Res. │121 Res. │52 Res. │119 Res. │52 Res. │119 Res. │ │99 Res. │ │120 Res. │ │120 Res. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │Wurtt. Res. Drag. │Wurtt. Res. Drag. │Wurtt. Res. Drag. │ Rgt. (3 Sqns.). │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │26 Res. F. A. Rgt. │26 Res. F. A. Rgt. │26 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ (6 Btries.). │ │ │27 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ (6 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 13 Liaisons. │ Btn. No. 13. │ Btn. No. 13. │ Pions. │ │26 Res. Pont. Engs.│6 Field Co. 13 │ │ │ Pions. │ │26 Res. Tel. Detch.│226 T. M. Co. │ │ │26 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │26 Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd Units. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │51 Res. │119 Res. │51 Res. │180. │ │121 Res. │ │119 Res. │ │180. │ │121 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 20 Uhlan │2 Sqn. 20 Uhlan │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │122 (Wurtt.) Art. │122 Art. Command: │ Command: │ │ 26 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 26 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ 59 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 1261 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1262 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1316 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│326 Pion. Btn.: │326 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 4 Co. 13 Pions. │ 4 Co. 13 Pions. │ │ │ 6 Co. 13 Pions. │ 6 Co. 13 Pions. │ 226 T. M. Co. │ 226 T. M. Co. │ 426 Tel. Detch. │ 36 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │426 Signal Command: │ │ 426 Tel. Detch. │ │ 139 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │522 Ambulance Co. │522 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │502 Field Hospital.│502 Field Hospital. │505 Field Hospital.│245 Vet. Hospital. │146 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd Units. │2 (Wurtt.) Cyclist │ │ Co. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(13th Corps District—Wurttemberg.)

1914.

VOSGES.

1. At the beginning of the war the 26th Reserve Division, forming the 14th Reserve Corps with the 28th Reserve Division, was a part of the 7th German Army. While the 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment formed in Alsace and at once went to the valley of the Bruche, the 180th Infantry Regiment went to Ste. Marie aux Mines on August 8. The three reserve regiments (119th, 120th, 121st) detrained between Freiburg and Neu- Breisach on August 8–11 and fought at the Donon and in the valley of the Bruche from August 17 to 24. Going then to the western slope of the Vosges, the division reached St. Die on August 28, then advanced as far as Rougiville, from which place it was sent to Ste. Marie aux Mines.

SOMME.

2. On September 11 the 26th Reserve Division was sent to the Somme and assigned to the 2d Army. It went into action on both banks of the Ancre, near Thiepval, near Miraumont and Beaumont Hamel, beginning on the 27th.

3. It occupied this sector of the front (south of Hebuterne, north of Ovillers) until July, 1916. During this period it did not take part in any important action.

1915.

ARTOIS.

1. In March, 1915, the 120th Reserve Infantry Regiment was given to the 58th Division, a new formation.

2. In May, 1915, elements of the 26th Reserve Division were sent to Artois on detached service and fought at Neuville-St. Vaast. In June some units of the 99th Reserve Regiment (3d and 4th Battalions) and the 180th Infantry Regiment took part in the battles around Arras (Le Labyrinthe).

SOMME.

3. At the beginning of July these elements rejoined the division, which continued to hold the Somme sector before Bapaume.

1916.

SOMME.

1. On July 1, 1916, the 26th Reserve Division withstood the Franco- British offensive north and south of the Ancre (Beaumont Hamel, Ovillers, Thiepval). (The total of the losses on the Somme amounted to 10,042 men.) The 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment lost 48 officers and 2,070 men. (Official List of Casualties.)

ARTOIS.

2. Relieved along the Somme about October 6, the division was sent south of Arras (Monchy aux Bois) on October 10. Some elements of the division were still engaged on both banks of the Ancre in November.

1917.

HINDENBURG LINE.

1. After having occupied the calm sector of Artois for the winter of 1916–17, the 26th Reserve Division took part in the withdrawal of the German troops about March 20. It left the front of Monchy aux Bois and retired southeast of Croisilles (Lagnicourt-Ecoust-St. Main). It fought along this line until April 7–13 and suffered some losses (Noreuil, Apr. 2).

2. After a rest of a month in the vicinity of Valenciennes, in the course of which it sent some elements south of St. Quentin (Itancourt, May 4–11), the 26th Reserve Division went back into line between Arras and St. Quentin (Bullecourt-Queant) about May 17.

FLANDERS.

3. On August 10 the division was withdrawn from the front and entrained at Aubigny au Bac (south of Douai) for Belgium. It went into action north of Langemarck (Aug. 19-Sept. 16). It was then sent to rest (vicinity of Bohain, northeast of St. Quentin) until October 14.

4. About October 17 the 26th Reserve Division went back into line north of Ypres (The Ypres-Staden railroad—Houthulst wood) until October 23.

5. Sent to rest south of Cortemarck, it was transferred at the end of October to Eerneghem, where it was first in reserve.

6. In the middle of November the 26th Reserve Division took over the calm sector of Merckem, which it occupied until February, 1918, after a short rest in the middle of December.

