Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918) (part 4 of 5)

1. During the entire winter of 1915–16 the 29th Division held the front of Tahure-Butte du Mesnil without any notable action. In the course of their period of rest in the Vouziers area its battalions continued their training.

SOMME.

2. At the end of September, the division was transferred to the Somme. After this time the two divisions of the 14th Army Corps seemed to have become “flying divisions.” The 114th Infantry Regiment was withdrawn from the division and assigned to the 212th Division, later to 199th Division.

3. On October 4 the 29th Division went into action on the Somme east of Cléry. It was retained in this area until the beginning of February, 1917. On January 31, its regiments, each of which contained four battalions since the autumn of 1916, were reduced to three, the men of the 4th battalion being assigned to the other three.

1917.

1. On February 15, 1917, the 29th Division was sent to rest north of St. Quentin, where it worked on the Hindenburg line.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Transferred to the Rethel area on April 1, it was engaged south of Nauroy (west of Cornillet) on the 17th, where it lost heavily. It was relieved about April 20 and filled up with men of the 1918 class and of the 626th Infantry Regiment, dissolved at the end of April.

3. From May 10 until about the middle of June, it occupied the sector of Tahure-Butte du Mesnil.

4. About June 14 it was sent to the rear and rested in the area east of Vouziers-Attigny. The three regiments were filled up with important replacements (men of the 1918 class and the last of the 1917 class incorporated in the army in October, 1916).

VERDUN.

5. About July 10–12, the 29th Division entrained for the Verdun front and was sent into the sector of Avocourt wood. It underwent the French attack the 17th which caused it great losses.

6. On August 1 the 29th Division launched an attack to retake the positions lost on the 17th. Taken to the rear at the beginning of August, it was again engaged at the time of the French offensive of August 20 and counter attacked unsuccessfully (west of Hill 304) suffering heavy losses.

7. Relieved on October 24–25, it went to rest in the area of Joeuf (Landres, St. Georges, and vicinity), where it was reorganized. The gravity of its losses caused conscripts of the 1918 class called out in June, having only two months’ instruction, to be sent to it (5th company of the 142d Infantry Regiment for example).

8. About October 6, the division went back into line on the right bank of the Meuse (north of Hill 344). It remained there until the last of December.

RECRUITING.

The 29th Division is recruited almost exclusively in Baden, the regional character being accentuated by the return of the men from the 14th Corps District who had been serving in the regiments of the 4th Corps District.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Until the attacks of April, 1917, the 29th Division was considered a good division, well trained and well officered. The cohesion of the troops appears to have suffered from the large proportion of raw replacements, in consequence of their losses.

On August 21, 1917, the 142d Infantry Regiment launched a counter attack (west of Hill 304) which failed because of lack of cohesion and liaison between the different units and because of the heavy losses caused by the French machine guns.

1918.

VERDUN.

1. The division held the Beaumont sector until about April 1, when it was relieved by the 19th Ersatz Division. It rested in the Montmedy- Virton area (Meix) from April 6 to 25. The division was high in effectives at this time, the companies averaging 180 to 200 men.

2. On April 25–28 the division was railed to Belgium via Sedan- Charleville-Namur-Bruxelles-Courtrai. It marched to Wervieq, rested there until April 30 and marched into line northeast of Mount Kemmel on the night of May 1–2.

LYS.

3. The division was in line until May 15 at Kemmel. Losses from artillery fire were considerable. It was relieved by the 8th Division and rested at Oostroosebeke (north of Courtrai) until June 14.

4. On the night of the 14–15, the division entered line east of Langemarck, relieving the 49th Reserve Division. On July 15, the 49th Reserve Division returned and relieved the 29th Division, which rested near Gits (Roulers) until the 25th. Then it entrained and moved to the Laon district, detraining at Malmaison. From there the division was taken in trucks on the Vesle front.

AISNE.

5. It held the Courlaudon sector (east of Fismes) from August 1 to 31, when it retreated to the Aisne (Maizy). It was withdrawn about September 8. It rested near Laon until the 15th, when it was reengaged north of the Aisne (Allemant) from September 16 to 24. It retreated behind the Ailette Canal (east of Anizy and Chavignon) and was relieved on October 1.

6. The division left Laon on October 2 and was brought by rail and truck to Fresnoy le Grand, coming into line on October 6 in that area. On the 7th and 8th French attacks forced the division to withdraw by Croix Fonsomme, Seboncourt. On the 13th the division was relieved by elements of the 81st Reserve Division and held in rear of the line. On the 18th it was reengaged south of Le Cateau (Ribeauville). In November the division retreated on the axes Fresmy, Prisches, in the direction of Avesnes, where it was last identified on November 7.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as first class. In 1918 it was used to hold active defensive sectors. In the middle of October its effectives had greatly diminished.

29th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

(8th Corps District—Rhine Province.)

1915.

1. The 29th Landwehr Division was formed from the 29th Landwehr Brigade. The latter was transformed into a division on the Russian Front about November 1917.

FRANCE.

2. Entering Belgium on August 20, 1914, at Charleroi on the 31st, at Berry au Bac at the end of September, then attached to the 18th Army Corps north of St. Quentin, then to the 14th Reserve Corps, the 29th Landwehr Brigade was transferred to the Eastern Front at the end of March, 1915. In April and May it was in Poland south of Rawa; it was then attached to the Posen Corps (9th Corps).

COURLAND.

3. The German offensive in the summer of 1915 sent the 28th Landwehr Regiment to Courland (vicinity of Toukkoum, in August). This regiment took up its position in October in the vicinity of Kalnzem (north of Mitau). The 29th Landwehr Regiment, after taking part in the operations at Vilna, was brought to the east of Olai, in October, and rejoined the 28th Landwehr Regiment in the vicinity of Kalnzem, at the beginning of November.

1916.

COURLAND.

1. The 29th Landwehr Brigade remained on the Mitau Front (Kalnzem- Chmarden) during the whole of the year 1916 and until March, 1917. It then formed a part of the Winecken detachment. In October it received a new regiment, the 427th Infantry Regiment, which was taken from it in January, 1917.

1917.

COURLAND.

1. About the middle of March, 1917, the 29th Landwehr Brigade was relieved north of Mitau and sent west of Jakobstadt. It appears to be in reserve in this sector at the time of the operations against Riga. It then came into line north of Kreuzburg (vicinity of Jakobstadt).

2. About the month of November the 29th Landwehr Brigade was transformed into the 29th Landwehr Division, which did not prevent the taking of men from the division to reinforce its neighbor, the 77th Reserve Division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

On the Russian Front since 1914, the elements of the 29th Landwehr Division can have only a mediocre combat value.

1918.

ESTHONIA.

1. The 29th Landwehr Division occupied a very extended sector north of Kreuzburg until March, 1918. The division was sent then to the Polotsk- Vitebsk region and then to the Baltic Provinces. It was in Esthonia at the beginning of May; to the west of Reval early in June. “I have been in Esthonia three weeks now for guard duty,” a man wrote on May 19. The division was identified here several times subsequently, the last identification being on the 5th of September.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

30th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │60. │99. │60. │99. │60. │99. │ │143. │ │143. │ │105. │ │ │ │ │ │ . │85. │105. │85. │105. │ │143. │ │136. │ │136. │ │ │ 8 Jag. Bn. │ │ │ │ │ 14 Jag. Bn. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Jag. z. Pf. │ │8 Res. Hussars (2 │ │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │30 Brig. │30 Brig. │30 Brig. │51 Regt. │51 Regt. │51 Regt. │84 Regt. │84 Regt. │84 Regt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. No. 15. │1 Pion. No. 15. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │Fld. Co. 15 Pion. │1 Co. 15 Pion. │ │30 Pont. Engs. │30 T. M. Co. │ │30 Tel. Detch. │30 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │30 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │30 Antiaircraft │ │ │ Detch. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │60. │99. │68. │99. │ │105. │ │105 │ │ │ │ (Saxon). │ │143. │ │143. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │8 Res. Hussars (?).│5 Sqn. 7 Drag. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │30 Art. Command: │30 Art. Command: │ 84 Regt. │ 84 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 10 Bav. Ft. A. │ │ Btn. │ │ 885 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1369 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1394 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│131 Pion. Bn. │15 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │1, 5/15 Pion. │ 1 Co. 15 Pions. │30 T. M. Co. │ 5. Co. 15 Pions. │30 Tel. Detch. │ 182 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │ 30 Tel. Detch. │ │ 161 Wireless │ │ Detch. │ │30 Signal Command. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │37 and 39 Ambulance│30 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ Cos. │ │Field Hospital. │275 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │276 Field Hospital. │ │30 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │30 Antiaircraft │ │ Detch. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(15th Corps—District, Alsace.)

1914.

ALSACE-LORRAINE.

The 30th Division constituted the 15th Army Corps (Strassburg) with the 39th Division.

1. At the beginning of the campaign the 30th Division formed a part of the 7th Army (Von Heeringen). Entraining on August 8, 1914, for Upper Alsace, it fought there until the 13th. It was transferred from there to south of Sarreburg and crossed the French frontier after the battle of the 20th. It advanced by way of Raon l’Étape across the Meurthe. At the beginning of September it was concentrated near Avricourt and went to Tergnier; from there to Craonne and Hurtebise. It fought there from the middle of September to the middle of October.

2. Concentrated at Laon on October 20, the 30th Division (as well as the 39th Division) arrived on the Lys on the 29th.

FLANDERS.

3. The 15th Army Corps, now a part of the 6th Army, went into action southeast of Ypres, an area in which it remained for almost 15 months (October, 1914-January. 1916).

1915.

FLANDERS.

1. Before our attacks of 1915, the 30th Division was attached, with the 15th Army Corps to the 4th Army. It went into action south of Ypres.

The 136th Infantry Regiment left it in April and became a part of the 115th Division (a new formation).

1916.

VERDUN.

1. Toward the end of January, 1916, elements of the 30th Division were transferred to Verdun to take part in the February offensive.

2. On February 24 the 15th Army Corps, which was on the western wing of the German attacking forces, went into action on the front of Maucourt- Warcq.

3. The regiments of the 30th Division suffered slightly during this period, the battle having been less intense in the Woëvre. Only the 105th Infantry Regiment, in action as a reenforcement of the 3d Army Corps, suffered very heavy losses.

4. The 30th Division was not relieved after the battles of February and the beginning of March. It remained in the sector and, on July 11, the 99th and 143d Infantry Regiments took part in a new offensive. On August 8 the 143d Infantry Regiment attacked the works of Thiaumont and was decimated. At this time the regiments were filled from day to day by irregular replacements. (Between July 7 and 19 more than 136 men were sent to the 11th Company of the 99th Infantry Regiment.)

SOMME.

5. About the end of September the 30th Division was relieved and sent to rest in the Cambrai area. It went into line a short time afterwards, on the Somme at Sailly Saillisel and remained there one month. It again lost very heavily (the 143d Infantry Regiment lost half of its effectives).

6. Relieved at the end of November, the 30th Division was sent back to the Verdun front.

MEUSE.

7. After a rest near Dun sur Meuse, it went into line in the vicinity of the Mort Homme, then of the Côte du Poivre and east of Louvemont (from Dec. 15 to the end of January, 1917) without taking part there in any important offensive or defensive engagement.

1917.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. On March 1, 1917, it went into line in the sector east of Auberive and was still there at the time of our spring offensive in Champagne. It underwent this attack at the beginning of May and occupied the sector until the middle of August. During this time, between April 17–20 and the beginning of May, 1917, the losses of the 30th Division were very great. The effectives of the 105th Infantry Regiment were reduced to 400 men; this regiment had to be reorganized in the Argonne.

MEUSE.

2. About August 25 the 30th Division was again transferred to the Meuse and occupied the trenches in the vicinity of Forges-Bethincourt, where its losses were slight.

CAMBRAI.

3. About October 24 the division was relieved. The British attack on the Cambrai front on November 20 caused it to be recalled in haste. It was sent into line on the 23d, and remained there until about December 10.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. At rest in the Sedan area, it was sent to the Champagne front, northwest of Auberive, about the middle of January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

Of the three regiments of the division, one, the 105th Infantry Regiment, is Saxon. Stationed in Alsace since 1871, it has represented Saxony in the occupation of the Reichsland, and continues to draw its recruits from Saxony. The other two, Prussian, are composed mostly of Westphalians.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 30th Division is a good division and well commanded.

The morale, which is good in the 99th and 143d Infantry Regiments, would seem to be mediocre in the 105th Infantry Regiment (Saxon) in November, 1917.

This last regiment, very much exhausted on April 17, 1917, was accused by the other regiments of having given way. It was withdrawn from the division for a month.

1918.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The middle of January the 30th Division relieved the 28th Reserve Division near Ville sur Tourbe; it was relieved about the 20th of March by the 52d Reserve Division, entrained near Vouziers and traveled via Hirson and Marle to the area northwest of Laon.

MONTDIDIER.

2. On the 27th it left and marched via Achery-Vendeuil-Jussy-Flavy le Meldeux, Freniches-Libermont-Solente-Gruny, reaching Framicourt on the 12th of April, and entered line the following day south of Cantigny (west of Montdidier). It was withdrawn on May 16.

3. The division had suffered casualties amounting to 30 per cent of its total effectives, and so when it was withdrawn, it moved to the region south of Roye to refit. Here each company received between 40 and 50 1919-class recruits, after which the division was trained. On June 12 it reinforced the front near Courcelles (south of Montdidier). It suffered heavy losses in the fighting that followed, and was withdrawn about the 22d.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. During the night of June 28–29 the division relieved the 1st Bavarian Division astride the Souain-Sommey road. It seems to have been “leap- frogged” by the 2d Bavarian Division on the 15th—the opening day of the Champagne offensive—but it relieved the 2d Bavarian Division on the 19th. It was relieved by the 22d Division on August 10, and went to rest in the Lens area.

CAMBRAI.

5. On the 23d of September it left and moved to the Cambrai area, where it arrived the following day. On the 27th it reenforced the battle front south of Villers Guislain (south of Cambrai). It was pushed back steadily in the ensuing weeks, and was withdrawn about the 28th of October, southeast of Englefontaine (south of Quesnoy), and went to rest in Maubeuge.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

Until this year the 30th had always been considered a first-class division. During 1918, however, it was not used nearly so much as other shock units. The fact that, although it was in line only a fortnight after more than a month’s rest, it was not used in the attack of July 15 in Champagne, but was put back into line as soon as it was seen that the offensive there was a failure, is significant. It would seem that the German High Command considered it as only a second-class division.

30th Bavarian Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │84 Ldw. │70 Res. │5 Bav. │2 Bav. │5 Bav. │2 Bav. │ │ │ Ers. │ Ers. │ Ers. │ Ers. │5 Bav. │7 and 8 │ │4 Bav. │ │4 Bav. │ Ers. │ Brig. │ │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │ Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ Bn. │ │ │ │ │10 Bav. │11 Bav. │10 Bav. │11 Bav. │10 Bav. │11 Bav. │ Res. │ Res. │ Res. │ Res. │ Ers. │ Res. │ │14 Bav. │ │14 Bav. │ │14 Bav. │ │ Res. │ │ Res. │ │ Res. │ │ │84 Ldw. │70 Res. │84 Ldw. │70 Res. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │9 Res. Hus. │9 Res. Hus. │9 Res. Hus. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │1st Frs. Abt. 13, │239 F. A. Rgt. │239 F. A. Rgt. │ 31, and 80 F. │ │ │A. Regts. │ │252 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │1 Mountain F. A. │ │ │ Abt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│4 Co. 15 Pions. │4 Co. 15 Pions. │2 Ldw. Co. 15 Corps Liaisons. │ │ │ Pions. │2 Ldw. Co. 15 Corps│2 Ldw. Co. 15 Corps│249 Pion. Co. │ Pions. │ Pions. │ │ │ │88 Res. Pion. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │230 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd Units. │ │30 Res. Cyc. Co. │30 Res. Cyc. Co. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │1st Ldst. Btn. │ │1 Ldst. Btn. │ Kempton. │ │ Passau, 1st Bav. │ │ │ Corps No. 5. │1st Bav. Corps No. │ │1 Ldst. Btn. │ 13. │ │ Mindelheim, 1 │ │ │ Bav. Corps No. │ │ │ 14. │ │ │1st Ldst. Btn. │ │ │ Neustadt, 2 Bav. │ │ │ Corps No. 4. │ │ │1 Ldst. Btn. │ │ │ Eisenach, 11 │ │ │ Corps No. 12. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │5 Bav. │8 Bav. │5 Bav. │8 Bav. │ Ers. │ Ldw. │ Ers. │ Ldw. │ │15 Bav. │ │15 Bav. │ │ Ldw. │ │ Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │4 Bav. │ │4 Bav. │ │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2d Sq. 9 Res. Hus. │1 Sq. 1 Bav. Res. │ │ Cav. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │8 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │4 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ (Elements). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│22 Bav. Pion. Btn. │22 Bav. Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │13 Bav. Res. Pion. │ 13 Bav. Res. Pion. │ Co. │ Co. │5 Bav. Ldw. Pion. │ 5 Bav. Ldw. Pion. │ Co. │ Co. │230 T. M. Co. │ 22 Bav. │ │ Searchlight │ │ Section. │430 Bav. Tel. │430 Signal Command: │ Detch. │ │ │ 430 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │23 Bav. Ambulance │23 Bav. Ambulance Veterinary.│ Co. │ Co. │5 Bav. Field │5 Bav. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │30 Bav. Vet. │36 Bav. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd Units. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │54 Ldst. Foot Art. │ │ Vtn. │ │ │ │2d Btry/5 Bav. F. │ │ A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │4 Btry/5 Bav. F. A.│ │ Regt. │ │ │ │9 Btry/5 Bav. F. A.│ │ Rgt. │ │ │ │1 Ldst. Btn. │ │ Bruchsal, 14 │ │ Corps No. 3. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Bavaria.)

1914.

ALSACE.

1. The 30th Bavarian Reserve Division, constituted in August, 1914, half of Prussian and half of Bavarian troops, operated in the Vosges beginning with August 17, and entered St. Dié on the 27th.

In 1915, with the 39th Reserve Division, formed after it, it made up the Eberhardt Corps, since then the 15th Reserve Corps. These 2 divisions comprised a total of 25 battalions, reserve units, Landwehr or Ersatz, Bavarian for the most part, to which were subordinated Landsturm Battalions.

They were scattered, after the retirement of the first part of September, 1914, among the valleys of the Plaine and the Liepvrette (Ste. Marie aux Mines).

The predominance of Bavarian troops in these Divisions had the effect of causing both to be officially called Bavarian. As a matter of fact, they were afterwards almost exclusively filled by Bavarian contingents.

1915.

1. In 1915 the 30th Bavarian Reserve Division continued to occupy the same sector of the Vosges, south of the valley of the Plaine. It remained there until May, 1917. The 39th Bavarian Reserve Division was at its left, holding the lines as far as Ste. Marie aux Mines.

2. In the spring of 1915, the Brigade Ersatz Battalions of the divisions were grouped into regiments and became the 2d and 4th Bavarian Ersatz Regiments, forming the 5th Bavarian Ersatz Brigade.

3. The two Brigades of the 30th Bavarian Reserve Division took an active part in the battles of La Fontenelle in June and July, 1915.

1916.

1. Vosges sector (south of the Valley of the Plaine, Senones, Le Ban-de- Sapt).

2. In October, 1916, the 11th and 14th Bavarian Reserve Regiments went to the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division and to the 9th Bavarian Reserve Division.

The 30th Bavarian Reserve Division received, in November, the 8th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment from the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division, and in December the 15th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment, taken from the 39th Bavarian Division, which received the 2d Bavarian Ersatz Regiment in exchange.

1917.

LORRAINE.

1. In April, 1917, the 30th Bavarian Reserve Division was relieved from the Vosges sector, which it had occupied since its formation, and sent into line on the Lorraine front (sector of the Seille).

2. At the end of October, it was transferred to Upper Alsace (north of the Rhone-Rhine Canal), where it relieved the 3d Reserve Division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 30th Bavarian Reserve Division is a sector division, as it has occupied the front either in Lorraine or Alsace since its formation. Its offensive value is mediocre.

In the 8th Bavarian Landwehr and the 4th Bavarian Ersatz Regiments, the average age of the men is 38 years. The men of the machine gun companies are younger, according to the ordinary rule. In the 15th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment the majority of the men are more than 30 years old.

Each battalion of the 8th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment possesses an assault troop composed of young men averaging 24 years of age.

There is also a Divisional Assault Company.

1918.

HAUTE ALSACE.

1. The division remained in line north of the Rhine-Rhone Canal until the armistice was signed.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division possesses very little fighting value. The men are, for the most part, old, and the fathers of several children. Then, too, a great many are those—untrained Landsturm—who usually, for physical defects, were not inducted into the army when their classes were called to the colors; these men complain of the hard work. Moreover, Bavarians came to believe that Prussia was “using” them. It was found necessary to establish shock detachments with each battalion, and these do all of the necessary patrolling.

31st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │32. │70. │32. │70. │32. │70. │ │174. │ │174. │ │174. │62. │60. │62. │137. │ │166. │ │137. │ │166. │ │ │ │166. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │7 Uhlan Rgt. │ │5 Sqn. 7 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │31 Brig.: │31 Brig.: │31 Brig.: │ 31 F. A. Rgt. │ 31 F. A. Rgt. │ 31 F. A. Rgt. │ 67 F. A. Rgt. │ 67 F. A. Rgt. │ 67 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 27. │ 27. │ │ Field Co. 27. │ 1 and 2 27 Pion. │ │ Pion. │ │ │ 31 Pont. Engs. │ 31 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ 31 Tel. Detch. │ 31 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ 31 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │Field Recruit Depot │ │ │ 31 Div. │ │ │153 Cyclist Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │32. │70. │32. │70. │ │174. │ │166. │ │166. │ │174. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │5 Sqn. 7 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │31 Art. Command: │31 Art. Command: │ 31 F. A. Rgt. │ 31 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 44 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 1005 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1011 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1012 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│136 Pion. Btn.: │93 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Co. 27 Pion. │ 1 Co. 27 Pion. │ │ │ 31 T. M. Co. │ 3 Co. 32 Res. │ │ Pion. │ 505 Searchlight │ 31 T. M. Co. │ Section. │ │ 31 Tel. Detch. │ 40 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │31 Signal Command: │ │ 31 Tel. Detch. │ │ 116 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │262 Ambulance Co. │262 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │326 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │333 Field Hospital. │ │161 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │564 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │24 M. G. S. S. │ │ Detch. │ │2 and 3d Abt. 44 F. │ │ A. Rgt. │ │121 Ft. A. Rgt. │ │1 Abt. 44 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. │ │2 Abt. 6 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. │ │1 Abt. 74 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. │ │134 Art. │ │ Observation │ │ Section. │ │75 Sound Ranging │ │ Detch. │ │134 Balloon Sqn. │ │105 Balloon Sqn. │ │256 Reconnaissance │ │ Flight. │ │(Elements attached │ │ May 15, 1918. │ │ German document.) ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(21st Corps District—Lorraine, part of Lower Alsace, and southern portion of the Rhine Province.)

1914.

Upon mobilization, the 31st Division, with the 42d Division, constituted the 21st Army Corps.

LORRAINE.

1. At the beginning of the war the 31st Division was a part of the 6th Army (Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria). In August, 1914, it was on the Lorraine frontier; on the 12th of August at Chateau Salins, Rechicourt. It fought at Dieuze on August 20, where the 174th Infantry Regiment lost half of its effectives. The division was at Luneville on the 23d, marched upon Rehainviller, Gerbeviller on the 24th; at Rozelieure Essey on the 26th; in the vicinity of Moyen-Domptail at the beginning of September; it withdrew to Dieuze about September 11.

SOMME.

2. Transferred to the vicinity of St. Quentin-Vermand, about September 18, the division occupied the vicinity of Fouquescourt on September 26 and 27; attacked in the direction of Bouchoir on October 6. At the end of October the division took over the front of Fouquescourt-Chaulnes and kept it until the end of January, 1915. At this date the losses of the 174th Infantry Regiment, since the beginning of the war, amounted to 81 officers and 3,521 men. (Official List of Casualties.)

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. About January 25, 1915, the 31st Division left the Somme for the Eastern Front, leaving the 60th Infantry Regiment in France, and detrained at Tilsit.

2. Concentrated in Eastern Prussia, at the beginning of February, it was a part of the Hindenburg Army.

3. On February 14 it left the region of Augustowo to advance to the east. It reached Sopockin on the 20th and took up its position with the 21st Army Corps on the line Sopockin-Chatbine (north of Grodno). On the 9th of March, in a counterattack of the Russians, it suffered heavy losses.

4. From March 29 to April 24 it took part in the battles in the vicinity Kalwaria-Mariampol.

5. At the end of April it was withdrawn from the front and reorganized. From the time of its arrival in Russia until April 10, the first battalion of the 166th Infantry Regiment had lost 17 officers and 1,022 men, the 1st Company alone losing 5 officers and 336 men.

6. At the end of July the division again occupied the lines near Mariampol.

VILNA.

7. In the month of August it took part in the offensive upon Vilna. It advanced to Kovno on August 19, to Vilna at the end of September, and reached the area Smorgoni-Soly, where it stopped in October.

8. The division was relieved on October 6. It went back into line about October 24, in the sector of Postawy-Lake Narotch.

NAROTCH.

1. The 31st Division occupied the vicinity of Lake Narotch until its departure for the Western Front in December, 1917.

2. At the end of March, 1916, it opposed the Russian offensive in the vicinity of this lake; it lost very heavily.

1917.

BELGIUM.

1. On December 5, 1917, it was relieved from the Russian front, and after a few days rest at Vilna entrained for Belgium on December 16. (Itinerary: Wirballen-Koenigsberg-Elbing-Dirschau-Ramberg (?) Aix la Chapelle-Verviers.) It detrained about the 21st, in the vicinity of Ghent and took up its position at the end of January, 1918 south of the Ypres-Roulers line where it alternated with the 12th Reserve Division.

RECRUITING.

The 31st Division is recruited mostly from the vicinity of Sarrebrucken and St. Wendel in the Rhine Province. Most of the replacements are furnished by Westphalia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 31st Division was on the Russian front from February, 1915 to December 1917. The quality is mediocre.

1918.

YPRES.

1. From January 19 to February 4 the division held the Moorslede sector (south of Ypres-Roulers railway). The division rested until the 14th in the vicinity of Lendelede. It relieved the 12th Reserve Division on the 14th in its old sector at Moorslede which it held until March 3, and again from March 21 until April 4.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

2. About April 4 the division was withdrawn and marched to the Messines front. The route lay through Menin, Werwicq, Comines, Warneton. It was engaged on April 10 to 12 in the Bois de Ploegsteert. For its fighting in this area the division was mentioned by the German communique of April 13. From the 12th to the 17th, it was in second line. It fought south and southwest of Kemmel from April 18 to 24 when it passed into close support until the 26th. The division’s losses were large in this severe engagement. The 3d Battalion of the 174th Regiment is known to have lost from 60 to 70 per cent of its effectives.

3. When relieved in the Kemmel area, the division rested north of Tourcoing until May 6, undergoing reconstitution. It returned to line north of Kemmel on the night of May 6–7, relieving the Alpine Corps. It suffered heavily from the French attack of May 21, losing many prisoners. It was relieved on May 24, and rested in the Courtrai-Menin area until June 15. It was engaged in the sector south of Ypres from June 15 until July 27.

WOEVRE.

4. Following its arduous service on the Ypres front, the division was moved to a quiet sector on the Woevre. It was moved from Belgium by way of Brussels, Namur, Charleville, Sedan to Mars la Tour from where it marched to the front and took over the St. Mihiel sector on July 29, which it held until September 3.

BATTLE OF ST. MIHIEL.

5. The division was resting in the area north of Dampvitoux when the American attack was made on the St. Mihiel salient. It was brought into line north of Thiaucourt on the 14th and held this sector until October 28.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

6. On the 31st, the division was engaged at Imecourt (northeast of Grandpre) and took part in the final combats in that area. It was still in line on November 11.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. In spite of its relatively low quality it appears to have been used as an attack division in the Lys offensive. The losses in the spring and the presence of numerous Lorrainers in its composition lowered the value of the division after May, 1918.

32d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │63. │102. │63. │102. │64. │102. │ │103. │ │103. │ │177. │64. │177. │64. │177. │ │103. │ │178. │ │178. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │18 Hus. Rgt. │ │20 Hus. Rgt. (3 │ │ │ Squadrons). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │32 Brig.: │32 Brig.: │32 Brig.: │ 28 F. A. Rgt. │ 28 F. A. Rgt. │ 28 F. A. Rgt. │ 64 F. A. Rgt. │ 64 F. A. Rgt. │ 64 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. No. 12: Liaisons. │ │ 12: │ │ │ Field Co. 12 Pion.│ 2 Co. 12 Pion. │ │ │ │ │ 32 Pont. Engs. │ 32 T. M. Co. │ │ 32 Tel. Detch. │ 32 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ 32 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │115 Labor Btn. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │63. │102. │63. │102. │ │177. │ │103. │ │103. │ │177. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 20 Hus. Rgt.│4 Sqn. 20 Hus. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │32 Art. Command: │32 Art. Command: │ 64 F. A. Rgt. │ 64 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 80 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 943 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1063 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1266 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│140 Pion. Btn.: │140 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 2 and 5 Cos. 12 │ 2 Co. 12 Pions. │ Pion. │ │ 32 T. M. Co. │ 5 Co. 12 Pions. │ 32 Tel. Detch. │ 3 Res. Co. 12 │ │ Pions. │ │ 32 T. M. Co. │ │ 220 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │32 Signal Command: │ │ 32 Tel. Detch. │ │ 20 (Saxon) │ │ Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │28 Ambulance Co. │28 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │308 Field Hospital.│308 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │116 Field Hospital. │ │32 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │565 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │61 M. G. │ │ Sharpshooter │ │ Detachment. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(12th Corps District—Saxony.)

1914.

BELGIUM-MARNE.

1. Upon the declaration of war the 32d Division, with the 23d Division, formed the 12th Army Corps (1st Saxon Army Corps). On the night of August 2, 1914, its 64th Brigade entrained for the frontier north of Luxemburg to act as covering troops. The 32d Division was concentrated there on the 10th and entered Belgium on the 13th. In August, it marched with the 3d Army (von Hausen), fought on the right bank of the Meuse on August 23 near Dinant, entered France, went into action on the 28th at Signy l’Abbaye, and from there went down to Chalons. It took part in the battle of the Marne to the left of the Guard at Lenharree on the extreme right flank of the 6th Army and retired by way of Chalons, Mourmelon, Betheniville to the northwest of Rheims.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Reattached to the 7th Army (Von Heeringen), it took part in the attacks in the vicinity of Rheims (northwest).

3. When the front became stabilized it retained the sector of Berry au Bac-Craonne and remained there until the month of July, 1915.

1915.

AISNE.

1. Sector Berry au Bac-Craonne. (During this period the losses of the division were very small.) In April, 1915, the 178th Infantry Regiment was taken from the 32d Division and assigned to the 123d Division (a new formation).

1916.

1. Retained in the same calm sector and having taken part in no important affair since October, 1914, the 32d Division retained its combat value intact at the end of June, 1916.

SOMME.

2. During the first days of the Franco-British offensive on the Somme the 32d Division sent one battalion from reserve there, which went into action from July 4 to July 7 in the vicinity of Belloy.

3. Toward the end of July two of its regiments (102d and 103d Infantry Regiments) helped to form (with elements from the 23d Division) the provisional Franke Division, which fought on the Somme until September 10 (Deniecourt-Vermandovillers). The losses were very heavy.

4. On the 4th of September the 177th Infantry Regiment was sent up in its turn, but was in action only a few days in the vicinity of Vermandovillers from September 4 to 10. Its losses were enormous (1,600 men in 6 days).

5. The Franke Division was withdrawn on September 10 and dissolved.

ARGONNE.

6. The 32d Division, reformed (102d, 103d, 177th Infantry Regiments) and reorganized, was sent north of Rheims and then to the Argonne (Four de Paris and Avocourt wood).

SOMME.

7. Relieved at the beginning of November, it entrained on the 3d and 4th near Grandpre, detrained at Hirson, and on November 15 began to occupy the sector between Bouchavesnes and northeast of Clery.

1917.

1. The 32d Division was retained in the Bouchavesnes sector until the time of the German retirement in March, 1917.

2. It left the Somme front at the end of March.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. After a period of rest in the vicinity of Sissonne, the division went into action in the sector of Mont sans Nom (4 kilometers west of Vaudesincourt on Apr. 17 and 18). Having lost heavily, the 3 regiments were withdrawn on the 19th.

4. On May 5 the division again went into line west of Tahure.

FLANDERS.

5. About June 10 it was relieved, and after a few days of rest entrained at Machault for Flanders. There it went into line near the Ypres-Menin road.

6. At the beginning of September it was withdrawn from the Ypres front and sent to rest, then took over the sector Warneton-Messines and was not relieved until the middle of January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 32d Division is exclusively Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In June, 1917, the morale of the division was very low because of the losses suffered at Mont Haut.

However, during the division’s stay in the Tahure sector from May to June, 1917, there were only two desertions.

Besides, Gen. von Der Decken is considered an energetic commander and it is very probable that under his influence the morale has become more satisfactory (September, 1917).

1918.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

1. The division was relieved on January 15 by the 49th Reserve Division and rested near Tournai until the beginning of March. It was railed to Wambrechies and entered the line northwest of Lille about March 1. About the 4th of April it was moved south and on April 9 was engaged at Fleurbaix. It was withdrawn to rest on the 16th to Armentieres and returned to line on the 18th, relieving the 117th Division. It was in line until May 8, during which time it suffered heavy losses. A replacement of 450 men was received on April 17.

2. Relieved by the 35th Division, it rested in rear of the Lys front until May 26, when it took over the sector west of Merville and held it until the end of June.

WOEVRE.

3. It was relieved about July 1 and railed to Lorraine, detraining near Spincourt on July 4. About this time, the division received a draft of 1500 men. It was in line at Eix-Bezonveaux from July 15 to October 1, a very quiet sector. The troops were marched to the rear on that date and rested in the Eton-Loison area for two days. On the 3d the division marched to Penard-Tilly, where it rested until the 5th, and on that night marched to Breville. It came into line on October 9 on the right bank of the Meuse, and was engaged in the Bois de Moirey region until October 24. Losses were heavy, some companies being reduced to 15 men. On November 3 the division reappeared in its former sector of Bezonvaux, relieving the 106th A. H. D. It held this sector until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It did well on the Lys in April, but after that was not seriously engaged except for a few days in October, when it was brought up to resist an American attack east of the Meuse. In the fighting it did not distinguish itself. The morale of the division was low in the latter half of 1918.

33d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │66. │98. │66. │98. │66. │98. │ │130. │ │130. │ │130. │67. │135. │67. │135. │67. │135. │ │144. │ │144. │ │144. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │12 Jag. z. Pf. │ │4 Sqn. 12 Jag. z. │ │ │ Pf. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │33 Brig.: │33 Brig.: │33 Brig.: │ 33 Rgt. │ 33 Rgt. │ 33 Rgt. │ 34 Rgt. │ 34 Rgt. │ 34 Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 16: │ 16: │ │ Field Co. 16 Pion.│ 1 Co. 16 Pion. │ │ │ │ │ 33 Tel. Detch. │ Field Co. 20 Pion. │ │ │ │ │ 33 Pont. Engs. │ 33 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ 33 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ 33 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │66. │98. │66. │98. │ │135. │ │130. │ │130. │ │135. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 12 Jag. z. │4 Sqn. 12 Horse │ Pf. │ Jag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │33 Art. Command: │33 Art. Command: │ 283 Rgt. │ 283 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 76 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 883 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1372 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1373 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│132 Pion. Btn.: │16 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 and 5 Cos. 16 │ 5 Co. 16 Pions. │ Pion. │ │ 1 Res. Co. 16 │ 1 Res. Co. 16 │ Pion. │ Pion. │ 33 T. M. Co. │ 34 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ (16) Searchlight │33 Signal Command: │ Section. │ │ 33 Tel. Detch. │ 33 Tel. Detch. │ │ 74 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │42 Ambulance Co. │42 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │280, 282 Field │282 Field Hospital. │ Hospitals. │ │Vet. Hospital. │33 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(16th Corps District—Lorraine.)

1914.

At the beginning of the war the 33d Division, with the 34th Division, formed the 16th Army Corps (Metz). Reservists began arriving on July 29 (Soldbuecher).

1. At the outbreak of hostilities the 33d Division was a part of the 5th Army (German Crown Prince). It invaded France by way of Audun le Roman, went around by the north of Verdun, crossed the Meuse at Givry on September 1 and advanced as far as Rambluzin and Heippes (20 kilometers south of Verdun).

ARGONNE.

2. After the battle of the Marne it took up its position in the Argonne. Its advance had been costly. On September 24 the new commander of the 98th Infantry Regiment found it reduced 13 officers and 982 men (document).

1915.

ARGONNE.

1. The 33d Division remained without interruption in the Argonne from September, 1914, to about the middle of August, 1916.

1916.

VERDUN.

1. About August 10, 1916, the division was relieved from the Argonne and, after a short rest behind the front, was sent into the line at Verdun, east of Fleury.

2. In this sector, the division lost rather heavily. It remained there until the middle of September, at which time it took its place in the sector Vauquois, giving the 144th Infantry Regiment to the 223d Division, a new formation.

ARGONNE.

3. During this latter period, which extended up to the middle of December, the division was reorganized and absorbed the 4th Battalion, suppressed, on October 31, in the 27th Landwehr Regiment. At the same time, the 4th Battalions which the regiments of the division possessed, were broken up.

SOMME.

4. Transferred to the Somme about December 15, it there occupied the sector east of Beaumont-Hamel and did not leave it until February 8, 1917. During these two months, its losses were rather serious.

1917.

ARGONNE.

1. Sent to rest in the Sedan area, the 33d Division went back into its old sector Vauquois at the end of February, 1917. No important event marks its stay in the Argonne after that time.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. On May 3, it was relieved and transferred to Champagne. It marched as far as Pont Faverger and went into line at Cornillet and Mont Blond. It took part in the battle on this front and suffered some losses (172 prisoners from the 130th Infantry Regiment on May 20).

ARGONNE.

3. Withdrawn from this region at the end of May, it was again sent to the Argonne (Boureuilles-Vauquois), about June 7.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. At the end of September it came out of the Argonne, and about October 4 went to the area of Tahure, where it remained in line until February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

Not being able to utilize the regional system of recruiting from annexed Lorraine, the 33d Division is composed almost entirely of Westphalians from the 7th Corps District.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 16th Army Corps, of which the 33d Division is a part, has always had the reputation of being one of the best corps of the German Army.

Although the 33d Division lost very heavily during the offensive of April and May, 1917, it still appeared strong (October, 1917).

1918.

1. The division was relieved on January 4 by the 28th Reserve Division and went to rest and train in the area northwest of Sedan. On March 14 it was railed to the vicinity of Rozoy sur Serre and rested a week north of Montcornet. From there the division proceeded by night marches via Montcornet-Crecy sur Serre-Monceau le Neuf-Ribemont-Mezieres-Moy-ly Fontaine-Gibercourt-Montescourt-Jussy-Flavy le Martel, where it arrived on March 23. On the following night the division was billeted in Villeselve and came into line astride the Ham-Noyon road on March 24.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. On the 25th the division fought its way through Noyon and on the following days was engaged in heavy fighting about Suzoy and Mont Renaud, which it failed to capture in spite of heavy sacrifices. It was withdrawn on April 15.

3. The division rested from April 15 to May 24 in the vicinity of Dercy, Mortiers, Pierrepont, and Barenton sur Serre undergoing reconstitution. It marched to the Aisne front by Coucy les Eppes, Bruyeres, and Chamouille.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

4. The division was engaged on May 27 in the front line of the attack and advanced by Pancy, Courtecon, Verneuil, Pont-Arcy, Dhuizel, Courcelles, Jouaignes (20th), Oulchy la Ville, south of Neuilly St. Front, Dammard. In this last region losses were heavy on June 2. It was relieved by the 78th Reserve Division on June 3.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

5. The division rested south of Soissons from June 7 to July 11, when it marched to the Marne front by Braisne, Fere en Tardenois, Foret de Ris. It was in reserve on the 15th on the north of the Marne, west of Dormans. On the 17th–18th it fell back on Beuvardes and Grisolles and was engaged the next day southeast of Neuilly St. Front. In the heavy fighting of the following days the division was thrown back south of Oulchy le Chateau toward Fere en Tardenois (July 21–23). The division withdrew until the Vesle was reached when it was relieved about July 31.

VERDUN.

6. The division entrained southeast of Montcornet on August 6 and was moved to Avocourt via Sedan-Charleville-Montmedy. It rested southeast of Stenay until August 15. Replacements were received from the dissolved 33d Reserve Division in August. On August 21, the division entered line near Ornes (north of Verdun) where it remained until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as first class. It was used as an assault division in the Somme and Aisne offensives of 1918. It was disorganized by its losses in the Marne retreat and never recovered its offensive value.

33d Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │66 Res. │67 Res. │66 Res. │67 Res. │66 Res. │67 Res. │ │130 Res. │ │130 Res. │ │130 Res. │8 Bav. │4 Bav. │8 Bav. │4 Bav. │8 Bav. │4 Bav. │ │8 Bav. │ │8 Bav. │ │8 Bav. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Res. Hus. Rgt. (3│2 Res. Hus. Rgt. │2 Res. Hus. Rgt. │ Sqns.). │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │4 Ers. Abts. of 33,│Ers. Abts. of 33, │33 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 34, 69, 70 F. A. │ 34, 69, 70 F. A. │ │ Rgts. │ Rgts. combined │ │ │ into 33 Res. F. │ │ │ A. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │3 Pion. Btn. No. │4 Field Co. 16 Liaisons. │ │ 16: │ Pion. Btn.: │ │ 1 Ers. Co. 20 │ 1 Ldw. Pion. Co 4, │ │ Pion. │ corps. │ │ 1 Ldw. Pion. Co. │ 233 T. M. Co. │ │ 4, Corps. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 33 Res. Pont. │ 33 Pont. Engs. │ │ Engs. │ │ │ 33 Res. Tel. │ 33 Res. Tel. │ │ Detch. │ Detch. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd units. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │Battery of 8 Ft. A.│4 Anti-Aircraft │ │ R. │ Detch. │ │3 Abt. 18 Ft. A. R.│ │ │ (elements). │ │ │2 Btry. 8 Res. Ft. │ │ │ A. R. │ │ │1 and 2 Btries. 2 │ │ │ Abt. 16 Ft. A. R.│ │ │2 Abt. 2 Bav. Res. │ │ │ Ft. A. R. │ │ │ (elements). │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[18] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │66 Res. │67 Res. │66 Res. │364. │ │130 Res. │ │67 Res. │ │364. │ │130 Res. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 19 Hus. Rgt.│ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │33 Res. F. A. Rgt. │33 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│233 Pion. Btn.: │333 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Ers. Co. 20 │ 333 Pion. Co. │ Pion. │ │ 1 Ldw. Co. 4 Pion.│ 1 Ldw. Co. 4 C. │ │ Dist. Pions. (in │ │ 3 Pion. Btn. No. │ │ 16). │ 233 T. M. Co. │ 14 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 14 Searchlight │ 233 T. M. Co. │ Section. │ │ 433 Tel. Detch. │ 433 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │274 Ambulance Co. │273 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │47 and 51 Field │51 Field Hospital. │ Hospitals. │ │Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │873 Light Mun. Col.│M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd units. │ │646 Supply Depot. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │47 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴─────────────────── Footnote 18:

Composition at the time of dissolution September, 1918.

HISTORY.

(16th Corps District—Lorraine.)

1914.

LORRAINE.

1. Formed at Metz with the 8th Bavarian Brigade and the 66th Reserve Brigade, the 33d Reserve Division was a part of the 5th Army (German Crown Prince) at the outbreak of the war. In August, 1914, it took part in the battles of Nomeny and went to Verdun by way of Gondrecourt, Rouvres, Étain. On August 24 and 25 it was in action at Étain and suffered heavily. On August 26 the 10th Company of the 8th Bavarian Regiment had only 75 men left (notebook).

At the beginning of September, it occupied both banks of the Moselle south of Pont à Mousson, and about September 15 the vicinity of Thiaucourt.

WOEVRE-LES ÉPARGES.

2. At the end of September and the beginning of October it went back into the sector South of Étain (Riaville, Bracquis). On October 8 the 8th Bavarian Brigade attacked Champlon and Fresnes; the 67th Reserve Regiment attacked the Ville en Woëvre on October 9. After these battles, the 33d Reserve Division took up its position on the Côtes de Meuse (Combres, Les Éparges).

3. In November the 66th Reserve Brigade was in Flanders—on the Yser Canal from November 16 to 24, and left for Lorraine on November 25.

1915.

CÔTES DE MEUSE.

1. The 33d Reserve Division remained in line on the Côtes de Meuse until the end of July, 1916.

2. About January 17, 1915, elements of the 66th Reserve Brigade were sent to the Bois le Pretre and suffered heavy losses. They rejoined the division on the Côtes at the end of January.

LES EPARGES.

3. From February to the end of April, 1915, the 33d Reserve Division took part in the battles of Combres and of Les Éparges; it lost very heavily there, especially in the actions of February 17 to 20. From April 15 to May 1 no less than 140 men were sent as replacements to the 12th Company of the 67th Reserve Regiment.

4. After reorganization the 33d Reserve Division went to the calmer sector of Vaux les Palameix, Lamorville.

CALONNE.

5. The division once more suffered heavy losses in the Calonne trench in May, 1915.

6. On July 17, 1915, the 130th Reserve Infantry Regiment was sent in support of an attack on Les Éparges. After this period the 33d Reserve Division occupied the sector south of Vaux les Palameix (Chevaliers wood, Bouchot wood) without taking part in any important engagement.

1916.

1. On July 25, 1916, the division was relieved from the Côtes de Meuse and sent to rest until August 25 in the area north of Briey. At this time the 8th Bavarian Brigade was detached from the 33d Reserve Division to serve in forming the 14th Bavarian Division and the 33d Reserve Division was reorganized with three regiments, with the 66th Reserve Brigade and the 364th Infantry Regiment (coming from the 8th Ersatz Division).

VERDUN.

2. On August 26 the division went into line on the front north of Verdun, southwest of the fort of Vaux. It took part in the battles from September 2 to 9 in the Vaux Chapitre wood and suffered very heavy losses. The 12th Company of the 67th Reserve Infantry Regiment received at least 142 men as replacements from September 13 to 21.

3. After being reorganized the division underwent the French attack of October 24, which again caused it considerable losses. Upon its relief the 2d Battalion of the 130th Reserve Infantry Regiment was reduced to 45 combatants. (Notebook of an aspirant officer.)

4. Withdrawn from the front on November 1, the 33d Reserve Division was sent to rest and to be reorganized. It had suffered so heavily that among the reenforcements at the beginning of 1917 we find untrained men of the Landsturm II Ban.

LORRAINE.

5. The division was then sent to Lorraine to the Blamont sector.

1917.

1. The division held the Lorraine front until March 10, 1917.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

2. After a month’s rest in the vicinity of Sarreburg, the 33d Reserve Division was transferred to Marle (Apr. 16–19). On April 21 and 22 elements of the division were distributed upon different points of the Aisne front to replace the units exhausted by the French attack of April 16, and soon afterwards were regrouped north of Laffaux Mill. The 33d Reserve Division suffered very heavy losses withstanding the French attack of May 5 and counterattacking on the days following (May 5–7) (1,000 prisoners); almost the entire 2d Battalion of the 67th Reserve Infantry Regiment was captured.

3. Withdrawn in part from the Aisne front on May 12, the 33d Division again had some of its units in action between the Aisne Canal and Laffaux Mill until May 23 (German attack of May 16, where the 130th Reserve Infantry Regiment suffered heavy losses).

4. At the end of May the 33d Reserve Division returned to the vicinity of Sarreburg to rest and be reorganized. It received recruits not only from the recruit depot of Beverloo, but also from the depot at Warsaw.

LORRAINE.

5. About June 10 it again took over its former sector in Lorraine (Blamont-Leintry).

VERDUN.

6. On August 23 the division went into action on the Verdun front (sector of Baumont-Chaume wood). It underwent the French attack of the 26th where it suffered heavily. It again had recourse to the Warsaw recruit depot which sent it, among other reenforcements, untrained men of the Landsturm second Ban.

7. Relieved about September 10, the 33d Reserve Division was transferred to Galicia by way of Metz, Frankfort, Erfurt, Dresden, Breslau, Cracow.

GALICIA.

8. It was identified in Galicia at the beginning of October.

RECRUITING.

After the 8th Bavarian Brigade was withdrawn the 33d Reserve Division was exclusively Prussian. Its regiments were recruited almost entirely from the Rhine Province and Westphalia. In May, 1917, however, following the losses suffered on the Chemin des Dames, a great number of young men came from Western Prussia (1918 class), coming from the large depots of Beverloo and Warsaw. At the end of August the Warsaw depot sent untrained men from the Landsturm II Ban from the 9th and 10th Corps Districts.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 33d Reserve Division is a good division.

At Verdun elements of the division fought vigorously and made the French advance very difficult on October 24, 1916.

Between May 5 and May 7, 1917, the division launched very violent counterattacks against Laffaux Mill. Elements of the 364th Infantry Regiment succeeded in capturing the Chateau de la Motte. In the sector of Beaumont at Verdun the 1st Battalion of the 364th Infantry Regiment put up a very stubborn resistance to the French on August 26, 1917.

The 33d Reserve Division was very much exhausted by the attacks on the Aisne. The reenforcement which it received on May 4, 1917, were mostly men belonging to the 1918 class. On August 26, 1917, more than one- fourth of the prisoners belonged to this class.

In January, 1918, it already counted among its ranks young men of the 1919 class, who had arrived on January 14.

Taking into account its recent long rest and its intensive training in offensive warfare and the declarations of prisoners captured in March, 1918, who all declare that their division is an assault division destined to take part in a great breaking through offensive, we must conclude that the 33d Reserve Division has again become an organization of high quality (Mar. 30, 1918).

1918.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

1. The division continued to hold its sector northwest of Rheims until the Aisne offensive in May. It advanced with the rest of the line, having as its objective the Marne River. It progressed through Cauroy (27th), St. Thierry (28th), and Vrigny (31st). Here the line was stabilized. The division was withdrawn June 20.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. On June 25 the division relieved the 88th Division in the Mont Têtu sector (Eastern Champagne). It was on the extreme left of the German attack east of Rheims on July 15, and suffered so heavily that it was withdrawn on July 20.

3. In mid-August the division was broken up. The 364th and 67th Reserve Regiments were drafted to the 16th and 34th Divisions.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 33d Reserve Division was rated as fourth class. As a result of its failure in the Aisne and Champagne offensives, it was disbanded in August, 1918.

34th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │68. │67. │68. │67. │68. │67. │ │145. │ │145. │ │145. │86. │30. │86. │30. │86. │30. │ │173. │ │173. │ │173. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │16 Uhlan Rgt. │ │5 Sqn. 12 Jag. z. │ │ │ Pf. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │34 Brig.: │34 Brig.: │34 Brig.: │ 69 Rgt. │ 69 Rgt. │ 69 Rgt. │ 70 Rgt. │ 70 Rgt. │ 70 Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 16: │ 16: │ │ Field Co. 16 Pion.│ 2 Co. 16 Pion. │ │ │ │ │ 34 Tel. Detch. │ 34 T. M. Co. │ │ 34 Pont. Engs. │ 34 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ 34 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │Labor Btn. 34 Div. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │68. │67. │68. │30. │ │30. │ │67. │ │145. │ │145. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 12 Jag. z. │5 Sqn. 12 Horse │ Pf. │ Jag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │34 Art. Command: │34 Art. Command: │ 70 Rgt. │ (?) F. A. Rgt. │ │ 116 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 1174 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1191 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1192 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│132 Pion. Btn.: │132 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 2 and 3 Cos. 16 │ 2 Co. 16 Pion. │ Pion. │ │ 34 T. M. Co. │ 3 Co. 16 Pion. │ 259 Searchlight │ 34 T. M. Co. │ Section. │ │ 34 Tel. Detch. │ 193 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 34 Pont. Engs. │34 Signal Command: │ │ 34 Tel. Detch. │ │ 18 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │Ambulance Co. │41 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │281–283 Field │281 Field Hospital. │ Hospitals. │ │Vet. Hospital. │283 Field Hospital. │ │34 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │567 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │44 M. G. S. S. Abt. │ │249 Reconnaissance │ │ Flight. │ │119 Art. │ │ Observation │ │ Section. │ │83 Balloon Sqn. │ │534 Carrier Pigeon │ │ Loft. │ │(Elements attached │ │ June 6, 1918. │ │ German │ │ documents.) ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(16th Corps District—Lorraine.)

1914.

Upon mobilization, the 34th Division and the 33d Division were organic parts of the 16th Army Corps (Metz).

MEUSE.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 34th Division marched with the 5th Army (German Crown Prince), entered France on August 21, by Audun le Roman and by way of Nouillon Pont, and reached the Meuse, which it crossed at Vilosnes and Sivry on September 1. It advanced as far as Beauzée and Seraucourt.

ARGONNE.

2. After the battle of the Marne it retired to the north and took up its position in the Argonne.

1915.

ARGONNE.

1. The 54th Division remained in the Argonne without interruption from September, 1914, until about August 15, 1916. It took part there in the offensives of January and July, 1915, where it suffered heavy losses. On January 18, 1915, the 30th Infantry Regiment had already lost 56 officers and 2,723 men. (Official List of Casualties.)

2. After these violent battles, it received fairly large replacements. The division suffered no serious losses in this sector during the period which followed these engagements until its relief on Aug. 15, 1916.

1916.

VERDUN.

1. On this date the 34th Division was transferred to the right bank of the Meuse at Verdun.

2. It went into action in the Chiaumont sector at the end of August, 1916, and during the month of September, took part in some very severe battles in this vicinity.

3. On September 20, its losses were very great because of our attack. The regiments of the 34th Division again lost heavily in the course of our offensive of October 24, which succeeded in recapturing the Douaumont Fort and the Thiaumont Works; on that day, their resistance was rather weak. The 67th Infantry Regiment received about 71 men for its 8th Company in the week of October 28-November 5.

VOSGES.

4. On October 29 the 34th Division was relieved. Beginning with November 14, it occupied a calm sector in the Vosges, southwest of Senones. At this time it received fairly large replacements. The 173d Infantry Regiment was transferred to the 223d Division, a new formation.

1917.

ARGONNE.

1. At the beginning of February, 1917, the division returned to the Argonne. It remained there a short time. In the middle of March, it was relieved and transferred to the region north of Rheims (beginning of April).

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Immediately after our offensive of April 16, the 67th and 30th Infantry Regiments went into action in the vicinity of Brimont, while the 145th Infantry Regiment was sent to Cornillet as a reenforcement from April 18 to 20.

3. About April 25, the 34th Division was again concentrated in the Brimont sector, where it relieved the 43d Reserve Division.

4. About the middle of June it extended its sector to include the stretch from the Champ du Seigneur to the Verrerie of Courcy. During the attacks of April the division suffered very heavy losses; the 145th Infantry Regiment lost about one-third of its effectives.

FLANDERS.

5. On July 21 the 34th Division was relieved from the Rheims front and sent to Flanders on August 7. It remained in reserve in the vicinity of Dadizeele until August 12. It then went into action near the Ypres-Menin road, where it had heavy losses.

WOEVRE.

6. On August 24, it left this front for La Haye, where it went into line southeast of Thiaucourt (vicinity of Flirey) and remained until October 31.

CAMBRAI.

7. At the beginning of November, it was in the vicinity of Cambrai. It took part in the German counterattack of November 30.

LAONNOIS.

8. After a rest in December, the 34th Division occupied the sector of Crandelain, on the Ailette, until January 7, 1918.

RECRUITING.

Because of the difficulty of recruiting in its own corps district (Lorraine), the 34th Division is composed mostly of Westphalians and men from the Rhine Province. The name of “Magdeburg” given to the 67th Infantry Regiment has only a historic value.

The men, as a rule, belong to the classes of 1912 to 1918.

The replacements received by the division in Lorraine (September, 1917) brought in an undetermined number of men more than 25 years of age, especially those of the Landsturm of about 30 years of age, withdrawn from the Russian front and trained for a while in a depot in the interior.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 34th Division was one of the good Divisions of the German Army. Nevertheless, at the time of our attack upon Thiamont on October 24, 1916, it had a period of genuine weakness.

Its attitude in the Brimont sector in April and May, 1917, was such that it must still be classed among the good divisions.

At Ypres, in August, 1917, charged with the defense of one of the most important sectors, it did not realize the hopes of the German High Command.

According to the interrogation of a prisoner (February, 1918), the 34th Division is a shock division destined to attack.

1918.

LAON.

1. Early in January the division which had been resting near Laon, relieved the 3d Bavarian Division near Courtecon (south of Laon); withdrawn toward the end of February, it went to rest near Liesse (northeast of Laon), where it remained until March 15.

PICARDY.

2. Then it marched toward the front via Marcy (west of Marle) and Ribemont. On the 21st it entered line south of St. Quentin, took Benay, which was its objective, crossed the canal, and took Jussy on the 23d. It continued its advance as far as Pontoise (southeast of Noyon). It was withdrawn on April 2, after having lost 50 per cent of its total effectives, and went to rest in the area southeast of Roye. While here it received 1,000 replacements.

3. On the 10th, it came back into line south of Guiscard (north of Noyon). It was withdrawn about the 20th, the 50th Division taking over its sector.

4. After spending about 10 days near Beaumont en Beine (southeast of Ham) training in close and open order and in rifle practice, the division relieved the 223d Division south of Appilly (east of Noyon) on May 1. On the 15th, it received 15 replacements per company. It was relieved by the 9th Bavarian Reserve Division on the 20th, and went to rest, first in the region east of Chauny, and then in the St. Gobain forest (south of La Fère).

AISNE.

5. After having been in reserve four days near Pernant (west of Soissons), the division reenforced the front near Ambleny (west of Soissons) on June 12, attacking, the same day, with the Coeuvres-Vic sur Aisne road as its objective. It could make no headway at all, and suffered losses of about 30 per cent of its strength. It was withdrawn about the 6th of July.

6. On the 19th, it came back into line near Vauxbuin (southwest of Soissons), and was withdrawn on the 22d after suffering severely; over 300 in prisoners alone. It went to rest in the Guise area; later, it moved to the vicinity of Coucy le Château. While here, it received as a draft the dissolved 67th Reserve Regiment (33d Reserve Division disbanded).

AILETTE.

7. The division reenforced the front near Cuts (southeast of Noyon) on August 15. It was withdrawn on September 25.

ST. QUENTIN.

8. It entrained the same day north of St. Gobain, and detrained in the St. Bohain region the next day; it rested here for two days, and was transported by truck to St. Quentin on the 28th. The following day, it relieved the 221st Division southwest of that town. On the 30th, it was forced to relinquish St. Quentin to the French. It continued to withdraw, but fighting stubbornly, and was relieved on the 9th of October near Fontaine-Uterte (northeast of St. Quentin). It rested for a week between Avesnes and Maubeuge.

GUISE.

9. It moved to the Petit Verly-Grougis region (northwest of Guise) on the 17th, in support of the 81st Reserve Division, but that unit being placed hors de combat by the attack of the 18th, the 34th Division found itself in the front line, and even lost nearly 100 prisoners. It was relieved on the 23d after losing nearly 700 more prisoners. It then rested about a week in the Vervins region.

10. On November 1, it returned to line near Puisieux (south of Guise), and withdrew along the line Marly, Romery, Sommeron. It was still in line on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 34th has always been considered as one of the best second-class divisions. As a result, however, of its heavy losses during the spring, it contained large numbers of boys of the 1919 class. Having been engaged without rest from the middle of August until the end of the war, it was reduced to the point where it has less than 1,000 effectives left. In all probability, it would soon have been dissolved had the war continued.

35th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │70. │21. │70. │21. │87. │141. │ │61. │ │61. │ │61. │87. │141. │87. │141. │ │176. │ │176. │ │176. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │4 Jag. z. Pf. │ │5 Hus. Rgt. (2 │ │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │35 Brig.: │35 Brig.: │35 Brig.: │ 71 Rgt. │ 71 Rgt. │ 71 Rgt. │ 81 Rgt. │ 81 Rgt. │ 81 Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 17: │ 17: │ │ Field Co. 17 Pion.│ 1 Co. 17 Pion. │ │ 35 Tel. Detch. │ 4 Co. 36 Pion. │ │ 25 Pont. Engs. │ 35 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 35 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ 35 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │2 Assault Detch. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │87. │141. │87. │61. │ │61. │ │141. │ │176. │ │176. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 5 Hus. Rgt. │2 Sqn. 5 Hus. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │35 Art. Command: │35 Art. Command: │ 71 Rgt. │ 71 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 1 Abt. 18 Res. Ft. │ │ A. Rgt. │ │ 715 Light Am. Col. │ │ 716 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1305 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│133 Pion. Btn.: │133 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 and 2 17 Pion. │ 1 Co. 17 Pions. │ 35 T. M. Co. │ 2 Co. 17 Pions. │ 35 Tel. Detch. │ 35 T. M. Co. │ 36 Pont. Engs. │ 223 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │35 Signal Command: │ │ 35 Tel. Detch. │ │ 121 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │44 Amb. Co. │44 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │289, 293 Field │289 Field Hospital. │ Hospts. │ │35 Vet. Hospital. │293 Field Hospital. │ │35 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │568 Light Mun. Col.│568 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(17th Corps District—Western Prussia.)

1914–15.

EAST PRUSSIA.

1. The 35th Division formed with the 36th Division the 17th Army Corps (Danzig). It remained on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the war until October, 1915. It took part in the battles of Gumbinnen and Tannenberg, then in the two German offensives upon Warsaw. It participated in the operations on the Bzura and the Narew, where it remained until August 1, 1915.

RUSSIA.

2. It was sent to rest near Bielostok, and at the end of September, 1915, the decision was made to send it to the Western Front.

3. It entrained at Grodno about October 6, and arrived about the 10th in the vicinity of Péronne where it was filled up. The 9th Company of the 176th Infantry Regiment received no less than 60 men between October 3 and 13.

FRANCE.

4. In the middle of October it went into the Roye sector and remained there during the entire winter of 1915–16.

1916.

SOMME.

1. About May 25, 1916, it went slightly to the north and occupied the sector between the Chaulnes-Amiens railroad and the south of Soyécourt.

2. At the beginning of July, when the Somme battle began, the 35th Division was holding the front from west of Vermandovillers to the south of Chilly. The 176th Infantry Regiment was sent into line in the sector of Herbécourt-Estrées on July 2 and lost 170 prisoners to the French. This regiment lost heavily in the French attack of July 20 between Belloy and the Ètoilé wood.

3. On September 4 and the days following the 35th Division was effecting a relief at the time of the French offensive and suffered considerably because of this (almost 2,000 prisoners, 39 of whom were officers).

4. It had to be retired from the front on September 8 and sent to rest at Ham. Between October 15 and 20 it again went into line from the southwest of Chaulnes to the southwest of Chilly.

5. According to official calculations, the 35th Division had casualties of 6,102 men, 68 per cent of the effectives engaged, in the course of the battle of the Somme.

1917.

ST. QUENTIN.

1. The 35th Division remained in the vicinity of Chaulnes until the German retirement. It took part in the retreat and established itself in the Hindenburg Line south of St. Quentin at the end of March.

ARTOIS.

2. After a few days of rest in the vicinity of Guise at the beginning of April, the division took part in the battle of Arras in the second half of April. At this time it lost about 50 per cent of its fighting men. The 141st Infantry Regiment received in May 135 to 140 men per company to make up for its losses (1918 class and men liberated by the dissolution of the 618th Infantry Regiment).

FLANDERS.

3. Sent to rest for the entire month of May in the vicinity of Lille and filled up by replacements of 3,000 men coming from the recruit depot at Warsaw on May 9, the 35th Division was sent into Belgium and occupied, on May 31, the banks of the Ypres-Comines Canal. On June 7 it lost heavily there (5,000 to 6,000 men, of whom 1,272 were prisoners).

4. Reorganized on June 11 in the vicinity of Cambrai, by replacements mostly made up of returned convalescents and wounded, the division was then sent into line in a calm sector north of St. Quentin, where it remained from June 21 to October 20.

FLANDERS.

5. On October 22 and 23 it reappeared on the Flanders front in the sector of the Houthulst wood. It had rather serious losses between October 22 and 25.

It was relieved on January 22, 1918, and sent to rest east of Bruges.

RECRUITING.

The 35th Division is recruited from western Prussia with some help from the 6th Corps District, especially in June, 1916 (important replacements made up of miners from Silesia). There is a rather large proportion of Poles, not only from the 17th Corps District, but also from the 5th and 6th Corps Districts.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 35th Division has taken part in numerous battles. Its quality has been greatly weakened by the incorporation of recruits of the 1918 class, and by the increase of the Polish elements.

The 35th Division appears to be a mediocre division (July, 1917).

The morale of the 141st Infantry Regiment, 50 per cent of which are Poles, appears poor. (November, 1917.)

1918.

YPRES.

1. The division was at rest east of Bruges (Maldeghem) until about February 17, when it was engaged in the vicinity of Merckem until March 20.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

2. It entrained at Pitthem on the 22d and moved to Carvin. It was in reserve at Evin-Malmaison until March 27, and later in reserve south of Lens (near Rouvroy) until April 1. It was moved to Lille and engaged from April 8–9 to the 14th at Neuve-Chapelle, Lestrem, Locon, Neuf Berquin. In the fighting on April 12 the division lost heavily. It was withdrawn on April 14.

FLANDERS.

3. The division rested near Armentiers until May 5, during which period it was reviewed by the Kaiser. It was in the sector north of Bailleul from May 8 to July 3. At this time the company effectives of the division seems to have been about 50 men. The division rested at Bruges from the 5th to the 17th, when it returned to the Merckem sector and occupied it until August 18. Considerable replacements were received in mid-August by the division.

ARTOIS.

4. It rested near Lille (Aug. 19–24), and on August 25 was railed to Douai. On the 26th the division occupied the Drocourt-Queant line and fought in the area until about September 30, when it was relieved after losing 800 prisoners.

BATTLE OF CAMBRESIS.

5. The division was reengaged on October 1 northwest of Cambrai. It withdrew to Abancourt (9th), Hem-Lenglet (11th), Denain north of Maing, Famars (28th), northwest of Maresches (Nov. 1). It passed to second line about the 1st of the month, returning on November 9 near Harchies. The division was not in line on November 11.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was considered as a good sector-holding division in 1918.

35th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │5 Ldw. │2 Ldw. │5 Ldw. │2 Ldw. │5 Ldw. │2 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ (Mixed)│ │ │9 Ldw. │ │9 Ldw. │ │9 Ldw. │(z) │107 Ldw. │(z) │107 Ldw. │ │107 Ldw. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3d Res. Heavy │3d Res. Heavy │3d Res. Heavy │ Cavalry. │ Cavalry. │ Cavalry. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │Ers. Abt. 35, 81 F.│35 Res. F. A. Rgt. │35 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ A. Rgt. │ │ 833d Battery. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│2 Pion. Btn. No. │2 Pion. Btn. No. │235 T. M. Co. Liaisons. │ 17. │ 17. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │5 Ldst. Pion. Co. │ │ │ 9th Corps. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │167. │420. │167. │420. │ │ │ │ │ │421. │ │438. │ │438. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sq. 4 Jag. z. Pf.│Staff, 4 Horse Jag. │ │ Rgt. │ │2 Sqn. 4 Horse Jag. │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │ (z) │ │ │ 35 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│335 Pion. Btn. │335 Pion. Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │1 Res. Co. 17 Pion.│1 Res. Co. 17 │ │ Pions. │235 T. M. Co. │149 Searchlight │ │ Section. │35 Res. Searchlight│435 Signal Command: │ Section. │ │Tel. Detch. │ 435 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │238 Ambulance Co. │238 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │291 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │435 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │Light Mun. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │93 Brig. reenforced│ │ by 20 and 24 │ │ Ldst. Btns. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(420th Infantry Regiment: 1st Corps District—East Prussia. 421st Infantry Regiment: 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 438th Infantry Regiment: 14th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Baden.)

1914.

The 35th Reserve Division is a Landwehr division. It has always occupied the Eastern Front.

POLAND.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 35th Reserve Division fought (Aug. 25–28) on the southern frontier of East Prussia, which it crossed. It took part in the Polish campaign—southwest of Warsaw in October and November, 1914, in the vicinity of Czenstochow in December.

1915.

GALICIA.

1. From January to March, 1915, the division was in line south of the Pilica. From April to June it took part in the operations in the Carpathians, then in the vicinity of Lemberg.

RUSSIA.

2. In the middle of July it was replaced near Sokal (Galicia) by the 39th Austrian Division and went south of Grabowiec. The pursuit of the Russians led it north of Cholm in the beginning of August, east of Brest-Litovsk, near Kobrin in September, then to the Chtchara at the mouth of the Oginski Canal in October.

3. It took up its position along the canal north of Logischin.

1916.

OGINSKI CANAL.

1. The 35th Reserve Division remained in line along the Oginski Canal for more than two years (Oct., 1915 to Feb., 1918).

2. About October, 1916, the 5th Landwehr Brigade (2d and 9th Landwehr Regiments) was assigned to the 226th Division (being formed in the Smorgoni sector). The 35th Reserve Division received two new regiments—the 420th and 421st Infantry Regiments.

1917.

OGINSKI CANAL.

1. The division was in the same sector.

In July, 1917, the 438th Infantry Regiment became a part of the 35th Reserve Division to replace the 107th Saxon Landwehr Regiment, which had been transferred to the 45th Landwehr Division (Saxon).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Composed of Landwehr and Landsturm elements, retained for more than two years in a calm sector of the Russian front, later in the Ukraine, the 35th Reserve Division has only a mediocre military value.

1918.

UKRAINE.

1. In March the division advanced into Ukraine, after having furnished men to the 10th Landwehr Division, which was about to leave for the Western Front. In this advance the division saw some fighting and consequently suffered some losses. In April the division was identified in the Gomel region. The division was identified in Ukraine early in October, and so its reported presence in Flanders on September 20 appears incorrect.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

36th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │69. │129. │69. │129. │71. │5 Gren. │ │175. │ │175. │ │175. │71. │5 Gren. │71. │5 Gren. │ │128. │ │128. │ │128. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │5 Hus. Rgt. │ │4 Sq. 5 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │36 Brig.: │36 Brig.: │36 Brig.: │ 36 Rgt. │ 36 Rgt. │ 36 Rgt. │ 72 Rgt. │ 72 Rgt. │ 72 Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 17: │ 17: │ │ Field Co. 17 Pion.│ 2 Co. 17 Pion. │ │ │ │ │ 36 Tel. Detch. │ 3 and 4 Cos. 35 │ │ │ Pion. │ │ 36 Pont. Engs. │ 3 Co. 36 Pion. │ │ │ 36 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ 36 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 36 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │71. │5 Gren. │71. │5. │ │175. │ │128. │ │128. │ │175. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │4 Sq. 5 Hus. Rgt. │4 Sq. 5 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │36 Art. Command: │36 Art. Command: │ 36 Rgt. │ 36 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 1 Abt. 4 Res. Ft. │ │ A. Rgt. │ │ 824 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1209 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1229 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 Pion. Btn. No. │17 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ 17: │ │ 3 and 5 Cos. 17 │ 3 Co. 17 Pions. │ Pion. │ │ 36 T. M. Co. │ 5 Co. 17 Pions. │ │ │ 36 Tel. Detch. │ 36 T. M. Co. │ │ 209 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │36 Signal Command: │ │ 36 Tel. Detch. │ │ 62 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │43 Ambulance Co. │43 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │288, 290 Field │288 Field Hospital. │ Hospts. │ │36 Vet. Hospital. │290 Field Hospital. │ │36 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │569 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(17th Corps District—West Prussia.)

1914.

The 36th Division (with the 35th Division) was a part of the 17th Army Corps (Danzig).

EAST PRUSSIA-RUSSIA.

1. The 17th Army Corps, which comprises the 35th and 36th Divisions, was sent to East Prussia in August, 1914, where it belonged to the 8th Army, soon placed under the command of Von Hindenburg. With this army it took part in the battle of Tannenberg on August 30, and in the battle of Loetzen on September 9, then with the 9th German Army (Mackensen), in the battle of Radom, on October 6.

2. In the battles which mark the advance upon Warsaw and then the retreat, the regiments of the 36th Division, and especially the 5th Grenadier Regiment, suffered considerable losses (principally at Lodz between Nov. 23 and Dec. 6).

1915.

1. During the winter of 1914–15 the 36th Division, with the 17th Army Corps, took part in the actions along the Bzura until June. In July it was on the Narew, later on the right bank of the Bug, and at the beginning of September on the Chtchara River.

2. At the end of September, 1915, at the time of the pressure exerted by the Franco-British offensive, the 17th Army Corps entrained for the Western Front.

FRANCE.

3. Detraining at Peronne on October 10, it was sent to rest in the vicinity of Ham until October 16. At this date it went into line in the Roye sector. Until the battle of the Somme it was not seriously engaged.

1916.

SOMME.

1. Upon the outbreak of the Franco-British offensive on the Somme in July, 1916, the 36th Division occupied the sector included between the south of Chilly and the north of Andechy. It was not engaged as a whole until October, the time when the battle front extended as far as the Chaulnes-Chilly sector. Until then it had only sent detached units to reenforce certain points south of the river.

2. About the end of September it occupied the front from north of Fouquescourt to the Chaulnes railroad. Relieved between October 15 and 20, and sent to rest between Nesle and Ham, it had to go back into line on October 24–25 to replace, in the sector south of Ablaincourt-Chaulnes wood, the divisions which our attacks north of Chaulnes had exhausted. Its regiments lost heavily during this period. The 128th Infantry Regiment lost more than the others, especially on November 7, 10, and 11.

3. On December 8 the 36th Division left the front north of Chaulnes and was sent north of Roye to the Fouquescourt sector.

1917.

ST. QUENTIN.

1. On March 17, 1917, it was included in the retirement and withdrew to the Hindenburg Line, where it established itself, on March 23, south of St. Quentin.

ARTOIS.

2. After a month’s rest (Apr. 9-May 9) behind the front, the 36th Division went into line southeast of Arras in the Guemappe sector. It had only a few local engagements there and did not suffer any great losses.

3. It then spent a part of June at rest in the Douai area and took up its position on July 4 in the sector of Oppy-Gavrelle (Artois). It did not take part in any serious engagements there.

YPRES.

4. Relieved at the end of August, it entrained at Douai on the 28th for Courtrai and Isegsem. Sent on September 10–11 into the sector of Poelcapelle, it had to be replaced there on the 23d because of the heavy losses which it received from the British attack.

5. The division left Flanders on September 27 to occupy a calm sector west of St. Quentin, where it still was at the beginning of February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 36th Division is recruited from the same region as the 35th Division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 36th Division was an excellent combat division.

In the battles of the Somme and of Arras the 36th Division gave a good account of itself.

On the Ypres front the combat spirit of the division was less energetic than in the preceding battles. The British Artillery, however, had reduced its effectives by one-half.

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division was relieved in the sector north of St. Quentin about February 1 and entered the sector south of St. Quentin within a few days. It was in line when the Somme offensive came off and advanced in the front line by Essigny le Grand, Clastres, Brouchy, Guiscard, Campagne, Candor. From the 23d to the 25th it was in second line. On the 25th it was reengaged in the Lassigny area. The division was relieved on April 8.

2. The division rested in close support southeast of Roye until April 20. A draft of 300 men was received about this time.

3. On April 20 the division was engaged southeast of Montdidier (Rollet) until April 28. It was in reserve from the 28th to the beginning of May in the vicinity of Roye. A draft of 1,000 men was received on April 29. On May 9 the division was moved to Wasigny, where it rested until the 22d. It marched toward the Aisne front by night from May 22 to 27 via Rozoy sur Serre, Montcornet, Liesse, Montaigu.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

4. The division had in line on the 27th only one battalion of the 128th Regiment (near Winterberg). The rest of the division followed the advance in reserve, passing through Villers en Prayeres, Fismes, Villers sur Fere. It was engaged from May 29 to the middle of June at Courmont, Fresnes (29th), Jaulgonne (31st), east of Chateau Thierry. The division withdrew from the sector east of Chateau Thierry about June 30.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

5. It rested in the salient (near Fere en Tardenois) until July 14, undergoing reconstitution. On that date it marched to the front and was engaged the next day. It crossed the Marne and penetrated south of Charteves, but was stopped and thrown back on Mezy and Fossoy. From July 20 to 22 it was in second line. Reengaged south of the Ourcq on 22d, the division fought at Rocourt and Villeneuve sur Fere until July 27.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

6. The division rested near Laon in early August. It was brought up to resist the British attack north of Bapaume on August 24. It was still under strength and was unable to check the advance. It was forced to fall back on Vaulx Vraucourt, Ecoust St. Mein (27th–30th), Pronville, and Inchy (Sept. 2–3). The losses in prisoners amounted to 800 in this fighting.

7. On the 16th of September the division was again in line south of La Bassee. Beginning October 1 it retreated on Bauvin, Pont a Vendin, Provin (16th), Attiches (18th), and toward the south of Tournai. It was last identified at Bany on November 10.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was heavily engaged in 1918 as a follow-up division in the attacks and to hold important defensive sectors.

36th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │69 Res. │21 Res. │69 Res. │21 Res. │69 Res. │21 Res. │ │61 Res. │ │61 Res. │ │61 Res. │70 Res. │5 Res. │70 Res. │5 Res. │70 Res. │5 Res. │ │54. │ │54. │ │54. │ │2 Res. │ │2 Res. │ │ │ Jag. Btn. │ Jag Btn. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │1 Res. Hus. Rgt. (3│1 Res. Hus. Rgt. │ │ Sqns.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │36 Res. Rgt. (6 │36 Res. Rgt. (7 │36 Res. Rgt. (7 │ Btries.). │ Btries.). │ Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 Res. Co. 2, Pion.│1 Res. Co. 2, Pion.│1 Res. Co. 2, Pion. Liaisons. │ No. 2. │ No. 2. │ No. 2. │ │ 2 Co. 32 Res. │ 236 T. M. Co. │ │ Pion. │ │ │ 36 Res. Pont. │ 36 Res. Pont. │ │ Engs. │ Engs. │ │ 36 Res. Tel. │ 36 Res. Tel. │ │ Detch. │ Detch. │ │ │ 80 Art. Survey │ │ │ Section. │ │ │ 24 Sound Ranging │ │ │ Section. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │217 Anti-Aircraft │ │ │ Detch. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │69 Res. │5 Res. │69 Res. │54. │ │61 Res. │ │5 Res. │ │54. │ │61 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │5 Sq. 2 Guard │5 Sqn. 2 Gd. Drag. │ Dragoon. │ Rgt. │1 and 2 Sqns. 1st │ │ Res. Uhlan Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │72 Art. Command: │72 Art. Command: │ │ │ 36 Res. Rgt. (9 │ 36 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ │ 3 Abt. 4 Res. Ft. │ │ A. Rgt. │ │ 833 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1252 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1306 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│336 Pion. Btn. │2 Pion. Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Res. Co., 2 │1 Co. 2 Pions. │ Pion. │ │ 236 T. M. Co. │1 Res. Co. 2 Pions. │ │ │ 436 Tel. Detch. │236 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │45 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │436 Signal Command: │ │ │ │ 436 Tel. Detch. │ │ 119 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │515 Ambulance Co. │515 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │398 Field Hospital.│10 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │12 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │138 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(17th Corps District—Western Prussia and the eastern part of Pomerania.)

1914.

EAST PRUSSIA.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 36th Reserve Division constituting, with the 1st Reserve Division, the 1st Reserve Corps, was engaged in East Prussia in the vicinity of Gumbinnen-Angerburg.

BZURA.

2. Assigned to the 9th German Army (Mackensen), it fought on November 6 on the left bank of the Vistula and on the Bzura at the beginning of December.

1915.

1. At the beginning of 1915 the 36th Reserve Division took part in the engagements on the line Bzura-Rawka-Bolimov (Jan. 4 and Feb. 5).

PRASNYSZ.

2. On February 13 the division entrained, with the entire 1st Reserve Corps, to reenforce the right wing of the Germany Army, which was pushing back the Russians from East Prussia. Detraining at Ostrolenka, it attacked in the vicinity of Mlawa, then near Prasnysz (April), where the Russian counterattacks caused it to suffer heavy losses.

COURLAND.

3. In May, it took part in the Hindenburg offensive in Courland. First occupying the sector of Jurburg, north of Niemen, it reached Ponieviej in July and from there pushed on to the vicinity of Dvinsk. The division suffered heavily during this period. On October 15, the 61st Reserve Infantry Regiment had an average of only 80 men per company (letter).

FRIEDRICHSTADT.

4. In December, the 36th Reserve Division occupied the sector of Friedrichstadt, southeast of Riga.

1916.

1. The division remained in its Courland sector (Friedrichstadt) until September 24, 1916.

GALICIA.

2. At the end of September and the beginning of October, it entrained at Libau and was transferred to Galicia. The 54th Infantry Regiment was engaged on October 3 east of Brzezany to oppose the advance of the Russians. The rest of the division rejoined the rest of the 54th Infantry Regiment on October 19, and remained in this area.

1917.

1. About the end of May, 1917, the 36th Reserve Division was relieved from the sector south of Brzezany and entrained near Rohatyn (Galicia) for the Western Front. Itinerary: Lemberg-Cracow-Oppeln-Munich- Karlsruhe.

LORRAINE.

2. Detraining in Lorraine on the 1st of June, the division received training until June 24. At this date, it took over a calm sector in Haye for a fortnight.

ARTOIS.

3. Sent to the vicinity of Lens in July, the 36th Reserve Division occupied the sector of Mericourt until the beginning of October.

FLANDERS.

4. About October 20, it went into line east of Ypres (north of Becelaere).

RECRUITING.

The 36th Reserve Division is recruited from West Prussia and the eastern part of Pomerania. It contained a large number of Alsace-Lorrainers during its stay on the Western Front.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In Russia the 36th Reserve Division took part in several major operations.

It did not come to the Western Front until June, 1917.

1918.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

1. The division was relieved in the Foret de Holthust on April 4 by the 1st Landwehr Division, and marched via Amersveld to Cortemarch, where it entrained and arrived at Courtrai on April 5. It left Courtrai on the 8th and marched toward Armentieres. On the 10th the division followed up the German advance in support of an assault division, and on the 11th came into action north of Armentieres. Losses were severe and the division retired about April 13 to rest. It returned in the Ploegsteert area on April 17 and went to rest in the Roulers area. On May 11, the division came back to line for the third time north of Hinges.

2. It was withdrawn about May 25, rested behind the front until June 11, when it relieved the 235th Division northwest of Bethune, which sector it held until about June 22.

LENS.

3. On June 26 the division entered line in Artois area, southeast of Loos. It held this quiet sector until October 2.

BELGIUM.

4. On the night of October 4–5 the division relieved the 16th Bavarian Division southwest of Roulers. From then until about November 4, the division fought first in the Roulers area, and after October 15, at Thielt (17th), Deynze (26th), Ecke (Nov. 2). It was withdrawn from line about November 4 and did not reenter.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was heavily engaged on the Lys in the spring without achieving much success. Thereafter the division was employed on the defensive.

37th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │73. │147. │73. │147. │ │151. │ │150. │ │150. │ │151. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Sq. 10 Jag. z. │3 Sqn. 10 Mounted │ Pf. │ Jag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │37 Art. Command: │37 Art. Command: │ 73 Rgt. │ 73 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 2 Abt. 16 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (2, 9 and 10 │ │ Btries.). │ │ 846 Light Am. Col. │ │ 924 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1184 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│134 Pion. Btn.: │134 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 3 Co. 26 Pion. │ 3 Co. 26 Pions. │ 250 Pion Co. │ 250 Pion. Co. │ 37 T. M. Co. │ 37 T. M. Co. │ 250 Searchlight │ 63 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 37 Tel. Detch. │37 Signal Command: │ │ 37 Tel. Detch. │ │ 82 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │40 Ambulance Co. │49 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │317, 318 Field │317 Field Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │318 Field Hospital. │ │194 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(20th Corps District—East Prussia.)

1914.

Upon mobilization, the 37th Division, with the 41st Division, formed the 20th Army Corps (Allenstein).

RUSSIA.

1. At the beginning of the war the 37th Division was engaged on the Eastern Front. It took part in the battle of Tannenberg at the end of August, in the attempt against Warsaw in October, and in the battles on the Rawka during the winter of 1914 and 1915.

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. In April, 1915, the 37th Division was on the Narew. In May it ceded the 146th Infantry Regiment to the 101st Division, a new formation. The battles lasted until the end of July on the Narew, which was crossed on the 31st. The division was at Bielostok at the end of August, and entered Grodno on September 2.

2. In the course of September, it advanced from Niemen to the Berezina, and in October it occupied a sector in the vicinity of Dvinsk (Lake Sventen) on the stabilized front. It remained there until its departure for the Western Front in December, 1916.

1916.

1. One of its regiments, the 150th Infantry Regiment, was temporarily detached at the time of the Russian offensive of 1916 on the Stokhod and then made a part of the 91st Division.

FRANCE.

2. After taking part in the terrible battles on the Stokhod, in the course of which it suffered enormous losses, the 150th Infantry Regiment was transferred to Galicia at the end of September, 1916, and then returned to the 37th Division. The division was sent to the Western Front on December 10, 1916. Itinerary: Cracow-Breslau-Dresden-Leipzig- Nuremburg-Karlsruhe-Rastatt-Strassburg-Colmar-Neu Breisach.

1917.

UPPER ALSACE.

1. Regrouped with its three regiments in Upper Alsace (vicinity of Ferrette) at the end of 1916, the 37th Division spent some time at rest and, in the middle of January, 1917, went into line in the sector which extends from Niederlarg to the Swiss frontier.

The division occupied this sector until the month of May.

2. About May 1 it was relieved, entrained south of Mulhouse and sent to Charleville by way of Strassburg, Sarrebruecken, and Sedan, from which place it went to the vicinity of Gizy (6 kilometers from Sissonne).

AISNE.

3. After a week’s rest, it went into line on the Aisne at the Chemins des Dames, in the sector of Courtecon, which it occupied until the end of July.

4. During these two months (May 25 to the end of July), the 37th Division did not play an important rôle. However, units of the division carried out several local operations in the course of this period. On July 14, units from the three regiments aided by the assault troops of the 5th Assault Battalion, succeeded, at the expense of very heavy losses, in reducing a salient near the Cerny sugar refinery.

ST. GOBAIN.

5. On July 31 the 37th Division was relieved, and about August 3 went into line in the St. Gobain sector (in front of Coucy le Chateau) which it occupied until the end of November. On October 23 it suffered losses (Mont des Singes) from our bombardments. On the 24th the division withdrew its units across the canal and occupied the sector included between the Brancourt-Quincy road and Anizy.

RECRUITING.

The 37th Division is recruited from East and West Prussia. During its stay on the Eastern Front it contained a large number of Alsace- Lorrainers. Because of its circumscribed territorial extent, the 37th Division contains an admixture of elements coming from other districts (5th and 6th Corps Districts among others). Nevertheless, and in spite of their official designations (from Moravia, from Ermeland), its regiments are called “East Prussian” in the German communique of July 15, 1917.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

On July 14 and 15, 1917, the 37th Division attacked with great energy. At that time, it seemed to be of good quality and of high morale. However, according to statements of prisoners of the 151st Infantry Regiment made in September, October, and November, the morale appears to have weakened (Jan. 18, 1918).

1918.

LAON.

1. During January and early February the 37th Division and the 14th Reserve Division relieved each other in the St. Gobain sector (north of Soissons). It seems probable (though the fact has never been proved) that during one of its periods out of line, the 37th Division was given a course of training in open warfare. On February 20, the 37th relieved the 14th Reserve in the same sector, and it was in turn relieved by the 14th Reserve about the 9th of March.

PICARDY.