RECRUITING.

Since the departure of the 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment, the 26th Reserve Division is made up entirely of Wurttembergers.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 26th Reserve Division is a very good division, of a combative value equal to that of the majority of the active divisions. In the battle of the Somme, in 1916, it opposed a stubborn resistance to the British advance and launched vigorous counterattacks.

The division has not been seriously engaged since 1916; it was thoroughly rested on the Flanders front. Not having been exposed to violent battles and not having any great losses, its morale has not been shaken. (British Summary of Information, February, 1918.)

1918.

BELGIUM.

1. The 26th Reserve Division was withdrawn from the Merckem sector on the 20th of February, and went to the area west of Antwerp. Here, it was very probably trained in open warfare, but the fact has not been definitely established.

ARRAS.

2. It left about March 11 and entered line near Hénin (southeast of Arras) on the 24th. Its mission was to protect the troops engaged in the main attack farther to the south against a flanking movement by the British troops massed around Arras. In so doing, it became heavily engaged, and is reported to have lost 60 per cent of its strength. It was relieved on May 14, and went to rest in the Arleux area (south of Douai).

3. On June 9 it relieved the 41st Division east of Hebuterne. A week or so later it extended its sector toward the south so as to relieve the 16th Reserve Division. It was relieved about July 23 by the 183d Division, and went to rest in the Bapaume area, after having suffered severe losses.

SOMME.

4. On August 10 the division reenforced the front astride the Braye- Corbie road (north of the Somme). It did not become heavily engaged this time; withdrawn about the 18th, and went to rest in the Douai area. Battalions were reduced to three companies.

ARRAS.

5. It reenforced the front near Vis en Artois (on Arras-Cambrai road) on August 27. After suffering heavy losses it was withdrawn on the 31st to region north of Cambrai.

CAMBRAI.

6. It came back into line on the 29th of September, after having rested and thoroughly refitted, reenforcing the front near Tilloy (northwest of Cambrai). It was heavily engaged, and fought very well. A few days later Gen. von Beulow (commanding the 17th Army) sent a telegram to the King of Saxony saying that the division had fought in an exemplary manner at Cambrai, where it had several times reestablished the situation by its counterattacks on the 29th, inflicting enormous losses on the enemy, and thus preventing the town from falling into their hands. It was withdrawn about the 9th of October.

VALENCIENNES.

7. On the 13th it relieved the 22d Division near Herin (west of Valenciennes). It had not been withdrawn on the 11th of November.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 26th Reserve is rated as a first-class division. It did not distinguish itself in the fighting during 1918 (except on the Cambrai front, as already noted), still it could be depended upon and on the whole fought well. In this connection it is to be noted that the 26th Division had been held in reserve to relieve the 26th Reserve in the March offensive, but the relief was considered unnecessary.

26th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │51 Ldw. │119 Ldw. │51 Ldw. │119 Ldw. │ │123 Ldw. │ │123 Ldw. │ │124 Ldw. │ │124 Ldw. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 20 Uhlan Rgt. │3 Sqn. 20 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │ │ 116 F. A. Rgt. │116 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(426) Pion. Btn.: │(426) Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 4 Ldw. Co. 13 Pions. │ 4 Ldw. Co. 13 C. Dist. │ │ Pions. │ 6 Ldw. Co. 13 Pions. │ 3 Searchlight Section. │ 326 T. M. Co. │526 Signal Command: │ 526 Tel. Detch. │ 526 Tel. Detch. │ │ 180 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │569 Ambulance Co. │569 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │251 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │256 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(13th Corps District—Wurttemberg.)

1917.

1. The 26th Landwehr Division was formed on the Alsatian front at the beginning of the year 1917. Two of its regiments, the 119th and 123d Landwehr, forming the 51st Landwehr Brigade, had belonged to the 7th Landwehr Division until that time. Its 3d Regiment, the 124th Landwehr, came from the 2d Landwehr Division.

UPPER ALSACE.

2. Since its formation the 26th Landwehr Division has continually occupied the Upper Alsace front (north of Cernay, Hartmannswillerskopf).

RECRUITING.

The division is entirely recruited from Wurttemberg.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 26th Landwehr Division is purely a sector division. Each regiment has an assault troop composed of young men.

1918.

ALSACE.

1. The 26th Landwehr Division remained in the sector north of Cernay (southwest of Colmar,) throughout 1918.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

In view of the division having been kept so long in what was probably the most quiet sector on the whole front (only 1 prisoner was taken after Dec. 15, 1917), when the need for troops was so great that fourth- class divisions were frequently used on very active fronts, it would seem that the 26th Landwehr was one of the poorest divisions in the German Army.