2. On March 21 the division reinforced the front near Benay (south of St. Quentin) attacking with such dash that it received special mention by Prof. Wegener in the Koelnische Zeitung. It was withdrawn on the 30th.

3. The division rested for a few days between Champs and Folembray (north of Soissons), and then entered line north of Thiescourt (west of Noyon) on the 9th of April. It was withdrawn about the 20th, and went to rest and refit in the area southeast of Avesnes.

AISNE.

4. On May 27, the first day of the battle of the Aisne, the division attacked near Presles (south of Laon), and advanced via Braine (the 28th) as far as the Troesnes-Longpont sector (east of Villers Cotterets). It was relieved by the 115th Division on the 4th of June, and went to the area northeast of Braine to rest and to be thoroughly trained.

MARNE.

5. It set out the evening of the 12th of July, and in two night marches, reached its point of assembly in the woods north of Verneuil (northeast of Dormans). It was planned that the 37th with three other divisions, forming the v. Conta Group, should “leap-frog” the divisions in line, and to sweep up the valley of the Marne, beginning with the line Vincelles-Antheney and ending at a line passing north of Avenay and north of Moslins. It was thought that this movement, combined with the push of the units to the east of Rheims, would result in the fall of that city and also of the Montagne de Rheims to the south. The division attacked on the 15th, crossed the Marne, reached the Bois du Chataignier (south of Mareuil-east of Dormans); and was stopped there. It delivered its last counterattack on the 19th, and the order having been given, crossed the Marne, and continued its retreat toward the north. It was identified by prisoners for the last time on the 28th in the vicinity of Champvoisy (north of Dormans). It then went to the Charleville area to rest and refit; the 10th Landwehr Division having been disbanded, the 372d Regiment was drafted to the regiments of the 37th Division.

VERDUN.

6. During the night of the 12th–13th of August, it relieved the 231st Division to the north of Avocourt (north of Verdun). It was relieved by the 117th Division about the 20th of September, and moved to the vicinity of Billy (south of Longuyon,) where it rested for about a week.

ARGONNE.

7. On September 26, it reinforced the 117th Division near Montfaucon, where they counterattacked the same day. It was heavily engaged until withdrawn October 1.

8. It moved some kilometres to the west, in the vicinity of Exermont, in anticipation of the American attack of October 4, and came into line in that region on the 5th. It was engaged in a number of minor actions, that proved quite costly; its losses in prisoners alone was 962. It was withdrawn on the 18th, and went to rest near Verpel (northeast of Grandpre).

9. On November 9, the division came back into line near Abaucourt (northeast of Verdun); it had not been withdrawn on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 37th has always been considered a first-class shock division. It did very well in the offensives in which it took part (Somme, Aisne, Marne), and one of its regiments, the 147th, “The Marshal von Hindenburg Regiment” was particularly mentioned in the German Communique for its work on October 10. It suffered such heavy losses throughout the year that, despite numerous large drafts of replacements, the regiments were reduced to four companies of 80 men each at the end of the war.

38th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │76. │71. │76. │71. │83. │94. │ │95. │ │95. │ │95. │83. │94. │83. │94. │ │96. │ │96. │ │96. │ │ │ 11 Jag. Btn. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │6 Cuir. Rgt. (3 │6 Cuir. Rgt. (3 │2 Sqn. 6 Cuir. Rgt. │ Sqns.). │ Sqns.). │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │38 Brig.: │38 Brig.: │38 Brig.: │ 19 Rgt. │19 Rgt. │ 19 Rgt. │ │ │ │ 55 Rgt. │55 Rgt. │ 55 Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│3 Field Co., 1 │3 Field Co., 1 │3 Field Co., 1 Liaisons. │ Pion. No. 11. │ Pion. No. 11. │ Pion. No. 11. │ │ 38 Pont. Engs. │ 38 T. M. Co. │ │ 38 Tel. Detch. │ 38 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ 38 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │25 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │83. │94. │83. │94. │ │95. │ │95. │ │96. │ │96. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 6 Cuir. Rgt.│3 Sqn. 6 Cuir. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │38 Art. Command: │38 Art. Command: │ 19 Rgt. (9 │ 19 F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ │ 61 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ (Staff, 1, 2, and │ │ 3 Btries.). │ │ 704 Light Am. Col. │ │ 726 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1258 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│128 Pion. Btn. │125 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 3 Co. 11 Pion. │ 3 Co. 11 Pions. │ 285 Pion. Co. │ 285 Pion. Co. │ 38 T. M. Co. │ 46 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ Tel. Detch. │38 Signal Command: │ │ 38 Tel. Detch. │ │ 118 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │Ambulance Co. │27 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │108 Field Hospital.│104 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │108 Field Hospital. │ │38 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │571 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(11th Corps District—Thuringian States.)

1914.

BELGIUM.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 38th Division, forming the 11th Army Corps with the 22d Division, belonged to the 3d Army (Von Hausen), which went through the Belgian Ardennes. It halted in front of Namur until the surrender of this place.

EAST PRUSSIA-POLAND.

2. In consequence of the invasion of East Prussia, the 38th Division as well as the 22d Division, left Belgium about August 27. Going by way of Aix la Chapelle, it detrained in East Prussia, where it fought from September 9 to 11. From that place it was taken to the southern part of Poland (Pinczow, Sept. 28; Opatow, Oct. 4). The enveloping movement of the Russians obliged it to retire from the Lodz front with the army group to which it was attached. It was assigned to the 9th Army (Mackensen) in November and to the 10th Army in December.

3. During the winter of 1914 and 1915 it took part in several important engagements on the Bzura and the Rawka, as well as on the Pilica.

1915.

POLAND.

1. Returning to the 9th Army (Von Fabeck), at the beginning of 1915, the 38th Division fought in the vicinity of Rava, on March 6 and 7. It was then separated from the 22d Division and rejoined the army detachment of Von Gallitz, north of Warsaw. In May it transferred the 71st Infantry Regiment to the 103d Division, a new formation.

2. During the summer offensive it took part in numerous battles from July 13 to September 19, advanced to the southeast of Bielostok, reached the Svislotch on September 1 and marched beyond this until September 19.

FRANCE.

3. At the end of September the 38th Division was concentrated in the vicinity of Grodno and entrained for France on September 25. (Itinerary: Lyck-Graudenz-Berlin-Hanover-Minden-Cologne-Aix la Chapelle-Liege-Namur- Douai.) Detraining on October 1, it completed its reorganization. Between August 30 and October 8 the 5th Company of the 94th Infantry Regiment had received not less than 161 men as replacements.

OISE.

4. Sent to the south of the Oise, the 38th Division went into line in the sector of Tracy le Val., which it held until the beginning of May, 1916, without any serious engagements.

1916.

VERDUN.

1. On May 11, 1916, the division entrained at Tergnier and was transferred to the Verdun front.

2. On May 13 it took over the sector of Hill 304, which it did not leave until October 10, seriously weakened by the battles which it had sustained for five months (losses, 52 per cent of the infantry).

SOMME.

3. Sent to the Somme on October 12, it went into action on October 12; it went into action on October 22 at Thiepval-Grandcourt, and remained there only three weeks, because of the severe losses which it suffered.

FLANDERS.

4. It left the front on November 13 to go to rest and to be reorganized on the coast of Flanders, between Ostend and the Dutch frontier.

5. On December 19 it was brought back to the Somme.

1917.

SOMME.

1. In January, 1917, elements of the division were sent as reenforcements north of Courcelette and southwest of Serre.

2. On January 17 the entire 38th Division went into line in the vicinity of Puisieux-Hébuterne, where it was relieved about March 8 without any serious losses.

3. On March 17 the division replaced the 4th Guard Division near Beugny Bertincourt, which had lost heavily at the beginning of its retirement to the Hindenburg Line, and the 38th Division itself continued to withdraw by way of Beaumetz and Doignies. It took up its position between Demicourt and Boursies, west of Cambrai, and remained there until the end of April.

ARTOIS.

4. After a period of rest in the Cambrai-Douai area during the first half of May, the 38th Division took over the sector east of Arras (north of the Scarpe), on May 16. It left this front on May 31, after having been greatly weakened on the 16th, during the counterattacks on the village of Rouex (800 men were sent to make up these losses from the dissolved 624th Infantry Regiment).

FLANDERS.

5. The division remained at rest at Douai, until June 8; at this time, it was transferred to the vicinity of Gheluwe and sent into reserve to reenforce finally the Messines front.

6. On July 27, before the British attack, the 38th Division went into line east of Ypres (Hooge). It suffered heavy losses on July 31, the day of the attack, and also the three days preceding.

7. Relieved on August 1, it was sent to Antwerp for rest and reorganization (August).

ARTOIS.

8. On September 2, it took over the sector of Monchy le Preux, south of the Scarpe, where it again lost heavily from artillery fire.

FLANDERS.

9. Withdrawn from the front on November 2, the 38th Division after a week’s rest in the vicinity of Douai, again took over the lines north of Ypres (Staden) from November 19 to November 25, then north of Passchendaele where on December 3, a British attack inflicted heavy losses upon it.

10. The division was relieved on November 19 and sent to rest in the vicinity of Bruges.

RECRUITING.

The 38th Division is recruited from the small Thuringian States. At the beginning of 1917, it included a rather large number of men from Baden, almost all of whom have been withdrawn.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 38th Division is a good division.

As a rule it gave a good account of itself in the numerous battles in which it took part. On June 13, 1916, however, at the Mort Homme, the 94th Infantry Regiment is said to have refused to go over the top (letter).

The heavy losses which it suffered at the end of 1917 in the course of the attack upon Ypres, were made up by the replacements composed, for the most part, of the 1918 class.

This element did not have a good effect upon the morale of the division.

1918.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

1. The division remained in Passchendaele area until its relief by the 58th Division about April 5. It rested in the Lille area until the night of April 15–16 when it entered the line at Meteren to reenforce the battle line. It was withdrawn about May 8.

2. The division rested at Provin after May 12. It entered line north of Givenchy on May 21 and held that sector until July 5, when it was relieved by the 1st Guard Reserve Division. It rested at Lille until August 6, when it was alerted and railed to Cambrai, remaining there until August 9. The division moved from Cambrai by motor trucks on August 10 and came into line on the battle front near Lihons on the same day.

SOMME.

3. Until September 22, the division was engaged in resisting the allied advance. It held a sector south of Chaulnes until August 20, when it retired to the St. Christ area (22d). After the 8th of September the division was falling back in a northeasterly direction by Péronne toward Le Catelet. It was withdrawn from line near Hargicourt on September 22.

CAMBRAI.

4. After a rest of only one week, the division was brought back to reenforce the Cambrai battle front at Rumilly (Oct. 1). It was heavily engaged until October 16 when it went to reserve in the Cambrai area. Since August 11 the division had lost more than 2,000 prisoners.

BELGIUM.

5. On October 29, the division returned to line northeast of Roubaix. It remained in line until the armistice. The last identification was at Renaix on November 8.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. Its worth as a defensive division was proved by the extent to which it was used in the last three months of the war.

38th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │38 Ldw. │79 Res. │38 Ldw. │425. │ │85 Ldw. │ │79 Res. │ │77 Ldw. │ │77 Ldw. │ │78 Ldw. │ │78 Ldw. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │2 Sqn. 17 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │145 Art. Command: │255 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │255 Ldw. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│438 Pion. Btn. │438 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │5 Ldst. Btn., 9 │ 2 Landst. Co., 2 │ Army Corps. │ C. Dist. Pions. │338 T. M. Co. │ 5 Landst. Co., 9 │ │ C. Dist. Pions. │538 Tel. Detch. │ 338 T. M. Co. │ │ 243 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │538 Signal Command: │ │ 538 Tel. Detch. │ │ 9 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │557 Ambulance Co. │557 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │109 Res. Field │109 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │12 Ldw. Field │12 Ldw. Field │ Hospt. │ Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │538 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(38th Landwehr Division: 10th Corps District—Hanover.)

1914.

The grouping of the 38th Landwehr Brigade (77th and 78th Landwehr Regiments) and of a mixed regiment, 79th Reserve Infantry Regiment, formed the 38th Landwehr Division in April, 1917.

1. The 38th Landwehr Brigade remained independent until it was assigned to the 38th Landwehr Division.

FLANDERS.

2. Arriving at Liége on October 21, 1914, the 38th Brigade remained there about two months. Transferred to Flanders on October 27, it held the sector north of the Passchendaele Canal (Nieuport) until the beginning of November.

3. After occupying the front of Ypres near Becelaere, the brigade came into line before Passchendaele at the end of December.

1915.

FLANDERS.

1. In April, 1915, the 38th Landwehr Brigade took part in the second battle of Ypres near Zonnebeke.

2. On May 18 it was transferred from Roulers to La Bassée (Festubert) to reenforce the 7th Army Corps.

3. After a rest at Lille it went into line south of the Lys (Frelinghien-Houplines) at the end of August.

1916.

ARTOIS.

1. Relieved from the north of Armentieres in March, 1916, the 38th Landwehr Brigade was sent south of Arras (sector Wailly-Blaireville).

FLANDERS.

2. In the middle of September it returned to the Armentieres front (from the Armentières-Lille railroad to Aubers). It occupied this sector for a year and a half.

1917.

1. In 1917 sector south of Armentières.

In April, 1917, the 38th Landwehr Brigade was transformed into the 38th Landwehr Division by the addition of a third regiment, the 79th Reserve- 85th Landwehr, a composite regiment (1st and 2d Battalions of the 85th Landwehr Regiment, four companies of the 79th Reserve Regiment, the eight others having entered into the composition of the 440th Reserve Regiment of the 183d Division).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 38th Landwehr Division, formed of fairly old men, constitutes an organization of the third class. It held an honorable position in the battles of Ypres in 1914 and 1915, but, as a rule, its rôle was limited to occupying calm sectors. (Belgian Summary of Information, February, 1918.)

1918.

FLANDERS.

1. The 38th Landwehr Division was relieved on January 16 in the sector south of Armentieres by the 187th Division and went to rest in the region east of Bruges.

2. After a week’s rest it relieved the 8th Bavarian Reserve Division north of Dixmude on January 22. It was relieved by the 214th Division on February 20.

3. On March 3 it relieved the 2d Naval Division east of Ramscappelle (north of Bruges) in the sector just north of the one it previously occupied.

4. About the 10th of May the division side slipped toward the south, and in so doing relieved the 19th Reserve Division.

5. About the middle of October it side slipped southward. It was still in line on the 11th of November, although it was forced with the rest of the German line in Flanders, to withdraw considerably.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 38th Landwehr is rated as a fourth-class division. It could be and was used only to hold a quiet sector. Most of the men were nearly 40 years of age, and so it was found necessary to have a divisional “Stosstrupp” for purposes of patrolling.

On November 1 the Franco-American forces in Belgium started an offensive in conjunction with the British 2d Army farther to the south. On the same day, according to the Belgium communique, “The Belgian Army carried out successful minor operations along the drainage canal,” and the German communique said, “The 57th (13th Reserve Division) and the 79th Reserve (38th Landwehr Division) Infantry Regiments distinguished themselves in the course of this fighting.”

39th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │61. │126. │61. │126. │61. │126. │ │132. │ │132. │ │132. │82. │171. │82. │171. │ │172. │ │172. │ │172. │ │ │ 8 Jag. Btn. │ │ │ │ │ 14 Jag. Btn. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │14 Drag. Rgt. │ │H. Res. Hus. Rgt. │ │ │ (2 Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │39 Brig.: │39 Brig.: │39 Brig.: │ │ │ │ 66 Rgt. │ 66 Rgt. │ 66 Rgt. │ 80 Rgt. │ 80 Rgt. │ 80 Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│2 and 3 Field Cos. │2 and 3 Field Cos. │2 and 3 Cos. 1 Liaisons. │ 1 Pion. Btn. No. │ 1 Pion. Btn. No. │ Pion. Btn. No. │ 15. │ 15. │ 15. Btn. No. 15. │ │39 Pont. Engs. │39 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │39 Tel. Detch. │39 Pont. Engs. │ │ │39 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │61. │126. │61. │126. │ │132. │ │132. │ │172. │ │172. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │1 and 2 Sqns. 8 │5 Sqn. 9 Drag. Rgt. │ Res. Hus. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │39 Artillery │39 Art. Command: │ Command: │ │ 80 Rgt. │80 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 406 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 869 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1324 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1325 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│131 Pion. Btn. │136 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │2 and 3 Cos. 15 │ 2 Co. 15 Pions. │ Pions. │ │39 T. M. Co. │ 3 Co. 15 Pions. │Tel. Detch. │ 39 T. M. Co. │ │ 58 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │39 Signal Command: │ │ 39 Tel. Detch. │ │ 84 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │38 Ambulance Co. │38 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │270, 271, 272 Field│270 Field Hospital. │ Hospitals. │ │Vet. Hospital. │272 Field Hospital. │ │39 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │572 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(15th Corps District—Alsace.)

1914.

ALSACE AND THE VOSGES.

1. Upon mobilization, the 39th Division and the 30th Division formed the 5th Army Corps (Strassburg).

At the beginning of the campaign the 39th Division was a part of the 7th Army (Von Herringen). In the first days of August it fought in the pass of the Bonhomme. On the 9th it went into Cernay and Mulhouse and was transferred to Dabo (Vosges) on August 19. On August 20 it took part in the battle of Albreschwiller and crossed the frontier on the 31st. It advanced to a point between the Meurthe and the Mortagne and then retreated fighting.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Entraining on September 9, it was transferred to the northwest of Rheims, where it fought between Craonne and Ailles until October.

FLANDERS.

3. At the end of October it became a part of the 6th Army (Crown Prince of Bavaria), of which the 15th Army Corps formed the right wing (north of Lille) until the summer of 1915.

1915.

FLANDERS.

1. Before our attacks of 1915 it was attached to the 4th Army (Duke of Wurttemberg), south of Ypres. At this time the 15th Army Corps became the left wing of the 4th Army. In April the 39th Division gave the 171st Infantry Regiment to the 115th Division, a new formation.

2. The 39th Division was retained in the vicinity of Ypres until the month of February, 1916. One of its regiments, the 172d Infantry Regiment, suffered heavy losses there on September 25 (its 8th Company received at least 111 men as replacements between September 28 and October 16).

1916.

VERDUN.

1. At the beginning of 1916 various elements of the 15th Army Corps were transferred to the vicinity of Verdun and concentrated on the right bank of the Meuse, in the area Piennes-Etain-Ornel-Senon.

2. At the beginning of the German offensive on February 24, the 39th Division suffered relatively few losses, the battle being less intense in the Woevre. But little by little all its units were engaged. On March 8, the 132d Infantry Regiment took part in the attacks upon Douaumont, and on the 18th upon the Caillette wood. Its losses were enormous. On July 11 the 126th Infantry Regiment was in action with two regiments of the 30th Division. Almost all its battalions went successively to the active sectors in the vicinity of Vaux (Aug. 18). At Verdun the division lost 69 per cent of its infantry.

SOMME.

3. On October 20 the 39th Division was relieved from the Verdun front and transferred to the Somme. On the 29th it occupied the sector of Sailly Saillisel. In the attack of Sailly Saillisel by the French troops the three regiments of the division were all put into line simultaneously and acted especially with the assault troops. In these battles the losses of the division were very great (an average of 80 men per company). In the 126th Infantry Regiment, the 4th Company received at least 82 men as replacements between November 16 and 23; the 3d Company, 106 men.

VERDUN.

4. Withdrawn from the Somme, about November 11, the 39th Division was again sent to Verdun. Between December 8 and December 12 it went into the sector between the Louvemont road and the Chaufour wood and there sustained our attack of December 15. It was relieved on the 20th, very much exhausted, and went for reorganization near Vouziers.

1917.

ARGONNE.

1. About January 10, 1917, the division went into line in the sector of Ville sur Tourbe (Argonne). It was withdrawn at the beginning of March. In the course of this month, it was engaged in Champagne, in the attack of March 27 at Cernay en Dormois. It remained in the sector of Massiges until the beginning of May.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. It then went to the vicinity of Rheims (Loivre-Berry au Bac sector) from May 11 to the beginning of July.

ARTOIS.

3. Sent to rest near Asfeld, it then went into line west of Fontaine les Croisilles (middle of July). Withdrawn from the Arras front, it occupied the Loos sector in September.

FLANDERS.

4. At the end of October, it went to Flanders, Passchendaele sector, then Becelaere sector.

ARTOIS.

5. At the end of November, it was again in Artois, north of La Bassee Canal, a position which it was still occupying February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 171st and 172d Infantry Regiments are recruited in the Rhine District, in the widest sense of the word (Grand Duchy of Baden, Rhenish Hesse, Rhine Province), and from Westphalia.

The 126th Infantry Regiment, in Alsace since 1871, represents the participation of Wurttemberg in the guard of the Reichsland. Besides its maintenance by the younger recruiting classes, at the end of 1916 it took some of the best elements from the 123d, 125th, and 126th Landwehr Regiments (young Landsturm classes, then having at least 20 to 22 months of service).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In spite of its relatively high losses, the 39th Division did well on the Somme (October to November, 1916). During its second engagement at Verdun, the Division was much less brilliant. Its resistance was weak (December, 1916).

1918.

LA BASSEE.

1. During the night of February 25–26 the 39th Division was relieved by the 44th Reserve Division and went to rest near Sequedin (west of Lille), where it is presumed to have been trained in open warfare.

PICARDY.

2. About the middle of March, when the Germans were concentrating their reserves on the Cambrai-St. Quentin front, the 39th Division left the Lille area for the Cambrai front. On the 21st of March, when the initial attack was delivered, the 39th Division was in reserve to the 20th Division and only came into action on the evening of that day, at Beaumetz (west of Cambrai). Encountering fighting of the severest kind, the division had to be withdrawn to reserve by the evening of the 23d.

3. The division reappeared in line on the 28th and continued to make slow progress until it reached the area south of Hebuterne (west of Bapaume). It was relieved on the 6th of April by the 26th Division and went to rest in the Cambrai area.

LYS.

4. It left this area about the 12th and marched by stages to the Lys battle front, arriving on the 17th in the Estaires area (west of Lille). The German attacks in this area had been successfully held up by the British by this time and the division was not immediately required. On the 30th it came into line northwest of Merville (west of Lille) and relieved the 12th Reserve Division. The division was not heavily engaged in this sector; it was relieved by the 44th Reserve Division on May 26 and went to rest in the vicinity of Lille.

5. On the 3d of July it relieved the 48th Reserve Division in the Vieux Berquin sector (east of Hazebrouck), and was relieved by the 187th Division during the night of July 13–14. It went to the Haubourdin area (southwest of Lille) and there received training as an assault division.

ARRAS.

6. During the night of August 2–3 it relieved the 185th Division south of Neuville-Vitasse (south of Arras). In the heavy fighting that followed the division lost over 1,300 prisoners and was driven back as far as Cherisy, where it was withdrawn on the 30th and went to rest near Aniches (east of Douai).

CAMBRAI.

7. On September 18 the division reenforced the front near Ecourt-St. Quentin (northwest of Cambrai). It was driven back as far as Palluel, where it was relieved by the 58th Division on the 28th.

YPRES.

9. The division entrained at Roulers and detrained at Menin, entering line east of Gheluvelt (north of Menin) all on the same day. About the 25th of October it was withdrawn from line near Vichte (east of Courtrai) to which point it had been driven back. It rested then for about a week in the region of Audenarde.

10. During the night of October 31-November 1 the division relieved the 23d Reserve Division in the Nukerke sector (south of Audenarde); it was identified in line there on the 9th and was probably still there on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 39th is rated as a second-class division. With the exception of a statement in the German communique of October 2, that the 132d Regiment had displayed “unusual fighting ability” in the operations north of Menin, there is nothing to show that the division had distinguished itself in any way in the fighting during 1918.

39th Bavarian Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │1 Bav. Ers. │1 Bav. Ers. │1 Bav. Ers. │1 Bav. Ers. │ │3 Bav. Ers. │ │3 Bav. Ers. │ │81 Ldw. │9 Bav. Ers. │5 Bav. Ers. │52 Ldw. │80 Ldw. │ │15 Bav. Ldw. │ │29 Ers. │ │ │ 8 Jag. Btn. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │1 Sqn. 2 Chev. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │1 Ers. Abt. 51 Rgt. │10 Bav. Res. Rgt. │ │5 Mountain Gun Abt. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │2 Ers. Co. 1 Pion. Liaisons. │ │ │ │410 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │1 Ldst. Btn. Duren. │8 Jag. Btn. (2d Cyc. Co.). │8th Corps No. 18. │1 Ldst. Btn. Rosenheim (1 │ │ Bav. Corps No. 4). │ │Ldst. Btn. Landshut (1 Bav. │ │ Corps No. 7). │ │Ldst. Btn. Esslingen (13 │ │ Corps No. 18). │ │Ldst. Btn. Passau 2 (1 Bav. │ │ Corps No. 6). ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │1 Bav. Ers. │1 Bav. Ers. │1 Bav. Ers. │1 Bav. Ers. │ │2 Bav. Ers. │ │2 Bav. Ers. │ │5 Bav. Ers. │ │5 Bav. Ers. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 2 Chev. Rgt. │1 Sqn. 2 Bav. Light Cav. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Artillery Command: │11 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 10 Bav. Res. Rgt. │111 Bav. Light Am. Col. │ │112 Bav. Light Am. Col. │ │165 Bav. Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│23 Bav. Pion. Btn.: │23 Bav. Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 20 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 20 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 21 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 21 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 410 T. M. Co. │ 23 Bav. Searchlight Section. │ 9 Bav. Searchlight Section. │ 9 Bav. Searchlight Section. │ 430 Bav. Tel. Detch. │439 Bav. Signal Command: │ │ 439 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ │ 105 Bav. Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │524 Ambulance Co. │20 Bav. Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │2 Bav. Field Hospital. │2 Bav. Field Hospital. │24 Bav. Vet. Hospital. │51 Bav. Field Hospital. │227 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │40, 41, and 49 Bav. Light │ │ Mun. Cols. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │1 Ldst. Btn. │ │Ldst. Btn. Mosbach I (14 │ │ Corps No. 1). │ │Ldst. Btn. Passau II (1 Bav. │ │ Corps No. 6). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(Bavaria.)

1915.

ALSACE.

1. The 39th Bavarian Reserve Division was formed in February, 1915, on the Alsace front in the vicinity of Ste. Marie aux Mines. (See 30th Bavarian Reserve Division.)

It then comprised the 52d Landwehr Brigade, consisting of the 80th Landwehr Regiment and 29th Ersatz Regiment (since become the 61st), and the 1st Bavarian Ersatz Brigade (81st Landwehr Regiment, 3d and 1st Bavarian Ersatz Regiments). After October, 1915, we find them officially designated “Bavarian.”

2. During 1915 and until the beginning of November, 1916, the 39th Bavarian Reserve Division occupied the sector included between the Ban de Sapt and Ste. Marie aux Mines. The elements of the division took part in several local attacks in this region (south of Lusse in February, 1915; at La Fontenelle in June and July, 1915).

1916.

ALSACE.

1. 1916 same sector of Alsace (Ban de Sapt and Ste. Marie aux Mines).

2. In March, 1916, the composition of the 39th Bavarian Reserve Division was modified—the 81st Landwehr Regiment was replaced by the 15th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment, coming from the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division. In July the division comprised the 1st Bavarian Ersatz Brigade (1st and 3d Bavarian Ersatz Regiments) and the 9th Bavarian Ersatz Brigade (the 15th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment and the 5th Bavarian Ersatz Regiment, the latter having been formed in July).

3. In October the 3d Bavarian Ersatz Regiment was assigned to the 9th Bavarian Reserve Division and the 29th Ersatz Regiment to the 223d Division, both being new formations. From that time on the 39th Bavarian Reserve Division was entirely Bavarian.

In November the 15th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment went over to the 30th Bavarian Reserve Division, which sent the 2d Bavarian Ersatz Regiment in its place to the 39th Bavarian Reserve Division.

VERDUN.

4. Relieved from its sector in the Vosges about November 6, 1916, the 39th Bavarian Reserve Division was sent to the Verdun front in the vicinity of Vaux. It underwent the French attack of December 15, during which certain of its units (5th Bavarian Ersatz Regiment) suffered heavily. It was withdrawn on December 17.

1917.

ALSACE.

1. In the middle of January, 1917, the 39th Bavarian Reserve Division was sent back to its former sector in the vicinity of Ste. Marie aux Mines (Wisembach, Lusse, Provenchères) which it occupied from then on without changing.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Except in December, 1916, at Verdun, the 39th Bavarian Reserve Division has always occupied the same sector of the Vosges. Its combat value appears mediocre.

The average age of the men in the 1st and 5th Bavarian Ersatz Regiments is between 30 and 40 years (April to July, 1918).

In February and March, 1918, all the younger elements (20 to 26 years) were withdrawn from the division and sent to active and reserve regiments.

1918.

ALSACE.

1. The 39th Bavarian Reserve Division was still in its sector in Alsace, northwest of Ste. Marie aux Mines, on the 11th of November.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

It is rated as a fourth-class division. Most of the men are old, the younger men having been combed out in February and March to be sent to other organizations, and although the companies are large—the average ration strength seems to be 200 men—the division has very little combat value.

40th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │88. │104. │88. │104. │88. │104. │ │181. │ │181. │ │181. │89. │133. │89. │133. │ │134. │ │134. │ │134. │ │ │ 13 Jag. Btn. │ 13 Jag. Btn. │ 13 Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │19 Hus. Rgt. │19 Hus. Rgt. │19 Hus. Rgt. (3 │ │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │40 Brig.: │40 Brig.: │40 Brig.: │ │ │ │ 32 Rgt. │ 32 Rgt. │ 32 Rgt. │ 68 Rgt. │ 68 Rgt. │ 68 Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 and 2 Field Cos. │1 and 2 Field Cos. │1 and 2 Cos. 1 Liaisons. │ 1 Pions. No. 32. │ 1 Pion. No. 22. │ Pion. No. 22. │ │40 Pont. Engs. │ 40 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │40 Tel. Detch. │ 40 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ 40 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │Anti-Aircraft │ │ │ Detch. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │88. │104. │88. │104. │ │181. │ │134. │ │134. │ │181. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 19 Hus. Rgt.│2 Sqn. 19 Hus. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │40 Artillery │40 Art. Command: │ Command: │ │ 32 Rgt. │ 32 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 403 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 877 Light Am. Col. │ │ 960 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1408 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│141 Pion. Btn.: │141 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 and 3 Cos. 22 │ 3 Co. 22 Pions. │ Pions. │ │ 40 T. M. Co. │ 54 Res. Pion. Co. │ 310 Searchlight. │ 40 T. M. Co. │ 40 Tel. Detch. │ 131 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │40 Signal Command: │ │ 40 Tel. Detch. │ │ 171 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │48 Saxon Ambulance │48 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ Co. │ │306, 309 Field │306 Field Hospital. │ Hospitals. │ │Vet. Hospital. │309 Field Hospital. │ │40 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(19th Corps District—Saxony.)

1914.

BELGIUM-MARNE.

1. The 40th Division (4th Saxon) formed, with the 24th Division (2d Saxon), the 19th Army Corps, which, at the outbreak of the war, was a part of the 3d Army (Von Hausen). Detraining north of Trèves August 10–12, the division entered the north of Luxemburg on the 13th, Belgium on the 18th. It crossed the Meuse on the 23d above Dinant, and entered France by way of Fumay. It fought on August 30 at Chesnois, reached Semide on September 1, Somme Py on September 2, Châlons on September 4. On liaison with the right wing of the 4th Army, it took part in the battle of the Marne west of Vitry le François. After the battle it retired to Souain.

FLANDERS.

2. At the beginning of October the 19th Army Corps was transferred to Lille. It belonged to the 6th Army (Crown Prince of Bavaria). Attacked by the British troops, it was forced back upon the line between Ploegsteert wood and Grenier wood.

At the end of October the 9th Company of the 107th Infantry Regiment (24th Division) had only 38 men left (letter).

1915.

1. In 1915 and until August 1916 the two divisions of the 19th Army Corps were retained in the zone of Ploegsteert and Grenier wood.

2. Elements of the 40th Division were sent as reenforcements in the battles of Neuve Chapelle (March 1915), of Festubert (May to June 1915) and upon the occasion of the Franco-British offensives in Artois (La Bassee-Souchez, June to October 1915). In March 1915, the 40th Division was definitely reduced to three regiments, having given the 133d Infantry Regiment to the 24th Division.

1916.

SOMME.

1. On August 8, 1916, the 40th Division took part in the battle of the Somme in the region north of Pozières. It was in violent battles and was withdrawn, very much exhausted.

ARTOIS.

2. At the end of August, it went from the Somme front to the sector of Neuve Chapelle-La Bassée Canal, where it remained for six weeks.

SOMME.

3. About the middle of October, it returned to the Somme (sector north of Le Sars-Butte de Warlencourt) for a second period of three weeks during which its losses were again very heavy (the total losses of the 40th Division in August and October on the Somme were 6,127 men).

On October 30, the 7th Company of the 104th Infantry Regiment received at least 75 men as replacements (1917 class) who had had only three months of service.

4. Relieved from the Somme, the Division went into the sector of St. Eloi-Messines about November 11.

1917.

1. The division left the Messines front about March 26, before the beginning of the British offensive at Arras, and remained at rest in the area of Renaix.

FLANDERS.

2. It returned to line on April 23 in the same sector, and was subjected to the artillery preparation for the battle of Messines, which caused it extremely heavy losses. The 104th Infantry Regiment lost 224 men as prisoners.

On June 7, the first day of the attack, it was withdrawn from the front and sent to rest in the vicinity of Bruges and Thielt until July 19.

3. On July 22 it went into line north of Ypres in the sector of Steenstraat-Het-Sas. It suffered the bombardment in the attack of July 31.

ST. QUENTIN.

4. After a rest, in the course of which it was reorganized, it spent several weeks in the sector of Itancourt, in the vicinity of St. Quentin. During the months of August and September it received 2,300 men as replacements. A large number came from the Russian front (244th Reserve Infantry Regiment, 350th Landwehr Regiment, the 19th Landsturm Battalion from the garrison of Posen; besides these, Saxons were withdrawn from the 428th Infantry Regiment and the 8th Landsturm).

FLANDERS.

5. On October 12 the 40th Division was transferred to Flanders for a second time. From October 17 to 27 it occupied the sector of Langewaade- Zevecoten, northeast of Bixschoote, and there underwent the attack of October 27, which again caused it heavy losses.

RUSSIA.

6. The division was then sent to Russia, where it arrived at the end of November. It was there assigned to the 10th Army and took up its position south of Smorgoni, where it still was at the beginning of January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 40th Division is purely Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The attitude of the division has generally been passive (especially during the attack of July 31, 1917, north of Ypres).

In the 104th Infantry Regiment (July 22–28) the men scattered under fire, sometimes with their noncommissioned officers, and fled to a distance of 8 kilometers behind the front.

The same thing happened for the period October 17–27. In the 134th Infantry Regiment, which was considered the best regiment of the division, one-half of the 6th Company left the front line on October 24.

Only the assault detachment offered any energetic resistance on October 27, 1917.

1918.

RUSSIA.

1. The 40th Division was identified in the region of Lake Narotch-Niemen for the last time on the 15th of January. It then went into reserve in the vicinity of Vilna.

FRANCE.

2. The division was not identified between the 4th of February, when it was stated as being “on the Eastern front,” and the 20th of March, when it was in Lorraine. It very probably came from the East about the end of February.

WOEVRE.

3. On April 15 it relieved the 4th Bavarian Division near Regnieville (west of Pont à Mousson). During this time whenever units were out of line they were intensively trained. It was withdrawn on June 1, its place being taken by the 183d Division.

MARNE.

4. The division entrained at Jaulny the following day and traveled via Rembercourt-Waville-Onville-Chambley-Mars la Tour-Jarny-Conflans- Montmedy-Sedan-Mézières-Rethel, detraining at Asfeld la Ville on the 3d. On the 16th it relieved the 2d Guard Division near Troësnes. This sector was a quiet one until the beginning of the Allied counteroffensive of July 18. The 40th Division was caught in this drive and was driven northward. On the 24th it was relieved by the Bavarian Ersatz Division and went to rest near Oisy le Verger (northwest of Cambrai).

ARRAS.

5. On the 22d of August the division entered line near Courcelles le Comte (south of Arras), counterattacking the same day. It was withdrawn on the 31st.

YPRES.

6. After a short rest near Roubaix, it relieved the 236th Division southeast of Ypres on September 10. After losing nearly 1,300 prisoners, the division was withdrawn from line near Wervicq, October 8, and went to the Courtrai area, where it rested six days.

7. On the 15th it reenforced the front near Gulleghem (northeast of Menin). It was withdrawn from line in the Vichte sector (east of Courtrai), about the 26th.

8. On November 8 the division returned to line near Avelghem (northeast of Roubaix), and was still in line on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

Until 1918 the 40th (Saxon) Division had been considered as being a second-class unit. It was soon noticed that practically all Saxon troops were not fighting as well as before, and this was particularly true of the 40th Division, for although its men were young and the number of effectives high, it was used in none of the German offensives. It must be considered a third-class division.

41st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │72. │18. │72. │18. │74. │18. │ │59. │ │59. │ │148. │74. │148. │74. │148. │ │152. │ │152. │ │152. │ 9 Ldst. Btn. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │10 Dragoon Rgt. │ │10 Drag. Rgt. (3 │ │ │ Sqns.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │41 Brig.: │41 Brig.: │41 Brig.: │ 35 Rgt. │ 35 Rgt. │ 35 Rgt. │ 79 Rgt. │ 79 Rgt. │ 79 Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│2 Field Co. 1 Pion.│2 Field Co. 1 Pion.│2 Field Co. 1 Pion. Liaisons. │ No. 26. │ No. 26. │ No. 26. │ │41 Pont. Engs. │41 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │41 Tel. Detch. │41 Pont. Engs. │ │ │41 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │41 Cyc. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │74. │18. │74. │18. │ │148. │ │148. │ │152. │ │152. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │1 Sq. 10 Dragoons. │4 Sqn. 10 Drag. │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │41 Art. Command: │41 Art. Command: │ 79 Rgt. │ 79 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 2 Abt. 15 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (5, 7, and 8 │ │ Btries.). │ │ 835 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1235 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1236 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│135 Pion. Btn. │26 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │1 and 2 Cos. 26 │ 1 Co. 26 Pions. │ Pion. │ │41 T. M. Co. │ 2 Co. 26 Pions. │Tel. Detch. │ 41 T. M. Co. │ │ 37 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │41 Signal Command: │ │ 41 Tel. Detch. │ │ 96 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │Ambulance Co. │261 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │316, 321, 323d │316 Field Hospital. │ Field Hospitals. │ │Vet. Hospital. │323 Field Hospital. │ │145 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │574 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │10 Btry. 7 Res. Ft. │ │ A. Rgt. │ │41 Ft. A. Btry. │ │65 Carrier Pigeon │ │ Loft. │ │574 Carrier Pigeon │ │ Loft. │ │72 Balloon Sqn. │ │219 Reconnaissance │ │ Flight. │ │8, 29, and 245 M. │ │ T. Col. │ │140 Art. │ │ Observation │ │ Section. │ │(Elements attached │ │ Aug. 18, 1918. │ │ German document.) ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(20th Corps District—Eastern portion of West Prussia.)

1914.

At the outbreak of the war the 41st Division and the 37th Division formed the 20th Army Corps.

RUSSIA.

1. At the beginning of hostilities the 41st Division was engaged against Russia, first in East Prussia, then in Poland, beginning with October. It was at Lodz at the beginning of December, at Skiernewice on the 20th, and fought on the Rawka in January, 1915.

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. In February, 1915, transferred north of the Vistula, it operated until summer between Prasnysz and the valley of Bobr-Narew. From there it was taken to the northern frontier of East Prussia in July and advanced as far as Mitau, from there to Jakobstadt.

1916.

RUSSIA.

1. Until October, 1916, the division occupied the same sector on the Dvina, between Friedrichstadt and Jakobstadt. It underwent a Russian offensive in March, 1916, and took part in an attack on May 10. In these two actions it suffered serious losses.

ROUMANIA.

2. On October 21, the 41st Division, destined to take part in the Roumanian campaign, entrained southeast of Friedrichstadt, traveled by way of Mitau, Grodno, Warsaw, Oppeln, Budapest, Temesvar, and detrained on November 5 at Pay, south of Hatszeg. It went into action in the vicinity of Jiu and advanced almost without fighting. It entered Bucarest on December 6. On the 7th it again took up the pursuit of the Roumanians. On reaching the Sereth the 41st Division encountered the Russians. It remained in line until February 8, 1917. The losses of the division, slight in the battles with the Roumanians, were greater in the Russian attacks.

1917.

FRANCE.

1. Between February 8 and February 15 the 41st Division entrained at Zilibia for the Western Front. (Itinerary: Bucarest-Salzburg-Munich-Ulm- Augsburg-Thionville.) It detrained in Lorraine (Arsweiler, Ruxweiler, Audun le Roman) on February 20.

2. After a month of rest and training in Lorraine, during which it was reorganized (the 148th Infantry Regiment received 600 men as replacements), the division went into line, at the beginning of May, at Bois le Prêtre.

3. Between May 6 and May 9 it was transferred by way of Sedan to Rethel, from which place it marched to the vicinity of Sissonne.

CALIFORNIE PLATEAU.

4. Sent into line in the sector of Hurtebise for a very short stay (May 25–26 to May 28–29), it went into action on the 21st in the vicinity of Chevreux. It took part there in the attack of June 3 upon Californie Plateau, in the course of which its losses were serious (50 to 60 men per company in the 152d Regiment, heavy losses in the 148th Infantry Regiment).

5. The 42d Division remained in the sector of Chevreux until June 25. About July 3 it went to the east of the Butte du Mesnil. It remained in this sector, without any notable occurrences, until the beginning of November.

FLANDERS.

6. On November 12 it was in the vicinity of Staden, Houthulst wood, where it alternated with the 38th Division. Relieved on January 14, 1918, it went to rest near Bruges.

RECRUITING.

The 41st Division is recruited principally from West Prussia. As the region is not very large and has a relatively small population, the 41st Division borrows from other districts (especially the 6th Corps District). It contained a large number of Alsace-Lorrainers during its stay on the Russian front.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 41st Division, coming from the Russo-Roumanian front, where it had remained until the beginning of February, 1917, appears to have only a mediocre military value.

In the course of the attack of June 3, 1917, on the Californie Plateau, the retreat of the 148th Infantry Regiment was carried out in a state of extreme confusion.

During its stay on the Champagne front the 41st Division showed no offensive activity. (July 3-November, 1917.)

1918.

FLANDERS.

1. The 41st Division was relieved in the sector north of Ypres by the 38th Division toward the end of January, and went to rest near Bruges. While here the artillery received new guns, and it seems probable that the division was put through a course of training.

2. During the night of February 25–26 the division relieved the 2d Guard Reserve Division south of Westroosebeke (northeast of Ypres). About the 4th of March it was relieved by the 38th Division and went to rest in the Turcoing area.

ARRAS.

3. On the 26th of March the division was identified near Oppy (northeast of Arras). Here it was heavily engaged, and the attack which it attempted broke down through heavy casualties.

ALBERT.

4. The division was identified in the same area on the 28th, but not afterwards, and so it was very likely withdrawn during the next day or two. Early in April the division moved up in support of the 21st Reserve Division in the Beaumont-Hamel region (north of Albert), and during the night of the 7th–8th it relieved the 1st Guard Reserve Division a little farther to the north in the Puisieux sector (east of Hébuterne). On the 14th of April the division extended its front to the south so as to relieve the 24th Division. On the 11th of June it was relieved by the 26th Reserve Division and went to rest and refit in the Douai area.

5. On the 9th of July it relieved the 108th Division east of Villers- Bretonneux (east of Amiens). Here it was caught in the Allied drive of August 8, and after losing over 1,700 prisoners was withdrawn on the 10th.

6. After resting a fortnight immediately behind the front, it came back into line near Cappy (southeast of Bray) on the 25th. In the fighting that followed the division lost more than 800 prisoners, and even more killed and wounded. It was relieved early in September and went to rest and to be reconstituted near Château Salins (northeast of Nancy). On September 8 it received as a draft what was left of the dissolved 18th Reserve Regiment (225th Division disbanded).