27th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │53. │123 Gren.│53. │123 Gren.│53. │123 Gren. │ │124. │ │124. │ │124. │54. │120. │54. │120. │54. │120. │ │127. │ │127. │ │127. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │19 Uhlan Rgt. │19 Uhlan Rgt. │19 Uhlan Rgt. (3 │ │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │27 Brig. │27 Brig. │27 Brig. │ │ │ │ 13 F. A. Rgt. │ 13 F. A. Rgt. │ 13 F. A. Rgt. │ 49 F. A. Rgt. │ 49 F. A. Rgt. │ 49 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 13. │ 13. │ │ │ │ │Field Co. 13 Pions.│2 Co. 13 Pions. │ │27 Tel. Detch. │1 Res. Co. 24 │ │ │ Pions. │ │27 Pont. Engs. │Co. 29 Pions. │ │ │27 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │27 Tel. Detch. │ │ │23 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │68 Anti-Aircraft. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │53. │123 Gren.│53. │120. │ │120. │ │123. │ │124. │ │124. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 19 Uhlan │5 Sqn. 19 Uhlan │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │27 Artillery │27 Art. Command: │ Command. │ │ 49 F. A. Rgt. │ 13 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 4 Abt. 13 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (11, 12, and │ │ 13 Btries.). │ │ 1289 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1290 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1291 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│129 Pion. Btn. │12 (Saxon) Pion. Liaisons. │ (former 1 Pion. │ Btn.: │ No. 13). │ │2 Co. 13 Pions. │ 2 Co. 13 Pions. │3 Co. 13 Pions. │ 3 Co. 13 Pions. │ │ │27 T. M. Co. │ 27 T. M. Co. │52 Searchlight Co. │ 137 Searchlight │ │ Section. │27 Tel. Detch. │27 Signal Command: │ │ 27 Tel. Detch. │ │ 154 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │31 Ambulance Co. │31 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │253 Field Hospital.│253 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │255 Field Hospital. │ │27 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │560 M. T. Col. │560 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │3, 34, and 99 Anti-│ │ Aircraft. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(13th Corps District—Wurttemberg.)

1914.

The 27th Division belongs to the 13th Army Corps (Royal Wurttemberg), with the 26th Division.

LORRAINE.

1. At the beginning of the war it formed a part of the 5th Army (German Crown Prince). It was engaged in the battle of Longwy, August 22, 1914 (between Longwy and Virton); on the 23d, north of Longuyon. On August 30, at Dun and Sassey, it crossed the Meuse and went south with the 5th Army between the Meuse and the Argonne. It fought at Pretz and Vaubécourt on September 6 and 7. Following the retirement to the north, it took up its positions in the Argonne.

2. At the beginning of October the 13th Army Corps was broken up and the two divisions were separated for more than a year.

ARGONNE.

3. The 27th Division remained in the Argonne until the end of 1915.

1915.

ARGONNE.

1. In the Argonne (Binarville-Grurie wood) the 27th Division was engaged in mine warfare. In August, 1915, it took part in the local offensive of the Army of the Crown Prince.

2. In September, at the time of the French offensive, elements of the 53d Brigade were sent to Champagne (northwest of Massiges), where they remained in reserve.

3. In December the 27th Division entrained at Grandpré for the Courtrai area, where the 13th Army Corps was re-formed as in the beginning, the 26th Division having returned from Serbia.

1916.

YPRES.

1. From January to July, 1916, the 13th Army Corps was in line southeast of the Ypres salient. The 27th Division was on the left of the 26th, between Sanctuary wood and the Ypres-Comines Canal. On February 24 units of the 27th Division gained possession of the British trenches of Bluff (north of the canal), but lost them on March 2. In this action the 123d Grenadier Regiment lost very heavily.

On June 2 the two divisions of the corps made a violent attack upon the Canadians in the Cillebeke sector. They gained possession of Observation Ridge, but were forced to abandon it by a counterattack. In these battles the regiments lost heavily.

SOMME.

2. At the end of July the 13th Army Corps was withdrawn from the Ypres salient and transferred to the Somme front. On August 1 the 27th Division went into line in the Guillemont sector. It put up a successful resistance to the attacks upon the village, but had serious losses.

3. It was relieved on August 25 and put in the Wytchaete sector, where it remained for about two and one-half months (until Nov. 11).

4. In the middle of November the 27th Division returned to the Somme a second time, north of Sailly Saillisel.

1917.

1. The 27th Division was retained on the Somme until the beginning of 1917. On this date it was sent east of Cambrai. During the month of March it was in line in the Roisel area.

ARTOIS.

2. After a short rest in the vicinity of Valenciennes it went into action in the Bullecourt sector (southeast of Arras), where it had very heavy losses (Apr. 7 to May 11). The dissolution of the 627th Infantry Regiment, formed in Wurttemberg, served to make up a part of its losses, and 600 men from this regiment came to the 27th Division.

3. Withdrawn about May 11 from the Arras front, the 27th Division occupied a sector in the vicinity of Le Catelet (between Gonnelieu and Honnecourt) at the beginning of June.

4. At the beginning of August it was relieved; entrained on August 12 at Caudry, and was transferred to Flanders by way of Lille-Tourcoing-Menin- Ledeghem-Roulers.

5. On August 26 it went into action northeast of Ypres (southeast of St. Julien). In this sector it did not take part in any important attack but suffered heavily from artillery fire.

The division was sent to the rear on September 12–13 and rested for a month northeast of Ghent.