ARGONNE.

7. Leaving Metz on October 6 and traveling via St. Juvin, the division reenforced the front near Sommerance (east of Grandpré) on the 9th to meet the American push of the 8th. It was withdrawn on the 31st after having suffered very heavy losses.

8. It rested a day or two immediately in rear of the front, and on the 3d it was thrown in near Nouart (southwest of Stenay), the Americans having attacked again on the 1st. It was again withdrawn on the 8th, and did not come back into line.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 41st has been considered a second-class division. With the exception of its engagements in the spring near Albert and in the Argonne in October and November, it has not done a great deal of fighting during the year; during this fighting, however, it suffered very severely, so that when it was withdrawn on the 8th of November its companies did not have an average combatant strength of 25. On June 6 the commanding general issued an order indicating an increase in the number of instances in which subordinates emphatically refused to accompany their units into line and in which officers neglected to enforce obedience to orders, and insisting that the evil be remedied even though the men had to be shot.

42d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │59. │97. │59. │97. │65. │17. │ │138. │ │138. │ │131. │65. │17. │65. │17. │ │138. │ │131. │ │131. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │7 Uhlan Rgt. │1 Sqn. 7 Uhlan Rgt.│1 Sqn. 7 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │42 Brig.: │42 Brig.: │42 Brig.: │8 F. A. Rgt. │8 F. A. Rgt. │ 8 F. A. Rgt. │15 F. A. Rgt. │15 F. A. Rgt. │ 15 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│3 Field Co. (1 │3 and 5 Field Cos. │3 and 5 Field Cos. Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. │ (1 Pion. Btn. No.│ (1 Pion. Btn. No. │ 27). │ 27). │ 27). │ │42 Pont. Engs. │42 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │42 Tel. Detch. │42 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │42 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │65. │17. │65. │17. │ │131. │ │131. │ │138. │ │138. │ Gd. Res. Jag. Btn.│ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 7 Drag. Rgt.│1 Sqn. 7 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │42 Art. Command: │42 Art. Command: │ 15 F. A. Rgt. │ 15 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 2 Abt. 15 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (4, 11, and │ │ 12 Btries.). │ │ 804 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1044 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 11045 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(1/27 or 136 Pion. │27 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ Btn.): │ │ │ │ 3 Field Co. 27 │ 3 Co. 27 Pions. │ Pions. │ │ 5 Field Co. 27 │ 5 Co. 27 Pions. │ Pions. │ │ 42 T. M. Co. │ 42 T. M. Co. │ 229 Searchlight │ 14 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 345 Searchlight │42 Signal Command: │ Section. │ │ Tel. Detch. │ 42 Tel. Detch. │ │ 147 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │263 Ambulance Co. │263 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │269 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │368 Field Hospital. │ │162 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │575 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(21st Corps District—Lorraine.)

1914.

LORRAINE.

1. Upon mobilization, the 42d Division and the 31st Division formed the 21st Army Corps.

It was a part of the 6th Army (Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria), and fought, at the beginning of August, 1914, across the Lorraine frontier, in the vicinity of Château Salins, Dieuze, Rechicourt (Aug. 5–12). Engaged on the 20th northeast of Dieuze, the 42d Division reached Lunéville on the 22d and attacked Rehainviller and Gerbeviller on the 24th. These days had been very costly. On August 26 the 121st Infantry Regiment was reduced to 31 officers and 1,562 men. (Official Document.)

2. At the beginning of September it was sent to reenforce the 2d Bavarian Corps. On September 3 it was in the vicinity of Moyen-Domptail. It retired to Dieuze (Sept. 11–13) and entrained at Boulay on the 18th, for Cambrai.

SOMME.

3. On September 24 it was on the Somme. It fought at Gruny, Maucourt, in the vicinity of Chaulnes-Pressoire (end of September to beginning of October). It took up its position on the Chaulnes front, along the road from Amiens to St. Quentin (November-December).

1915.

1. The 42d Division occupied the lines north of Chaulnes until the end of January, 1915. On December 26, the losses of the 131st Infantry Regiment since the beginning of the campaign amounted to 87 officers and 3,233 men. (Official List of Casualties.)

2. About January 25 the 42d Division was relieved and entrained for the Eastern Front with the 31st Division (21st Army Corps).

3. Concentrated in East Prussia at the beginning of February, it formed a part of the Hindenburg Army which was to force the Russians across the frontier.

4. From the vicinity of Augustowo (Feb. 14) it advanced rapidly to the east; it reached Sopockin on the 20th, and took up its position with the 21st Army Corps on the line Sopockin-Chtabine (north of Grodno). On March 9 the violent Russian counterattacks caused it heavy losses.

MARIAMPOL.

5. At the beginning of March the 42d Division bore to the north; it was at Kalwarjia on March 26; occupied the vicinity of Mariampol on April 2. It fought in this sector from March 29 to April 24 and remained there until August. (On Apr. 13 the losses of the first two battalions of the 131st Infantry Regiment since the 6th of February had been 1,672 men, according to the Official Casualty List. The 7th Company had only 65 men left on Apr. 7.)

VILNA.

6. Renewing its forward march, the division reached Vilna on August 30; continuing toward the east, it reached Herviaty-Vorniany on September 20, then went toward Lake Narotch, vicinity of Postavy, where the front became stable.

In the autumn the 97th Infantry Regiment was transferred to the 108th Division, a new formation.

1916.

LAKE NAROTCH.

1. The 42d Division held its positions at Lake Narotch until April, 1917.

2. At the end of March, 1916, it sustained the Russian attacks and suffered great losses.

1917.

GALICIA.

1. On April 24, 1917, the 42d Division was relieved from the sector of Lake Narotch and entrained at Vilna for the Western Front. The activity along the Galician front caused its itinerary to be modified, and from Warsaw it was sent to Lemberg. In reserve first, it went into action on July 20 in the German counteroffensive of Brzezany, which took it to the region south of Tarnopol (Grjimalov, July 31).

RIGA.

2. Withdrawn from the Galician front at the beginning of August, it entrained at Lemberg on the 24th, and was transferred to Neugut (between Mitau and Jakobstadt) on August 27. It took part in the advance to Riga; one of its regiments crossed the Dvina, in the vicinity of Uxkull, on September 1.

OESEL ISLAND.

3. At the end of September it was sent to Libau, where important forces were being concentrated for the occupation of the islands in the Baltic. On October 12 the 131st Infantry Regiment landed on the Oesel Island, which it occupied until November 1. The 138th Infantry Regiment remained at Moon until October 25. At the beginning of November the 42d Division was transferred to the vicinity of Kovel. At the end of November it took over a calm sector in the vicinity of Kachovka.

FRANCE.

4. Entraining at Kovel on December 23, it arrived in France on December 28. (Itinerary: Warsaw-Thorn-Posen-Leipzig-Dortmund-Cologne-Herbestal- Brussels. It detrained at Ascq on the 28th.)

5. After a stay in the vicinity of Lille, it relieved the 4th Division east of Armentières on January 23, 1918.

RECRUITING.

As the regional system of recruiting could not furnish dependable elements, the 42d Division is principally recruited from Westphalia and the Rhine Province. The Alsace-Lorrainers were fairly numerous, however, during the stay of the division on the Russian front.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 42d Division occupied the Eastern Front from February, 1915, until the end of December, 1917.

In the offensive operations in which the 42d Division took part in 1917 the successes appear to have been fairly easy. The greater part of the time it has not had to sustain any serious action and its losses have been comparatively slight.

1918.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

1. The division held the Armentieres sector until it was relieved about March 22 by the 32d Division. On April 9 it reenforced the battle front near Merris. It was engaged in heavy fighting, and between April 9 and 16 the losses of the division amounted to 50 per cent of the strength. On April 17 it was relieved by the 12th Division.

2. The division came in on the quiet Lens sector on April 25–26, relieving the 220th Division. It held the sector until June 25, when it was relieved by the 36th Reserve Division and moved to the region southwest of Soissons, where on June 30 it relieved the 14th Division. It suffered from the French attack of July 18, losing 1,400 prisoners. It was withdrawn about July 22.

3. The division rested nearly a month undergoing reconstitution by elements from the dissolved 211th Division. The 390th Regiment was completely merged with the 42d Division. From Laon the division moved to Rethel.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. From its entry into the Champagne line on August 22 in relief of the 28th Division until October 1 it was engaged in resisting the French offensive operations in Champagne, during which period it lost about 2,000 prisoners. The division was withdrawn on October 1. After two weeks in the second line the division returned to line about October 14 near Olizy. It continued in line until the armistice. After November 3 the division was opposite the left flank of the American front.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was used as an attack division in the Lys offensive, but thereafter was employed solely on the defensive. The division had a good composition with a large percentage of men of the younger classes.

43d Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │85 Res. │201 Res. │85 Res. │201 Res. │85 Res. │201 Res. │ │202 Res. │ │202 Res. │ │202 Res. │86 Res. │203 Res. │86 Res. │203 Res. │86 Res. │203 Res. │ │204 Res. │ │204 Res. │ │204 Res. │ 15 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 15 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 15 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │43 Res. Cav. Detch.│43 Res. Cav. Detch.│43 Res. Cav. Detch. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │43 Res. F. A. Rgt. │43 Res. F. A. Rgt. │43 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│43 Res. Pion. Co. │43 Res. Pion. Co. │43 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │43 Res. Pont. Engs.│243 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │43 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │43 Res. Ambulance │ Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[19] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │85 Res. │201 Res. │85 Res. │201 Res. │ │202 Res. │ │202 Res. │ │203 Res. │ │203 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │43 Res. Cav. Detch.│43 Res. Cav. Detch. │2 Sqn. 17 Hus. Rgt.│ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │(?) Art. Command: │ │ │ 43 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 43 Res. F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│343 Pion. Btn.: │343 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 43 Res. Pion. Co. │ 4 Co. 2 Pion. Btn. │ │ No. 17. │ 4 Field Co. 17 │ 1 Res. Co. 23 │ Pion. Btn. │ Pions. │ 243 T. M. Co. │ 43 Res. Pion. Co. │ 443 Tel. Detch. │ 243 T. M. Co. │ │ 443 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │525 Ambulance Co. │525 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │72 Res. Field │72 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │73 Res. Field │237 Vet. Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │730 T. M. Col. │730 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴─────────────────── Footnote 19:

Composition at the time of dissolution, September, 1918.

HISTORY.

(From all of the Prussian territory, by selection, in the same manner as the guard.)

1914.

1. The 43d Reserve Division (first series of reserve divisions engaged in October, 1914) formed at this time, with the 44th Reserve Division, the 22d Reserve Corps. It was formed from the regimental recruit depots of the guard, and has preserved from that time a selective system of recruiting from the whole of the Prussian territory.

2. Going into training at the camp of Doeberitz at the beginning of September, the 43d Reserve Division entrained on October 13 for Belgium, and on the 19th it began fighting in the vicinity of Dixmude, Merckem, Bixschoote, etc. It was in action there until the end of November.

YSER.

3. After the battle of the Yser the elements of the division occupied different parts of the front between Ypres and Nieuport.

1915.

FLANDERS.

1. At the beginning of January, 1915, the 86th Reserve Brigade was in line at Westende.

2. About the end of February the 43d Reserve Division was reconcentrated and then sent to rest in the vicinity of Menin-Roulers until April 25.

ARTOIS.

3. In May elements of the division were holding the sector Bixschoote- Boesinghe (North of the Ypres salient). Another part of the division was sent as a reenforcement north of Arras (Souchez) to oppose the French offensive. The 202d Reserve Infantry Regiment lost 76 officers and 1,320 men at Notre Dame de Lorette (Official List of Casualties).

RUSSIA.

4. About the beginning of July the 86th Reserve Brigade was transferred to Russia and took part in the offensive of Mackensen in Poland. Between May 15 and September 29 the 204th Reserve Infantry Regiment listed as casualties 63 officers and 3,511 men. (Official List of Casualties.)

CHAMPAGNE-SERBIA.

5. The 85th Reserve Brigade, sent to Lorraine (Xivray), then to Woevre (July to September), took part in the battle of Champagne (end of September), and then rejoined the rest of the division in Serbia, where the 43d Reserve Division took part in the campaign in October.

1916.

FRANCE.

1. The division left Serbia to return to France at the end of January and beginning of February, 1916.

VERDUN.

2. After a rest in the vicinity of Valenciennes (February-March) it was sent to the Verdun front at the end of March, and went into action west of the Meuse on April 10 (attacks of Bethincourt and the Mort Homme), where it suffered heavy losses between April 10 and May 25. The 12th Company of the 201st Reserve Infantry Regiment received not less than 185 men as replacements during the month of May. (Document.)

3. Toward the end of May the 43d Reserve Division was withdrawn from the front and sent to rest in the Thionville area. At Verdun it had lost 50 per cent of its infantry.

RUSSIA.

4. At the middle of June it entrained at Novion Porcien and was again sent to Russia. Itinerary: Charleville-Trèves-Cassel-Leipzig-Dresden- Breslau-Cracow-Lemberg-Stojanow (southwest of Sokal.) The 204th Reserve Infantry Regiment detrained on June 19.

5. On the Russian front the division was engaged west of Loutsk in the German counteroffensive in June. (Its losses may be estimated from the fact that the 12th Company of the 201st Reserve Infantry Regiment received replacements of 152 men in July and August, the 3d Company at least 145 men from July 9 to 29.)

FRANCE.

6. On November 15 the division was brought back to the Western Front. (Itinerary Oderberg-Leipzig-Frankfort-Mayence-Thionville-Sedan- Thourout.) Reduced to three regiments by the assignment of the 204th Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 218th Division, a new formation, it was at rest for almost a month in the vicinity of Rethel.

VERDUN.

7. In consequence of the French attack of December 15 north of Verdun, the division was concentrated in the vicinity of Azannes. On December 17 it relieved the remnants of the 10th Division in the Chambrettes sector.

1917.

1. The 43d Reserve Division remained at Verdun until January 31, 1917, without being engaged in any important action. However, it suffered rather heavy losses there.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. After a rest in Alsace, the division was sent to Champagne, where, on February 22, it reenforced the front between Loivre and east of the Cavaliers du Courcy. The French attack of April 16 caused it serious losses.

ARGONNE.

3. Relieved at the end of April, and reorganized, it went back into line in the calm sector of Vauquois about May 9; the 12th Company of the 201st Reserve Infantry Regiment was filled up by the arrival of 100 men (1918 class; men from the 613th and 614th dissolved Infantry Regiments).

4. At the end of May the division was withdrawn from the Argonne. It was rested and reorganized first in the Ardennes, then in the vicinity of Laon.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

5. From July 18 to 20, it went into the sector Panthéon-Épine du Chevregny (south of Pargny-Filain) and almost at once underwent the artillery preparation and the French attack of July 30 which caused it heavy losses, increased by the counterattacks which it attempted on July 31 and August 10. On July 30 the 12th Company of the 202d Reserve Infantry Regiment had only 5 noncommissioned officers and 56 men left (document). On August 10 the 201st Reserve Infantry Regiment was almost completely destroyed and left 124 men as prisoners south of La Royère.

6. The 43d Reserve Division was relieved from the Chemin des Dames on August 23 and sent to rest until the end of September in the vicinity of Laon. It was filled up and reorganized.

LA MALMAISON.

7. Receiving training at the beginning of October in view of an offensive which was to anticipate the expected French attack, the elements of the 43d Reserve Division were engaged, beginning with October 15, to reenforce weakened divisions at Vaudesson, La Malmaison, and Bruyeres. They underwent the attack of October 23, which caused them heavy losses (53 officers, 2,190 men, prisoners). The remnants of the division were relieved on the Ailette on October 28.

RUSSIA.

8. The division was sent to Russia soon afterwards, where it detrained on November 11, in the vicinity of Baranovitchi, after five days’ travel. It then relieved the 201st Division, scheduled to go to France.

RECRUITING.

The 43d Reserve Division was recruited, as was the guard in which it had its origin, from the whole of the Prussian territory. The trained men (returned, wounded, and sick), who figure in the reenforcements which it received, had the same origin (Guard, 1st Reserve Guard Division, 261st and 262d Reserve Guard Ersatz Divisions, Guard Landsturm Battalions, etc.). In April, 1917, the division absorbed a part of the 613th and 614th Regiments formed from the Guard recruit depots and dissolved on March 31.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 43d Reserve Division has always been considered a very good organization (December, 1917).

On August 10, 1917, south of La Royère, the 201st Ersatz Regiment attacked “with very great energy.”

In October, 1917, at La Malmaison, the 43d Reserve Division was brought up for reenforcement as an attacking division.

Because of its recent losses (in the attack of Oct. 3) the 43d Reserve Division needs to be completely reorganized before going into action (December, 1917).

It is to be noted that all the recruits of the division come from the Guard recruit depots. (After the losses suffered on Apr. 16, 1917, the division received 3,000 men from the depots of Brandenburg.)

The human material at the disposition of the division is of high quality.

1918.

1. The division left Russia on February 9 and arrived at the Camp Alten- Grabon near Magdeburg about the middle of February. After resting there about five weeks the division entrained on March 18 and traveled via Bielefeld-Gladbach-Aachen-Visé—Hasselt-Louvain-Brussels-Denderleeuw- Audenarde-Courtrai-Tourcoing to Lille, where the regiment detrained on the 22d, billeting at Loos. On the night of April 1–2 the 202d Reserve Infantry Regiment marched via Emmerin and Wattignies to Herrin, continuing on the night of April 2–3 via Chemy-Camphin-Ostricourt to Malmaison and thence to Herrin-Lietard. On April 4 the regiment proceeded to Noyelles-Godault, on the 5th back to Malmaison, and thence on the 7th to Billy Berclau.

LA BASSEE CANAL.

2. The division was engaged at Festubert on April 9. The objective of the division was to break through the enemy’s positions, force the passage of the Lawe and the La Bassee Canals, and capture the heights of Hinges and the town of Bethum. It was held up by British resistance at Festubert and did not penetrate farther. On April 29 it was relieved by the 9th Reserve Division.

SOMME.

3. After its relief, the division rested in the area south of Lille until June 24, when it relieved the 24th Reserve Division at Bouzencourt. Until August 8, it held the sector on the Somme. In the fighting in August, the division lost 600 prisoners. On August 20 it returned to line at Bray and was engaged until the end of the month. The total number of prisoners lost by the division in these two engagements was 1,100.

4. Early in September the division was broken up. The 203d Reserve Regiment was turned into the Guard Ersatz Division, the 202d Reserve Regiment to the 2d Guard Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its complete failure on the La Bassee attack in April and its subsequently long retention in line on the Somme prepared the way for its dissolution about the first of September.

44th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │87 Res. │205 Res. │87 Res. │205 Res. │87 Res. │205 Res. │ │206 Res. │ │206 Res. │ │206 Res. │88 Res. │207 Res. │88 Res. │207 Res. │88 Res. │207 Res. │ │208 Res. │ │208 Res. │ │208 Res. │ 16 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 16 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 16 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │44 Res. Cav. Detch.│44 Res. Cav. Detch.│44 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │44 Res. F. A. Rgt. │44 Res. F. A. Rgt. │44 Reg. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.) │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│44 Pion. Co. │44 Res. Pont. Co. │44 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │44 Res. Pion. Engs.│5 Field Co. 29 │ │ │ Pion. Rgt. │ │ │244 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │44 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │44 Res. Ambulance │ Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │87 Res. │205 Res. │87 Res. │205 Res. │ │206 Res. │ │206 Res. │ │208 Res. │ │208 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │44 Res. Cav. Detch.│4 Sqn. 7 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │44 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 44 Res. F. A. Rgt.│2 Abt. 21 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (4 and 6 │ │ Btries.). │ │706 Light Am. Col. │ │828 Light Am. Col. │ │1322 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│344 Pion. Btn.: │344 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 44 Res. Pion. Co. │ 5 Co. 29 Pions. │ │ │ 5 Field Co. 29 │ 44 Res. Pion. Co. │ Pion. Btn. │ │ 244 T. M. Co. │ 244 T. M. Co. │ 306 Searchlight │ 21 Searchlight │ Sect. │ Section. │ 444 Tel. Detch. │ 250 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │444 Signal Command: │ │ 444 Tel. Detch. │ │ 86 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │526 Ambulance Co. │526 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │73 Res. Field │71 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │238 Vet. Hospital. │75 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │238 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │731 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(3d Corps District—Brandenburg.)

1914.

YSER.

1. The 44th Reserve Division, formed between August and October, 1914, like the other division of the 22d Reserve Corps (43d Reserve Division), was trained at Jueterbog Camp and entrained on October 12. Detraining at Termonde, it was in action at Dixmude and at Bixschoote in October and November and lost very heavily. On November 9 the 3d Battalion of the 205th Reserve Infantry Regiment was reduced to 153 men. (Notebook.)

2. After the battle of the Yser, it occupied several sectors north of Ypres.

1915.

NIEUPORT.

1. The 44th Reserve Division remained on the Flanders front until the month of June, 1915.

2. On June 7 the division was relieved from the Lombartzyde-Nieuport sector and transferred to the Eastern Front.

RUSSIA.

3. Arriving in Russia in the middle of June, it took part in the Mackensen offensive—battles of pursuit on the Galician frontier (June 22-July 16); battle of Krasnostaw (July 19–28) and of Biskupice (July, 29–30); battles up to the Bug (July 31 to Aug. 19); taking of Brest- Litovsk on August 26.

SERBIA.

4. In October it was sent to Serbia and went through the entire campaign.

5. At the end of December, it was sent to rest in Hungary.

1916.

FRANCE.

1. At the end of January, 1916, the 44th Reserve Division entrained for France. (Itinerary: Inddis-Budapest-Vienna-Rosenheim-Cologne-Charleroi.) It detrained at Landrecies-Valenciennes on February 6. It did some work on the Somme front (the 306th Reserve Infantry Regiment near Peronne; the 208th Reserve Infantry Regiment remained at Mesle until Mar. 14) and then entrained at Landrecies on March 24.

VERDUN (MORT-HOMME).

2. Concentrated in the vicinity of Buzancy, at the end of March, the division went to the left bank of the Meuse. On April 11 the 86th Reserve Brigade went into line in the Mort-Homme sector. The 44th Reserve Division was in action beginning with April 25, and suffered very heavy losses (April-May).

3. On June 5 the 44th Reserve Division was withdrawn from the front, reorganized, and sent to rest in the vicinity of Sedan (replacements from the 3d and 5th Corps Districts).

SOMME.

4. Transferred to the Somme (July 2 and 3), the division sent some of its elements into action on the Estrees-Belloy front on July 4. It underwent the French attacks between these two villages (July 6–10) and launched a violent counterattack on the 7th and 8th. These engagements caused it severe losses (9 officers and 522 men as prisoners).

LASSIGNY.

5. Relieved on July 10, it spent a few days at rest, and on July 20 entered the line in the sector of Lassigny-Beuvraignes.

Between June 1 and July 15 the 205th Reserve Infantry Regiment, after it had received men from the Beverloo depot, had received at least 145 men for its 5th Company, 167 for its 8th; on July 14 the 1st Company of the 206th Infantry Regiment received at least 128 men; some (1917 class) had only been in the service since May 5.

SOMME.

6. Sent to rest in the middle of September, the 44th Reserve Division again went into action on the Somme (Berny en Santerre-Genermont), between October 9 and October 28, and again lost very heavily.

7. It then came back into the Lassigny sector, where it was reorganized (reinforcements of 300 to 400 men per regiment). It transferred the 207th Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 228th Division, a new organization.

1917.

LASSIGNY (RETREAT).

1. In March, 1917, the 44th Reserve Division took part in the German retreat and left the lines at Lassigny to take up its position between La Fère and Moy (Mar. 25).

LA MALMAISON (WOËVRE).

2. Sent into the reserve of the army at the end of March in the vicinity of Marle St. Gobert, the division was concentrated on April 15 in the vicinity of Monampteuil-Filain (Apr. 20). On the 21st, on both banks of the Oise-Aisne Canal, it relieved the remnants of the division decimated by the French offensive of April 16 and at La Malmaison received the new attack of May 5. Very much exhausted (1,670 prisoners), it was replaced at once (night of May 5–6) and transferred to the Woëvre first and then to the Côtes de Meuse northeast of St. Mihiel, where the division took over the sector of Chevaliers after being reorganized. It was withdrawn October 25.

FLANDERS.

3. On November 10 it went into line in Flanders, north of Passchendaele.

ARTOIS.

Relieved at the end of the month, it was sent to the sector of Neuve Chapelle. It was still there March 19, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 44th Reserve Division was mixed at the time of its formation (one regiment from Hanover), but has since become purely Brandenburg by its reduction to three regiments. However, this does not prevent the occasional introduction of extraneous elements—for example, in July, 1916 (urgent call for available reserve at Beverloo). The 1917 class then made its appearance on July 12, 1916 (in the 208th Reserve Infantry Regiment); the 1918 class on April 13, 1917 (in the 205th Reserve Infantry Regiment).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 44th Reserve Division has been designated an assault division.

The 44th Reserve Division has not shown any great military value in the course of the battles which it went into north of the Aisne. Certain elements, however, fought well. One must note that the combat effectives of the division were very much reduced by the artillery preparation before the attack of May 5, 1917.

After the battle of the Aisne, the division made up for its losses with elements from the field recruit depots and two replacements, one coming from Warsaw (1917 class), and the other from the 5th Corps District (mostly returned wounded).

1918.

LA BASSEE CANAL.

1. About April 1st, the division was retired to the second line, from which it returned on the night of April 12–13 to attack near Locon on the 13th. It held a sector in that region until its relief by the 220th Division on May 6–7.

2. The division rested at Courrieres for three weeks. On May 26 it relieved the 39th Division west of Vieux Berqum. Here it remained until July 4, when it was relieved by the 207th Division.

SOMME.

3. The division moved to the area northwest of Tournai early in July. There it rested and received drafts until its return to line northeast of Martinpuich on August 26. The division fell back on Flers (27th), Beaulencourt (1st), Villers au Flos (2d), Ruyaulcourt (3d), southwest of Havrincourt (7th). It was withdrawn from line on September 10 after losing 700 prisoners.

4. It was out of line for four weeks and unconfirmed reports indicated its presence at Metz. However, it again appeared in line on the Cambrai- St. Quentin front on October 10, north of Montay. It fought around Le Cateau until the end of the month when it was withdrawn from line north of Robersart. About the fourth of November the division was back in line at Locquignol and in the closing days of the war it fell back to Maubeuge.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as first class. It was not used in any of the major offensives of 1918.

44th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │Rosenberg. │93 Ldw. │44 Ldw. │81 Ldw. │ │382 Ldw. │ │93 Ldw. │ │ │ │382 Ldw. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │ │Art. Command: │ │ 270 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │(444) Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ 411 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ 544 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │274 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │360 Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │M. T. Col. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1918 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │44 Ldw. │81 Ldw. │ (?) │81 Ldw. │ │93 Ldw. │ │93 Ldw. │ │382 Ldw. │ │382 Ldw. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt. │3 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │134 Art. Command: │134 Art. Command: │ 4, 5, 6, and 8 Abtl. 254 │ 61 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │ │ 828 and 837 F. A. Btries. │ 822 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1268 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1321 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(444) Pion. Btn.: │444 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 2 Landst. Co. 7 C. Dist. │ 4 Landst. Co. 7 C. Dist. │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 4 Landst. Co. 7 C. Dist. │ 244 Searchlight Section. │ Pions. │ │ 411 T. M. Co. │544 Signal Command: │ 544 Tel. Detch. │ 544 Tel. Detch. │ │ 63 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │274 Ambulance Co. │274 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │268 Field Hospital. │360 Field Hospital. │360 Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(81st Landwehr Regiment: 18th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Hesse and Hesse—Nassau. 93d Landwehr Regiment: 4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony. 382d Landwehr Regiment: 7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1916.

LORRAINE.

1. The 44th Landwehr Division was formed in April, 1917, by the grouping of the 44th Landwehr Brigade (93d and 382d Landwehr Regiments) and the 81st Landwehr Regiment. The latter regiment had been successively attached to the 39th Reserve Division (area of St. Dié until the spring of 1916), to the Bavarian Ersatz Division (near Verdun until the end of 1916) and finally to the 54th Division (Flirey).

2. The 44th Landwehr Brigade, called the Rosenberg Brigade until July, 1916, united in December, 1915, on the left bank of the Moselle, the 1st Landwehr Ersatz Regiment, afterwards the 382d Landwehr Regiment (formerly attached to the Norroy Brigade) and the 93d Landwehr, former Von Gundlach Regiment of the Graudenz Corps, formed from two of the six surplus Landwehr battalions of the 4th Corps District and of the 38th Landwehr Brigade Ersatz Battalion (Hanover), identified Jeandelize in June, 1915. It was attached to the 8th Ersatz Division at the beginning of 1916.

3. The 44th Landwehr Brigade held the Moselle front on the left bank of the river until it was transformed into the 44th Landwehr Division.

1917.

BOIS LE PRÊTRE.

1. The formation of the 44th Landwehr Division in April, 1917, had no effect upon the position of the elements which entered into its composition. They continued to hold the left bank of the Moselle (Bois le Prêtre) until October, 1917.

2. In this sector the 44th Landwehr Division gave signs of its presence only by a few unimportant raids.

UPPER ALSACE.

3. On October 13, 1917, the 44th Landwehr Division was relieved from Bois le Prêtre, entrained on the 16th at Arnaville, Pagny, Bayonville, and was transferred to Alsace, detraining at Sierentz and Bartenheim. During the night of the 18th–19th it went into line on both banks of the Rhône-Rhine Canal.

On November 7 the division suffered some losses at Schoenholz.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Composed for the most part of elderly men accustomed to holding calm sectors, the 44th Landwehr Division is the antithesis of an attack division. However, it knows how to organize and maintain a position and there is reason to believe that it would do well on the defensive.

Each of its regiments possesses an assault troop.

1918.

1. The division held the Altkirch sector throughout 1918 until the armistice. The sector remained absolutely quiet.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

45th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │89 Res. │209 Res. │89 Res. │209 Res. │89 Res. │209 Res. │ │212 Res. │ │212 Res. │ │212 Res. │90 Res. │210 Res. │90 Res. │210 Res. │90 Res. │210 Res. │ │211 Res. │ │211 Res. │ │211 Res. │ 17 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 17 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 17 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │45 Res. Cav. Detch.│45 Res. Cav. Detch.│45 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │45 Res. F. A. Regt.│45 Res. F. A. Rgt. │45 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│45 Pion. Co. │45 Res. Pion. Co. │45 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │45 Res. Pont. Engs.│90 Res. Pion. Co. │ │ │245 T. M. Co. │ │ │45 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │45 Res. Ambulance │ Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │90 Res. │210 Res. │90 Res. │210 Res. │ │211 Res. │ │211 Res. │ │212 Res. │ │212 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │45 Res. Cav. Detch.│45 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │45 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 45 Res. F. A. Rgt.│1 Abt. 20 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (1, 2, and 4 │ │ Btries.). │ │773 Light Am. Col. │ │839 Light Am. Col. │ │1210 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│II/21 or 345 Pion. │345 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ Btn.: │ │ 6 Co. 21 Pions. │ 6 Co. 21 Pions. │ 45 Res. Pion. Co. │ 45 Res. Pion. Co. │ 245 T. M. Co. │ 245 T. M. Co. │ 294 Searchlight │ — Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 23 Res. │445 Signal Command: │ Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │ 445 Tel. Detch. │ 445 Tel. Detch. │ │ 141 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │527 Ambulance Co. │527 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │75 Res. Field │76 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │76 Res. Field │77 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │77 Res. Field │445 Vet. Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │732 M. T. Col. │732 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(2d Corps District—Pomerania.)

1914.

1. The 45th Reserve Division (forming the 23d Reserve Corps with the 46th Reserve Division) belongs to the series of divisions formed between August and October, 1914. It received its training at the Jueterbog Camp, entrained on October 12, and detrained at Alost in Belgium.

YSER.

2. On October 21, 1914, the 45th Reserve Division was engaged in the battle of the Yser in the vicinity of Noordschoote-Steenstraat, and suffered serious losses in the course of the battles, which were prolonged until November (from Oct. 15 to Nov. 11 52 officers and 1,669 men in the 212th Reserve Infantry Regiment, according to the Official List of Casualties).

3. In December elements of the division were in line in the vicinity of Bixschoote.

1915.

FLANDERS.

1. The division remained in Belgium and in the vicinity of Armentières during the entire year of 1915 and the first half of 1916.

2. On April 22, 1915, it attacked in the Steenstraat sector and occupied the village of Lizerne, which counter attacks obliged it to abandon.

1916.

FLANDERS.

1. The 45th Reserve Division continued to occupy the zone north of Ypres (Steenstraat-Boesinghe) until March 3, 1916. The 209th and 212th Reserve Infantry Regiments were temporarily detached (from the end of January to the beginning of March) and assigned to the 26th Division in the Becelaere sector.

MESSINES.

2. On March 12 the division took over the sector of Messines, south of Ypres. Until the month of September it did not take part in any important action.

SOMME.

3. At the beginning of September it was withdrawn from Flanders, sent to the Somme, and engaged in the sector of Thiepval-Martinpuich (Sept. 9 to 24). On September 15 it withstood the British attack between Courcelette and Thiepval, where it lost very heavily.

OISE.

4. After a short rest in the vicinity of Bapaume the division was sent to the Noyon area. It transferred the 209th Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 207th Division, a new formation. At the beginning of October it went into line on the left bank of the Oise at Tracy le Val. In the interval, in order to fill up its regiments, it had to borrow from the Landsturm battalions of the 2d Corps District (men of the Landsturm 2d Btn., trained and untrained from the classes 1892 to 1894).

1917.

1. January 22, 1917, the 45th Reserve Division left the sector of Tracy le Val for the Sissonne Camp, and received training there for three weeks. Its regiments had been practically re-formed. Between September 24, 1916, and February 21, 1917, the 210th Reserve Infantry Regiment had received 79 noncommissioned officers and 1,522 men.

2. On February 12 it went into the sector Osly-Courtil-Chevillecourt, west of Soissons. In March it retired in the direction of Coucy le Château; it was put in reserve (Mar. 20 to Apr. 10) in the area north of Laon.

AISNE-CHEMIN DES DAMES.

3. On April 10, in anticipation of the French attack, the elements of the division were concentrated near Filain. On the 7th the 210th Reserve Infantry Regiment was in action south of the Ailette Canal (east of Vauxaillon). The other regiments were sent west of the Oise-Aisne Canal toward Braye en Laonnois. All the units underwent the attack of April 16, and were relieved between April 20 and 22, having suffered very heavy losses.

4. Concentrated and reorganized north of Laon (Crecy sur Serre), the division again went into action near the Oise-Aisne Canal (Froidmont Farm-Malval Farm, on May 3). Its losses were again very severe during the new French attack of May 5. It was withdrawn from the front on the 6th.

VERDUN.

5. Transferred to the vicinity of Conflans and reorganized, the division went into line on the Côtes de Meuse (Calonne les Éparges) on May 27.

6. After three months in the sector on the Côtes, the 45th Reserve Division entrained at Conflans (Sept. 26) for Flanders.

FLANDERS.

7. On September 22 it went into position in the Zonnebeke sector as a counterattacking division. Elements of the division were engaged on October 1 (Polygon wood), on the 4th (Zonnebeke), and from the 9th to the 12th as reinforcements on the Passchendaele front. After the British attack of October 12 the division, very much exhausted by these battles, was relieved.

VERDUN.

Transferred to the rear of the Côtes de Meuse, sent into line on the heights northeast of St. Mihiel in November; it was sent to the vicinity of Bohain in December.

RECRUITING.

Mixed at the time of its formation (1 Hanseatic Regiment), the 45th Reserve Division was recruited almost entirely from Pomerania, in theory at least, after its reduction to three regiments. Like the other units recruited from this province (4th Division), at the end of 1915 and several times since then, it has received a relatively large proportion of elderly men (1892 to 1894 classes, trained and untrained).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 45th Reserve Division fought well on the Somme. It put up a vigorous defense on the Aisne in the course of its two engagements of April 16 and May 6, 1917.

The Pomeranians, who formed the greater part of its effectives, have a military reputation to sustain. However, according to the statements of prisoners, when the 212th Reserve Infantry Regiment came from the Verdun front to Flanders it refused to attack on September 30, 1917. (British Summary of Information, Oct. 4.)

1918.

ST. QUENTIN.

1. Toward the end of January the division relieved the 36th Division near Faye (north of St. Quentin), the latter division side slipping toward the south. It remained here and took part in the initial attack of the Somme offensive; it was withdrawn about the 24th of March. It was not entirely withdrawn on that date, however, for besides still having some elements in line, the rest of the division was in close support as a “follow up” division. In this fighting it lost heavily.

MONTDIDIER.

2. A few days later it went to rest in the Montdidier area. Early in April it entered line near Assainvillers (east of Montdidier), where it was identified on the 6th, and was relieved by the 206th Division on the 18th, going to rest and refit in the region of Vouziers.

AISNE.

3. On the 1st of June the division was in reserve northeast of Fère en Tardenois, and on the 3d it reinforced the front near Chaudun (southwest of Soissons); it was relieved by the 23d Division and went to rest near Oulchy le Château (west of Fère en Tardenois).

MARNE.

4. The allied counteroffensive having started on July 18, the division was hurried into line near Montron (east of La Ferté Milon) to meet it. Here it was heavily engaged and suffered severe losses. It was relieved by the 26th Division on July 27.

5. It did not have an opportunity to rest, however, for it relieved the 201st Division north of Fère en Tardenois two days later. It was relieved on August 3, and went to rest in the Maubeuge region. It was identified here on the 23d, but a few days afterwards, the Germans fearing an American attack in Alsace, it was dispatched to the vicinity of Muelheim, where it arrived prior to September 3.

CHAMPAGNE-ARGONNE.

6. The division entrained on the 24th for Flanders, but was ordered to detrain when it reached St. Morel (south of Vouziers) on the 26th and remained there until midnight. Then the 212th Reserve Regiment entered line in the Aire valley near Baulny, while the remainder of the division moved farther to the west and entered line to the north of Fontaine en Dormois (northeast of Suippes). On October 8 these elements came to the east and the division was in line as a whole northwest of Châtel Chéhéry. It was withdrawn on the 25th and went to rest in Lorraine in the vicinity of Conflans (southwest of Briey).

7. On the 4th of November it came back into line near Woël (northeast of St. Mihiel); it was still here on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 45th Reserve has been considered a second-class division. Heavily engaged on the Somme (three times), on the Aisne, against the Allied counteroffensive, and in the battle of the Meuse-Argonne, it has done a great deal of heavy fighting during 1918, without, however, ever particularly distinguishing itself. It suffered exceedingly heavy losses. Early in September, the 212th Regiment received as a draft the 397th Regiment of the disbanded 222d Division. About the 16th of October it received a very large draft of replacements among which were a considerable number of elements of decidedly Bolshevistic tendencies. Men deserted to the rear, to the enemy, and quite a few were punished for insubordination to officers, and some for refusing to fight. The morale of the whole division was very low.

45th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │45 Ldw. │107 Ldw. │45 Ldw. │107 Ldw. │ │133 Ldw. │ │133 Ldw. │ │350 Ldw. │ │350 Ldw. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │ (?) │4 Sqn. Gd. (Saxon) Cav. │ │ Rgt. │ │23 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │498 F. A. Rgt. │ 408 F. A. Rgt. │1027 Light Am. Col. │ │1043 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(445) Pion. Btn.: │183 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ 4 Res. Co. 22 Pions. │4 Landst. Co. 9 C. Dist. │ │ Pions. │ 345 T. M. Co. │221 Searchlight Section. │ 545 Tel. Detch. │545 Signal Command: │ │ 545 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │Ambulance Co. │639 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │355 Field Hospital. │355 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │45 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transports. │562 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(19th Corps District—Saxony.)

1917.

1. The 45th Landwehr Division was formed on the Eastern Front in April, 1917. The 107th Landwehr Regiment was taken from the 35th Reserve Division; the 133d Landwehr Regiment from the 92d Division; and the 350th Landwehr from the 91st Division, after having been a part of the 88th Division.

VOLHYNIA.

2. Until February, 1917, the 45th Landwehr Division occupied a sector in Volhynia, near the Kovel-Rovno railroad.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 45th Landwehr Division has been on the Eastern Front since its formation. It appears to have only a mediocre offensive value.

1918.

UKRAINE.

1. In February, 1918, the division advanced toward Kiev. A man of the 133 Landwehr Regiment wrote from the Wolczek Camp (southeast of Kovel) on the 15th of March: “Our regiment continues its march forward. It is said to have suffered heavy losses. We are fighting against the Bolsheviks; the Ukrainians are on our side.” Divisional headquarters were at Poltava in April.

2. In May the three regiments of the division were in the vicinity of Kharkov. The division was again identified here on October 13.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

46th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │91 Res. │213 Res. │91 Res. │213 Res. │91 Res. │213 Res. │ │214 Res. │ │214 Res. │ │214 Res. │92 Res. │215 Res. │92 Res. │215 Res. │92 Res. │215 Res. │ │216 Res. │ │216 Res. │ │216 Res. │ 18 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 18 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 18 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │46 Res. Cav. Detch.│46 Res. Cav. Detch.│46 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │46 Res. F. A. Rgt. │46 Res. F. A. Rgt. │46 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│46 Res. Pion. Co. │46 Res. Pion. Co. │46 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │46 Res. Pont. Engs.│1 Res. Co. 25 │ │ │ Pions. │ │ │246 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │46 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │46 Res. Ambulance │ Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │60 Anti-Aircraft │ │ │ Section. │ │ │3 Balloon Sqn. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[20] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │92 Res. │214 Res. │92 Res. │214 Res. │ │215 Res. │ │215 Res. │ │216 Res. │ │216 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │46 Res. Cav. Detch.│46 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │(?) Art. Command: │ │ │ 46 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 46 Res. F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(346) Pion. Btn.: │46 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ 46 Res. Pion. Co. │1 Ldw. Co. 3 Bav. │ │ C. Dist. Pions. │ 246 T. M. Co. (23 │23 Res. Searchlight │ Res. Searchlight │ Section. │ Section). │ │ 446 Tel. Detch. │246 T. M. Co. │ │446 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │528 Ambulance Co. │528 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │335 Field Hospital.│335 Field Hospital. │78 Res. Field │Vet. Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │733 M. T. Col. │733 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │214 Res. Rgt. T. M.│ │ Co. (Doc.). │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴─────────────────── Footnote 20:

Composition at the time of its dissolution, August, 1918.

HISTORY.

(9th Corps District—Hanseatic Cities and Grand Duchies of Mecklenburg.)

1914.

YSER.

1. The 46th Reserve Division (belonging to the 23d Reserve Corps with the 45th Division), formed between August and October, 1914, was trained at the Lockstedt Camp, and entrained for Belgium on October 12. It went into action in the battle of the Yser between Dixmude and Bixschoote on October 21, 1914.

FLANDERS.

2. After these battles, which lasted until about November 15, and in the course of which it suffered heavy losses, the division remained in Flanders and occupied the area of Bixschoote. On November 21 only 1 officer remained in the 3d Battalion of the 214th Reserve Infantry Regiment (letter); the 11th Company, which started with 253 men, had only 90 left.

1915.

FLANDERS.

1. Between April 22 and April 27, 1915, the 46th Reserve Division, which was still holding the front north of Ypres, took part in the battles launched around Lizerne, Het-Sas, Steenstraat.

2. During the rest of the year 1915 and until March, 1916, the 46th Reserve Division (as well as the 45th Reserve Division) held the lines between Dixmude and Ypres, without any important action, with periods of rest in the vicinity of Bruges and Thourout.

1916.

ST. ELOI-WYTSCHAETE.

1. Relieved north of Ypres at the end of February, 1916, the 46th Reserve Division was transferred to Werwicq, from which place on March 14 it went to the sector of St. Eloi, near Messines.

2. The division lost very heavily in this sector, at the beginning of April. After a short period of rest it took over the same line from May to September.

SOMME.

3. At the beginning of September it left the area south of Ypres to go to the Somme. It went into action on September 8 between Vermandovillers and the Chaulnes railroad and suffered rather heavy losses, especially during the French attack of September 17; the 2d Battalion of the 214th Reserve Infantry Regiment was almost completely destroyed (letter).

4. Sent behind the front for a short time, about October 8, in the vicinity of Ham, it came back into line on October 17–20 minus the 213th Reserve Infantry Regiment, which was transferred to the 207th Division, a new organization. It supported the attacks of the 21st, between Ablaincourt and Chaulnes wood, where certain of its units lost very heavily. After launching a counterattack on the 22d the division was relieved on October 24–25.

CHAMPAGNE.

5. In November and December the reorganized division took over the sector east of Rheims.

1917.

1. In January, 1917, the 46th Reserve Division was at rest in Lorraine. On January 28 it entrained at Lorquin and was transferred to the Oise, by way of Sarreburg, Thionville, Luxemburg, Namur, Maubeuge, St. Quentin, Tergnier, Chauny.

MOULIN SOUS TOUVENT.

2. On January 30 it went into the sector of Moulin sous Touvent- Autreches, which it left about March 18 to retire to Barisis, Folembray, and the lower Coucy wood.

FORÊT DE ST. GOBAIN.

3. Established in the St. Gobain sector in April and May, it was relieved on May 20 and sent to rest in the area of Marle and Vervins. It was reorganized there (the 216th Reserve Infantry Regiment received 500 men from the depot of the 76th Reserve Infantry Regiment at Hamburg).

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

4. On June 13 the division went into line on the Chemin des Dames, took part in the German attack of June 22 at the Épine de Chevregny-Royère Farm, and in the attack of July 8 on the front Panthéon-Froidmont. In these two actions it had heavy losses. It made up for these in part by men taken from the 94th Division in Russia.

5. Withdrawn from the Laon front on July 24, the division was sent to rest and to be reorganized in the area of Montmédy.

6. On August 12 it was transferred to Spincourt and placed in reserve on the right bank of the Meuse during the French attack of August 20.

VERDUN.

7. Engaged on August 22 at the Fosse wood-Chaume wood, it lost heavily by the attack of August 26 and by its counterattack upon Beaumont.

8. Relieved at once, it was reorganized and sent to rest in the vicinity of Sedan-Longuyon from August 26 to the end of September.

MEUSE.

9. The 46th Reserve Division reappeared from October 3 to November 10 in the sector of Fosse wood-Chaume wood, where some elements launched an attack on November 9 and suffered heavy losses.

10. The division was at rest in the vicinity of Longwy from November 10 to December 15.

LORRAINE.

11. About December 17 it took over the sector west of Nomeny (Cheminot- Eply) in Lorraine. It was still there at the beginning of April, 1918.

RECRUITING.

Composed at the beginning of equal contingents from the 9th and 10th Corps Districts (Schleswig-Holstein, Hanseatic cities, and Mecklenburg; Hanover, Brunswick, Oldenburg), the division, since its reduction to three regiments, is filled up from the Hanseatic cities and the Grand Duchies of Mecklenburg. It has ceased, therefore, to be Prussian, a thing which has a certain practical interest in its designation in communiques, etc., and has not been able to develop any regional sentiment or cohesion. It is to be noted that the reinforcements of 1917 have been rather mixed (Poles, men from the 2d, 3d, and 5th Corps Districts), partly because of their being taken from the Russian front, and, during its recent stay in Lorraine, from the neighboring depot of the 99th Infantry Regiment.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 46th Reserve Division may be considered a good division.

The attack of July 8, 1917, was carried out energetically. The assault troops attacked with “extraordinary fury.”

The division fought bravely at Verdun in August, 1917.

Weakened by battles and by an epidemic of dysentery (October-November), it was sent to Lorraine for rest and reorganization.

The division received intensive training and it would seem that in spite of new, untrained recruits it will quickly regain its value.

1918.

NOYON.

1. The division was relieved about April 25 in Lorraine and transferred to the Montdidier area, where it was at rest until June 10. On that day it reenforced the Montdidier-Noyon battle front northeast of Gournay. In the course of the attacks the division suffered considerable losses. About July 2 it was relieved. It rested in rear of the Noyon front.

SOISSONS.

2. On July 20 the division reenforced the battle front near Buzancy, south of Soissons. It lasted but one week and was then withdrawn.

3. The effectives of the division was very low, due to the failure to receive drafts. Early in August the division was disbanded. The 214th Reserve Regiment was transferred to the 4th Division, the 216th Reserve Regiment to the 18th Reserve Division, and the 215th Reserve Regiment was turned into the 4th Ersatz Division. The divisional commander, Maj. Gen. Wasielewski, was retired.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. Although it was not heavily engaged in 1918, its effective strength was allowed to dwindle to a very low level and dissolution followed.

46th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[21] ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │46 Ldw. │101 Ldw. │ │101 Ldw. │ │103 Ldw. │ │(?) │ │105 Ldw. │ │105 Ldw. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 17 Uhlan Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │246 F. A. Rgt. (Rgt. │ │ Staff). │ 246 F. A. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(446) Pion. Btn.: │546 Signal Command: Liaisons. │ │ │ 346 T. M. Co. │ 346 Tel. Detch. (Except │ │ 1st Zug.) │ 546 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │638 Ambulance Co. │638 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │315 Field Hospital. │46 Vet. Hospital. │46 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

Footnote 21:

The elements below are those grouped under the Division Postal Sector (728). Other units of the 46th Landwehr Division, operating in other divisional sectors, are carried as attached to such divisions.

HISTORY.

(12th Corps District—Saxony.)

1917.

The 46th Landwehr Division, composed of the 101st and 103d Landwehr Regiments (taken from the 14th Landwehr Division) and of the 33d Landsturm Battalion (taken from the 3d Reserve Division), was formed on the Eastern Front about May, 1917.

SMORGONI.

1. It occupied the sector of Smorgoni-Lake Narotch until the beginning of 1918.

2. About the month of September, 1917, it received a new regiment, the 105th Landwehr, formed in 1917, at the time of the withdrawal of the Saxon battalions from the Prussian regiments of which they had been a part (345th and 374th Infantry Regiments). In December a great number of the young men were taken from the division to reenforce the 40th Division (Saxon) before its departure for France.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The use made of the 46th Landwehr Division allows us to form an appreciation of its value; it held a calm sector on the Russian front in 1917; occupied the Ukraine in 1918.

1918.

VOLHYNIA.

1. In January the division was on the Volhynian front, next to the 10th Landwehr Division.

UKRAINE.

2. In February it moved into the Ukraine, leaving behind elements whose duty it was to gather the matériel which had been abandoned in the Russian positions.

3. About the middle of March the division held the sector north of Mohilev. The 103d Landwehr Regiment was along the Berezina in April. The 101st Landwehr Regiment was reported in the vicinity of Minsk early in May. The whole division was identified in the Minsk region the end of the month, and also toward the end of September.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

47th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │93 Res. │217 Res. │93 Res. │217 Res. │93 Res. │217 Res. │ │218 Res. │ │218 Res. │ │218 Res. │94 Res. │219 Res. │94 Res. │219 Res. │94 Res. │219 Res. │ │220 Res. │ │220 Res. │ │220 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │13 │ │ │ │ │ │ Landst. │ │ │ │ │ │ (Wurtt.). │ 19 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 19 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 19 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │47 Res. Cav. Detch.│47 Res. Cav. Detch.│47 Res. Cav. Detch. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │47 Res. F. A. Rgt. │47 Res. F. A. Rgt. │47 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│47 Res. Pion. Co. │47 Res. Pion. Co. │47 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │47 Res. Pont. Engs.│91 Res. Pion. Co. │ │ │247 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │47 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │47 Res. Ambulance │ Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │839 F. A. Btry. │ │ │84 Anti-Aircraft │ │ │ Section. │ │ │80 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[22] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │94 Res. │217 Res. │94 Res. │218 Res. │ │219 Res. │ │219 Res. │ │220 Res. │ │220 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │4 Sqn. 4 Horse Jag. │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │47 Art. Command: │47 Art. Command: │ │ │ 47 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 47 Res. F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(347) Pion. Btn.: │47 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ 47 Res. Pion. Co. │91 Res. Pion. Co. │ 91 Res. Pion. Co. │42 Res. Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 247 T. M. Co. │247 T. M. Co. │ 335 Searchlight │447 Tel. Detch. │ Section. │ │ 42 Res. │147 Wireless Detch. │ Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │ 447 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │529 Ambulance Co. │529 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │78 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │199 Vet. Hospital. │81 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │82 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │199 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴─────────────────── Footnote 22:

Composition at the time of dissolution, July, 1918.

HISTORY.

(7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1914.

WOEVRE.

1. The 47th Reserve Division, formed between August and October, 1914, and composing the 24th Reserve Corps with the 48th Reserve Division, was concentrated in the vicinity of Metz about October 20, sent to the Woevre, south of Etain, on the 26th, went into action at Magnaville on the 31st, and at Maucourt on November 6 to 11.

RUSSIA.

2. On November 23 the 47th Reserve Division entrained for the Eastern Front.

DUNAJEC.

3. Detraining in the vicinity of Cracow at the beginning of December, it went into action on the Dunajec (Neu-Sandec) west of Tarnow on the 8th, where it suffered serious check on December 20.

1915.

1. On January 10, 1915, the 47th Reserve Division was identified on the Dunajec-Gorlice front.

GALICIA.

2. From the end of January to the month of April it occupied the front west of Tarnow, near the Tarnow-Cracow railroad.

POLAND.

3. It took part in the spring and summer offensive of 1915. On July 2 it was on the right bank of the Vistula, in the vicinity of Janow. From July 20 to August 9 it took part in the advance from the Wysnica to the Wieprz, reached the Bug on October 19, the Jaselda on September 8, and fought along this last river until the 12th. On the 13th it was at Slonim.

4. At the end of September it went to the vicinity of Baranovitchi. On October 19 it held the lines near Lipsk.

1916.

RUSSIA.

1. The 47th Reserve Division remained in the sector of Lipsk- Baranovitchi during the entire year of 1916 and until May, 1917, when it entrained for France. On July 23 the 217th Reserve Infantry Regiment was withdrawn from the division to aid in the formation of the 225th Division.

1917.

FRANCE.

1. At the beginning of May, 1917, the 47th Reserve Division was transferred to the Western Front. (Itinerary of the 219th Reserve Infantry Regiment: Entrained on May 3 at Baranovitchi, Warsaw, Lodz, Lissa, Glogau, Leipzig, Erfurt, Frankfort, Metz; detrained at Bouillonville, near Thiaucourt, on May 7.)

AISNE.

2. After a stay in the Woevre, at Bois le Prêtre, until the beginning of June, and a short rest near Marle, the 47th Reserve Division went into line north of Braye en Laonnois (west of the Épine de Chevregny) on June 20. It took part in the attacks launched in this sector and suffered heavy losses from June 22 to July 8. Some of its elements were engaged in the French attack of October 23, after which they retired to the village of Chevregny.

3. The 47th Reserve Division was relieved at the end of October.

FORÊT DE ST. GOBAIN.

4. After a rest in the villages of the Serre valley, it took over the sector of Septvaux in the Forêt de St. Gobain about November 20.

RECRUITING.

Mixed at the time of its formation, the division has become entirely Westphalian since its reduction to three regiments. The levies from the Russian front in the course of 1917, however, introduced outside elements (men from the 1st, 2d, and 3d Corps District in May, coming from the 406th, 420th, and 421st Infantry Regiments). Thirteen prisoners (220th Reserve Infantry Regiment) captured on October 1, 1917, north of Braye en Laonnois, came from the following Provinces in Germany: 4 from Westphalia, 2 from Hanover, 3 from East Prussia, 1 from the Rhine Province, 1 from Oldenburg, 1 from Silesia, and 1 from Pomerania.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 47th Reserve Division is a mediocre division more fitted for defense than attack, but still capable of effort after rest and reorganization. It had won some reputation in the offensive at Poland and Courland.

Its effectives include a large proportion of Poles.

In the sector of Chevregny, Froidmont (June-July), it gave a good account of itself, although sanitary conditions were very defective (Dec. 1, 1917).

1918.

1. About the beginning of February the division was relieved by the 3d Bavarian Division and went to train near Vervins.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. It was engaged in the Somme offensive on March 21 near Tergnier and participated in the attack until the 25th. It was reengaged on April 1 southwest of Lassigny and held that sector until May 2, when it was relieved by the extension of the 206th Division.

3. The division entrained at Ham on May 6 and moved to St. Quentin area. From May 27 onward it followed up the advance behind the 113th Division, and finally relieved that division on June 1 near Vierzy. It was relieved on June 20.

MARNE.

4. This division, although greatly weakened, was returned to line without having been reconstructed, in the vicinity of Longpont. At this time the division had not more than 40 to 50 rifles to a company. It again suffered heavy losses, and about July 27 was retired to rest.

5. The division was dissolved at Mainbresson on June 30. The 218th Reserve Regiment was formed into one battalion, which became the 3d Battalion of the 53d Reserve Infantry Regiment. The 219th Reserve Regiment was drafted to the 159th Regiment.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. Its dissolution was occasioned by its low effective strength following its losses and failure to receive drafts.

47th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │47 Ldw. │104 Ldw. │47 Ldw. │104 Ldw. │47 Mixed │104 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ Ldw. │ │ │106 Ldw. │ │106 Ldw. │ │106 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │ │Ldw. Sqn. 18 Uhlan │ │ │ Rgt. │ │ │Sqn. 21 Uhlan Rgt. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │19 C. Dist. Landst.│19 C. Dist. Landst.│19 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │ F. A. Btry. │ F. A. Btry. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │ │ Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │47 Ldw. │100 Ldw. │47 Ldw. │100 Ldw. │ │ Gren. │ │ │ │104 Ldw. │ │104 Ldw. │ │106 Ldw. │ │106 Ldw. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 20 Hus. Rgt.│Staff, 20 Hus. Rgt. │ │ │2 Ldw. Sqn. 19 C. │2 Sqn. 20 Hus. Rgt. │ Dist. Cav. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │19 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │ │ (except 3d Abt). │ 19 Ldw. F. A. Rgt.│ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│447 Pion. Btn.: │6 Co. 22 Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ 6 Co. 22 Pions. │547 Signal Command: │ 1 Res. Co. 22 │ 547 Tel. Detch. │ Pions. │ │ 347 T. M. Co. │ │ Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │562 Ambulance Co. │562 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │24 Ldw. Field │24 Ldw. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │547 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │104 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │136 Labor Btn. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(12th and 19th Corps District—Saxony.)

1914.

The 47th Landwehr Division came from the 47th Landwehr Brigade (104th and 106th Landwehr Regiments) which was independent at first under the command of Lieut. Gen. Mueller, and was made a division in the autumn of 1915.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. Detraining at Bourcy (northeast of Bastogne) on August 18, 1914, the 47th Landwehr Brigade arrived on the Champagne front immediately after the battle of the Marne.

2. On September 14, 1914, the brigade was in line in the vicinity of Moronvilliers. It remained in Champagne until the beginning of 1917.

1915.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. About the month of May, 1915, it left the sector Prosne Moronvilliers for the north of Rheims, from Loivre to the Rheims-Witry road.

2. Reenforced by the 113th Infantry Regiment, later by the 29th Reserve Infantry Regiment, it formed the Mueller Division in October.

3. At the end of September one battalion of the 104th Landwehr Regiment was sent as a reenforcement into action south of Ste. Marie à Py to help out the 133d Reserve Infantry Regiment during the French offensive.

1916.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 47th Landwehr Brigade continued to occupy the Rheims sector (Courcy-Betheny) during 1916.

2. In the month of July it was made a division (47th Landwehr Division) and received a 3d Regiment, the 391st Infantry Regiment (Saxon).

1917.

OISE LA FÈRE.

1. Withdrawn from the Rheims front about February 23, 1917, the 47th Landwehr Division was sent into line west of La Fère during the retirement of the German Army to the Hindenburg Line (Quessy-Travecy, Mar. 23). It remained in the sector at La Fère until May 16.

RUSSIA.

2. In the middle of May the division was transferred to the Eastern Front, where it occupied the sector Goroditche-Tsirin. It exchanged with the 219th Division, the 391st Infantry Regiment for the 100th Landwehr Grenadier Regiment.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 47th Landwehr Division is a mediocre division. Its retention on the Russian front is a sufficient indication of its value.

1918.

UKRAINE.

1. In February the 47th Landwehr Division left the Tsirin region and took part in the advance into the Ukraine. On the 27th of April it was between Gomel and Briansk; on the 5th of June, in the Kiev region. It was identified in the same region several times subsequently, the last date of identification being September 30.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

48th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │95 Res. │221 Res. │95 Res. │221 Res. │95 Res. │221 Res. │ │222 Res. │ │222 Res. │ │222 Res. │96 Res. │223 Res. │96 Res. │223 Res. │96 Res. │223 Res. │ │224 Res. │ │224 Res. │ │224 Res. │ 20 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 20 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 20 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │48 Res. Cav. Detch.│48 Res. Cav. Detch.│48 Res. Cav. Detch. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │48 Res. F. A. Rgt. │48 Res. F. A. Rgt. │48 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│48 Res. Pion. Co. │48 Res. Pion. Co. │48 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │48 Res. Pont. Engs.│274 Pion. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │(?) 2 Ldw. Pion. │ │ │ Co. 6 C. Dist. │ │ │248 T. M. Co. │ │ │48 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │48 Res. Ambulance │ Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │96 Res. │221 Res. │96 Res. │221 Res. │ │222 Res. │ │222 Res. │ │223 Res. │ │223 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 1 Drag. Rgt.│5 Sqn. 1 Gd. Drag. │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │48 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 48 Res. F. A. Rgt.│1 Abt. 23 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (1 and 3 │ │ Btries.). │ │752 Light Am. Col. │ │954 Light Am. Col. │ │1382 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(348) Pion. Btn.: │348 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 48 Res. Pion. Co. │ 1 Res. Co. 26 │ │ Pions. │ 1 Res. Co. 26 │ 48 Res. Pion. Co. │ Pion. Btn. │ │ 248 T. M. Co. │ 248 T. M. Co. │ 448 Tel. Detch. │ 214 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │448 Signal Command: │ │ 448 Tel. Detch. │ │ 69 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │530 Ambulance Co. │530 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │79 Res. Field │102 Field Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │79 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │448 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │587 M. T. Col. │735 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(18th Corps District—Hesse—Nassau and the Grand Duchy of Hesse.)

1914.

The 48th Reserve Division (belonging to the 24th Reserve Corps with the 47th Reserve Division) was formed between August and October, 1914, and trained at the Oberhofen Camp.

ARTOIS.

1. Concentrated near Metz in the middle of October, the 48th Reserve Division was transferred on the 25th to the area between Armentières and La Bassée (Fromelles), while the 47th Reserve Division was sent to the Woevre.

2. On November 1 the division held the line at Neuve Chapelle. Some elements were sent farther north, west of Wytschaete, in the middle of November.

RUSSIA.

3. At the end of November the 48th Reserve Division left the Western Front for Russia.

POLAND.

4. On December 3 it was identified in Poland in the vicinity of Kalisch. It then made a part of the X Army and fought west of the Rawka, near Warsaw, at the end of December.

1915.

1. The 48th Reserve Division was engaged in Poland (Rawka) until January 28, 1915.

CARPATHIANS.

2. On February 2 elements of the division fought in the Carpathians, southeast of Beskides. It was then assigned to the German Army of the South (Von Linsingen) and was opposed to the Russians in the vicinity of the Uzsok Ridge (February-May).

GALICIA.

3. Taking part in the spring and summer offensive of 1915, it marched to Halicz in May; crossed the Dniester in the middle of June; advanced to Brzezany-Tarnopol and was on the Zlota-Lipa at the end of July. One of its regiments, the 224th Reserve Infantry Regiment, was renewed several times; the list of losses from August to October show casualties of 70 officers and 4,712 men, 3,100 of whom were reported as missing. The greater part of these were Alsace-Lorrainers who had succeeded in deserting.

4. When the offensive was resumed in October and November the 48th Reserve Division formed a part of the Bothmer Army and progressed from the Zlota-Lipa as far as the Stripa.

1916.

1. The 48th Reserve Division was retained at the Stripa, west of Tarnapol, during the winter and spring of 1916; it was still in this sector at the time of the Russian attack (Broussilow offensive, June to September).

ROUMANIA.

2. In the beginning of October the division went into action with the Falkenheim Army against Roumania, and fought in the vicinity of Hermannstadt, then at Préoéal in November.

GALICIA.

3. It then left the Transylvanian front and went to eastern Galicia, where it was a part of the Bothmer Army. It took up its position between Brzezan, and the Dniester.

1917.

1. At the beginning of 1917 the 224th Reserve Infantry Regiment left the division and was transferred to the 215th Division, in process of reorganization.

FRANCE.

2. The 48th Reserve Division was relieved from its sector in May, 1917, and transferred to the Western Front (Itinerary: Lemberg-Jaroslav- Cracow-Oppeln-Breslau-Leipzig-Erfurt-Gotha-Eisenach-Frankfort-Worms- Sarrebruecken-Thionville-Montmedy-Dun sur Meuse). It rested in the vicinity of Stenay from May 27 to June 28.

VERDUN.

3. It was first behind the Verdun front, on the left bank of the Meuse. Toward the end of June it sustained the artillery preparation for the French offensive of July 17, and sent some of its elements in as reenforcements (Hill 304-Morthomme) on the day of the attack.

4. Sent to rest and reorganized in the Stenay area at the end of July. By an important draft of men of the 1918 class, it went back into the same sector (Hill 304-Corbeaux wood) on August 20, at the time of the new French attack, and lost heavily reenforcing and relieving units of the 6th Reserve Division.

5. Withdrawn from the front on August 24, it was employed on various works until September 3 and then sent into the area of Damvillers.

6. On September 12 it went into line north of Hill 344, which it left at the end of the month to go to rest in the vicinity of Morhange.

LORRAINE-ALSACE.

7. After holding the lines in Lorraine (middle of October to the middle of November) northeast of Arracourt, the 48th Reserve Division was sent to Alsace and went to rest for two months in the vicinity of Enisheim.

RECRUITING.

Mixed upon formation (1 Thuringian Regiment), the division became, in theory, a Hessian Division. The Alsace-Lorrainers were very numerous during its stay on the Russian front, whence the desertions en masse from the 224th Infantry Regiment in the summer of 1915.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

At the end of June, 1917, the 48th Reserve Division, coming from the Russian front, went into line at Hill 304, after a month’s rest near Stenay. But as the men were not accustomed to the activity of the western front and were unable to sustain artillery fire for a long time, they could only be kept in this sector for a few days.

During the French attack of August 20 the 48th Reserve Division played only a passive rôle.

The 48th Reserve Division must be classed among the mediocre divisions (December, 1917).

1918.

1. About March 1 the division was relieved by the 22d Reserve Division and went into reserve in Alsace. It left that sector about April 1 and came into line on the 14th southwest of Vieux Berquin. It was engaged in that locality until its relief on the night of May 26–27 by the 32d Division.

VIEUX BERQUIN.

2. The division rested in the Lille area until June 28, when it returned to its former sector at Vieux Berquin. Its stay here was short. On July 3 it was relieved by the 39th Division and entrained at Laventie the next day for Douai.

SCARPE.

3. On the night of July 6–7 the division relieved the 187th Division southwest of Gavrelle. Throughout August and September the division held this sector. It was relieved north of the Scarpe on the night of October 5–6 and moved south.

4. The division was used to reenforce the Cambrai-St. Quentin front near Cambrai on October 7. Thereafter almost until the day of the armistice the division was engaged in opposing the British advance. The direction of its retreat was through Awoingt (10th), Saulzoir (13th), Montrecourt (14th), north of Haussy (17th), Vendegies (24th), Maresches (Nov. 1), Jenlain (4th). The division received drafts from the dissolved 118th Reserve Regiment (25th Reserve Division) in late October. It was withdrawn from line about November 5.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. In 1918 it was engaged entirely in defensive sectors and performed with credit.

48th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │38 │1 Landst.│38 │1 Landst.│38 │ │ Landst.│ │ Landst.│ │ Landst. │ │39 │ │40 │ │40 │ │ Landst.│ │ Landst.│ │ Landst. │ │47 │ │47 │ │47 │ │ Landst.│ │ Landst.│ │ Landst. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │ │3 Sqn. 14 Uhlan │ │ │ Rgt. │ │ │1 Sqn. Gd. Res. │ │ │ Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │ (?) │Art. Command: │264 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 264 F. A. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │1/28 Pion. Btn.: │224 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 1 Landst. Co. 3 C.│ 1 Ldw. Co. Gd. C. │ │ Dist. Pions. │ Dist. Pions. │ │ 455 T. M. Co. │ 1 Landst. Co. 3 C. │ │ │ Dist. Pions. │ │ 590 Tel. Detch. │ 210 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ │548 Signal Command: │ │ │ 548 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 67 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │Ambulance Co. │602 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │80 Res. Field │51 Field Hospital. │ │ Hospital. │ │ │Vet. Hospital. │80 Res. Field │ │ │ Hospital. │ │ │570 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │800 M. T. Col. │800 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │2 Ratisbonne │ │ │ Landst. Inf. Btn.│ │ │ (3 Bav. C. Dist. │ │ │ Btn. No. 14). │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(38th Landsturm: Brandenburg and Alsace. 40th Landsturm: Prussian Saxony, Westphalia and the Rhine Province. 47th Landsturm: Hesse and Thuringia.)

1917.

LORRAINE.

1. The 48th Landwehr Division appears to have been formed on the Lorraine front in September, 1917, by the grouping of three new regiments—the 38th Landsturm, the 39th Landsturm (Wurttemberg), and the 47th Landsturm—the elements of which had previously been employed behind the front or in calm sectors.

2. In September, 1917, the 48th Landwehr Division occupied the sector of Avricourt (Leintrey-Gondrexon, Embermenil).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 48th Landwehr Division is composed of troops of mediocre value.

The average age of the men is 40 years. A certain number of young soldiers of the 1918 class are to be found in most of the units. Sent into these Landsturm divisions because of their reduced physical fitness, they left them for active or reserve units as soon as they became hardened.

There is a divisional assault company which has never shown any offensive activity (July, 1918).

1918.

1. The division continued to hold the Delme sector until the armistice. Nothing occurred to disturb the tranquility of that part of the front.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. The average age of its effectives was near 40 years. At no time did the division take part in any fighting.

49th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │97 Res. │225 Res. │97 Res. │225 Res. │97 Res. │225 Res. │ │226 Res. │ │226 Res. │ │226 Res. │98 Res. │227 Res. │98 Res. │227 Res. │ │228 Res. │ │228 Res. │ │228 Res. │ │ │ 21 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 21 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 21 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │49 Res. Cav. Detch.│49 Res. Cav. Detch.│49 Res. Cav. Detch. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │49 Res. F. A. Rgt. │49 Res. F. A. Rgt. │49 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.) │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│49 Res. Pion. Co. │49 Res. Pion. Co. │49 Res. Pion. Co. Liaison. │ │ │ │ │49 Res. Pont. Engs.│249 T. M. Co. │ │ │49 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │49 Res. Ambulance │ Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd units. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │97 Res. │225 Res. │97 Res. │225 Res. │ │226 Res. │ │226 Res. │ │228 Res. │ │228 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │49 Res. Cav. Detch.│2 Sqn. (?) Drag. │ (?) │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(?) 49 Art. │49 Art. Command: │ Command: │ │ 49 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 49 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ 1 Abt. 25 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. (1, 2, and 4 │ │ Btries.). │ │ 788 Light Am. Col. │ │ 972 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1,318 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(349) Pion. Btn.: │349 Pion. Btn.: Liaison. │ │ │ 49 Res. Pion. Co. │ 43 Res. Pion. Co. │ 2 Ldw. Co. 4 │ 49 Res. Pion. Co. │ Pions. │ │ 249 T. M. Co. │ 249 T. M. Co. │ 449 Tel. Detch. │ 188 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │449 Signal Command: │ │ 449 Tel. Detch. │ │ 110 Wireless │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │531 Ambulance Co. │531 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │85 Res. Field │83 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │155 Vet. Hospital. │85 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │155 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd units. │49 Res. Cyclist Co.│ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony and part of Thuringia.)

1914.

EAST PRUSSIA.

1. The 49th Reserve Division, forming the 25th Reserve Corps with the 50th Reserve Division, was formed between August and October, 1914, trained at the Warthe Camp, and sent to East Prussia on October 14, 1914, as a part of the 8th Army (Von Hindenburg).

POLAND.

2. It took part in the offensive in Poland between the Vistula and the Warta at the end of October, escaped from the enveloping movement attempted by the Russians before Lodz (Nov. 25), and fought on the front of the Bzura, Rawka, Bolimow, where it was repulsed in December.

1915.

POLAND.

1. At the beginning of January, 1915, the 49th Reserve Division was again engaged on the Bzura and remained in this area until the summer of the same year. In June it transferred the 227th Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 107th Division, a new formation.

2. Advancing in August with the Hindenburg offensive, it entered Warsaw on August 7, took part in the pursuit of the Russians in the sector of Skierniewicz, and stopped near Baranovitchi (Tsirin).

1916.

1. The 49th Reserve Division was still occupying the sector north of Baranovitchi when the Russian offensive broke out in this region in July, 1916. At this time elements of the division were sent to reenforce the 35th Austrian Division between Baranovitchi and the north of Pripet. This latter division was relieved a short time afterwards by the 49th Reserve Division.

GALICIA.

2. Sent into Galicia, the division held the lines southwest of Brody at the beginning of October. At this time the 225th Reserve Infantry Regiment was sent to Roumania.

CARPATHIANS.

3. Made up only of the 226th and 228th Reserve Infantry Regiments, the 49th Reserve Division opposed the Russians on the Narajowka, then, at the beginning of December and until January, 1917, fought in the Carpathians in the vicinity of Worochta.

1917.

ROUMANIA.

1. In January, 1917, the 49th Reserve Division rejoined the 225th Reserve Infantry Regiment (Roumania) in the valley of Uz.

2. In the middle of January it was transferred to the Western Front. (Itinerary: Szekely-Udvarhely-Goborin-Budapest-Oderberg-Oppeln-Breslau- Goerlitz-Dresden-Leipzig-Halle-Liege-Mons-St. Ghislain, detraining on Jan. 22.)

FRANCE.

3. After a rest of two months in the vicinity of Mons, then in the vicinity of Lille, the 49th Reserve Division went into line east of Armentières, south of Frelinghien on March 20.

ARTOIS.

4. Relieved at the end of April, it was engaged almost at once in the sector of Fontaine les Croisilles, Bullecourt (southeast of Arras), where it suffered very heavily from May 1 to May 21. On June 16, after reorganization, the ranks of the 228th Reserve Infantry Regiment contained more than two-fifths new recruits; more than one-fifth of the men belonged to the 1918 class.

FLANDERS.

5. Sent to rest and to be reorganized during the month of June in the vicinity of Tournai-Audenarde, it went into line at the end of June in the sector of Steenstraat-Bixschoote (north of Ypres), and suffered heavy losses during the artillery preparation which preceded the Franco- British attack of July 21. On July 28 it was withdrawn from the front before the attack.

ARTOIS.

6. The 49th Reserve Division rested and was reorganized in the month of August between Lille and Tournai, and in September took over its old Artois sector (Croisilles-Bullecourt), from which place it was relieved at the end of October.

7. After occupying the sector south of the Ypres-Menin road until November 21, it went into action about November 26 in the same sector of Croisilles-Bullecourt (Cambrai attack).

8. At the end of December, the 49th Reserve Division was resting in the Tourcoing area.

RECRUITING.

Formed at the beginning by contingents from the 5th and 6th Corps Districts (Posen and Silesia) the Division, beginning with the summer of 1915, received most of its reenforcements from the 4th Corps District. At the present time it is entirely Saxo-Thuringian.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 49th Reserve Division is considered a good division.

It fought well in Artois in May 1917. North of Ypres it suffered heavily by the Franco-British bombardment at the end of July, 1917. It is to be noted that under artillery fire units in the first line scattered and fled. The remnants of the advanced elements deserted (30 men).

On July 25, 1917, the 226th Reserve Infantry Regiment received replacements of 500 to 700 men, principally of the 1918 class.

1918.

MESSINES.

1. About April 6 the division temporarily withdrew to reserve. It returned on the 11th and carried out a divisional attack on Messines. It was engaged until about April 25.

YPRES.

2. Two days later the division relieved the 13th Reserve Division south of Ypres, which in turn relieved it about May 2. It remained in rear of the front while resting and was engaged east of Bixschoote on May 10. Here the division remained until June 14, when the 29th Division relieved it. The division rested in the Bruges area until July 10, when it returned to its former sector northeast of Ypres. It held this sector until about August 27, when the 11th Bavarian Division relieved it.

3. The division entrained at Hooglede August 27 and traveled to Courtrai, where it halted one day. On August 28 it moved to Iwuy, from where it marched to Lallaing (near Douai) two days later. On September 1 the division came into line near Fremicourt. It was engaged until about September 16.

SCARPE-SOMME.

4. The division rested in the Cambrai area until September 27, where it was identified in line west of Gaincourt. It again retired from the front about October 1 and rested in the Eswars area. On the Scarpe-Somme front in September the division lost 1,100 prisoners.

5. On the night of October 11–12 the division was again in line at Courcelles les Lens. After holding this rather quiet sector for a week the division moved north and on October 29 appeared on the Ypres front at Anseghem in relief of the 7th Cavalry Division. It continued in line until the armistice. The last identification was west of Audenarde on November 2.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was used as a holding division in important sectors on the British front during 1918.

50th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │100. │39 Fus. │100. │39 Fus. │ │53. │ │53. │ │158. │ │158. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. mounted Jag. Rgt. │1 Sqn. 16 Uhlan Rgt. │3 Sqn. mounted Jag. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │50 Brig.: │50 Brig.: │ 99 F. A. Rgt. (6 Batteries).│ 99 F. A. Rgt. │ 100 F. A. Rgt. (6 Batteries,│ 100 F. A. Rgt. │ 3 are Hows.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│99 Pion. Co. │99 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │100 Pion. Co. │100 Pion. Co. │ │4 Co. 23 Pions. │ │1 T. M. Co. │ │50 T. M. Co. │ │50 Pont. Engs. │ │50 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │ │50 Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │1 Ldw. 7 C. Dist. Pion Co. │80 Antiaircraft Section. │ │2 Res. Co. 2 Pion. Btn. No. │ │ 27. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │100. │39 Fus. │100. │39 Fus. │ │53. │ │53. │ │158. │ │158. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 16 Uhlan Rgt. │1 Sqn. 16 Uhlan Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │50 Art. Command: │50 Art. Command: │ 99 F. A. Rgt. (9 Batteries).│ 99 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 95 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ │ │ 1178 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1179 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1204 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│50 Pion Btn.: │50 Pion Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 99 Pion. Co. │ 99 Pion. Co. │ 100 Pion. Co. │ 100 Pion. Co. │ 50 T. M. Co. │ 50 T. M. Co. │ 99 Searchlight Section. │50 Signal Command: │ 50 Tel. Detch. │ 50 Tel. Detch. │ │ 13 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │50 Ambulance Co. │50 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │337 Field Hospital. │337 Field Hospital. │338 Field Hospital. │338 Field Hospital. │340 Field Hospital. │132 Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1915.

The 50th Division (one of the new divisions in the 50 to 58 series) was formed in March, 1915, by taking three regiments from the three divisions of the 7th Corps and 7th Reserve Corps (the 13th Division giving the 158th Infantry, the 14th Division the 53d, and the 14th Reserve Division the 39th Fusileer Division), all Westphalian Regiments.

1. At the end of March, 1915, the 158th and 53d Infantry Regiments were identified at Hirson (Aisne), while the 39th Fusileer Regiment was still between Perthes and Tahure. In April the division was concentrated and was identified in Champagne, May 14 (area south of Somme-Py).

CHAMPAGNE.

2. From June to October it occupied the sector of Tahure (north of Perthes and Mesnil les Hurlus). It there underwent the French offensive of the end of September, which caused it very heavy losses—infantry, 130 officers and 7,849 men casualties; the 100th Company of Pioneers lost 5 officers and 135 men.

3. Sent to rest and reorganized in the vicinity of Vouziers and of Juniville (end of October to the end of November), it reappeared on November 7 north of Prosnes (east of Reims).

1916.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. In April, 1916, the division left the sector of Prosnes-Prunay, for the front northeast of Verdun (Ornes).

VERDUN-VAUX.

2. Going into action, at the beginning of May, north of Vaux, it took part in the attacks launched upon the line Caillette wood-Damloup (June 1 to June 3), which ended in the capture of the fort of Vaux by the 158th Infantry Regiment on June 4.

3. Very much exhausted by these battles, the division was sent to rest and reorganized in the vicinity of Étain in June and July.

4. In July elements of the division occupied the calm sectors of the Woëvre.

5. At the end of July the 50th Division went back into line at Verdun, south of the fort of Vaux. It launched an attack on August 1 (La Laufée), underwent the French offensives of August 8 and October 24, suffering heavy losses, and held this sector until November.

ARGONNE.

6. Sent to the Argonne, it took over the sector of Vauquois.

1917.

1. Withdrawn from the Argonne on February 15, 1917, the division remained at rest in the area of Saulces-Champenoise until the end of March, then in the camp at Sissonne, then at Thenailles, near Vervins (beginning of April).

AISNE.

2. Concentrated on April 8, it went into action on the 15th at Juvincourt and there underwent the French attack of April 15. After heavy losses it was relieved between April 29-April 27 and went for reorganization to Nizy le Comte, near the Sissonne Camp.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

3. About May 10, the division went back into line east of Allment on the Chemin des Dames.

4. It was sent to rest in July in the vicinity of Mons en Laonnois, Coucy les Eppes, Parfondru.

5. At the beginning of August, it came back to the Chemin des Dames (vicinity of Ailles), where, on October 15, the 9th Company of the 158th Infantry Regiment was reduced to 50 men, including officers (letter). Following the French offensive upon La Malmaison, the 50th Division retired on November 1, to the north of the Ailette toward Neuville (outside of Chamouille) and was still occupying this sector in December.

RECRUITING.

Upon its formation the division was composed of Westphalian troops. The recruiting is still almost exclusively Westphalian.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Since the battle of Vaux in June, 1916, the division likes to consider itself a shock division.

Its prolonged stay on the Ailette front (August to December) seems to mean that it had to be put at rest for a fairly long time before being engaged in an active sector.

It must be regarded as a good division, capable of putting up a vigorous defense (December).

1918.

1. The 50th Division was withdrawn from line near Ailles (west of Craonne) on January 9, the neighboring divisions extending their fronts, and moved by easy stages to the Chimay area, where it arrived on the 14th. It remained here for a month during which time it was thoroughly trained in open warfare and brought up to strength. It then moved to the La Capelle-Fontenelle area for rest and further training.

ST. QUENTIN.

2. The middle of March the division moved up to the front, and on the 21st attacked in the front line southwest of St. Quentin; it captured Holnon during the day, Etreillers on the 22d, Hangest en Santerre on the 29th, and reached Moreuil on the 30th. It was withdrawn about April 1, after having suffered severely heavy losses, and went to rest, refit, and train in the Lassigny region.

AISNE.

3. On May 27, the division attacked near Craonne, reached Pontavert toward noon and crossed the Aisne. The following day it crossed the Vesle west of Breuil sur Vesle and continued to the south, where a French counterattack was repelled. On the 30th it reached Goussancourt, and then the Marne east of Dormans. After having suffered severe losses, it was relieved by the 28th Reserve Division during the night of June 12–13, and went to rest in the Laon region.

RHEIMS.

4. On the 19th of July the division was thrown into line just southwest of Rheims to meet the Allies’ tightening at the bases of the Chateau- Thierry salient. It was withdrawn early in August.

5. About the 30th of September it came back into line northwest of Rheims, near Prouilly and Cormicy. It remained here, and was driven back—fighting stubbornly—passing near Brimont, Guignicourt, and Banogne, where it was withdrawn on the 7th of November.

MEUSE.

6. After a day’s rest, the division was put back into line on the 8th near Mezieres; it had not been withdrawn when the armistice was signed.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 50th is rated as a first-class division. It distinguished itself in the fighting during 1918. After the Somme offensive, it was praised by Prof. Wegener in the Koelnische Zeitung. Immediately after the battle of the Aisne Maj. Fritsch, in command of the 158th Regiment, was awarded Pour le Mérite. After the Allied counteroffensive, Lieut. Gen. V. Engelhuhten, the division commander, was decorated and made governor of Riga, and the commander of the 53d Regiment was also decorated. The 58th Regiment was mentioned as having particularly distinguished itself in the fighting near Banogne in the German communique of October 30. Losses suffered throughout the year were enormous, but the High Command did all in its power to make these good. There are no desertions of record since July 1, 1917. The morale was very good, everything being taken into consideration.

50th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │99 Res. │229 Res. │99 Res. │229 Res. │99 Res. │229 Res. │ │230 Res. │ │230 Res. │ │230 Res. │100 Res. │231 Res. │100 Res. │231 Res. │ │231 Res. │ │232 Res. │ │232 Res. │ │ │ 22 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 22 Res. Jag. Btn. │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │50 Res. Cav. Detch.│50 Res. Cav. Detch.│50 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │50 Res. F. A. Rgt. │50 Res. F. A. Rgt. │50 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│50 Res. Pion. Co. │50 Res. Pion. Co. │50 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │50 Res. Pont. Engs.│250 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │50 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │50 Res. Ambulance │ Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │99 Res. │229 Res. │99 Res. │229 Res. │ │230 Res. │ │230 Res. │ │231 Res. │ │231 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │50 Res. Cav. Detch.│50 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(z) Art. Command: │68 Art. Command: │ │ │ 50 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 50 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ 81 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ (Staff, 1, 2, and │ │ 3 Btries.). │ │ 705 Light Am. Col. │ │ 902 Light Am. Col. │ │ 923 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(350) Pion. Btn.: │350 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 50 Res. Pion. Co. │ 2 Res. Co. 19 │ │ Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. 19 │ 50 Res. Pion. Co. │ Pion. Btn. │ │ 250 T. M. Co. │ 250 T. M. Co. │ 325 Searchlight │ 30 Searchlight │ Section. │ Section. │ 450 Tel. Detch. │450 Signal Command: │ │ 450 Tel. Detch. │ │ 60 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │532 Ambulance Co. │532 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │21 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │84 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ │450 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │737 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(10th Corps District—Hanover and Brunswick.)

1914.

1. The 50th Reserve Division (belonging to the 1st series of divisions created between August and October, 1914), formed a part of the 25th Reserve Corps with the 49th Reserve Division. It received its training, at the time of its formation, in the Alten-Grabow Camp in the 4th Corps District.

POLAND.

2. In the middle of October the 50th Reserve Division and the 49th Reserve Division belonged to the 8th Army (Von Hindenburg) and took part in the second German offensive in Poland (battles between the Vistula and the Warta in October, Lodz in November, on the Bzura-Rawka front in December).

Since November the 25th Reserve Corps has belonged to the 9th Army.

1915.

1. Engaged in the operations along the Bzura (region of Bolimow) during the winter and spring of 1915, the 50th Reserve Division took part in the summer offensive of Von Hindenburg and pursued the Russians to the vicinity of Baranovitchi. In June it transferred the 232d Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 107th Division, a new formation.

2. In September the 25th Reserve Corps was dissolved—the 49th Reserve Division remained in Russia, the 50th Reserved Division was transferred to the Western Front. The division entrained at Kovno on October 7. (Itinerary: Koenigsberg-Marienburg-Stettin-Hamburg-Bremen-Osnabrueck- Muenster-Aix la Chapelle-Namur-Givet.) It detrained at Rethel October 13–14.

FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE.

3. On October 16 the 50th Reserve Division was sent to Champagne. It cooperated in the gas attack of October 27 in the vicinity of Rheims and remained in line until December 19.

ARTOIS.

4. Entraining at Witry les Rheims for Douai on December 21, it took over the sector Roclincourt, east of Neuville-St. Vaast.

1916.

1. Having lost heavily at Neuville-St. Vaast, the 50th Reserve Division was withdrawn from this sector in March, 1916, and south of Armentières (Grenier wood), from April to September. It rested in this calm sector.

SOMME.