On October 11 it went back into line northeast of Ypres (near the Ypres- Thourout railroad) and remained there until November 11. It was sent almost immediately to Alsace, where it arrived between November 16 and 18.

RECRUITING.

The 27th Division is recruited entirely from Wurttemberg.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 27th Division has fought well ever since the beginning of the war. It seems that the heavy losses which it has suffered have weakened its morale to a slight extent. Nevertheless, it may be considered as a very good division (Dec. 9, 1917).

1918.

CAMBRAI.

1. The 27th Division remained in the region of Schlettstadt (north of Colmar) until February 2. While here it received some 1919-class recruits. It then went to Cambrai, where it arrived on the 4th. On the 6th it relieved the 24th Reserve Division west of Graincourt (southwest of Cambrai). It was relieved by the 53d Reserve Division early in March and went to the neighborhood of Avesnes le Sec (southwest of Valenciennes), where it was trained in open warfare.

2. Subsequently it was transferred to the Cambrai region. Between the evening of March 20 and 5 a. m. on the 21st, it marched nearly 20 miles, when it came into line near Villers-Guislain (south of Cambrai). It was immediately heavily engaged and suffered severe losses. The 6th Company of the 124th Regiment had lost 84 men by the time it had reached Fins. A draft of 30 men was received at Guinchy. Withdrawn the 23d.

3. On April 4 it relieved the 54th Reserve Division near Aveluy (north of Albert). Fighting on the 5th, the 6th Company of the 124th Regiment lost 50 per cent of its effectives. All three regiments suffered heavy losses. One battalion of the 120th Regiment was practically annihilated. It was relieved by the 3d Naval Division on the 24th and went to rest south of Tournai.

4. The division left on July 24 and marched via Landas-Marchiennes- Neuville sur l’Escaut (south of Denain, rest)-St. Vaast (east of Cambrai, rest)-Fins-Nurlu (rest)-Peronne, into line in the Morlancourt sector (south of Albert), where it relieved the 107th Division about the 3d of August. In the heavy fighting that ensued it was forced back through Bray and Suzanne. It was withdrawn the 28th after leaving more than 1,400 prisoners in the hands of the British. It went to rest in the vicinity of Briastre (south of Solesmes), and while here received as a draft the dissolved 248th Reserve Regiment (54th Division disbanded).

MEUSE.

5. The division now became army and corps reserve. On September 6 it entrained and traveled to Spincourt, arriving on the 10th. It then marched to Camp Priester (near Loison), where it remained 14 days as army reserve. About the 26th it entered line near Flabas (north of Verdun). Five days later it was withdrawn and went back to the camp and remained eight days.

6. Then it went to the Jaeger Lager near Billy (south of Longuyon). About the 11th of October it entered line near Douaumont (north of Verdun). On the 29th it was relieved and marched to the Jaeger Lager, and then by truck via Stenay to a farm about 10 kilometers away.

7. On November 1 it reenforced the front near Tailly (southwest of Stenay); it was still in line on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 27th has always been considered one of the very best German divisions, and its conduct in the fighting during 1918 confirms its rating as a first-class shock unit. It suffered severely, especially in the spring, but not a great deal later on. Its moves toward the end of the war seem to indicate that it was to form part of the reserve with which the Germans hoped to regain the initiative.

28th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │55. │109. │55. │109. │55. │109. │ │Body │ │Body │ │Body │ │ Gren. │ │ Gren. │ │ Gren. │ │110 Gren.│ │110 Gren.│ │110 Gren. │56. │40 Fus. │56. │40 Fus. │56. │40 Fus. │ │111. │ │111. │ │111. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │5 Jag. z. Pf. │ │5 Jag. z. Pf. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │28 Brig. │28 Brig. │28 Brig. │14 F. A. Regt. │14 F. A. Regt. │14 F. A. Regt. │50 F. A. Regt. │50 F. A. Regt. │50 F. A. Regt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Bn. No. 14:│1 Pion. Bn. No. 14: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ Field Co. 14 │ 1 Co. 14 Pions. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 28 Tel. Detch. │ 3 Co. 36 Pions. │ │ 28 Pont. Engs. │ 28 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ 28 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 28 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │29 Antiaircraft 1st │ │ │ Bav. Labor Bn. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │56. │109. │55. │40. │ │Body │ │109. │ │ Gren. │ │ │ │40 Fus. │ │110. │ │110 Gren.│ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2d Sq. 5 Jag. z. │2 Sqn. 5 Horse Jag. │ Pf. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │28 Art. Command: │28 Art Command: │ 14 F. A. Regt. │ 14 F. A. Regt. │ │ 55 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 801 Light Am. Col. │ │ 991 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1129 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│130 Pion. Bn. │14 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ (former 1 Pion. │ │ No. 14): │ │ 2 Co. 14 Pions. │ 2 Co. 14 Pions. │ │ │ 3 Co. 14 Pions. │ 3 Co. 14 Pions. │ 28 T. M. Co. │ 94 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 28 Tel. Detch. │28 Signal Command: │ │ 28 Tel. Detch. │ │ 55 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │35 Ambulance Co. │35 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │262, 292 Field │261 Field Hospital. │ Hospitals. │ │Vet. Hospital. │262 Field Hospital. │ │28 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │67 Truck Train. │561 M. T. Col. │Light Mun. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │40 M. G. │ │ Sharpshooters │ │ Detch. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(14th Corps District—Northern part Grand Duchy of Baden.)