2. About December 16 the division was relieved and went into action on the Somme (Martinpuich-Flers), from September 20 to 28. It suffered very heavily there.

3. From October 6 to November 11 it occupied the sector south of the canal of La Bassée (northeast of Vermelles).

4. The division returned to the Somme, on both banks of the Ancre (near Miraumont, Grandcourt), about November 20, and remained in this active sector until December 22.

5. At the end of December it went to rest in the vicinity of Valenciennes.

1917.

1. In January, 1917, the elements of the 50th Reserve Division were in reserve at Achiet le Petit.

SOMME.

2. At the end of January the 50th Reserve Division came back into line north of the Ancre (Beaumont-Hamel); it lost heavily there (200 prisoners) on February 11.

3. Withdrawn from the Somme front at the beginning of March, it went into line east of Transloy (south of Bapaume) on March 13. It withdrew to the Hindenburg Line, near Metz en Couture (southwest of Cambrai), and remained there from the end of March to April 18.

ARTOIS.

4. After a rest in the vicinity of Douai until the middle of May, the division took over the sector of Oppy-Gavrelle, northeast of Arras, where it did not take part in any important action (May 18 to June 10).

FLANDERS.

5. Transferred to the Ypres front about June 11, in anticipation of the British attack, it was kept in reserve in the vicinity of Roulers until July 24.

6. On July 31 the 50th Reserve Division went into action in St. Julien and suffered heavy losses while fighting for the possession of the village (Aug. 1–2).

7. Relieved on August 10 it was sent to rest in the vicinity of Mons and went back into line on September 20, was engaged on the 26th in the vicinity of Gheluvelt, and left the Ypres front on October 3, after serious losses—the 1st Company of the 231st Reserve Infantry Regiment was reduced to 15 men after September 21, the 6th Company to 28. (British Summary of Information, Oct. 24.)

LILLE.

8. At the end of October it took over a sector in the vicinity of Lille (Fromelles) (until the middle of December).

CAMBRAI.

9. It then occupied the lines before Cambrai south of Marcoing and Masnières (Dec. 21-Jan. 31, 1918).

RECRUITING.

At the beginning the 50th Reserve Division was composed of drafts from Silesia and Prussian Saxony, but after the end of 1915 it received most of its replacements from the 10th Corps District. The 229th Reserve Infantry Regiment is from Brunswick; the two others from Hanover. In certain documents we find the division designated as “troops from lower Saxony.”

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 50th Reserve Division took part in a great number of battles.

Its morale was shaken by the heavy losses which it suffered; it has improved very much.

The division fought comparatively well at Ypres.

1918.

1. The 50th Reserve Division was withdrawn from line south of Marcoing on the 31st of January, the neighboring divisions extending their fronts, and went to the area east of Cambrai, where it received training in open warfare.

PICARDY.

2. On the 13th of March the division marched from Cagnoncles via Carnières and Cattenières to Esnes, and on the 17th proceeded to Villers Outreaux. On the 20th it came into line southwest of Cambrai and took part in the attack of the 21st. The division suffered very heavy losses and was relieved by the 9th Reserve Division on the 22d, going to rest at Liéramont (northeast of Peronne).

3. On the 23d the division followed up the advance behind the 9th Reserve Division via St. Pierre-Vaast wood (24th), Rancourt-Combles (25th), Montauban (26th), Fricourt (27th), and on the following day went into line southwest of Albert, carrying out an unsuccessful attack. In another attack against the ridge west of Dernancourt on April 5 the division was beaten back with heavy losses. It was relieved on the 9th and went to rest at Maricourt.

4. During the night of April 17–18 it relieved the 18th Division near Morlancourt (south of Albert). It was relieved by the 199th Division early in May and went to rest and refit in the Solesmes area.

5. On the 24th of May it traveled by rail to Montauban (south of Albert), marched via Maricourt to Carnoy the following day, and came into line during the night of May 27th–28th south of Albert. It was relieved by the 54th Reserve Division on June 28 and went to rest near Cambrai.

SOISSONS.

6. On the 19th of July the division entrained at Le Cateau and traveled via St. Quentin to Chauny, where it was loaded on trucks and sent to the Forêt de Pinon. On the 28th it relieved the 20th Division near Buzancy (south of Soissons). Here it was gradually forced to retire toward the northeast, was finally withdrawn to the north of Braine about the 20th of August, and went to the region between Laval and Laon.

7. The presence of elements of the 231st Reserve Regiment was reported the 4th of September west of Vauxaillon, and on the 6th to the south of Neuville sous Margival, the rest of the regiment being in the Urcel- Laval region.

8. On September 14 the whole division went back into line east of Soissons near the Mennejean Farm. This was surrounded by the French on the 15th. The following day Sancy fell to them, too. The same day the plateau to the east and northeast of the Mennejean Farm was captured. On the 18th the division lost still more ground and prisoners; it was withdrawn on the 21st and went to rest near St. Pierre a Arnes (south of Machault).

RHEIMS.

9. On the 2d of October the division came back into line northeast of Rheims, near Bétheny, and went through very heavy fighting. It was still in line on November 11.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

On October 11 the following was written: “The division did fairly well in its recent encounters, the men, though lacking in enthusiasm, seeming possessed by a dogged determination to do what they conceived to be their duty. The morale, which was good, has been very much lowered by recent losses.” That this statement is erroneous seems to be proved by the fact that the German communiqués of October 22, November 1 and 2, say that the division “had shown particular merit in the recent fighting, retook their position in counterattack and repulsed hostile attacks,” “bore the brunt of the fighting * * * without showing signs of weariness,” and “again maintained their positions against heavy attacks.” Therefore, although the division suffered heavy losses, especially in the spring, it is still to be considered as second class.

51st Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │101 Res. │233 Res. │101 Res. │233 Res. │101 Res. │233 Res. │ │234 Res. │ │234 Res. │ │235 Res. │102 Res. │235 Res. │102 Res. │235 Res. │102 Res. │234 Res. │ │236 Res. │ │236 Res. │ │236 Res. │ 23 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 23 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 23 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │51 Res. Cav. Detch.│51 Res. Cav. Detch.│51 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │51 Res. F. A. Rgt. │51 Res. F. A. Rgt. │51 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ │Mobile Ers. Detch. │ │ │ of 26 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│51 Res. Pion. Co. │51 Res. Pion. Co. │51 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │51 Res. Pont. Engs.│251 T. M. Co. │ │ │51 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │51 Res. Ambulance │ Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd units. │ │ │Cylist Co. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │102 Res. │234 Res. │102 Res. │234 Res. │ │235 Res. │ │235 Res. │ │236 Res. │ │236 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │51 Res. Cav. Detch.│51 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │51 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 51 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 1 Abt. 11 Res. Ft. │ │ A. Rgt. │ │ 896 Light Am. Col. │ │ 897 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1395 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(351) Pion. Btn.: │351 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 7 Co. 28 Pions. │ 7 Co. 28 Pions. │ 51 Res. Pion. Co. │ 51 Res. Pion. Co. │ 251 T. M. Co. │ 33 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 258 Searchlight │451 Signal Command: │ Section. │ │ 451 Tel. Detch. │ 451 Tel. Detch. │ │ 85 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │263 Vet. Hospital. │533 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │533 Ambulance Co. │87 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │87 Res. Field │88 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │90 Res. Field │263 Vet. Hospital. │ Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │738 M. T. Col. │738 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd units. │Cylist Co. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(11th Corps District—Electorate of Hesse and Thuringia.)

1914.

FLANDERS.

1. The 51st Reserve Division (of the series of divisions created between August and October, 1914), forming the 26th Reserve Corps with the 52d Reserve Division, went into action northeast of Ypres in the middle of October. It fought on the line Cortemarck-Moorslede on the 22d, reached Langemarck on the 24th, and finally took up its position near Poelcappelle.

1915.

YPRES.

1. The division remained in the area northeast of Ypres (Poelcappelle, Langemarck, St. Julien) during the entire year of 1915, and until September, 1916. In September, 1916, it transferred the 233d Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 195th Division, a new formation, in consequence of the Russian advance in Galicia.

1916.

SOMME.

1. On September 16, 1916, the 51st Reserve Division was relieved from the sector of Wieltje (north of the Ypres-Zonnebeke road) and transferred to the Somme. It went into action between Combles and Morval about December 18 and suffered very heavy losses from the British attack of the 26th.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. After occupying the Lille front (Neuve Chapelle) for a few days, the division was sent to Champagne at the beginning of October.

It took over the sector of Tahure-Rouvroy (south of Ripont) in the middle of October.

1917.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 51st Reserve Division remained on the Massiges front until the middle of May, 1917, with a short rest at the end of February.

2. It was engaged in the attacks on Maisons de Champagne in March, and suffered quite heavily.

3. In the middle of May it went into line near Nauroy and Moronvilliers (Casque-Mont Haut), where it lost heavily.

4. Withdrawn from the front about June 8, it returned, after a short rest in the vicinity of Marvaux, to the sector east of Tahure (June 22- Aug. 10).

MEUSE.

5. Brought back to the right bank of the Meuse, after a rest in the vicinity of Sedan-Montmédy, the division occupied the sector of Samogneux-Hill 344, about August 22, and lost heavily (French attack of Aug. 25, German attack of Sept. 9).

CHAMPAGNE.

6. It was relieved about September 12 and sent to rest behind the Champagne front.

RECRUITING.

Mixed at the time of its formation, the division is actually recruited in the 11th Corps District (Electorate of Hesse and Thuringia), and is so designated in various documents. Beginning with March 13, 1917, it has received young men of the 1918 class who have less than four months’ training (236th Reserve Infantry Regiment).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 51st Reserve Division was good at the beginning of the war, but now appears mediocre.

Health conditions seem to be poor (August, 1917).

1918.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 51st Reserve Division remained in the Vouziers being trained until about the 20th of January, when it relieved the 52d Division near the Butte du Mesnil. It was relieved early in March and went to the Vouziers-Rethel area, where it received some more training in open warfare.

PICARDY.

2. On the 20th it entrained, and arrived at Etreux (north of Guise) the following day. From there it marched via St. Quentin-Ham-Roye-Faverolles to Montdidier, where it arrived on the 30th. The following day it reenforced the front near Ayencourt (south of Montdidier), relieving the 9th Division. It was relieved by the 2d Division during the night of the 1st-2d of May and went to rest in the Chimay area.

AISNE.

3. On the 30th of May the division, thoroughly rested and brought up to strength, reenforced the battle front near Vauxbuin (southwest of Soissons). Here it became heavily engaged and suffered severe losses, especially the first two days. It was relieved near Cutry (southwest of Soissons) on June 16, and went to rest near Oulchy le Chateau.

4. During the night of July 19–20, the division reenforced the front near Blanzy (south of Soissons). Here it became heavily engaged. It was forced back by the Allied counteroffensive, and was withdrawn from line south of Braine early in August. It went to rest near Marle.

CHAMPAGNE.

5. On September 28 the division entered line near Somme-Py (north of Suippes). Here it was badly handled and had to be withdrawn on the 4th of October, when it had been driven back to St. Etienne à Py. It then rested for a day or two near Vouziers.

OISE.

6. On the 6th it entrained at Vouziers and Vrizy and arrived at La Ferté-Chevresis two days later. It was then put on trucks and moved up to the front, taking over the Bernot-Origny sector (east of St. Quentin) on the 8th. It was withdrawn about the 15th.

CHAMPAGNE.

7. After having rested a fortnight between the Oise and the Aisne, the division entered line east of Rethel on the 31st, remaining in line until the signing of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 51st Reserve is to be considered a good second-class division. It did not distinguish itself by any brilliant fighting, but it did acquit itself in the battles of the Somme and the Aisne and during the Allied counteroffensive. It suffered exceedingly heavy losses, but these were in large measure made good by drafts of 1919 class recruits.

52d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │104. │66. │104. │66. │ │169. │ │169. │ │170. │ │170. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │(2) Sqn. 16 Uhlan Rgt. │2 Sqn. 16 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │52 Brig.: │52 Brig.: │ 103 F. A. Rgt. (6 Btries.). │ 103 F. A. Rgt. │ 104 F. A. Rgt. (6 Btries., 3│ 104 F. A. Rgt. │ of which are Hows.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│103 Pion. Co. │103 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │104 Pion. Co. │104 Pion. Co. │ │52 T. M. Co. │ │52 Tel. Detch. │ │52 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │ │52 Cyclist Co. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │1 & 2 Potsdam Landst. Inf. │ │ Btn. (3 C. Dist.). │ │2 Co. 24 Pions. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │56. │111. │56. │111. │ │169. │ │169. │ │170. │ │170. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 16 Uhlan Rgt. │4 Sqn. 16 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │52 Art. Command: │52 Art. Command: │ 104 F. A. Rgt. (9 Btries.). │ 104 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 84 Ft. A. Btn. (Staff, 1, 2, │ │ and 3 Btries.). │ │ │ │ 892 Light Am. Col. │ │ 917 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1371 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│137 Pion. Btn.: │137 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 103 Pion. Co. │ 103 Pion. Co. │ 104 Pion. Co. │ 104 Pion. Co. │ 52 T. M. Co. │ 52 T. M. Co. │ 103 Searchlight Section. │ 32 Searchlight Section. │ 52 Tel. Detch. │52 Signal Command: │ │ 52 Tel. Detch. │ │ 46 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │52 Ambulance Co. │52 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │341 Field Hospital. │341 Field Hospital. │342 Field Hospital. │342 Field Hospital. │343 Field Hospital. │205 Vet. Hospital. │205 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │577 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │52 Cyclist Co. │ │577 Divisional Supply Co. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │147 Giant Periscope Sect. │ │ │ │209 Field Sig. Section. │ │210 Field Sig. Section. │ │Pigeon Loft. │ │107 Wireless Detch. │ │57 Wireless Compass Station. │ │52 Trench Wireless Detch. │ │Power Buzzer Section. │ │16 M. G. S. S. Detch. │ │Staff of 203 Ft. A. Rgt. │ │Staff of 3 Abtl. 27 Ft. A. │ │ Rgt. │ │1 Btry. 94 Ft. A. Btn. │ │1 Btry. 14 Ft. A. Rgt. │ │1 Btry. 4 Ft. A. Rgt. │ │4 Naval Gun Btry. │ │237 Close-range Btry. (3 7- │ │ cm. guns). │ │44 Art. Survey Section. │ │ │ │The following is according to│ │ a captured German document │ │ dated June 4, 1917: │ │ │ │87 Supply Train. │ │103 M. T. Col. │ │274 M. T. Col. │ │725 M. T. Col. │ │944 M. T. Col. │ │2 Ammunition Train. │ │4 Ammunition Train. │ │136 Ammunition Train (new │ │ pattern). │ │65 Supply Train. │ │663 Supply Depot. │ │665 Supply Depot. │ │107 Balloon Sqn. │ │8 Air Sqns. (Protective │ │ Flight). │ │205 Air Sqn. (Reconnaissance │ │ Flight). │ │1 Co. 14 Labor Btn. │ │2 Co. 14 Labor Btn. │ │3 Co. 14 Labor Btn. │ │1 Co. 56 Road Const. Btn. │ │6 Co. 56 Road Const. Btn. │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(14th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Baden.)

1915.

The 52d Division (of the even 50 to 58 series) was formed in March, 1915, by taking the 169th and 170th Infantry Regiments from the 29th Division (14th Army Corps, Baden), and the 66th Landwehr Regiment from the 7th Division (4th Army Corps). On April 6, 1917, the last-named regiment was replaced by the 111th Infantry Regiment (the 4th Regiment of the 28th Division, also from Baden).

ARTOIS.

1. In April, 1915, the 52d Division was in line south of Arras (Monchy aux Bois, Hebuterne). It occupied this sector until September, 1916.

1916.

SOMME.

1. During the Franco-English offensive on the Somme the 52d Division bore to the south and held the sector Hebuterne, Beaumont-Hamel, north of Thiepval (September-November, 1916).

2. On November 26 the division was withdrawn from the front and sent to rest in the vicinity of Bouchain (December).

1917.

ALSACE.

1. On January 13, 1917, the 52d Division was sent to Alsace (northwest of Bale).

2. About the middle of January it took over the sector of Altkirch (Carspach-Hirtzbach), which it held until the end of March.

3. After a few days at rest (at the beginning of April) in the Grand Duchy of Baden south of Muellheim, it entrained on April 16 north of Bale and was transferred to the Aisne, already including men of the 1918 class in its ranks.

AISNE.

4. On April 21 it went into line south of Juvincourt. It occupied this sector until July 10, with a period of rest from June 1 to 15.

CALIFORNIE PLATEAU.

5. About July 24 it went back into line on the Californie Plateau, where it launched an attack on September 14.

6. Sent into rest in the vicinity of Sissonne about the end of September, it appeared in the vicinity of Pinon about the middle of October, where it went into action and lost heavily on the 23d.

CHAMPAGNE.

7. After a rest in the vicinity of Chimay (beginning of November), it went into line on the Champagne front (Butte du Mesnil-Maisons de Champagne); it remained there until December 15.

8. From December 15 until January, 1918, it was at rest in the vicinity of Vouziers.

RECRUITING.

Since April, 1917, the 52d Division has been almost purely Badensian. Besides the Badensians, who form almost all of the drafts, we find men from the neighboring districts of the Empire (Rhine Province, Hesse- Nassau).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In general the morale of the 52d Division has appeared rather high. In the sector of Juvincourt (April to July, 1917) the troops of the division showed nerve and dash in the course of the local operations in which they took part.

The division had few losses until the month of September.

However, it lost heavily on October 23 (the battle of La Malmaison), especially the 170th Infantry Regiment.

1918.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 52d Division, which had been resting near Vouziers since December 15, relieved the 52d Reserve Division near Tahure (northeast of Suippes) on the 10th of January. During the time the division held this sector the elements not actually in the front line were being trained in open warfare. Early in March it was relieved by the 52d Reserve Division and went to the Vouziers area, where it received still more intensive training in the war of movement.

PICARDY.

2. The division entrained near Vouziers on the 22d of March, and detrained on the following day near Bohain. On the 24th it left and marched via Fresnoy le Grand-Holnon wood (26th)-Bethenicourt (27th)- Etalon-Liancourt-Fosse to Fresnoy les Roye. It relieved the 28th Division near Hangest en Santerre (northwest of Montdidier) on the 28th. It was relieved by the 76th Reserve Division on the 14th of April and went to rest in the Sedan area.

AISNE.

3. Here it was thoroughly reconstituted. It entrained on the 22d of May, arriving at La Malmaison (southeast of Laon) the same day. On the 26th it went into line near Juvincourt (east of Craonne), and took part in the initial attack on the following day. It crossed the Aisne between Pontavert and Gernicourt; proceeding via Bouvancourt and Guyancourt, it crossed the Vesle at Jonquery on the 28th, reached Faverolles on the 29th, Olizy on the 31st, and the Marne, in the region of Verneuil, on June 2. The division was at first ordered to cross the same day, but the order was subsequently rescinded. It was withdrawn, after having suffered severely, about the 10th, and was reported to be at rest in the Sedan area on the 15th. On the 20th it was reported in reserve in the Tournai region.

LENS.

4. During the night of July 12–13 it relieved the 119th Division in the Avion sector (south of Lens). It was relieved about the 5th of August by the extension of fronts of flanking divisions.

ARMENTIERES.

5. During the night of the 6th–7th it relieved the 207th Division near Vieux Berquin (southwest of Bailleul), the 207th Division taking over the sector just vacated by the 52d Division. On the 17th it was withdrawn, the neighboring divisions extending their fronts.

BAPAUME.

6. Five days later it reenforced the battle front near Miraumont (west of Bapaume). It was withdrawn about the 4th of September, after having lost over 1,300 prisoners, and went to rest in the Courtrai area. Here the battalions were reduced to three companies, the strength of which was further made up by drafts of the 29th Ersatz Regiment (223d Division disbanded).

ARGONNE.

7. On September 28 the division reenforced the front near Exermont (southeast of Grandpre). In the heavy fighting that followed the division was driven back to Landres et St. Georges, where it was withdrawn about the 14th of October after having suffered heavy losses (almost 600 in prisoners alone).

8. During the night of October 31-November 1 the division, which had received large numbers of replacements during its two weeks’ rest, relieved the 41st Division east of Busancy (north of Grandpre). It was still in line on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 52d is rated as one of the best German divisions. It was in a great deal of heavy fighting during 1918 (as in preceding years) and acquitted itself most creditably.

52d Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │103 Res. │237 Res. │103 Res. │237 Res. │103 Res. │237 Res. │ │238 Res. │ │238 Res. │ │238 Res. │104 Res. │239 Res. │104 Res. │239 Res. │104 Res. │239 Res. │ │240 Res. │ │240 Res. │ │240 Res. │ 24 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 24 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 24 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │52 Res. Cav. Detch.│52 Res. Cav. Detch.│52 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │52 Res. F. A. Rgt. │52 Res. F. A. Rgt. │52 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│52 Res. Pion. Co. │52 Res. Pion. Co. │52 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │52 Res. Pont. Engs.│1 Ldw. Pion. Co. (9 │ │ │ C. Dist.). │ │ │2 Ers. Co. 24 │ │ │ Pions. │ │ │252 T. M. Co. │ │ │52 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │52 Res. Ambulance │ Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │104 Res. │238 Res. │104 Res. │239 Res. │ │239 Res. │ │239 Res. │ │240 Res. │ │240 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │52 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │69 Art. Command: │ │ │52 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 52 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ 51 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 894 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1365 Light Am. │ │ Col. │ │ 1393 Light Am. │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(352) Pion. Btn.: │253 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 8 Co. 28 Pions. │ 8 Co. 28 Pions. │ │ │ 52 Res. Pion. Co. │ 52 Res. Pion. Co. │ │ │ 252 T. M. Co. │ 252 T. M. Co. │ (?) 312 T. M. Co. │ 184 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 452 Tel. Detch. │452 Signal Command: │ │ 452 Tel. Detch. │ │ 23 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │534 Ambulance Co. │534 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │88 Res. Field │89 Field Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │90 Field Hospital. │ │264 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(8th Corps District—Rhine Province.)

1914.

FLANDERS.

1. The 52d Reserve Division (belonging to the 26th Reserve Corps with the 51st Reserve Division), formed between August and October, 1914, was trained at the Senne Camp and entrained for Belgium on October 12.

The division was engaged in the first battle of the Ypres about October 22.

It fought in October and November in the vicinity of Langemarck- Passachendaele and suffered heavy losses. Between October 18 and 28, the 240th Reserve Infantry Regiment listed casualties of 28 officers and 1,360 men. (Official List of Casualties.)

1915.

YPRES.

1. The division remained on the front north of Ypres (Pilckem, St. Julien, Zonnebeke) during the year 1915 and until the month of September, 1916. Certain of its regiments lost very heavily in April and May—25 officers and 1,268 men casualties in the 240th Reserve Infantry Regiment. (Official List of Casualties.)

1916.

SOMME.

1. About September 14, 1916, it was transferred to the Somme minus the 237th Reserve Infantry Regiment, sent to Galicia for the formation of the 199th Division.

It was engaged in the Lesboeufs sector (Sept. 16–29) and lost very heavily in the British attack of the 26th.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Sent to Champagne, it went into line at the Butte de Souain on October 6, then on November 6 entered St. Marie à Py and the vicinity of Tahure.

1917.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 52d Reserve Division occupied the Tahure front south of Rouvroy until April 20, 1917. It suffered losses at Maisons de Champagne, at the end of March, which caused hasty replacements of the 1918 class with only four months’ training to be sent.

SAPIGNEUL.

2. Relieved between April 15 and 20, it went to the vicinity of Rethel and passed in review at Asfeld on May 3; went into line on the 5th southeast of Berry au Bac and underwent the French attack of the 7th south of Sapigneul. (The 239th Reserve Division had 107 prisoners taken.) On May 31 it again lost heavily while attacking Hill 108.

YPRES.

3. The division was withdrawn from the Aisne front at the beginning of July and transferred to Belgium. It went into action on the Ypres-Menin road on the 31st, the day of the British offensive, and lost heavily. The attacks of August 10 again caused serious losses—the remnants of the 1st Battalion of the 238th Reserve Infantry Regiment formed only two companies at the time of their relief. (British Summary of Information, Aug. 11.)

CHAMPAGNE.

4. About August 11 the 52d Reserve Division left the Belgian front for Champagne, where it again took over its own sector east of the Butte de Souain about August 26. It remained there until the end of December.

RECRUITING.

At the time of its formation the 52d Reserve Division was made up of one Rhenish Regiment and three from Baden; to-day it is entirely Rhenish.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In May and June, 1917, the 52d Reserve Division held a very difficult sector south of Berry au Bac where it apparently lost very heavily. However, it acted like a good division.

During its rest in the vicinity of Vouziers, at the end of January, 1918, it was given very intensive training. It was considered as an attack division. (Interrogation of prisoners, February, 1918.)

1918.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 52d Reserve Division was relieved by the 52d Division in the Tahure sector on January 10 and went to the vicinity of Vouziers, where it was intensively trained in open warfare.

2. Early in March it returned to line and relieved the 52d Division. It was relieved on the 23d of April by the 1st Bavarian Division.

YPRES.

3. It proceeded to march to Vouziers, where it entrained on the 28th and, traveling via Mezières-Signy-Hirson-Mons-Tournai, detrained at Mouscron on the 30th. On May 4 it marched to Wervicq, and on the following day moved into line via Warneton and Messines, relieving the 3d Guard Division in the Voormezeele sector (south of Ypres). In the fighting before Dickebusch on the 8th heavy losses were suffered. It was withdrawn about the 25th, and went to rest near Menin.

4. During the night of the 13th–14th of June it relieved the 58th Division near Locre (south of Ypres). It was relieved on the 1st of July, the flanking divisions extending their fronts, and went to rest in the region southwest of Courtrai.

5. On the 6th of August it came back into line, relieving the 58th Division in the Kemmel sector (south of Ypres). It was withdrawn about the 26th.

CAMBRAI.

6. About the 2d of September it reenforced the front in the Bertincourt sector (east of Bapaume). After having suffered severe losses in killed and wounded, besides losing over 1,000 prisoners, it was relieved by the 6th Division near Havrincourt on the 16th.

COURTRAI.

7. About the 27th it entered line near Moorslede (southwest of Roulers). It suffered severe losses here, and was withdrawn early in October.

8. On October 14 it relieved the Guard Ersatz Division in the Iseghem sector (north of Courtrai). It was heavily engaged here, and was finally withdrawn on the 25th. It did not reenter line.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 52d was rated as a second-class division, but it was probably not so good as other divisions similarly rated, for although it was intensively trained for use as a shock unit for almost two months in Champagne early in the year it was not used in any of the German offensives. It is to be noted, however, that the German communique of October 24 said, “Southwest of Deynze the veteran 52d Reserve Division, which has been in battle daily since October 14, repulsed the renewed attacks of the enemy along the Deynze-Waregem railway.”

53d Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │105 Res. │241 Res. │105 Res. │241 Res. │105 Res. │241 Res. │ │242 Res. │ │242 Res. │ │243 Res. │106 Res. │243 Res. │106 Res. │243 Res. │106 Res. │242 Res. │ │244 Res. │ │244 Res. │ │244 Res. │ 25 Res. Jag. Btn.│ 25 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 25 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │53 Res. Cav. Detch.│53 Res. Cav. Detch.│53 Res. Cav. Detch. │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │53 Res. F. A. Rgt. │53 Res. F. A. Rgt. │53 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│53 Res. Pion. Co. │53 Res. Pion. Co. │53 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │53 Res. Pont. Engs.│53 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │253 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │53 Res. Ambulance │ Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[23] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │105 Res. │241 Res. │105 Res. │241 Res. │ │242 Res. │ │242 Res. │ │243 Res. │ │243 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │53 Res. (?) Cav. │53 Res. Cav. Detch. │ Detch. │ (Saxon). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │(?) Art. Command: │ │ │ 53 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 53 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ (Saxon). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(353) Pion. Btn.: │53 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ (Saxon). │ 53 Res. Pion. Co. │279 Pion. Co. │ 279 Pion. Co. │253 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ 253 T. M. Co. │453 Tel. Detch. │ 453 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │Ambulance Co. │535 (?) Ambulance Veterinary.│ │ Co. │94 Res. Field │92 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital (Saxon). │Vet. Hospital. │453 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴─────────────────── Footnote 23:

Composition at the time of dissolution, October, 1918.

HISTORY.

(241st and 242d Reserve Infantry Regiments: 12th Corps District—Saxony. 243d Reserve Infantry Regiment: 19th Corps District—Saxony.)

1914.

FLANDERS-YPRES.

1. The 53d Reserve Division (of the 27th Reserve Corps with the 54th Reserve Division), formed between August and October, 1914, were sent to Belgium, and detrained on August 14 at Ath. It was engaged, with the divisions of the same series, in the battle of Ypres, against the British Army. Beginning on October 21, it fought on the front Poelcappelle-Becelaere; southeast of Gheluvelt on October 29, and near the Ypres-Menin road at the time of the great attack of November 11. It suffered very heavy losses—the 25th Reserve Chasseurs Battalion, already reduced to 225 men on October 31, had only 73 on November 4 (notebook). On November 25 the 6th Company of the 241st Reserve Infantry Regiment had only 7 of the men left who constituted it upon its departure from Saxony (letter).

1915.

FLANDERS.

1. The division remained in line north of Ypres during the winter of 1914–15, alternating with the 54th Reserve Division in the sector Broodseinde-Polygon wood.

2. It took part in the second battle of Ypres, near Frezenberg and Gravenstafel, where it again lost heavily.

3. In June it occupied the sector of Wytchaete-St. Éloi and returned northeast of Ypres (Verlorenhoek) in the middle of July.

CHAMPAGNE AND FLANDERS.

4. At the beginning of October the 105th Reserve Brigade was sent to Champagne to reenforce the lines near Tahure. The 106th Reserve Brigade took over the sector of the Lys.

5. In November the division was regrouped and sent to rest in the vicinity of Ingelmunster (north of Courtrai). It remained behind the front during the winter of 1915–16 in the vicinity of Roulers.

1916.

LA BASSEE.

1. At the end of March, 1916, the 53d Reserve Division left Flanders and went into line on both banks of the La Bassee Canal.

SOMME.

2. Sent to the Somme at the end of August, it was engaged southeast of Maurepas (Le Forest) at the time of the French attack of September 3, which ended in the capture of Le Forest and of Clery. It suffered heavy losses in counterattacking and in withstanding the new French offensive of September 13. Between September 6 and 12 the 241st Reserve Infantry Regiment listed 12 officers and 1,502 men as casualties. On September 3 the 244th Reserve Infantry Regiment had lost 400 prisoners.

LOOS.

3. Relieved on September 14, it was transferred to the Loos front (between Hulluch and the Lens-Béthune railroad), from September 21 to October 5.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. On October 9 it was in Champagne, where it occupied the sector of Prosnes, east of Rheims.

GALICIA.

5. Withdrawn from the Champagne front, the 53d Reserve Division entrained for the Eastern Front on November 17. (Itinerary: Bétheniville-Rethel-Sedan-Trèves-Coblenz-Ems-Cologne-Halle-Cottbus- Liegnitz-Breslau-Cracow-Tarnow-Jaroslaw-Przemysl-Lemberg-Rohatyn.) It detrained at Pukow (south of Lemberg) on the 26th.

6. It was sent into reserve behind the line of the Narajowka in December. In the autumn of 1916 the 244th Reserve Infantry Regiment was transferred to the 215th Division; later it was transferred to the 96th Division (Saxon).

1917.

1. At the beginning of January, 1917, the 53d Reserve Division went into line at the junction of the Narajowka and the Dniester, and remained in this sector until the middle of June without any important engagement.

2. Relieved and sent to rest in June, it took part in the German counteroffensive begun on July 20 and advanced north of the Dniester. It was identified on August 3 east of Krjivtche.

3. The division was withdrawn from the front at the end of November and entrained for Belgium in the middle of December.

RECRUITING.

The 53d Reserve Division is purely Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 53d Reserve Division spent a year on the Eastern Front (November, 1916, to November, 1917). It is of mediocre quality.

1918.

1. The division was relieved in the Houthulst forest on February 12 and went to rest in the Bruges area.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. On March 1–2 it relieved the 27th Division northeast of Flesquieres. It took part in the initial attack on March 21, was withdrawn on the 22d and went to rest near Bourlon wood. The division was in General Headquarters reserve and on March 27 marched via Havrincourt- Ruyaulcourt-Moislains-Bouchavesnes, crossing the Somme at Clery, and continued to march via Raincourt to Rosieres en Santerre. The 241st Reserve Regiment went into line near Moreuil on the night of April 1–2 and relieved the 426th Regiment (88th Division); the 242d Reserve Regiment went into line on the night of April 3–4, relieving the 100th Body Grenadier Regiment (23d Division). On the morning of April 4 the division attacked in the vicinity of Arriese Cour wood. The division at this date was operating under the 18th German Army. About the middle of April it was withdrawn from the Moreuil sector.

VERDUN.

3. About May 1 the division was resting in rear of the Verdun front. It relieved the 84th Division west of Bethincourt in the first week of May. It held that quiet sector until the 11th of June, when a tired division took its place and the 53d Reserve Division returned to an active front.

SOISSONS.

4. The division detrained near Laon on June 14–15, and the next night relieved the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division north of Le Port. Here it participated in heavy fighting in July and August until its relief about August 10. In this engagement the 243d Reserve Regiment was reduced to three companies per battalion as a result of heavy losses.

5. The division was taken to the region in rear of the Argonne front and the process of dissolution begun. Before its completion the American offensive in the Argonne began and elements of the division were used on the United States front between September 29 and October 15.

According to the available evidence, the 242d Reserve Regiment was drafted to the 24th and 58th Divisions, the 241st Regiment to the 23d Division, and the 243d Reserve Regiment to the 40th and 58th Divisions.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It participated in the spring Somme offensive, but thereafter did not play an important part in the fighting. The low effective strength was directly responsible for the dissolution of the division.

54th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │108. │27 Res. │108. │84. │ │90 Res. │ │27 Res. │ │84. │ │90 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ (?) │17 Hus. Rgt. (Sqn.). ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │54 Brig.: │54 Brig.: │ 107 F. A. Rgt. (6 Btries.). │ 107 F. A. Rgt. │ 108 F. A. Rgt. (6 Btries.). │ 108 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│107 Pion. Co. │107 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │108 Pion. Co. │108 Pion. Co. │ │54 T. M. Co. │ │54 Pont. Engs. │ │54 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │ │54 Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │54 Ft. A. Btn. │24 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │108. │84. │(?) │84. │ │27 Res. │ │27 Res. │ │90 Res. │ │90 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 17 Hus. Rgt. │1 Sqn. 17 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │54 Art. Command: │55 Art. Command: │ 108 F. A. Rgt. (9 Btries.). │ 108 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 54 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ 746 Light Am. Col. │ │ 955 Light Am. Col. │ │ 966 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│Pion. Btn.: │138 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 107 Pion. Co. │ 107 Pion. Co. │ 108 Pion. Co. │ 108 Pion. Co. │ 1 Ldw. Co., 16 Pions. │ 97 Searchlight Section. │ 54 T. M. Co. │54 Signal Command: │ 107 Searchlight Section. │ 54 Tel. Detch. │ 54 Tel. Detch. │ 87 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │54 Ambulance Co. │54 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │345 Field Hospital. │345 Field Hospital. │348 Field Hospital. │348 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │54 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │578 M. T. Col. │578 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │119 Labor Btn. │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(84th and 90th Reserve Infantry Regiments: 9th Corps District—Schleswig—Holstein and Mecklenburg. 27th Reserve Infantry Regiment: 4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony.)

1915.

1. The 54th Division was formed in March, 1915, by the removal of regiments from divisions engaged at this time between the north of Noyon and east of Soissons.

Two of these regiments, the 84th (18th Division) and the 90th Reserve (18th Reserve Division), came from the 9th Corps District (Schleswig- Holstein and Mecklenburg); the third regiment, the 27th Reserve (7th Reserve Division) was originally from Prussian Saxony (4th Corps District).

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Concentrated in March near Guise, the 54th Division was sent to Champagne in the middle of April (vicinity of Perthes), where it remained until July, 1915.

RUSSIA.

3. In July it was transferred to Russia. It fought on the Narew (July and August) and on the Niemen, southeast of Grodno, in September.

FRANCE-OISE.

4. Brought back to France at the beginning of October, it went into line on the 12th on the left bank of the Oise (Quennevières-Moulin sous Touvent).

1916.

1. Withdrawn from the Oise front in January, 1916, the 54th Division rested in the vicinity of La Fère until May. During this time it was occupied in defensive works in the vicinity of Soissons-Craonne.

VERDUN.

2. In May it was transferred to Verdun. It occupied the sector of Hill 304 on May 14.

3. About September 11 it crossed to the right bank of the Meuse and advanced north of Fleury. On October 24 it was dislodged by the French attacks and thrown back with heavy losses north of Douaumont Fort. It was relieved at the beginning of November.

LORRAINE.

4. Having scarcely made good its losses, it went back into line on November 5 north of Flirey en Haye.

1917.

1. The division remained in the calm sector of Flirey during the winter of 1916–17.

AISNE.

2. Relieved in the middle of April, 1917, it was sent behind the Champagne front (vicinity of Asfeld). On April 21 it reenforced the lines at Berry au Bac. It underwent the French attack of May 4, to which it opposed a serious resistance on the Juvincourt Ridge, but suffered heavy losses (650 prisoners).

3. It was withdrawn from the Aisne front on May 10.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. Sent to the east of Rheims, the division occupied the sector south of Somme Py from May 15 to July 24. It was filled up there in June by several reenforcements, totaling about 2,000 men.

YPRES.

5. On July 25 it entrained at Machault (southwest of Vouziers) for Charleville, from which place it went to Belgium after a short rest. It was in action east of Ypres from August 5 to 19, and suffered new losses during the British attack of August 16. One company of the 90th Reserve Infantry Regiment was reduced to one officer and four men.

CAMBRAI.

6. Sent back into line at the end of August on the Cambrai front (Havrincourt-Villers Plouich), the division again lost very heavily in this sector, principally in the course of a tank attack on November 20 (2,789 prisoners).

LORRAINE.

7. Relieved immediately after this attack, it was sent to rest in Lorraine and reorganized. Between August and November the division received more than 3,000 replacements. (British Summary of Information.)

RECRUITING.

Mixed upon its formation (Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg, Prussian Saxony,) the 54th Division remained so with a tendency, nevertheless, to make the 90th Reserve Infantry Regiment a pure Mecklenburg regiment and to reserve the drafts from the rest of the 9th Corps District for the 84th Infantry Regiment.

In January 1918, the 1919 class did not seem to be represented; the 90th Reserve Infantry Regiment had just received replacements made up of men put back in the 1917 and 1918 classes who entered the service in September, 1917.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 54th Division held the most active sectors on the Western front; it has everywhere given proof of great energy in its resistance, especially at Cambrai in November, 1917. However, before the affair of Cambrai rather frequent desertions proved that the losses incurred at Ypres had weakened the morale of the troops; besides, the replacements received in Lorraine were mostly composed of returned wounded of all ages.

However, the 54th Division tried, during its stay in Lorraine, to amalgamate all these elements and to renew their combat value by intensive training and careful instruction (March, 1918).

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

The division was relieved in the sector north of Nancy about February 17 by the 48th Landwehr Division. It remained in Lorraine in March undergoing training for open warfare. It entrained near Dieuze on the 24th and traveled via Metz-Sedan-Charleville-Mons-Valenciennes to a place about 10 miles east of Douai. The division expected to come into line near Arras, but after resting one night at Douai it marched off toward Peronne and arrived at Rosieres on April 2. It moved up to the line north of Moreuil on the night of April 3–4, taking part in the attack. The division withdrew on the night of the 5th–6th. It returned to line south of Thennes on April 10 and stayed in about eight days.

SOMME.

2. The division rested at Cambrai until the night of May 22–23, when it relieved the 183d Division near Ville sur Ancre. It was relieved on June 20 by the 107th Division. Following its relief, the division rested north of the Somme until August 3, when it was engaged near Antheuil. About September 1 the division left its sector near Lassigny and relieved the 105th Division northeast of Noyon. Here it was relieved on September 10.

CAMBRAI-ST. QUENTIN.

3. The division rested 15 days before it entered line northeast of Hargicourt on September 25, relieving the 232d Division. It fought in the Le Cateau area until October 12, when it retired to reserves in the vicinity of Landrecies. On November 2 it was reengaged at Ors and continued in line until the armistice. The last identification was at Lemont-Fontaine on the 8th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. In the last year its service was largely on the defensive in active sectors. In this capacity it was almost constantly in line.

54th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │107 Res. │245 Res. │107 Res. │245 Res. │107 Res. │245 Res. │ │246 Res. │ │246 Res. │ │247 Res. │108 Res. │247 Res. │108 Res. │247 Res. │108 Res. │246 Res. │ │248 Res. │ │248 Res. │ │248 Res. │ 26 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 26 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 26 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Cavalry. │54 Res. Cav. Detch.│54 Res. Cav. Detch.│54 Res. Cav. Detch. │ (Wurtt.). │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │54 Res. F. A. Rgt. │54 Res. F. A. Rgt. │54 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries., 1–3 │ │ │ Sax., 4–9 │ │ │ Wurtt.). │ │ │ │Ers. Abtl. 59 F. A.│ │ │ Rgt. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│54 Res. Pion. Co. │54 Res. Pion. Co. │54 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ (Saxon). │ │ │ │54 Res. Pont. Engs.│254 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │54 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │54 Res. Ambulance │ Veterinary.│ │ Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[24] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │107 Res. │246 Res. │107 Res. │246 Res. │ │247 Res. │ │247 Res. │ │248 Res. │ │248 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │54 Res. Cav. Detch.│54 Res. Cav. Detch. │ │ (Wurtt.). ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │(?) Art. Command: │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 54 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 54 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ (9 Btries. │ (Wurtt.). │ Wurtt.). │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│(354) Pion. Btn.: │1 Res. Co. 13 Liaisons. │ │ Pions. │ 1 Res. Co. 13 │2 Res. Co. 13 │ Pions. │ Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. 13 │312 Searchlight │ Pions. │ Section. │ 254 T. M. Co. │254 T. M. Co. │ 312 Searchlight │454 Tel. Detch. │ Section. │ │ 454 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │536 Ambulance Co. │536 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ (Wurtt.). │ (Wurtt.). │92 Res. Field │93 Res. Field │ Hospital. │ Hospital │ │ (Wurtt.). │Vet. Hospital. │94 Res. Field │ │ Hospital │ │ (Wurtt.). │ │246 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col │M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴─────────────────── Footnote 24:

Composition at the time of dissolution, September, 1918.

HISTORY.

(13th Corps District—Wuerttemberg.)

1914.

BELGIUM.

1. The 54th Reserve Division, forming the 27th Reserve Corps with the 53d Reserve Division, was formed of men from Wurttemberg, with the addition of one infantry regiment and one battalion of chasseurs from Saxony. Trained at the Muensingen Camp, it went into action for the first time on October 21, 1914, in Belgium at the battle of Ypres. On October 29, it made an unsuccessful attack south of Gheluvelt, going slightly to the north, it took part in the general attack of November 11 in the vicinity of Zonnebeke, where it lost very heavily. From October 21 to November 20 the 248th Reserve Infantry Regiment listed 32 officers and 1,395 men as casualties. (Official List of Casualties.)

1915.

1. The division remained in Flanders during the entire year of 1915, occupying the front Becelaere-Polygon wood, between the Ypres-Menin wood and the Roulers railroad.

2. In April and May it suffered heavy losses during the second battle of Ypres (Frezenberg, Verlorenhoek, Hooge).

1916.

1. At the end of January and beginning of February, 1916, the 54th Reserve Division was withdrawn from the Ypres salient, concentrated in the vicinity of Thielt, Ghent, and Hasselt and sent for training to the Beverloo Camp (February-March).

ARTOIS.

2. Toward the end of March it took over the sector south of Neuve Chapelle (north of La Bassée) where it did not take part in any important action.

SOMME.

3. Relieved at the end of August, it was sent to the Somme (sector of Combles-La Forest) and suffered very heavy losses between September 8 and 18.

LORRAINE.

4. After a short stay in the Loos salient (Vermelles-Hulluch road) at the beginning of October the 54th Reserve Division was transferred to Lorraine and sent into line in the vicinity of Blamont.

5. At this time, the 245th Reserve Infantry Regiment (Saxon) was taken from it to be assigned to the 192d Division.

VERDUN.

6. At the end of November the division left Lorraine, was sent during the course of December behind the front northwest of Cambrai, then to the Meuse, where it went into line on December 22, west of Bezonvaux (Les Chambrettes), after the French attack of December 16.

1917.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. Withdrawn from the Verdun front about January 23, 1917, the 54th Reserve Division took over, in Champagne, the sector included between the Navarin Farm and the Tahure Hill.

2. In March it sent one battalion of the 246th Reserve Infantry Regiment into the attacks of Maisons de Champagne on March 27.

3. At the beginning of May the division went as a reenforcement south of Moronvilliers. It went into action from May 15 to June 10 (Téton, Mont Haut) and lost heavily.

4. About June 10–15, without any rest, it again took over the sector west of Tahure, which it occupied until August 20–25.

HILL 304.

5. Suddenly transferred to the Verdun area, the 54th Reserve Division went into line on August 24, north of Hill 304; it remained there until October 18.

FLANDERS.

6. Sent to Flanders, it was in the Dixmude sector from October 29 until March 1918.

RECRUITING.

Mixed at the time of its formation, the 54th Reserve Division became exclusively Wurttemberg, by the departure of its Saxon elements.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Since the number of prisoners of the 54th Reserve Division in Champagne, as in the vicinity of Verdun, March to October 1917, was very slight, it has been practically impossible to obtain information concerning this division (November 1918).

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division which had been holding the Dixmude sector entrained at Bruges on March 14, and detrained at Cambrai on the following day. On March 20 it marched to Seranvillers, and a day later proceeded via Lesdain to the high ground west of Honnecourt. On the 22d it reached Gouzeaucourt; on the 23d it passed through Lechelle, Bus, and Sailly Saillisel; on the 24th it progressed north of Mametz wood, being engaged near Rozieres on the 25th and at Ovillers on the 26th. The division was relieved on April 4 by the 27th Division after suffering heavy losses at Aveluy.

SOMME.

2. The division was in reserve in immediate rear of the front until the night of April 10–11, when it relieved the 13th Division at Ville sur Ancre. The division held this sector until May 27 and again from June 28 until August 25. It was withdrawn in the Mametz area where it had fallen back upon the British attack.

3. Early in September the division was dissolved. Prisoners stated that the 248th Reserve Regiment was drafted to the 27th Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. Its efforts in the Somme offensive were unsuccessful. Thereafter the effectives were used up and the division dissolved.

56th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │112. │35 Fus. │112. │35 Fus. │ │88. │ │88. │ │118. │ │118. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ (?) │17 Hus. Rgt. (Sqn.). ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │56 Brig.: │56 Brig.: │ 111 F. A. Rgt. (6 Btries.). │ 111 F. A. Rgt. │ 112 F. A. Rgt. (6 Btries.). │ 112 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│111 Pion. Co. │111 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │112 Pion. Co. │112 Pion. Co. │ │6 Field Co. 23 Pions. │ │2 Res. Co. 23 Pions. │ │56 T. M. Co. │ │56 Pont. Engrs. │ │56 Tel. Detch. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │ │56 Cyclist Co. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(18th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Hesse and Hesse Nassau.)

1915.

The 56th Division was formed in March, 1915, of surplus regiments—the 35th Fusileer Regiment from the 6th Division (3d Corps District, Brandenburg), the 88th and 118th Infantry Regiments from the 21st and 25th Divisions (18th Corps District, Hesse Nassau and the Grand Duchy of Hesse). In May, 1917, the 35th Fusileer Regiment was replaced by the 186th Infantry Regiment (from the 25th Landwehr Division) recruited from Hesse.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. Concentrated in March, 1915, near Vouziers, the 56th Division went to the Champagne front, south of Ripont, in April.

GALICIA.

2. At the beginning of May it was transferred to the Eastern Front. It took part in the Galician offensive (battles of Jaroslau, on May 18, and of Rudka, on June 18), where it lost heavily.

FRANCE.

3. In June the division was brought back to the Western Front. Entraining at Jaroslau on June 28, it detrained in the vicinity of Valenciennes, where it remained at rest for a month.

LORRAINE.

4. On July 28 the division went to Lorraine and remained as a reserve troop in the vicinity of Pfalzburg-Zabern-Schirmeck.

CHAMPAGNE.

5. On September 25 it was sent to Champagne to oppose the French offensive. It was engaged in the sector of Maison de Champagne, but was soon retired on account of its losses. The infantry had casualties of 107 officers and 5,968 men. (Official List of Casualties.)

6. After reorganization, it went into line north of Massiges and took part in the attack of Mont Têtu at the beginning of November. It was relieved in the middle of November.

7. In December it returned to the Champagne front.

1916.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 56th Division occupied the same calm sector south of Rouvroy during the entire winter of 1915–16.

2. Relieved on April 25, 1916, it was sent to rest in the vicinity of Sedan.

VERDUN (MORT-HOMME).

3. On May 26–27 it was sent into line on the left bank of the Meuse, at the Mort Homme. It received a vigorous attack there on May 31, had heavy losses, and continued to hold this sector until the middle of July.

ARTOIS.

4. After a short rest in the vicinity of Sedan, it went to the Vimy Ridge, in Artois (end of July-end of August).

SOMME.

5. On August 24–25 it was engaged in the battle of the Somme, in Belleville wood. On August 31 it launched a counterattack northeast of the wood. It left the Somme on September 9.

CHAMPAGNE.

6. It then took over a quiet sector east of Rheims at Cernay-La Pompelle. In the middle of November it returned to the Somme front (Pys) until January 7, 1917.

1917.

1. In January, 1917, the 56th Division was sent to rest in the vicinity of St. Quentin.

SOMME-HINDENBURG LINE.

2. About February 11 it went back into line south of the Somme in the vicinity of Biaches, retired at the end of March to the north of St. Quentin, and from there went to Courrieres in the vicinity of the Lens mines.

LENS.

3. On April 10 it took over the sector of Lens, where it suffered important losses from raids and local conflicts. It absorbed 1,000 men from the 624th Infantry Regiment, dissolved, and some from the 625th (Hessian).

MEUSE (RIGHT BANK).

4. Withdrawn from the Lens front at the end of June, it remained at rest in the vicinity of Buzancy and Grandpré in July, near Carignan, at the beginning of August; spent the second half of August in the Woevre, reenforcing the Verdun front east of Vaux. In September it occupied the sector north of the Chaume wood-Baumont, where it was relieved at the end of October.

MEUSE (LEFT BANK).

5. About November 10 the 56th Division occupied the sector of Cheppy wood, on the left bank of the Meuse, where it remained until March 20, 1918.

RECRUITING.

Since the substitution of the 186th Infantry Regiment for the 35th Fusileers, the division has become entirely Hessian. By analogy with the 9th Landwehr Division, we sometimes find it designated as “Rhine troops”; the Rhine Provinces in general cooperate with Hesse and Hesse- Nassau in sending its replacements.

In the first months of 1918 the reenforcements received comprised men from the 3d and 4th Corps Districts (Berlin and Silesia) belonging to the industrial classes.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Having suffered heavily in the Galician campaign in 1915, and in Champagne and at Verdun, the 56th Division had serious losses at Lens between April and June, 1917. The 186th Infantry Regiment had heavy losses during the battle of the Aisne (April, 1917) before joining the 56th Division. The division had few losses on the left bank of the Meuse from January to March, 1918.

Of 84 prisoners coming from three regiments of the 56th Division, captured on March 16 and 17, 1918, more than half belong either to the active or to the reserve.

1918.

1. The division was relieved west of the Meuse about March 19 by an extension of the front of the 13th Reserve Division and underwent a course of training for open warfare. At this time the companies had about 180 to 200 effectives. It had no men of the 1919 class and few Alsatians or Poles. The quality of men in the division was high. On April 18 the division entrained at Cesse (northwest of Stenay) and traveled via Sedan-Dinant-Charleroi-Braine le Comte-Tournai-Roubaix, from where it marched to Croix. On the 21st the 118th Regiment proceeded via Mouveaux-Bondues-Roucq to Halluin, where it rested until the 23d. On the following day the regiment marched via Wervicq-Comines to Messines.

KEMMEL.

2. The division came into line on the 25th and captured the village of Kemmel. It was engaged in this vicinity until May 2, when it was relieved by the 29th Division, and went to rest in the area north of Menin. It returned to line on the night of May 11–12, relieving the 13th Reserve Division on the Voormezeele sector. The division remained in line South of Ypres until the night of June 3–4.

BELGIUM.

3. After its relief the division rested in the Bruges area until its return to line northeast of Bailleul on July 2. From then until October 19 the division remained in line on this front. It had fallen back east of Roubaix when it was withdrawn.

4. After several days in reserve the division was again in line near St. Genois. The German communiqué of October 26 praised the fighting of the 118th Regiment. The last identification of the division was on November 8, when it was east of Avelghem.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was very actively engaged during almost the entire last year of the war on the British front.

58th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │116. │106. │116. │106. │ │107. │ │107. │ │120 Res. │ │120 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 18 Uhlan Rgt. │2 Sqn. 18 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │58 Brig.: │58 Brig.: │ 115 F. A. Rgt. (Saxon) (6 │ 115 F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ 116 F. A. Rgt. (Wurtt.) (6 │ 116 F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│115 Pion. Co. (Saxon). │115 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │116 Pion. Co. (Wurtt.). │116 Pion. Co. │ │58 Tel. Detch. │ │58 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │ │58 Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │7 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │116. │106. │116. │106. │ │107. │ │107. │ │103 Res. │ │103 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 18 Uhlan Rgt. │4 Sqn. 18 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │58 Art. Command: │58 Art. Command: │ 115 F. A. Rgt. (9 Btries.). │ 115 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ 97 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ │ │ 711 Light Am. Col. │ │ 832 Light Am. Col. │ │ 931 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│Pion. Btn.: │142 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 2 Res. 22 Pions. │ 115 Pion. Co. │ 115 Pion. Co. │ 404 Pion. Co. │ 404 Pion. Co. │ 58 T. M. Co. │ 58 T. M. Co. │ 127 Searchlight Section. │ 115 Searchlight Section. │58 Signal Command. │ 58 Tel. Detch. │ 58 Tel. Detch. │ │ 135 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │58 Ambulance Co. │58 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │353 Field Hospital. │353 Field Hospital. │354 Field Hospital. │354 Field Hospital. │58 Vet. Hospital │58 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │580 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(19th Corps District—Saxony.)

1915.

The 58th Division was formed on March 7, 1915, at Roulers, of surplus regiments taken from old divisions—the 106th and 107th Infantry Regiments, Saxon, came from the 24th Division; the 120th Reserve Infantry Regiment (Wurttemberg), from the 26th Reserve Division. At the end of 1916 the last-named regiment was replaced by the 103d Reserve Regiment (Saxon). The provincial homogeneity is thus realized.

1. The division remained at Roulers until the beginning of May.

ARTOIS.

2. On May 12, 1915, the 58th Division took part in the battle of Artois (Carency, May 12–15) and suffered heavy losses. On May 12 and 14 the 1st Battalion of the 106th Infantry Regiment had casualties of 22 officers and 642 men. (Official List of Casualties.) The casualties of the division amounted to 116 officers and 4,194 men.

3. At the beginning of June the division fought at Neuville St. Vaast (Le Labyrinthe.)

4. It was at rest in the middle of June in the vicinity of Douai.

RUSSIA.

5. On July 21 the division was transferred to Russia. (Itinerary: Roubaix-Sedan-Longwy-Thionville-Trèves-Coblentz-Cassel-Berlin- Marienburg-Koenigsberg-Loetzen.)

6. It took part in the offensive against the Russians in August and September (Narew, Bobr, Bielostok, Vilna) as far as Lake Narotch.

FRANCE.

7. Brought back to France between October 16 and 22 (Itinerary: Vilna- Kovno-Koenigsberg-Berlin-Hanover-Cassel-Frankfort-Mayence-Coblentz- Trèves-Sarrebreucken), it took over a sector in Lorraine (Leintrey- Domèvre) in November and December.

1916.

1. In January and February, 1916, the 58th Division was at rest in the vicinity of Sarreburg.

LORRAINE.

2. About February 25 it returned to the sector of Leintrey-Embermenil and remained there until the middle of March. It celebrated its first anniversary there—150 days of fighting, 1,200 kilometers on foot, 4,400 by railroad (notebook).

VERDUN.

3. Brought back to Verdun at this time, it took part in the attack of Caillette wood, near Douaumont, on April 2.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. The division was withdrawn from the Verdun front about April 7 and sent to rest in the vicinity of Rethel. On April 30 it went to Champagne, where it occupied the sector east of Rheims (Bétheny-Cernay, La Pompelle).

SOMME.

5. In September the division was engaged on the Somme (Barleux). The 2d Company of the 20th Reserve Infantry Regiment, 177 strong, was destroyed, with the exception of 22 prisoners.

6. After occupying a calm sector on the Yser from September 29 to October 23, it again fought on the Somme (Courcelette-Grandcourt) in November.

7. On December 20 the division was withdrawn and reorganized—the 120th Reserve Infantry Regiment left the division for the 204th Division, a new formation, and went to Belgium.

1917.

VERDUN.

1. In January and February, 1917, the 58th Division became exclusively Saxon (106th, 107th, 103d Reserve Infantry Regiments). It went to the Verdun front and remained to the end of March, 1917.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. The latter part of March it went into line at Auberive, and suffered heavy losses in the attack of April 16–17. Because of these losses, the 8th Company of the 103d Infantry Regiment required a minimum reenforcement of 70 men.

RUSSIA-LAKE NAROTCH.

3. Relieved about April 20, the 58th Division entrained on the 24th for Russia. (Itinerary: Coblentz-Giessen-Halle-Lissa-Lodz-Warsaw-Brest- Litowsk (Apr. 28).) It held the sector south of Lake Narotch from the beginning of May until the beginning of October.

BELGIUM.

4. On October 6 it was brought back to France. (Itinerary: Vilna- Koenigsberg-Luebeck-Hamburg-Crefeld-Aix la Chapelle-Liége-Ghent-Bruges- Thourout (Oct. 11).)

HOUTHULST WOOD.

5. On October 17 it took over the sector south of Houthulst wood and received the attack of October 22; it was relieved on the 24th.

6. On October 31 it again occupied the sector which it left at the end of November.

7. It spent December at rest in the vicinity of Bruges.

RECRUITING.

Mixed at the beginning (Saxon and Wurttemberg), like the 54th Reserve Division, the division became homogeneous by exchanging its Wurttemberg troops for Saxon units.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

When the 58th Division was on the Russian front, a division school was formed in the month of June, 1917, with the purpose of teaching men the method of attack.

The division school was dissolved a few days before the departure for Russia. As soon as they arrived on the Western Front it was made an assault detachment of the division.

On the Flanders front the 58th Division did not show any high combat value. Rather frequent cases of abandoning the front line have been proved (October, 1917).

1918.

YPRES.

1. About April 3 the division extended its left flank and relieved the 38th Division. At that time the division was holding two divisional sectors. About May 19, it was relieved by the 49th Reserve Division and moved to the Locre sector where it relieved the 31st Division a day later. This sector was held by the division until the night of June 13–14 when it was relieved by the 52d Reserve Division.

2. It rested in the Courtrai area until July 7 when it returned to line west of Dranoutre in relief of the 121st Division. The 52d Reserve Division again relieved it on August 9.

SCARPE-SOMME.

3. The division entrained at Menin on August 25 and detrained at Sancourt on the evening of the 26th coming into line on August 28 near Hardecourt and Bullecourt. It sideslipped south about the 1st of September and replaced the 52d Division which had been withdrawn. About September 10 the division was withdrawn from the battle front after suffering heavy losses. About this time the regiments of the division were reduced to two battalions of three companies each.

4. On September 27, the division relieved the 39th Division north of Ecourt-St. Quentin. It retreated by Arleux to a point west of Valenciennes where it was relieved about October 22. Two days later it came into line farther south at Ghent and fought until November 7. The final identifications were at Hecq (Nov. 4), north of Berlaimont (Nov. 5) and north of Pont-sur-Sambre (Nov. 6).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was used as a strong defensive division exclusively on the British front during 1918.

75th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │75 Res. │249 Res. │75 Res. │249 Res. │ │250 Res. │ │250 Res. │ │251 Res. │ │251 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │75 Res. Cav. Detch. │75 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │75 Res. Brig.: │75 Res. Brig.: │ 55 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 55 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ 57 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 57 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│75 Res. Pion. Co. │75 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │75 Res. Pont. Engs. │275 T. M. Co. │ │75 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │75 Res. Train Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │75 Res. Cyclist Co. │75 Res. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │Ers. Field Btn. of the 75th │ │ Res. Div. │ │Balloon Sqn. of the 75th Res. │ │ Div. │ │90 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │75 Res. │249 Res. │75 Res. │249 Res. │ │250 Res. │ │250 Res. │ │251 Res. │ │251 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt. │3 Sqn. 2 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │55 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 55 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │82 Ft. A. Btn. │ Btries.). │ │ │826 Light Am. Col. │ │ │ │1189 Light Am. Col. │ │1190 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(375) Pion. Btn.: │375 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 75 Res. Pion. Co. │ 384 Pion. Co. │ 384 Pion. Co. │ 75 Res. Pion. Co. │ 275 T. M. Co. │ 275 T. M. Co. │ 333 Searchlight Section. │ 65 Searchlight Section. │ Tel. Detch. │475 Signal Command: │ │ 475 Tel. Detch. │ │ 145 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │537 Ambulance Co. │537 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │95 Res. Field Hospital. │98 Res. Field Hospital. │99 Res. Field Hospital. │99 Res. Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │169 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │586 M. T. Col. │742 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │75 Res. Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(249th and 250th Reserve Infantry Regiments, 14th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Baden. 251st Reserve Infantry Regiment; 11th Corps District—Electorate of Hesse.)

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. The 75th Reserve Division, trained at the Heuberg Camp in Baden, included two regiments of the 14th Corps District and one from the 11th Corps District. The first two were formed from the six field battalions from Baden, Nos. 61 to 66; the third, from three Thuringian field battalions, Nos. 58 to 60.

2. Forming a part of the 38th Reserve Corps with the 76th Reserve Division, it was sent to the Eastern Front at the end of January, 1915.

3. On February 17 it was in the vicinity of Augustowo, after taking part in the battle of Mazurian Lakes, where it lost heavily (250th Reserve Infantry Regiment).

4. At the end of February and the beginning of March it occupied the front near Chtabin.

5. On March 9 it attacked north of Ostrolenka and marched to Ossowiec. It remained in the region north of Ostrolenka until the end of April.

6. In the summer, it took part in the march upon Vilna and advanced beyond this by way of Wileisk (Sept. 24), south of Lake Drisviaty (Oct. 6).

7. At the end of October, the 75th Reserve Division went somewhat to the south and took over the sector of Spiagla, south of Lake Narotch.

1916.

LAKE NAROTCH.

1. The division remained in line in the vicinity of Lake Narotch until the end of July, 1916. In the spring of 1916, it received the Russian offensive in this area.

2. At the beginning of August, it was transferred to the Stokhod. We find it southwest of Sviniouki on October 1; south of Kisselin on November 9 (except the 251st Reserve Infantry Regiment sent to Galicia on Oct. 30).

GALICIA.

3. At the end of November, the entire division was in Galicia, where it occupied the sector of the Narajowka (north of Halicz, Rohatyn).

1917.

GALICIA.

1. The 75th Reserve Division was retained in the vicinity of Halicz, and of Brzezany until July, 1917 (in reserve from the end of March to the end of May).

COURLAND.

2. On July 25 the division left Galicia to go to Smorgoni, from which place it was transferred to the Riga sector (Uxkull) at the end of August. After the taking of Riga, it advanced beyond the Dvina and took up its position on the Meloupe.

FRANCE.

3. On December 1 the division entrained for France. (Itinerary: Riga- Mitau-Kovno-Marienburg-Berlin-Hanover-Cassel-Cologne-Coblentz-Trèves- Thionville-Metz-Charleville-Hirson-Vervins.) It detrained at St. Gobert and Vervins about December 7.

AISNE.

4. Sent to rest near Vervins, about December 26, the division took over the sector of Chavignon-Urcel on the 27th.

RECRUITING.

The divisions formed in 1915 were not homogeneous. The 75th Reserve Division consists of two regiments from Baden and one from the Electorate of Hesse.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Since the 75th Reserve Division comes from Russia and has only been on the French front since the end of December 1917, it is difficult to form a judgment as to the combat value of this organization.

At the end of December elements of the division took part in maneuvers supported by tanks (at Voulpaix, west of Verdun). (Interrogation of prisoner, Feb. 20, 1918.)

At the beginning of February the 251st Reserve Infantry Regiment took part in a division maneuver in which the infantry had to fight simulated tanks. (Interrogation of prisoner, Mar. 11, 1918.)

DISCIPLINE.

It is to be noted that during the trip from Russia to France 40 men belonging to the Minenwerfer and pioneer companies, were reported missing. (Interrogation of prisoner, Jan. 31, 1918.)

1918.

PICARDY.

1. The division was relieved south of Laon on March 26 and went to Laon. By way of Champignon (west of Crepy), Charmes, it marched to Chauny, where it went into line on March 30. It was engaged until about April 14, and then went to rest north of St. Gobain.

BATTLE OF THE MATZ.

2. It returned to line southeast of Canny sur Matz on the night of May 16–17 and took part in the battle of Noyon in June. It was relieved about June 20 and rested until July 2. It was in line at Courcelles from that date until August 18. Prior to the French attack on August 18, the division counted about 3,000 combatants. It suffered important losses between the 8th and 18th.

3. The division rested in the Bois de Champien and Bois de Glandon until August 23 and then in the Bois du Tunnel. On the 27th it went to Ham. On the night of August 31-September 1 it relieved the 1st Reserve Division in the sector Libermont-Bois du Tunnel. It fell back across the Canal du Nord on September 3 and continued its retreat through Sommette, Dury, Bray St. Christophe until it reached a position at Happencourt on September 7. It was relieved on the 13th by the 22d Reserve Division. The attack of August and September had completely disorganized the division and greatly reduced its morale.

LE CATEAU.

4. The division returned to line west of Bellenglise on September 20 and was heavily engaged for 10 days.

WOEVRE.

5. On November 10 the division came into line near Jametz on the American front.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Throughout 1918 its morale appears to have been low, and after the battle of Matz its effectives were greatly reduced.

76th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │76 Res. │252 Res. │76 Res. │252 Res. │ │253 Res. │ │253 Res. │ │254 Res. │ │254 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │76 Res. Cav. Detch. │76 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │76 Res. Brig.: │76 Res. Brig.: │ 56 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 56 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ 58 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 58 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│76 Res. Pion. Co. │76 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │76 Res. Pont. Engs. │276 T. M. Co. │ │76 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │76 Res. Train Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │76 Res. Cyclist Co. │76 Res. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │76 Res. │252 Res. │76 Res. │252 Res. │ │253 Res. │ │253 Res. │ │254 Res. │ │254 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 1 Res. Uhlan Rgt. │3 Sqn. 13 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │76 Art. Command: │ 56 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 56 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 58 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 2 Abt. 24 Ft. A. Rgt. (5th │ │ and 7th Btries.). │ │ 763 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1081 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1082 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(376) Pion. Btn.: │376 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 76 Res. Pion. Co. │ 77 Res. Pion. Co. │ 77 Res. Pion. Co. │ 76 Res. Pion. Co. │ 276 T. M. Co. │ 76 Searchlight Section. │ 344 Searchlight Section. │476 Signal Command: │ Tel. Detch. │ 476 Tel. Detch. │ │ 188 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │538 Ambulance Co. │538 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │100 Field Hospital (Res.). │100 Res. Field Hospital. │101 Field Hospital (Res.). │101 Res. Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │146 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │743 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │76 Res. Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(11th and 18th Corps District—Hesse Electoral, Hesse—Nassau, and Grand Duchy of Hesse.)

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. The 76th Reserve Division (included in the 38th Reserve Corps with the 75th Reserve Division), formed in January, 1915, grows out of three field battalions (Feld bataillone), Nos. 55–57 of the 11th Corps District, and out of six field battalions, Nos. 67–72 of the 18th Corps District. It was sent toward Russia at the beginning of February, 1915.

2. On February 13 it was identified in the region of Gumbinnen. It was really part of the group which operated in the region of Wylkowyszki- Mariampol.

3. On March 2 it was on the Sopotzkyn-Chtabin front.

4. In March it was northeast of Prasnysz.

5. In April it was in the region of Suwalki-Augustowo.

6. In May it was north of Suwalki.

7. On June 23 the 76th Reserve Division went to the Dubissa area.

8. On June 30, region of Eydtkuhnen.

9. The summer offensive of 1915 brought it, through the region of Vilna, to Kovno (Aug. 16) and then to the south of Smorgoni (Oct. 6–10).

It was withdrawn from the front about October 15 and was at Vilna on November 1 and in the region of Mitau on December 5.

1916.

COURLAND.

1. Then moved toward the north, the 76th Reserve Division took up a sector on the Dvina, opposite Uxkull (Jan.-Aug., 1916).

ROUMANIA.

2. From the 10th to the 20th of September the division was moved to the Roumanian front.

3. In October it took part in the battles in the regions of Hermannstadt and Brasso (Kronstadt).

4. At the end of October or beginning of November it occupied the vicinity of Campolung. At the end of December, to the south of Rimnicu- Sarat.

1917.

ROUMANIA (FOCSANI).

1. With the stabilization of the Roumanian front, it was in line to the north and east to Focsani, where it remained from January to April, 1917.

2. In May it was in reserve. At about this time it seems to have been brought to the rear of the French front.

3. The division reappeared in Roumania, in the vicinity of Focsani, from August 6 to 14. It attacked on the 15th and suffered heavy losses.

4. Put in reserve, near Focsani, it went back into line at the beginning of October to the north of Iresti. It was still in that region at the beginning of January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 252d Regiment in Thuringe, 253d Regiment in Hesse-Nassau, and 254th Regiment in the Grand Duchy of Hesse. These last two regiments may be termed Rhenish regiments.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 76th Reserve Division was at all times used on the eastern front.

1918.

1. The division was moved to the Western Front in the spring after exchanging its older men for younger men from the divisions remaining in Roumania. It entrained at Focsani on March 7 and traveled by way of Hermannstadt, Budapest, Breslau, Erfurt, Fulda, to Metz, where it detrained on March 15. The 254th Reserve Regiment was in cantonments a few days at Fort Luitpold and then went to Norroy le Veneur where it remained about 12 days. It entrained on March 31 and proceeded by way of Sedan and Charleville to Hirson (Apr. 1). From there it marched via Remigny-Golancourt-Roye-Narvillers-Hangest-Plessier-Rozainvillers, where it went into cantonments for three days.

MONTDIDIER.

2. On the night of April 12–13 the division relieved elements of the 23d Division between Malpart and La Chappelle-St. Aignan. About May 2 the division extended its front to the north and relieved a part of the 240th Division. This was a defensive sector at this time. On May 9 the French made an attack on Grivesnes Park while the 76th Reserve Division was holding it. The attack was a complete surprise and caused many casualties. Between April 10 and May 8 the losses averaged 30 to 35 men per company and the number of combatants on May 9 was about 75 per company. It was relieved in the middle of May.

VERDUN.

3. The division entered line in the Verdun region to the south of Bezonvaux on June 21. It was withdrawn from the quiet sector in mid- July, and on the 29th relieved the 46th Reserve Division southwest of Soissons. Until August 2 it was not involved in the attack. It defended the flanks of the German retreat energetically until its withdrawal on September 8. A week later its regiments were used singly to support the units in line in delaying the French advance on the line Coucy le Chateau-Ferny-Sorny. The losses in the fighting were considerable, including 575 prisoners. It showed itself a good defensive division.

4. On September 25 the division came in line on the extreme left of the American line in the Argonne. On October 10 all three regiments were opposite the United States troops in Grandpre. It remained in line until November 8 before it was finally withdrawn.

The excessive use of the division gave rise to serious internal discontent. The rifle strength of the regiments was down to less than 300 by October 24, and the troops were demanding a rest. Some companies refused to enter the line in mid-October. The divisional commander was obliged to issue an appeal to the division on October 21 to hold out. The entire rifle strength of the 2d Battalion, 254th Reserve Regiment, was but 3 officers and 75 men on October 28.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. As a defensive sector holding unit the division showed a power of sustained resistance that warranted a higher classification. By the end the division had been completely used up.

77th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │77 Res. │255 Res. │77 Res. │255 Res. │ │256 Res. │ │256 Res. │ │257 Res. │ │257 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │77 Res. Cav. Detch. │77 Res. Cav. Detch. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │77 Res. Brig.: │77 Res. Brig.: │ 59 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 59 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ 60 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 60 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│77 Res. Pion. Co. │77 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │77 Res. Pont. Engs. │277 T. M. Co. │ │77 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │77 Res. Train Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │77 Res. Cyclist Co. │77 Res. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[25] ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │77 Res. │255 Res. │77 Res. │332. │ │256 Res. │ │257 Res. │ │257 Res. │ │419. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 2 Horse Jag. Rgt. (?) │4 Sqn. 2 Horse Jag. Rgt. │77 Res. Cav. Detch. (?) │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │(?) Art. Command: │ 59 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │ 59 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(377) Pion. Btn.: │1 Co. 1 Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ 78 Res. Pion. Co. │1 Ldw. Co. 7 C. Dist. Pions. │ 277 T. M. Co. │39 Res. Searchlight Section. │ 39 Res. Searchlight Section.│277 T. M. Co. │ 477 Tel. Detch. │477 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │539 Ambulance Co. │539 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │103 Field Hospital (Res.). │103 Res. Field Hospital. │104 Field Hospital (Res.). │104 Res. Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │105 Res. Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │744 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │77 Res. Cyclist Co. │77 Res. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │403 Pion. Btn. (?) ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────── Footnote 25:

Composition at the time of dissolution.

HISTORY.

(255th Regiment: 7th Corps District—Westphalia. 257th Regiment, 332d Regiment: 8th Corps District—Rhenish Province.)

1915.

The 77th Reserve Division was formed at the Senne Cantonment (7th Corps Region) in January, 1915, with six field battalions (Nos. 31–36) of the 7th Corps Region and three of the 8th, (Nos. 37–39.) With the 78th Reserve Division, it composed the 39th Reserve Corps.

RUSSIA.

1. Brought to the Eastern Front at the beginning of February, detraining at Insterburg, it was a part of the army operating in Eastern Prussia after February 12.

2. At the beginning of March it was engaged on the Sopotzkyn-Chtabin front in the region of Simno; on March 9 it covered the retreat of the 21st Corps and fell back to Seiny, Suwalki and Augustowo (Mar. 10 to 31).

3. During May and June the 77th Reserve Division took part in the Courland raid. On May 5 it was identified as being on the Rossieny- Beisagola front (to the South of Chavli).

GRODNO.

4. Taking part in the summer offensive, it advanced through the regions of Grodno, Olita (Aug 30) and Vileiki (Sept 27).

5. At the beginning of November it established itself in the vicinity of Kchtchava, east of Novo-Alexandrovsk.

1916.

COURLAND.

1. The 77th Reserve Division stayed in the region north of Kchtchava—and south of Dvinsk during all of 1916 and until August 1917. In August of 1916 it gave one of its regiments—the 256th—to the Mitau group and later to the 218th Division.

1917.

COURLAND.

1. At the end of August, 1917, the 77th Reserve Division was transferred from the region of the Dvinsk to the Riga front, being brought up to strength by the addition of the 332d Regiment, the latter having originally come from the 83d Division after having successively been part of the 11th Landwehr Division and the 8th Cavalry Division.

2. In October the 77th Reserve Division appeared in the vicinity of Friedrichstadt; near Jakobstadt, at the end of October. The 255th Regiment may have participated about this date in the occupation of the island of Oesel.

3. On November 5 the division is identified in the region of Libau; on January 20, the 257th Regiment at Mitau; and to the northwest of the Novo-Alexandrovsk-Dvinsk railway, the 255th Regiment on February 10. On March 1 the 332d Regiment of Infantry was to leave “in order to advance in the East” (letter).

RECRUITING.

Principally Westphalia for the 255th Regiment; Rhenish provinces for the 257th and 332d Regiments. Numerous recruits from Lorraine and Alsace. Poles in the 332d Regiment, which received the Ersatz Battalion of the 19th Infantry at the time it was formed.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 77th Reserve Division did not leave the Russian front. One of its present regiments, the 332d, is a former regiment of the Posen garrison, of which two of the three battalions were Rhenish Landsturm battalions. Successive replacements gave this regiment the appearance of an ordinary regiment. In January, 1918, the older and sickly men were released.

1918.

1. The division left Russia about April 1 and traveled via Magdebourg- Hildesheim-Cologne-Gerolstein-Gouvy-Bastogne-Lebramont-Sedan-Liart- Rozay-Montcornet, detraining in the vicinity of Laon on April 4. It marched by stages toward Villers-Carbonnel-Athies, where it rested and trained from April 11 to 19. On April 20 it entered the line north of Hangard and was engaged until the end of the month.

SOMME.

2. It returned to line east of Villers-Bretonneux on May 18 and held that sector until July 4.

WOEVRE.

3. The division was moved to the Woevre by Hirson and Montmedy and on July 14 relieved the 183d Division in the Flirey sector. It held that sector until the American attack on St. Mihiel on September 12. The division suffered very heavy losses in prisoners, but had few other casualties, the prisoners stating that they were completely cut off by the American barrage. It was withdrawn on September 16 and did not thereafter return to line.

4. What remained of the 77th Reserve Division was reassembled at Pagny and was occupied in organizing the ground between Pagny and Prenay. A report of October 11 stated that the division passed through Berlin on its way to the Balkan front on October 2. The division was then considered as withdrawn from the Western Front.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was not seriously engaged except in the St. Mihiel attack, which practically destroyed the division. Its morale was only mediocre. Deserters from the Alsace- Lorraine element in the division were numerous.

78th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │78 Res. │258 Res. │78 Res. │258 Res. │ │259 Res. │ │259 Res. │ │260 Res. │ │260 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │78 Res. Cav. Detch. │78 Res. Cav. Detch. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │78 Res. Brig.: │78 Res. Brig.: │ 61 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 61 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ 62 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 62 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│78 Res. Pion. Co. │78 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │78 Res. Pont. Engs. │2 Landst. Pion. Co. (2 C. │ │ Dist.). │ │278 T. M. Co. │ │78 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │78 Res. Train Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │78 Res. Cyclist Co. │78 Res. Cyclist Co. │ │83 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[26] ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │78 Res. │258 Res. │78 Res. │258 Res. │ │259 Res. │ │259 Res. │ │260 Res. │ │260 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt. │78 Res. Cav. Detch. │ │2 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │78 Art. Command: │(?) Art. Command: │ 62 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │ 62 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│378 Pion. Btn.: │79 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ 79 Res. Pion. Co. │80 Res. Pion. Co. │ │ │ 80 Res. Pion. Co. │299 Searchlight Section. │ 278 T. M. Co. (299 │278 T. M. Co. │ Searchlight Section). │ │ 478 Tel. Detch. │478 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │540 Ambulance Co. │540 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │107 Res. Field Hospital. │106 Res. Field Hospital. │108 Res. Field Hospital. │107 Res. Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │108 Res. Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │745 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │78 Res. Cyclist Co. │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────── Footnote 26:

Composition at the time of dissolution.

HISTORY.

(258th Regiment: 8th Corps District—Rhenish Province. 259th Regiment: 10th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Oldenberg. 260th Regiment: 10th Corps District—Hanover.)

1915.

The 78th Reserve Division which, with the 77th Reserve Division, constituted the 39th Reserve Corps as one of the reserve divisions created during the winter of 1914–15. One of its regiments—the 258th—grew out of three field battalions of the 8th Corps Region (Nos. 40–42) and the 259th and the 260th out of six field battalions (Nos. 49–54) of the 10th Corps District. All three regiments were trained at the Alten-Grabow cantonment (4th Corps District).

RUSSIA.

1. In action on the Russian front to the north of Grodno, near Simno, Kalvariia and Suwalki in March, 1915, it took part in the Courland raid (region of Chavli) in May. It was engaged in the operations on the Dubissa to the northeast of Rossieny from the end of May to the middle of July.

2. In July, with the Army of Niemen (Beulow) it took part in the offensive against Russia, occupied the region of Poneviej, to the west of Kupichki (August) arrived before Dvinsk in September and held a position near the Illukst (September-December).

1916.

COURLAND.

1. The 78th Reserve Division remained in the Illukst (region of Dvinsk) during the whole year 1916 and until the month of April, 1917.

1917.

COURLAND.

1. Relieved from the Illukst region on April 14, 1917, the division was transferred to the Western Front. It entrained on April 15 (itinerary: Kovno-Wirballen-Allenstein-Posen-Leipzig-Nuremberg-Karlsruhe-Friberg- Muelheim) and detrained near Mulhausen on the 19th.

FRANCE (ALSACE).

2. On April 25 it went into line in the Burnhaupt sector to the north of the Rhône-Rhine Canal.

AISNE-AILETTE.

3. Relieved on May 11, it was sent into the Aisne. For 10 weeks it occupied (May 23-Aug. 5) the sector south of the Ailette, where it did not participate in any action of importance. Beginning with June 19 it made a series of local attacks in which the 258th Regiment suffered some fairly big losses (especially on June 20, to the east of Vauxaillon).

VERDUN.

4. Sent toward the Verdun front as a reserve at the time of the French offensive of August 20, it was engaged to the north of Caurières (southwest of the Ornes) on September 10. On September 13 it executed a counterattack and continued to occupy this difficult sector until the middle of October.

LORRAINE.

5. Withdrawn from Verdun, the division immediately went into line along the banks of the Seille (between Cheminot and Abaucourt) on October 14. Its stay in Lorraine was devoid of any particular event.

HAYE.

6. Toward the middle of December it was withdrawn from the Abaucourt sector and put at rest for instruction in the region of Chambley-Mars la Tour (Dec. 18 to Jan. 11, 1918), then sent to Seicheprey toward the middle of January. It was identified as still there on March 29.

RECRUITING.

One of the three regiments, the 258th, was Rhenish; the 259th was an “Oldenberger” Regiment, while the 260th was a Hanoverian and Brunswickian organization, terms found in documents, as well as the designation Lower Saxony, a more general term.

The neighboring corps districts (7th, Westphalia, and 9th, Schleswig- Holstein) were occasionally called upon for replacements.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 78th Reserve Division showed up well on the Eastern Front and on the French front.

After a hard stay opposite Verdun, the division seems to have gone through a moral crisis; relatively high number of desertions took place in the 258th, and especially in the 259th Regiment. The intention of the High Command in sending the division into Lorraine (October-December, 1917) is said to have been done with an idea of giving its chiefs an opportunity of getting their units well in hand again.

Nevertheless, the vigorous command and the fairly high number of effectives, taken for the greater part from the younger classes, make the 78th Reserve Division a combat division worthy of consideration. At Jonville at the end of December, 1917, the division took part in assault practice.

It is to be noted that a certain number of recruits were from Alsace and Lorraine.

1918.

CHATEAU THIERRY.

1. The division was relieved in the Woevre about May 11 by the 8th Bavarian Reserve Division. It came into line on June 4 west of Dammard (Ourcq region). It was engaged until about July 20 and then withdrawn.

2. The division was disbanded at Montcornet on August 12. The 259th Reserve Regiment was broken up and one battalion of it sent to each regiment of the 2d Guard Division. The 260th Reserve Regiment was turned as a draft to the 20th Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. After about two weeks of heavy fighting on the Marne salient, the division was dissolved.

79th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │79 Res. │261 Res. │79 Res. │261 Res. │ │262 Res. │ │262 Res. │ │263 Res. │ │263 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │79 Res. Cav. Detch. │79 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │79 Res. Brig.: │79 Res. Brig.: │ 63 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 63 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 64 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 64 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│79 Res. Pion. Co. │79 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │79 Res. Pont. Engs. │83 Res. Pion. Co. │ │279 T. M. Co. │ │79 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │79 Res. Train Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │79 Res. Cyclist Co. │79 Res. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │79 Res. │261 Res. │79 Res. │261 Res. │ │262 Res. │ │262 Res. │ │263 Res. │ │263 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt. │3 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │79 Art. Command: │79 Art. Command: │ 63 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │ 63 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ │ 2 Abt. 20 Ft. A. Rgt. (6 and │ │ 8 Btries.). │ │ 718 Light Am. Col. │ │ 719 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1354 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│379 Pion. Btn.: │379 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 81 Res. Pion. Co. │ 81 Res. Pion. Co. │ 1 Ers. Co. 24 Pions. │ 1 Ers. Co. 24 Pions. │ 279 T. M. Co. │ 25 Searchlight Section. │ 40 Res. Searchlight Section.│479 Signal Command: │ 50 Searchlight Sections. │ 479 Tel. Detch. │ 51 Searchlight Section. │ 64 Wireless Detch. │ 79 Searchlight Sections. │ │ 79 Res. Pont. Engs. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │541 Ambulance Co. │541 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │110 Field Hospital. │110 Res. Field Hospital. │111 Field Hospital. │111 Res. Field Hospital. │112 Field Hospital. │164 Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │746 M. T. Col. │746 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(261st and 262d Reserve Regiments: Entire Prussian territory by selection, in the same manner as the Guard. 263d Reserve Regiment: 4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony.)

1915.

EASTERN PRUSSIA.

1. The 79th Reserve Division was one of the divisions formed in the winter of 1914–15, and, with the 80th Reserve Division, formed the 40th Reserve Corps. It grew out of six field battalions of the Guard and three field battalions. (Nos. 19–21) of the 4th Corps District. It was trained at the Doeberitz cantonment and sent to Eastern Prussia at the beginning of February, 1915, where it took part in the battle of the Masure Lakes from the 7th to the 17th.

RUSSIA.

2. It was identified in the vicinity of Lyck on February 13, as marching toward Augustowo on the 14th and to the south of the Forest of Augustowo on the 24th.

POLAND.

3. From the end of February until the end of March it was engaged on the Bobr, to the north of the Fortess of Ossoviec. At the end of March, having come back in the northeast, it held the passes in the lakes to the east of Suwalki-Augustowo.

4. At the beginning of May the 40th Reserve Corps advanced toward Kalwaria-Mariampol.

KOVNO.

5. On June 9 the 79th Reserve Division appeared before Kovno; it took part in the siege and the taking of this town (July-Aug. 18).

SMORGONI.

6. The offensive against the Russians took it through Ochmiana (?) to the south of Smorgoni (Aug. 27). The division took a position in this region.

SMORGONI-KREVO.

7. The division occupied the Krevo-Smorgoni (south of Vilna) sector from the end of August, 1915, until some time in November, 1916.

1916.

RUSSIA-FRANCE.

1. Relieved from the Smorgoni sector at the end of November, 1916, the 79th Division was transferred to the Western Front. It entrained at Mitau (Itinerary: Chavli-Grodno-Bielostok-Varsovie-Lodz-Kalisz-Glogau- Cottbus-Halle-Paderborn-Duesseldorf-Aix la Chapelle-Herbesthal-Liege- Louvain-Brussels) and detrained at Ascq (east of Lille) on December 10.

LILLE.

2. Remained there at rest.

1917.

LA BASSEE.

1. About January 10, 1917, it took over the La Bassee-Vermelles sector (up to Jan. 28).

LENS-VIMY.

2. At the end of February it appeared in the Lens sector and on March 3 on the Vimy front. On April 9 it was sorely tried by the British attack on the heights of Vimy, where it lost 1,660 prisoners.

3. It was relieved about April 14 and put at rest.

LILLE.

4. On May 3 the division entered the line again in the quiet sector to the southwest of Lille (between Boutillerie and Fauquissart). It stayed there until July 8.

FLANDERS.

5. After a few days rest at Templeuve it was transferred to Flanders, where it was again at rest (east of Bruges) (July).

LANGEMARCK.