1914.

ALSACE-LORRAINE.

1. The 28th Division formed a part of the 14th Army Corps with the 29th Division, also from Baden. At the beginning of the campaign went to Upper Alsace to reenforce the 29th Division; fought at Mulhousen on August 9, and on the 13th west of Altkirch. Returning to Mulhousen on the 14th, it entrained at Muelheim on the 16th for Petite Pierre. The 14th Army Corps was placed on the left flank of the 6th Army and took part with it in the battle of the 20th. The 28th Division then crossed the frontier and advanced to Mortagne at the beginning of September. On September 11 it recrossed the frontier and went to the west of Pont à Mousson, where it went into action between September 20 and 29.

ARTOIS.

2. Withdrawn from La Haye at the end of the month, it entrained on October 4 at Metz, detrained at Mons, and from there marched to the front—La Bassée, Ablain, St. Nazaire.

1915.

ARTOIS.

1. From October, 1914, to May, 1915, its regiments were exhausted one after the other on the plateau of Notre Dame de Lorette. (On November 30, 1914, the 110th Grenadier Regiment acknowledged casualties of 58 officers and 3,814 men since the beginning of the campaign.) The 28th Division again suffered very heavily during the winter (especially the 110th Grenadiers and the 40th Fusileers); finally it lost very heavily from April 9 to May 3 (Carency-Ouvrages-Blancs). In the course of these battles the 111th Infantry Regiment was almost completely destroyed. On May 10 its first battalion had only 3 officers and 272 men. (Notebook of the captain commanding the battalion.) The Casualty Lists report 32 officers and 1,737 men as casualties.

2. The division was relieved on May 15, sent to rest in the area Lens, Pont à Vendin, Héuin-Liétard, and reorganized.

3. About May 25 it was put back into line (Ablain-Lorette) and again suffered very heavy losses.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. Withdrawn from Artois about June 13, it was transferred to the northeast of Reims. Beginning with June 18, it occupied the front between Bétheny and the Sillery-Beine road. In this sector it had only a few local actions and very few losses.

5. During the offensive of September, 1915, the division detached two battalions (one from the 109th Grenadiers and one from the 110th Grenadiers) to act as reinforcements in the Somme Py area.

6. On October 19 and 20 a gas attack was rather poorly carried out by the Badensian Infantry (La Pompelle-Prosnes front).

7. The 28th Division was relieved about November 10. At the beginning of December it went into the sector of Tahure-Butte du Mesnil which it occupied for the entire winter without any notable action.

1916.

1. About the end of April, 1916, the 28th Division left the sector of the Butte du Mesnil. It was sent to rest for a week in the Vouziers area, and about May 5 went back into line (sector of Maisons de Champagne-La Justice). During this time the units received intensive training.

SOMME.

2. During the first half of July the regiments of the division (minus the 109th Infantry Regiment, which had remained in Champagne) were successively relieved and transferred by way of Charleville, Hirson, and St. Quentin to the Biaches area (Somme). Between July 16 and 20 they established their positions between the Somme and the Barleux.

3. The 28th Division was retained in this sector until the beginning of October. It suffered heavy losses there, which were partially covered by reenforcements sent from the depots of the 14th Army Corps (1915 and 1916 classes).

4. At the beginning of October the division was sent to Champagne, into the sector east of Tahure. It left this about the 20th and reoccupied it from December until the end of January, 1917.

1917.

MEUSE.

1. At this time the 28th Division was transferred to the Verdun area. It was sent into line in the Caurières wood sector and remained until the beginning of September. It took part in the attacks on this front in the middle of August.

ALSACE.

2. Withdrawn from the Verdun area about the middle of September the division was sent to Alsace, northwest of Altkirch and was in the front line on October 20. It soon left this for the Montmedy area, then for Laon, and finally for the Cambrai front where it fought at Gonnelieu on November 30. Relieved at the beginning of December, it was sent to rest in the Ardennes and, at the beginning of February, 1918, occupied a sector at Mount Cornillet.

RECRUITING.

The 28th Division is recruited almost exclusively from Baden. A slight admixture from the 4th Corps District. The 40th Fusileers, although a Prussian regiment, was recruited in the Grand Duchy of Baden.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 28th Division has always given a good account of itself and must be considered a good division (July, 1917).

At the beginning of March, 1917, it carried out an attack against the Caurières wood with a great deal of vigor. A division order (dated Mar. 3, 1917) found on a corpse praises the heroism of the valiant troops of the 28th Division and calls its regiments “The conquerors of Lorette.”

1918.

AISNE.

1. The division held the Butte du Mesnil sector continuously until May 13, when it rested for 10 days in the vicinity of Vouziers. On May 23 the division entrained at Montcornet and was moved to the region of Laon. It came into line on May 31, reenforcing the Aisne battle front between Chateau de Maucreux and Troësnes. It was relieved on June 8 by the 10th Reserve Division.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

2. Its stay out of line was short, for on June 13 it again relieved the 50th Division near Verneuil; about this time the divisional commander, Lieut. Gen. Hahn, was decorated. The division was withdrawn from the Marne front about July 1. It returned to reenforce the battle line near Chaumuzy, southwest of Rheims on July 24. It fell back to the Vesle, where it held the line until August 26.

WOEVRE.

3. The division then went to rest in the vicinity of Baroucourt for three weeks. It left that place on September 14 and marched via Amermont-Offleville-Gondrecourt Rouvers-Etain to a position in line near Grimacourt and Hermeville, relieving the 8th Landwehr Division which side slipped to the south. It held this sector until October 19, when it was withdrawn and moved from Conflans, via Arlon, to Flanders on October 22.

MONS.

4. On November 1, the division came into line at Maresches in which area it fought until the armistice. The last identifications were at Sebourg (Nov. 4), west of Roisin (6th), and Dour (9th).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was not greatly used in 1918, spending most of the time on quiet fronts. After the Vesle fighting in August, the battalions of the division were reduced to three companies.

28th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │55 Res. │109 Res. │55 Res. │109 Res. │55 Res. │109 Res. │ │110 Res. │ │110 Res. │ │110 Res. │56 Res. │40 Res. │56 Res. │40 Res. │ │111 Res. │ │111 Res. │ │111 Res. │ │ │ │9 Res. │ │8 Res. │ │ │ │ Jag. │ │ Jag. │ │ │ │ Bn. │ │ Bn. │ │ │ │14 Res. │ │14 Res. │ │ │ │ Jag. │ │ Jag. │ │ │ │ Bn. │ │ Bn. │ │ │ │ │ │55 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ Brig. │ │ │ │ │ │ Ers. │ │ │ │ │ │ Bn. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │8 Res. Drag. │8 Res. Drag. │8 Res. Drag. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │29 Res. F. A. Rgt. │29 Res. F. A. Rgt. │28 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ (29 btries.). │ (6 btries.). │ │ │29 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ (6 btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │1 Ers. Abt. of 76 │ │ │ F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2 Liaisons. │ Pion. Bn. No. 13.│ Pion. No. 13. │ Pion. No. 13. │ │28 Res. Pont. Engs.│228 T. M. Co. │ │28 Res. Tel. Detch.│28 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │28 Res. Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │56 Res. │109 Res. │56 Res. │109 Res. │ │110 Res. │ │110 Res. │ │111 Res. │ │111 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3d Sq. 22d Drag. │3 Sqn. 22 Drag. │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │29 Res. F. A. Rgt. │29 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 btries.). │ │ │2 Abt. 1 Gd. Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (7 and 9 │ │ btries.). │ │766 Light Am. Col. │ │ │ │918 Light Am. Col. │ │1366 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│328 Pion. Bn. │328 Pion. Bn.: Liaisons. │ │ │1st Co. 16th Pion. │ 4 Co. 16 Pions. │4 Co. 16 Pion. │ 1 Ers. Co. 16 │ │ Pions. │228 T. M. Co. │ 72 Searchlight │ │ Section. │428 Tel. Detch. │428 Signal Command: │ │ 428 Tel. Detch. │ │ 160 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │514 Ambulance Co. │514 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │56, 57 Res. Field │56 Res. Field │ Hospitals. │ Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │57 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │428 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │725 Light Mun. Col.│725 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(14th Corps District—Baden.)

1914.

VOSGES.

1. At the beginning of the war the 28th Reserve Division formed in the Grand Duchy of Baden, and constituting the 14th Reserve Corps, with the 26th Reserve Division, belonged to the 7th Army (Von Heeringen). The division detraining near Emmendingen (Baden), entered Alsace by way of Markolsheim on August 10. It was engaged in the valley of the Bruche beginning on the 15th, fought at Donon on the 20th, and went down toward the Meurthe, where it fought until September 5 (Nompatelize and la Bourgonce), suffering heavy losses (two-thirds of the effectives of the 111th Reserve Infantry Regiment).

SOMME.

2. After September 5 the 28th Reserve Division retired toward Blamont on September 15. On September 22 and 23 it entrained at Teterchen (Lorraine) for Cambria, where it detrained on September 26 and 27. It was assigned to the 2d Army with the other division of the 14th Reserve Corps.

1915.

1. The division occupied the sector crossed by the Albert-Bapaume road (Ovillers to Fricourt) until July, 1916.

In April, 1915, the 28th Reserve Division lost the 40th Reserve Infantry Regiment, which went to the 115th Division, and its two battalions of Chasseurs left it—one in January, the other in May.

2. In August and September, 1915, elements of the division were in reserve in the area south of St. Quentin.

1916.

SOMME.

1. The 28th Reserve Division did not have any great losses on the Somme between October, 1915, and July, 1916. Its combat activity was weak during this period.

2. On July 1, 1916, the Division supported the entire weight of the British offensive north of the Somme, and suffered very heavy losses (casualties of the 111th Reserve Infantry Regiment, 39 officers and 1,821 men).

3. On July 4 the division was withdrawn from the front, sent to rest, and reorganized.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. Transferred to Champagne on July 10, it took over the sector west of Auberive (July 14 to the beginning of October).

SOMME.

5. The 28th Reserve Division was brought back to the Somme at Thiepval about October 5; it was in action until the end of October and lost heavily. On the one day of October 24 the 9th Company of the 111th Reserve Infantry Regiment noted the arrival of 134 men as replacements.

MEUSE (AVOCOURT).

Relieved about October 28, the division was sent to the Stenay area and reorganized.

Beginning of November, it occupied, at Verdun, the Avocourt sector at Hill 304.

1917.

1. On the Avocourt front the 28th Reserve Division took part in a few local engagements. It left this sector between April 7 and April 15.

CALIFORNIE PLATEAU.

2. Concentrated in the area northwest of Montfaucon, the division entrained about April 16 at Brieulles sur Meuse, Dun, Romagne and was transferred to Rozoy sur Serre; from there it marched to the sector east of Californie Plateau (Apr. 21). It underwent the French attack of May 4, which caused it heavy losses. Elements of the division lost very heavily counterattacking on the days following.

3. The division was relieved on May 18 and reorganized hastily (replacements of 1,100 men including 25 per cent of the 1918 class and men from the 626th Infantry Regiment dissolved). It was sent to Verdun to the Talou sector on May 20.

VERDUN.

4. The division, weakened by an epidemic of dysentery, was withdrawn from the front on July 8 and sent to rest in the area of Marville-Jametz until the beginning of August.

5. It went back into line at this date, on the right bank of the Meuse (Talou, Hill 344). It lost very heavily from the French attack of August 20 (47 officers and 1,150 men as prisoners) and was relieved on August 30.

CHAMPAGNE.

6. At the beginning of September it occupied the sector of Ville sur Tourbe in Champagne.

RECRUITING.

The 28th Reserve Division is recruited mostly from Baden. In addition, there are men from Rhenish-Hesse and the Rhine districts. There was also a small number of men from the 4th Corps District (1918 class).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The combat value of the 28th Reserve Division appears mediocre.

During the entire time that it spent on the Somme (October, 1914-July, 1916), the division remained on the defensive.

Having lost very heavily on the Somme, it showed no great activity on the Somme (August-October, 1916).

On the Californie Plateau (May, 1917), the 28th Reserve Division appeared very much inferior to the guard.

At Hill 344 (Aug. 20), the attitude of the regiments of the 28th Reserve Division was rather passive, and the resistance was quite weak.

1918.

1. The division was relieved south of Beine (Champagne) on February 16. It entrained on the following day for Cartignies, near Avesnes, where it underwent training for offensive operations. It remained there until the 14th of March, when it commenced to march by night to the front via Etreux-Fresnoy-Le Nouvion-Wassigny-Essigny le Petit Remancourt, arriving in line on March 20.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

2. The division was in the front line of the attack at Fayet on the 21st. On the 23d it passed through Savy and reached Vaux. On the 26th it passed through Parvillers and Erches, proceeding on the 27th via Warsy to Becquigny. The division distinguished itself in the fighting, though at a heavy cost. Some companies are known to have lost 75 per cent of their effectives. When withdrawn from the front line on March 29, the division was held in reserve on the front at Davenscourt, Warsy, and Gruny until April 17. Two thousand five hundred men, with a large percentage of the 1919 class, were received at this time as reinforcements.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

3. The division rested in the Avesnes-Maubeuge area until May 22, when it marched via Marle-Ste. Preuve-Montaigu May 22–27. The division was used as an attack division to break through on the Aisne front. It attacked southwest of Craonne on the 27th and advanced by Corbeny, southwest of Craonne, Merval, east of Fismes, Treloup (30th) and Jaulgonne. Prince von Buchau, the divisional commander, was killed on May 30. In the advance to the Marne the division covered 60 kilometers.

CHATEAU THIERRY.

4. The division was out of line June 3 to 7. On the 8th, it reentered line before Bouresches (west of Chateau Thierry) where it opposed the 2d United States Division until July 3. Heavy losses were received in the fighting in the Bois Belleu on June 10–11. The division received a draft of 200 men in June. The division was withdrawn on July 3 and rested southwest of Soissons from July 7 to 18.

SOISSONS.

5. It was alerted on July 18 and engaged south of Soissons (Berzy- Courmelles) on the next day. It was heavily engaged until August 1, when it entrained north of Laon and moved to north of Vouziers on August 1. Here the division rested until the middle of August. A draft of 400 men was received early in August.

CHAMPAGNE.

6. The division was engaged in the sector north of Mesnil les Hurlus about August 20 until the end of the month, when it was withdrawn.

7. After leaving the line at Tahure the division was shifted back and forth behind the Argonne and Meuse sectors ready to be thrust into line. It was moved from Juniville to Longuyon on September 5 and stayed at St. Jean les Buzy (west of Conflans) until the 26th. From there it moved to the Damvillers region, and on October 1 was sent to Milly and Villers devant Dun.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

8. The division was engaged near Cunel from October 3 to 18, when it was withdrawn to Stenay where it received replacements. The company strength was brought up to 40–50 men. On the 24th it was again in line near Bantheville and continued in to the end. It fell back north of Villers devant Dun on November 1–2, where it was last identified.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as first class. It was one of the best of the German divisions. It was used as an assault division in the Somme and Aisne offensives and met with great success. Following the attack it received in June in the Bois de Belleu, the division was not seriously engaged until it was thrown in the Argonne in an effort to stop the American advance. Its morale remained high up to the last though its effectives dwindled.

29th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │57. │113. │57. │113. │57. │113. │ │114. │ │114. │ │114. │58. │112. │58. │112. │58. │112. │ │142. │ │142. │ │142. │84. │169. │84. │169. │ │ │ │170. │ │170. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │22 Drag. │ │5th Jag. z. Pf. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │29 Brig. │29 Brig. │29 Brig. │30 Regt. │30 Regt. │30 Regt. │76 Regt. │76 Regt. │76 Regt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. No. 14. │1 Pion. No. 14. Liaison. │ │ │ │ │Field Co. 14 Pion. │2 Co. 14 Pion. │ │29 Tel. Detch. │29 T. M. Co. │ │29 Pont. Engs. │29 Tel. Detch. │ │ │29 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │29 Div. M. G. Co. │ │ │60 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │58. │112. │58. │112. │ │113. │ │113. │ │142. │ │142. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │4 Sq. 5th Jag. z. │4 Sqn. 5 Horse Jag. │ Pf. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │29 Art. Command: │29 Art. Command: │ 30 Regt. │ 30 F. A. Regt. │ │ 2 Abt. 9 Res. Ft. │ │ A. Regt. │ │ 734 Light Am. Col. │ │ 827 Light Am. Col. │ │ 932 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│130 Pion. Btn. │130 Pion. Btn. Liaison. │ │ │1 and 5 14 Pion. │1 Co. 14 Pion. │29 T. M. Co. │5 Co. 14 Pion. │29 Tel. Detch. │29 T. M. Co. │ │185 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │29 Signal Command: │ │ 29 Tel. Detch. │ │ 31 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │36 Ambulance Co. │36 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │263, 266 Field │263 Field Hospital. │ Hospitals. │ │29 Vet. Hospital. │266 Field Hospital. │ │29 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │562 Light Mun. Col.│562 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(14th Corps District—Southern part Grand Duchy of Baden and Upper Alsace.)

1914.

ALSACE-LORRAINE.

1. The 29th Division is a division of Baden, like the 28th, with which it formed the 14th Army Corps. Entering the campaign with its three brigades, it fought at Mulhouse on August 9, 1914. On August 14 taken to the right bank of the Rhine, it entrained for Zabern and took part in the battle of the 20th, after which it crossed the French frontier of Lorraine. Suffering heavily on the Meurthe, it retired to Dieuze, from which place it was sent to the front at La Haye west of Pont a Mousson.

ARTOIS.

2. It was transferred to the area north of Arras at the beginning of October, 1914 (front of La Bassee, Ablain, St. Nazaire).

1915.

ARTOIS.

1. From October, 1914, to May, 1915, all the regiments of the 29th Division suffered heavy losses on the plateau of Notre Dame de Lorette. On January 28, 1915, the 3d Company of the 196th Infantry Regiment had only 38 men left (letter). The 58th Brigade, especially, which contained a greater number of Alsace-Lorrainers than the others, lost very heavily in the course of this winter. At the end of November, 1914, the 142d Infantry Regiment had already had casualties of 44 officers and 2,603 men. On February 24, 1915, the 2d Company of the 142d Infantry Regiment had already received 358 men as successive replacements. But it was from May 8 to 13 that the regiments of the division suffered most heavily (1,000 men of the 114th Infantry Regiment). In March the 84th Brigade was taken from the 28th Division and transferred to the 52d Division (a new formation).

2. About May 15 the division was withdrawn from the front and sent to the area of Lens, Pont a Vendin, Henin-Lietard.

3. Sent back into line about May 25 (Souchez-Fond de Buval-Chateau de Carleul), it again suffered heavy losses.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. The division was again relieved about June 13 and sent northeast of Rheims (sector between the Sillery-Beine road and Prosne), on June 18. It held these lines until the beginning of November.

5. During its stay in the Rheims area, the 29th Division sent one battalion of the 113th Infantry Regiment into the Champagne battle.

6. On October 19 and 20 the 112th and 142d Infantry Regiments attempted a gas attack upon the sector La Pompelle-Prosnes. During this period (June to November, 1915) the losses of the division were insignificant.

7. About November 10 the 29th Division left this sector to go farther east, to the Tahure-Butte du Mesnil (Nov. 23). It occupied this sector until the end of September, 1916.

1916.

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