6. At the beginning of the British offensive at Ypres (July 31) it was brought to Langemarck as a “counterattack” division. Engaged on August 6 it suffered very heavy losses and abandoned Langemarck during the attack of the 16th. It was relieved on the 16th, having lost 75 per cent of its strength. It was put at rest east of Cambrai and reorganized.

ST. QUENTIN.

7. On September 1 it took over the sector northwest of St. Quentin (Pontruet-Gricourt), which it occupied until November 28.

CAMBRAI.

8. On November 21, by reason of the British offensive, it hastily put two battalions in action at Masnières.

9. At the beginning of December the 79th Reserve Division went into line to the east of Gouzeaucourt. It was relieved in January, 1918, reappeared on the front at the beginning of February near Gonnelieu, and went back to rest at the end of the month.

RECRUITING.

The 261st and 262d Regiments were taken from depots of the Guard and were recruited like the latter, from all sections of Prussia. The 263d Regiment was a “Magdeberg” unit (Prussian Saxony).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 79th Division, already sorely tried at Vimy in April, was much used at Ypres in August, 1917.

The 261st and 262d Regiments were completely demoralized during the British attack and fled to the rear. According to an officer this panic was due to the lack of combat spirit displayed by the 1918 class, which made up an important part of the strength of the soldiers engaged.

It arrived in a very worn out condition in the St. Quentin sector and left it on November 28 with nearly full strength and replacement of material. It should (December, 1917) be capable of putting forth an appreciable effort.

The soldiers from Alsace and Lorraine, formerly numerous in this division, were withdrawn from this unit when it was sent to the French front. Ninety-three of them remained in the 252d Regiment, who were mostly sent to the Eastern Front on July 3, 1917 (German order).

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division reenforced the Somme battle front on March 21 near Ronssoy. It advanced west of Epehy on March 22 and was withdrawn to second line a day later. It followed up the advance and took part in the attack near Meaulte on April 5, after which it was withdrawn.

BAILLEUL.

2. It rested in Belgium for five weeks, and on May 26 entered the line northwest of Bailleul. It was relieved on the night of June 19–20.

3. The division rested in Roubaix area until July 20, when it was transferred by rail to Tergnier (west of La Fere) and then marched to Guny, west of Coucy le Chateau, where it remained in army reserve. On August 8 the division was alarmed, and at mid-day was transferred in motor busses via Chauny-Ham-Nesle to Rethonvillers, arriving before dawn on the 9th. It came into action on the following day at 4 kilometers northeast of Andechy.

SCARPE-SOMME.

4. At once the division was heavily engaged with all nine battalions in line. On the 13th its place was taken by the 121st Division, and it rested for three or four days in the area southwest of Nesle. On the 16th the division relieved the 204th Division on the line east of Goyencourt-Hill 81, west of Roye-Avre. It was heavily engaged in opposing the French attacks until August 31, when it was withdrawn east of Roye.

5. On September 5 the division relieved the Alpine Corps at Epenancourt. It fell back in a northeasterly direction by Atilly, southeast of Vermand, southeast of Maissemy, Pontruet, and Gricourt. It was relieved about October 8 after losing 2,200 prisoners in August and September.

SCARPE.

6. When relieved, the division went to the Fres-Sancourt area (north of St. Gobain), where it was in reserve. About the 14th it was taken to La Ferte-Chevresis to construct rear positions. It was moved in trucks on the 18th by Sains-Richaumont-Wiege-Villers les Guise-Iron near Etreux. It went into line on the evening of the 18th, relieving elements of the 81st Division. It was engaged until the armistice. The line of retreat was through Boue, Boulogne, Avesnes, Sobre le Chateau. In the last place it was identified on November 10.

At the end the effective strength of the division was greatly diminished, although it had received drafts from the dissolved 201st and 202d Regiments.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Throughout 1918 the division was extensively used in important defensive sectors, in which it did fairly well.

80th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │80 Res. │264 Res. │80 Res. │264 Res. │ │265 Res. │ │266 Res. │ │266 Res. │ │34 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │80 Res. Cav. Detch. │80 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │80 Res. Brig.: │80 Res. Brig.: │ 65 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 65 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ 66 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 66 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│80 Res. Pion. Co. │80 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │80 Res. Pont. Engs. │281 T. M. Co. │ │80 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │80 Res. Train Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │80 Res. Cyclist Co. │80 Res. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │80 Res. │264 Res. │80 Res. │34 Res. │ │266 Res. │ │264 Res. │ │34 Res. │ │266 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt. │4 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │74 Art. Command: │74 Art. Command: │ 66 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │ 66 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.) │ │ │ 3 Abt. 27 Ft. A. Rgt. (8 and │ │ 10 Btries.) │ │ 899 Light Am. Col. │ │ 900 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1370 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(380) Pion. Btn.: │380 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 82 Res. Pion. Co. │ 82 Res. Pion. Co. │ 83 Res. Pion. Co. │ 83 Res. Pion. Co. │ 280 T. M. Co. │ 280 T. M. Co. │ 308 Searchlight Section. │ 96 Searchlight Section. │ 480 Tel. Detch. │ 240 Searchlight Section. │ │480 Signal Command: │ │ 480 Tel. Detch. │ │ 24 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │542 Ambulance Co. │542 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │59 Res. Field Hospital. │113 Res. Field Hospital. │114 Res. Field Hospital. │114 Res. Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │165 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │T. M. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(264th Regiment; 4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony and part of Thuringia. 266th Regiment, 9th Corps District—Grand Duchies of Mecklenberg. 34th Regiment, 2d Corps District—Pomerania.)

1915.

EASTERN PRUSSIA.

1. Organized during the winter of 1914–15, this division and the 79th Reserve Division formed the 40th Reserve Corps. The 80th Reserve Division was formed out of three field battalions of the 4th Corps District (Nos. 22–24) and six field battalions (Nos. 43–48) of the 9th Corps District. After training at the Lockstedt cantonment it was sent to Eastern Prussia at the beginning of February, 1915. There it took part in the battle of the Lakes of Masura from the 7th to the 17th.

POLAND.

2. From the end of February to the beginning of March it was actively engaged in the region of the fortress of Ossoviec and took part in combats along the Polish frontier before the Russian retreat in Eastern Prussia. In March it was brought back to the frontier of Eastern Prussia and fought in the zone of the Suvalki government until July. It exchanged the 265th Regiment for the 34th Regiment.

SMORGONI.

3. At the time of the Summer offensive the division participated in the taking of Kovno (Aug. 18), fought on the Niémen (Aug. 19, Sept. 8th) and entered Vilna. It occupied the new front in the region of Smorgoni and held this sector until March, 1916.

1916.

NAROTCH LAKE.

1. In March, 1916, the division opposed the Russian offensive on the Narotch Lake front and occupied this sector until the month of December.

FRANCE.

2. On December 23 it entrained for the Western Front. (Itinerary: Lyntuny (northeast of Vilna)-Vilna-Kovno-Koenigsberg-Danzig-Stettin- Hamberg-Hanover-Cologne-Aix la Chapelle-Liège-Mons.) It detrained at Douai on the 29th and 30th of December and was put at rest at Waziers (northeast of Douai) until the middle of January, 1917.

1917.

ARTOIS.

1. January 18, 1917, it went into line before Neuve Chapelle (north of the canal of la Bassée).

2. Relieved at about the beginning of March, it took over a sector to the south of Lens (Mar. 14). Obliged to fall back to the Méricourt-Avion line after the capture of the heights of Vimy by the British troops (Apr. 9), it suffered serious losses in the course of that operation.

FLANDERS.

3. On May 16 it was relieved from the Lens front and sent to rest in the region of Trent until May 29.

4. From May 29 to June 22 it held the Boesinghe-Wieltje sector, where it took part in no engagements.

MEUSE.

5. After resting, in July, in the region of Sedan-Montmédy, the 80th Reserve Division was brought (July 20) as a reserve to the left bank of the Meuse, and at the beginning of August to the right bank (region of Juvigny-Jametz-Etraye).

VERDUN.

6. On August 14 it drew near the front and on August 20 reenforced, near Hill 344, the units strained by the French attack. On the 23d it sustained very heavy losses and gave up the counter attack.

CHAMPAGNE.

7. At the beginning of September the division entrained for Champagne. It occupied the Tahure sector the first half of September.

ARGONNE.

8. At the beginning of October it took over the Boureuilles-Vauquois sector, which it left on January 23, 1918, going to the Semide cantonment for training.

RECRUITING.

The 264th Regiment was recruited in the 4th Corps District and is sometimes called an Altenberg regiment. The 266th Regiment is a Mecklenberg unit. The 34th Regiment is Pomeranian in theory with a fairly heterogeneous make-up like the greater number of the units from Pomerania.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 80th Reserve Division, which seems to have had a high morale while opposite the English front, did not come up to expectations on August 20, 1917, while opposite Verdun. It proved incapable of counter attacking. It is reported that there were desertions and mutiny among the men which resulted in the relieving of the general commanding the brigade and of the commanding officer of the 264th Regiment.

The 34th Regiment was completely exhausted during the attacks of August 20.

In Argonne the losses of this division were very slight. At the Semide cantonment (Jan. 23 to Feb. 20, 1918) the division went through various maneuvers connected with open warfare.

1918.

1. The division was relieved in the Vauquois sector by the 237th Division from Russia about March 18. It rested and trained until March 27, when it traveled by St. Quentin-Ham-Roye to the vicinity of Moreuil.

PICARDY.

2. It reenforced the battle front north of Sauvillers on April 3, but was withdrawn on the 7th and rested at Ribemont. Losses were heavy during the brief engagement of the division.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. The division relieved the 14th Bavarian Division on April 21–22 in the sector Cornillet-Mont Blond. It remained there until the July 15 offensive, but did not take part in that action. On July 27 it returned to line near Moronvilliers and held that sector until August 22.

AILETTE-AISNE.

4. It marched to Paris and went into line there. Two days later it was hastily relieved and marched to Chavignon. It entered line on the night of September 2–3 northwest of Crouy. It was withdrawn on September 21.

CHAMPAGNE.

5. The division returned to Champagne and relieved the 213th Division on September 27 at Loivre. It was engaged near Orainville, Aumenancourt, Pont Givart until October 11. It was again in line on October 17 at Nanteuil sur Aisne. It continued in line until the end of hostilities. The last identification was near Wasigny on November 7.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. In general, it was used to hold less important defensive sectors.

81st Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │81 Res. │267 Res. │81 Res. │267 Res. │ │268 Res. │ │268 Res. │ │269 Res. │ │269 Res. │ │ │ │39 Ldw. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │81 Res. Cav. Detch. │81 Res. Cav. Detch. │4 Sqn. 7 Drag. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │81 Res. Brig.: │81 Res. Brig.: │ 67 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 67 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ 68 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 68 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│81 Res. Pion. Co. │81 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │81 Res. Pont. Engs. │84 Res. Pion. Co. │ │281 T. M. Co. │ │81 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │81 Res. Train Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │81 Res. Cyclist Co. │81 Res. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │47 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │81 Res. │267 Res. │81 Res. │267 Res. │ │268 Res. │ │268 Res. │ │269 Res. │ │269 Res. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │81 Res. (?) Cav. Detch. │2 Sqn. 1 Drag. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │(?) F. A. Rgt. │ 67 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │2 Abt. 26 Ft. A. Rgt. (4 and │ Btries.). │ 6 Btries.). │ │980 Light Am. Col. │ │ │ │1019 Light Am. Col. │ │1034 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(381) Pion. Btn.: │41 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 84 Res. Pion. Co. │ 84 Res. Pion. Co. │ 85 Res. Pion. Co. │ 85 Res. Pion. Co. │ 95 T. M. Co. │ 281 T. M. Co. │ 281 T. M. Co. │ 56 Searchlight Section. │ 14 Res. Searchlight Section.│481 Signal Command: │ 360 Searchlight Section. │ 481 Tel. Detch. │ 481 Tel. Detch. │ 137 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │543 Ambulance Co. │543 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │120 Res. Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │302 Field Hospital. │ │220 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │81 Res. Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(267th Regiment: 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 268th Regiment: 6th Corps District—Silesia. 269th Regiment: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg.)

1915.

The 81st Reserve Division was formed out of six field battalions of the 2d Corps District (Nos. 7–12) and three field battalions (Nos. 13–15) of the 3d Corps District. The first six were used to form the 267th and the 268th and the last named three were used to form the 269th Regiment. The division was instructed at the Warthe cantonment (5th Corps District) before being sent to the Western Front.

1. The 81st Reserve Division (with the 82d Reserve Division it constituted the 41st Reserve Corps), was transported to Belgium and detrained at Courtrai January 21, 1915.

SOMME.

2. Sent to the Somme district, it was engaged to the north of Chaulnes (Jan. 27-Mar. 28).

3. At the end of March the division was sent toward the Eastern Front.

GALICIA-RUSSIA.

The division was found on the Galician front in May (Jaslo, May 9); took part in operations on the San, near Jaroslav (between San and the Jaroslav-Przeworsk railway on May 15) then on the Bug (region of Krylov in July). Going down the Bug by Vladova (August) it advanced up to the west of Logitchin and the Oginsky Canal (north of Pinsk) in September. The front becoming fixed, the division established itself in that region.

1916.

PINSK.

1. The 81st Reserve Division stayed for more than two years in the Oginski-Iasälda Canal sector (Sept., 1915-Dec., 1917).

2. At the beginning of July, 1916, the 269th Regiment was identified between the Styr and the Stokhod, doubtlessly as a reserve for the units engaged against the Russian offensive.

1917.

RUSSIA-FRANCE.

1. In December, 1917, the division was relieved from its sector to the north of Pinsk and transported to the Western Front. It entrained on December 20 at Ivanovo (Itinerary: Soldau-Bromberg-Schneide-Muehl- Berlin-Sarrebruck-Sedan-Cambrai), and detrained at Lille on December 26. After resting in the vicinity of Lille it went into line to the south of Fleurbaix (Jan. 24–25, 1918). It again occupied the same sector at the beginning of April.

RECRUITING.

The 267th and the 268th Regiments were originally Pomeranian and became quite heterogeneous like all regiments from this province. The 268th Regiment was in theory recruited in Silesia which contributes to a maintenance of the mixed character of its personnel. The 269th is a Brandenburg unit.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

On the Eastern Front from May, 1915, to the end of December, 1917.

1918.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

1. The division was relieved on the night of April 8–9 by the 35th Division at Neuve Chapelle. It moved northward and on the 12th reenforced the battle front south of Meteren. In the attacks in this area the 268th and 269th Reserve Regiments suffered heavy losses. It was relieved by the 11th Reserve Division on April 28.

METEREN.

2. On May 18 the division returned to its former sector at Meteren. It held this sector until May 28, and again from June 6 to 12 and from June 18 to July 19.

LORRAINE.

3. It entrained on the 22d at Roubaix and detrained at Haboudange on the 24th. The itinerary was Courtrai-Ghent-Louvain-Liege-Herbestal- Gerolstein-Treves-Sarreguemines. After several days of rest near Chateau Salins it relieved the 19th Division on the night of July 28–29. It held this quiet sector until October 5, when it was relieved by the 87th Division.

4. It entrained on the 6th and detrained at Guise about October 8. On the night of the 10th–11th it came into line near Seboncourt and was heavily engaged until October 20, when it was withdrawn east of Bohain. The division suffered heavy losses in this engagement.

5. On October 26 the division reenforced the line south of Guise and fought until the armistice. The last identification was south of Guise on November 3.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its services in Flanders was of a mediocre character. In the St. Quentin area in October it put up a good resistance.

82d Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │82 Res. │60. │82 Res. │270 Res. │ │270 Res. │ │271 Res. │ │271 Res. │ │272 Res. │ │272 Res. │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │82 Res. Cav. Detch. │82 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │82 Res. Brig.: │82 Res. Brig.: │ 69 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 69 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ 70 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 70 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│84 Res. Pion. Co. │86 Res. Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │82 Res. Pont. Engs. │82 Res. Pont. Engs. │ │282 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │82 Res. Train Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │82 Res. Cyclist Co. │82 Res. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │40 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │82 Res. │270 Res. │82 Res. │270 Res. │ │271 Res. │ │271 Res. │ │272 Res. │ │272 Res. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │82 Res. Cav. Detch. │3 Sqn. 1 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │70 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 69 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │1 Abt. 18 Ft. A. Rgt. (2, 3, │ Btries.). │ and 13 Btries.). │ │755 Light Am. Col. │ │ │ │1224 Light Am. Col. │ │1225 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(382) Pion. Btn.: │382 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 86 Res. Pion. Co. │ 348 Pion. Co. │ 246 Pion. Co. │ 86 Res. Pion. Co. │ 282 T. M. Co. │ 106 Searchlight Section. │ 287 Searchlight Section. │482 Signal Command: │ Tel. Detch. │ 482 Tel. Detch. │ │ 174 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │544 Ambulance Co. │544 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │118 Res. Field Hospital. │115 Res. Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │119 Res. Field Hospital. │ │221 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │749 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │82 Res. Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │46 Labor Btn. │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(270th Regiment: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg. 271st and 272d Regiments: 6th Corps District—Silesia.)

1915.

1. Formed during November, 1914-January, 1915, with three field battalions of the 3d Corps District and six of the 6th Corps District (Nos. 25–30) it was trained at the Jueterbog cantonment. The 82d Reserve Division (which with the 81st Reserve Division formed the 41st Reserve Corps) entrained on January 21 for the Somme. It included an additional regiment—the 60th Infantry—which the 21st Corps had left in France before leaving for Russia.

SOMME.

2. It was engaged in February and March, 1915, to the north of Chaulnes.

3. About March 28 it was transferred to the Eastern Front minus the 60th Infantry, which joined the 121st Division.

GALICIA-RUSSIA.

4. In May, 1915, the 82d Reserve Division as well as the 81st Reserve Division took part in the German offensive along the San, which resulted in the breaking up of the Russian front in Galicia. It was identified in region of Jaslo (May 9) to the south of Radymno (May 12–21) and at Medyka (June 4). Its pursuit of the Russians brought it together with the 41st Reserve Corps to the Bug, in the vicinity of Grubeszow (July) and to the northeast of Pinsk (September-October). During that offensive the division suffered heavy losses.

PINSK.

5. The Russian retreat being halted, the 82d Reserve Division took its position in the Pinsk region (Nobel Lake, October-December).

1916.

PINSK-NOBEL LAKE.

1. The division remained the entire year in the Nobel Lake sector and up to November, 1917. A soldier of the 270th Regiment wrote on November 8, 1917: “I have not loaded my gun since the middle of March.”

1917.

RUSSIA-FRANCE.

1. In November, 1917, the 82d Reserve Division was relieved by some Landsturm units and re-formed (elimination of soldiers from Alsace and Lorraine, etc.).

2. At the beginning of December the division was transported to the Western Front.

3. The division entrained at Ivanovo on December 4 (Itinerary: Brest- Litowsk-Varsovie-Kalisz-Glogau-Cottbus-Halle-Frankfort-Mainz-Kreuznach- Sarrebrueck-Metz-Conflans) and detrained at Mars la Tour about December 10.

RECRUITING.

In theory Brandenburg and Silesia. Very mixed personnel, seemingly including men from Pomerania and the eastern Provinces of the Empire.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In January, 1918, the 82d Reserve Division took part in maneuvers in the vicinity of Thuméréville (northwest of Conflans). After these maneuvers Lieut. Gen. Fuchs is said to have said that the division could be put in class 3 of the combat units (Kampf Truppen, 3) a classification which is just above that of labor troops. (Interrogation of prisoner, Mar. 4, 1918. See Bull. Rens. Second Army (French), No. 744.)

The make-up of the division is heterogeneous and of mediocre quality and includes returned wounded men, Landsturm, former railway guards, dismounted troopers, and few recruits of the 1918 class. (Interrogation, Jan. 22, 1918.)

After a two-year stay in the Pinsk sector the 82d Reserve Division lacked training when it returned on the Western Front (December, 1917).

1918.

CANTIGNY.

1. The division was relieved on April 20 in the Woevre and marched by Conflans-Briey-Mairy to Landres, where it entrained. It moved via Longuyon-Mezieres-Hirson and arrived at Wassigny, where it detrained on May 5. On May 16 the division relieved the 30th Division west of Cantigny. It was thrown out of the city by the American attack at the end of the month. The division was withdrawn about July 22.

THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

2. To reenforce the Somme battle front the division came into line on August 9 between Hangest and Arvillers. It was withdrawn on the 18th northwest of Roye, but a week later returned to its former sector. The division fell back on the Canal du Nord on August 27, and on September 2 took up a position between the Chaulnes-Ham railroad and a point north of Moyencourt. It again retreated on the night of September 4–5 and occupied a position at Etreillers-Roupy before the Siegfried-Stellung.

The division was constantly engaged, resisting strongly, but being gradually forced back. On the 28th it retired to the line of the St. Quentin Canal. On October 8, a surprise attack threw it back to Fontaine Notre Dame. Here it resisted fiercely. It was relieved about October 10 and went to the Guise area.

In this fighting the division lost 2,000 men. Its combatant strength was estimated to be about 1,200 men on October 7.

3. On October 14 the division reenforced the line east of Bernot and fought for three days. It returned to the Guise area, but intervened again west of Pleine-Selve on October 25. Until the armistice it was engaged south of Guise, east of La Capelle, and at Liessies.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. After August it was almost constantly in line in the St. Quentin area until its effectives were almost completely consumed.

83d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │Doussin (1 │1 Garrison │165. │329. │ Garrison │ Rgt. (329). │ │ │ Brig., now │ │ │ │ 165). │ │ │ │Rudiger (2 │2 Garrison │ │330. │ Garrison │ Rgt. (330). │ │ │ Brig., now │ │ │ │ 166). │ │ │ │ │ │166. │331. │ │3 Garrison │ │332. │ │ Rgt. (331). │ │ │ │4 Garrison │ │ │ │ Rgt. (332). │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │2 Sqn. 92 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Von Conta F. A. Rgt. (Ers. │249 F. A. Rgt. │ Abt. 61 F. A. Rgt.). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │83 T. M. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │83 Pont. Engs. │ │83 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │165. │329. │165. │255 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │330. │ │4 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │331. │ │346. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │83 Heavy Cav. Rgt. │3 Sqn. 11 Drag. Rgt. │2 Sqn. 92 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │80 Art. Command: │ │ │ 249 F. A. Rgt. │ 249 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 3 Abt. 28 Ft. A. Rgt. (7th │ │ to 9th Btries.). │ │ 796 Light Am. Col. │ │ 798 Light Am. Col. │ │ 951 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│83 Pion. Btn.: │83 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Ldw. Co. 1 Pions. │ 1 Ldw. Co. 1 C. Dist. Pions. │ 246 Pion. Co. │ 1 Ldw. Co. 5 C. Dist. Pions. │ 83 T. M. Co. │ 123 Searchlight Section. │ 316 Searchlight Section. │83 Signal Command: │ 83 Tel. Detch. │ 83 Tel. Detch. │ │ 185 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │83 Ambulance Co. │83 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │49 Field Hospital. │49 Field Hospital. │165 Field Hospital. │165 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │83 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │581 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │26 Bav. Ft. A. Btn. (1, 2, │ │ and 4 Btries.). │ │3 Abt. 5 Ft. A. Rgt. (6, 10, │ │ and 11 Btries.). │ │1 Art. Observation Section. │ │121 Sound Ranging Section. │ │8 Bav. Pion. Co. │ │4 Co. 10 Labor Btn. │ │2 Co. 35 Labor Btn. │ │77 Balloon Sqn. │ │(Elements attached, Aug. 14, │ │ 1918. German document.) ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(329th and 331st Regiment: 5th Corps District—Posen and Lower Silesia. 330th Regiment: 7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1915.

The 83d Division was formed out of the garrison of defense of Posen which went under the name of Posen Corps. It was engaged on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the war.

The Posen Corps composed of depot battalions of active regiments, of reserve, of Landwehr, and even battalions of Landsturm, was divided into four brigades. Its strength was distributed into two divisions, the 83d and 84th, in June, 1915, and the battalions, which were at first formed into regiments bearing the names of the respective commanders of these regiments, were numbered 329 to 336, inclusive.

RUSSIA-POLAND.

1. From March to June, with the Posen Corps, the regiments which were to form the 83d Reserve Division took part in the Poland campaign to the north of Pilica and on the Bzura.

VICHNEV.

2. The 83d Division took part in the summer offensive against the Russians. Leaving the Ostrolenka region (July) it advanced by way of Grodno, Lipnichki (northeast of Lida, September) up to Vichnev (October), where it established its position.

1916.

VICHNEV.

1. The division stayed in the Vichnev sector during the entire year 1916 and until the month of April, 1917.

1917.

1. About the middle of April, 1917, the 83d Division was transferred from Vichnev to Baranovitchi, where it was held some time as a reserve and then to the northeast of Halicz, from which place it was transported by automobiles to the Stanislau region (June 5).

GALICIA.

2. At the beginning of July it was attacked by the Russians to the west of Stanislau (serious losses on July 9, particularly 690 prisoners). It afterwards took part in the German counteroffensive and advanced through the Dniester valley up to the west of Chotin (beginning of August.)

3. Relieved about the middle of September, the 83d Reserve Division was sent to rest in the Czernovitz region and then put back in line to the northeast of Bojan (October-November).

4. At the end of November the division left the Bojan sector and became a reserve for the Bothmer Army in back of the Czernovitz front. Before leaving for the Western Front the 4th Division had sent it men from Alsace and Lorraine (middle of December when the 36th Division had left the former some months before.)

RECRUITING.

Recruiting was mostly from Posen and Silesia with some support from Westphalia and the Rhine Province. Coming from Galicia as late as March, 1918, the 83d Division could not come without the soldiers coming from Alsace and Lorraine which other divisions which had left before had transferred to it.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Mediocre division, formed to the extent of one third by older men. Appears for the first time on the Western Front in April, 1918.

1918.

YPRES.

1. The division held the sector north of Ypres until July 18. After its relief it rested a few days in Roulers and then entrained at Lichterfelde for the Douai area. On August 16 it traveled via Cambrai and detrained near Ruyanlcourt. Here it spent the night, moving up to Flers the next morning. The division came into line on the 19th, when it relieved the 3d Naval Division north of Albert.

SCARPE-SOMME.

2. It was engaged at Thiepval, Bazentin le Grand, Courcelette, and Martinpuich until about April 26, when it was withdrawn.

3. On September 10, the division came into line in Lorraine with an entirely new composition. It then included the 255th Reserve Regiment, the 346th Regiment, and the 4th Landwehr Regiment grouped under the brigade and divisional staff of the 83d Division. The 329th Regiment, one of the former regiments of the division, was sent to Esthonia on September 5. It had lost 700 casualties in the August fighting. The reconstructed division held the Embermenil sector until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. After its transfer to the Western Front, the division held a quiet sector except for a short time on the Scarpe in August.

84th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │Hoffmann, │5 Garrison │168. │334. │ afterward │ Rgt. (333). │ │ │ Schutze (3 │ │ │ │ Garrison │ │ │ │ Brig.) │ │ │ │ (167). │ │ │ │Reisswitz (4 │ │ │335. │ Garrison │ │ │ │ Brig.) │ │ │ │ (168). │ │ │ │ │6 Garrison │ │336. │ │ Rgt. (334). │ │ │ │7 Garrison │ │ │ │ Rgt. (335). │ │ │ │Schutze, │ │ │ │ afterwards │ │ │ │ Kroebel, │ │ │ │ Rgt. (8 │ │ │ │ Garrison │ │ │ │ Rgt. “336”).│ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │84 Cav. Rgt. (Ers. Sqns. 8 │84 Cav. Rgt. │ Drag., 3 Uhlan Rgts., and 2│ │ and 4 Landst. Sqn. 5 C. │ │ Dist.). │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │ │248 F. A. Rgt. │ │847 F. A. Btry. │ │854 F. A. Btry. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │272 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │1 Ldw. Pion. Co. (12 C. │ │ Dist.). │ │3 Landst. Pion. Co. (13 C. │ │ Dist.). │ │84 T. M. Co. │ │84 Pont. Engs. │ │84 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │1 Haguenau Landst. Inf. Btn. │ │ (21 C. Dist. Btn. No. 12). │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │168. │335. │163. │335. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │336. │ │336. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │423. │ │423. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 84 Cav. (Heavy) Rgt. │3 Sqn. 16 Drag. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │54 Art. Command: │ 248 F. A. Rgt. │ 248 F. A. Rgt. │ 903 F. A. Btry. │ 3 Abt. 25 Ft. A. Rgt. (8 to │ │ 10th Btries.). │ │ 1007 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1008 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1009 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(?) Pion. Btn.: │84 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 272 Pion. Co. │ 2 Res. Co. 1 Pions. │ │ │ 1 Ldw. Co. 12 Pions. │ 272 Pion. Co. │ │ │ 84 T. M. Co. │ 84 T. M. Co. │ 347 Searchlight Section. │ 52 Searchlight Section. │ 84 Tel. Detch. │84 Signal Command: │ │ 84 Tel. Detch. │ │ 166 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │84 (?) Ambulance Co. │84 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │21 Ldw. Field Hospital. │77 Field Hospital. │156 Field Hospital. │21 Ldw. Field Hospital. │ │156 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │1008 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │1 Anklam, Landst. Inf. Btn. │ │ (2 C. Dist. Btn. No. 1). │ │7 Posen Landst. Btn. (5 C. │ │ Dist. Btn. No. 7). │ │1 Glogau Landst. Btn. (5 C. │ │ Dist. Btn. No. 15). │ │1 Cottbus Landst. Ers. Btn. │ │ (3 C. Dist. Btn. No. 23). │ │2 Dresden Landst. Inf. Btn. │ │ (12 C. Dist. Btn. No. 2). │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(335th and 336th Regiments: 5th Corps District—Posen. 423d Regiment: 5th Corps District—Lower Silesia.)

1915.

The 84th Division with the 83d Division formed the Posen Corps and was engaged on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the war. (See 83d Division.) It was organized in June, 1915.

RUSSIA.

1. After having fought in Poland to the north of Pilica (February to June, 1915) the elements of the 84th Division operated in the region of Bleudow.

2. The 84th Division took part in the offensive against the Russians. It advanced through the region of Bug (Aug. 17), through the southeast of Bielsk (end of August) north of Slonim (September, battle from the 13th to the 18th), up to the south of Novogrodek (Sept. 22). The front having become stationary, the division took a position in the vicinity of Deliatitchi (north of the Niemen). In December it gave up the 333d Regiment of Infantry to the 89th Division, then recently organized.

1916.

RUSSIA.

1. The 84th Division stayed in the sector in the vicinity of the Niemen (Liubtcha, Deliatitchi) during the entire year 1916.

2. From July to October the 334th and 335th Regiments were detached as reenforcements between Goroditche and Baranovitchi to meet the Russian offensive.

1917.

1. In 1917 the division still occupied the same sectors along the Niemen (Deliatitchi, Negnevitchi) until its departure for the Western Front (December).

2. About the month of June the 334th Infantry was transferred to the 94th Division and replaced by the 423d Infantry, to which the former transferred some of its men.

In December the division absorbed another lot of men from the 334th Infantry and some from the Landsturm Battalion V. 15. Its strength had since November included some young men of the class of 1919.

3. At the end of December the division was transported to France. The 3d Battalion of the 423d Regiment entrained at Novogrodek on December 31. (Itinerary: Varsovie-Leipzig-Frankfort on the Main-Thionville) and detrained at Arrancy (south of Longuyon) on January 7. The 2d Battalion of the 336th Regiment entrained on December 28 and detrained at Landres on January 3.

RECRUITING.

The division was for the most part recruited from the 5th and the 7th Corps Districts. This was but slightly changed by the incorporation of the men of the Landsturm Battalion V. 15 which consisted mostly of soldiers from Brandenburg and of the addition of those belonging to the class of 1919 which came from the 4th Corps District.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 84th Division had been on the Eastern front since 1914. Its offensive value was mediocre.

On the Russian front it began to fraternize at the end of December. The Germans were only allowed to do so in the presence of their officers. In November and about December 20 the men in the division who were over 40 years of age were transferred into Landsturm battalions or into regiments staying in Russia, and replaced by young men nearly all belonging to the class of 1919 (250 to the 84th Division in November).

1918.

MONTDIDIER-NOYON.

1. The division was relieved by the 53d Reserve Division about May 1. It moved west and on May 25 relieved the 3d Bavarian Division in the Lassigny sector. It was taken out in early June and rested until the 9th, when it returned to attack at Courcelles. It again retired on June 20 and rested until July 2.

LASSIGNY.

2. On that date it was in line southeast of Belloy, where it was engaged until mid-July. It rested near Antheuil until August 12, when it reenforced the battle front south of Thiescourt. Then it was engaged until about August 22.

OISE.

3. One regiment—the 423d—entered line on the Oise on August 22 and by September 4 all the division was in line near Quierzy. It was withdrawn on September 15.

4. On September 30 the division entered line at Trouquoy and south of Sequehart. In the fighting in the first week of October the elements of the division were badly mixed with other divisions. They were taken out about October 9 and re-formed.

5. It was reengaged on October 27 in the vicinity of Sissonne and fought until the armistice. The last identification was east of Bucy les Pierrepont on November 6.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. It was a very mediocre unit, composed largely of Landsturm elements and of young recruits. It was decimated by the fighting in the fall and its morale became very bad. A contributing factor was a draft of 300 prisoners returned from Russia.

85th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │69 Ldw. │17 Ldw. │169 Ldw. │61 Ldw. │ │21 Ldw. │ │99 Ldw. │ │61 Ldw. │170 Ldw. │17 Ldw. │ │99 Ldw. │ │21 Ldw. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │85 Cav. Rgt. (4 Sqns.). │85 Cav. Rgt. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Ers. Ants. of the 36, 71, and│85 F. A. Rgt. │ 73 F. A. Rgts. │ │ │93 F. A. Rgt. │ │844 F. A. Btry. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │ Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │Zittau Landst. Inf. Btn. (12 │ │ C. Dist. No. 7). │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │170 Ldw. │17 Ldw. │169 Ldw. │17 Ldw. │ │21 Ldw. │ │21 Ldw. │ │99 Ldw. │ │99 Ldw. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 6 Cuirassier Rgt. │5 Sqn. 6 Cuir. Rgt. │(?) Sqn. 85 Cav. Rgt. │ │Ers. Sqn. 12 Dragoon Rgt. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │(?) │275 Field Artillery Rgt. │ │ │844 F. A. Btry. │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(485) Pion. Btn.: │1 Ldst. Pion. 4 Army Corps. Liaisons. │ │ │ 2 Ers. Co. 26 Pions. │585 Tel. Detch. │ 385 T. M. Co. │ │ 22 Heavy Field Searchlight │ │ Section. │ │ Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │85 Ambulance Co. │320 Field Hospital. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │181 Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │85 Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │Zittau Landst. Inf. Btn. (12 │ │ C. Dist. Btn. No. 7). │ │Osterode Landst. Inf. Btn. │ │ (20 C. Dist. Inf. Btn. No. │ │ 8). │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(17th Landwehr: 21st Corps District—Lorraine. 21st Landwehr: 17th Corps District—Western Prussia. 99th Landwehr: 15th Corps District—Alsace.)

1915.

The 85th Landwehr Division is the old Breugel Division, which at the beginning of the war, together with the Woernitz Division (86th Division), formed the Graudenz Corps (also known as the Zastrow Corps and in 1915 the 17th Reserve Corps), and operated on the Eastern Front.

RUSSIA.

1. Two of the regiments, the 17th Landwehr and the 99th Landwehr, went to the Eastern Front, the former at the beginning of the war and the latter in the spring of 1915.

POLAND.

1. Until July, 1915, the Breugel Division was engaged in Poland (Prasnysz, region of Mlawa).

2. In July it took part in the offensive against the Russians, advancing to the west of Pultusk (middle of July); besieged Novo-Georgievsk; was on the Bug (beginning of August) and near Bielsk (end of August). The 61st Landwehr entered Warsaw on August 22 and remained there during the month of September.

3. With the stabilization of the front the former Breugel, now the 85th Landwehr Division occupied the Vichnev sector (to the south of Krevo) on the Little Berezina.

1916.

VICHNEV.

1. The 85th Landwehr Division remained on the Vichnev-Deliatitchi front for more than two years (September, 1915—October, 1917). In September, 1917, it gave up the 61st Landwehr Regiment to the 217th Division, then newly organized.

1917.

VICHNEV.

1. About the 15th of October, 1917, the 85th Landwehr Division moved to the north. It left the Niemen region to go to the south of Dvinsk, near the lake of Drisviaty. In December it extended its sector toward the south (Vidzy).

RECRUITING.

The 21st Landwehr was recruited in the 17th Corps District, or more generally in western Prussia. There were numerous soldiers from Alsace and Lorraine in the division. Frequent desertions on the part of the men from Lorraine and men from the mining region of the Sarre in 1914 on the French front led to the decision which sent the 17th Landwehr to Russia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Remained a long while in quiet sectors on the Russian front. The 85th Landwehr Division had but a very mediocre combat value.

1918.

COURLAND.

1. Toward the end of January the men of the 85th Landwehr Division were still fraternizing in the Vidzy region. The 17th Landwehr Regiment was in the vicinity of Jakobstadt in April and the 99th Landwehr Regiment participated at this time in the operations in Finland.

UKRAINE.

2. Early in May the whole division, with the exception of some elements (14th Jaeger Battalion, 1st Guard Uhlan Regiment, 229th Mounted Machine Gun Co.), moved to the Polotsk region. Regiments of the division were identified in this area early in September. There was a rumor that the division had been transferred to the Western Front early in October, but this seems unlikely.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

86th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │Grossman │Reinhard │171. │341. │ (171). │ (341). │ │ │ │Krause (342). │ │342. │Windhetm │Hoebel (343). │172. │343. │ (172). │ │ │ │ │Gropp (344). │ │344. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │86 Cav. Regt. (Ers. Sqns. 11 │ │ Drag., 4 Horse Jag. Rgts., │ │ 1 Ldw. Sqn. 17 C. Dist. │ │ Cav., and Res. Ers. Sqn. 17│ │ C. Dist. Cav.) │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │86 F. A. Rgt. │86 F. A. Rgt. │ │220 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │86 T. M. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │86 Pont. Engs. │ │86 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │110 Labor Btn. Briesen │ │ Landst. Inf. Btn. (17 C. │ │ Dist. No. 1). │ │Neufahrwasser Landst. Inf. │ │ Btn. (17 C. Dist. No. 8). ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │172. │341. │172. │341. │ │ │ │ │ │343. │ │343. │ │344. │ │344. │ │ │ │ │ 4 Jag. Btn. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 7 Uhlan Rgt. │3 Sqn., 7 Uhlan Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │86 F. A. Rgt. │ 86 (?) F. A. Rgt. │404 F. Art. Btn. │ │971 Light Mun. Col. │ │973 Light Mun. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│Pion. Btn.: │86 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 3 Ers. Co. 26 Pions. │ 3 Ers. 26th Pion. │ 2 Co. 34 Res. Pions. │ 3 Pion. Btn. No. 34. │ 86 T. M. Co. │ 19th Searchlight Section. │ 328 Searchlight Section. │86 Div. Signal Command: │ Tel. Detch. │ 86 Tel. Detch. │ │ 157 Div. Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │86 Ambulance Co. │86 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │81 Field Hospital. │81 and 129 Field Hospitals. │129 Field Hospital. │182 Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │797 M. T. Col. │583 M. T. Col. │971 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │86 Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │2 Cologne Landst. Inf. Btn. │ │ (8 C. Dist. Btn. No. 15). │ │ │ │7 Munst. Landst. Inf. Btn. (7│ │ C. Dist. Btn. No. 69). │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(341st Regiment: 20th Corps District—Eastern part of Western Prussia. 343d and 344th Regiments: 17th Corps District—Western Prussia.)

1914.

The 86th Division was organized during the summer of 1915 with the elements of the Woernitz Division. The latter with the 85th Landwehr Division, constituted the Suren Corps coming from the garrisons of Graudenz, Kulm, and Marienburg, which was used on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the war. There were 11 battalions of mobile depots (active, reserve, and Landwehr) and two companies of depots of chasseurs (jaeger).

POLAND.

1. After having participated in the operations on the Polish front from September to December, 1914, the troops which were to be formed into the 86th Division were then used in the region of Mlawa (trench warfare) from the end of December, 1914, to the middle of May, 1915. Some of the units were sorely tried. At Koslau (Nov. 12 to Dec. 25), then at Prasnysz, the 4th Company of the mobile Ersatz battalion of the 18th Infantry lost 2 officers and 266 men. (Casualty Report.)

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. From July, 1915, on the Woernitz Division, now the 86th Division, took part in the German offensive and helped to break up the Russian front near Prasnysz (July 13–17). Following up its advance, it fought on the Narew after the taking of Pultusk. It took part in the battles of Ostrowo (Aug. 8–10), of Bielsk (Aug. 19–25) and on the Niemen (September).

2. When the Russian front became stationary it found itself on the Little Berezina and took a position to the east of Deliatitchi.

1916.

RUSSIA.

1. The 86th Division remained in the sector near the Little Berezina until March.

2. From the 18th of March to the 30th of April it took part in the battle of Narotch, and until the month of July, occupied the Krevo- Smorgoni sector. It then went on the Chtchara (July 9–26), opposed the Russian offensive near Kovel from July 28 to November 4 and finally established itself on the upper Styr and on the Stokhod, reduced in strength by the transfer of the 342d Regiment to the 93d Division, then just formed.

1917.

VOLHYNIA.

1. After having occupied the Stokhod front in front of Kovel until April, 1917, the 86th Division put into line on April 22, to the south of Kisselin. It remained there until January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

Division sufficiently homogeneous (Prussian Provinces) with relatively no other numerous elements from other Provinces. Having left the Russian front at a late date, the division could not leave the soldiers coming from Alsace and Lorraine behind.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 86th Division seemed to be a good division, composed of young and vigorous men (March, 1918).

On the Eastern Front it was rated as a first-class division.

1918.

VOLHYNIA.

1. The 86th Division left its sector in the Kiselin area toward the end of January. It entrained at Rogozwo on the 29th and traveled via Brest- Litowsk-Kalisch-Cottbus-Eisenach-Frankfort-Sarrebruecken-Metz-Sedan- Rethel, and detrained at Le Chatelet on the 4th of February.

RHEIMS.

2. It then marched via Neuflize-Isles-Boult-Fresnes, and entered line near Betheny (northeast of Rheims) on the 27th, when it relieved the 242d Division. It was withdrawn about the 21st of May, and went to rest near Asfeld.

3. On the evening of the 26th it left and marched toward the front; the 27th it was in reserve; on the 28th it attacked near Trigny (west of Rheims) and succeeded in advancing about 5 kilometers. On the 6th of June the 86th and 232d Divisions, supported by the 33d Reserve Division, captured the town of Bligny (southwest of Rheims), but lost it the same afternoon when the French counterattacked. The 86th Division had quite heavy losses. It was relieved on July 21 by the 50th Division and went to rest in the region northwest of Rheims.

4. On the 10th of August the division reenforced the front near Muizon (west of Rheims). It was relieved by the 10th Reserve Division on the 28th.

LAON.

5. During the night of September 18–19 it relieved the 50th Reserve Division near the Colombe farm (south of Laon). It was relieved about the 23d of October.

6. The division came back into line on November 5 in the vicinity of Marle; on the 7th it was identified northeast of Vervins; and on the 9th at Hirson.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 86th was rated as a fourth-class division. It did not participate in any of the great offensives during 1918, but it did attack vigorously on two occasions and on the whole acquitted itself better than other divisions similarly rated.

87th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │Griepenkeri. │Leimbach │173. │345. │ │ (345). │ │ │ │Runge (346). │ │346. │Normann. │Schwarz (347).│179. │347. │ │8 Landst. │ │8 Landst. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │87 Cav. Rgt. │87 Cav. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │87 F. A. Abt. │87 F. A. Rgt. │ │841 F. A. Btry. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │4 Co. 26 Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ │2 Ldw. Pion. Co. (Gd. C. │ │ Dist.). │ │87 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │ │156 Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │10 Labor Btn. │ │75 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │173. │345. │179. │345. │ │ │ │ │ │347. │ │347. │ │8 Landst. │ │3d Res. Ers. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 3 Horse. Gren. Rgt. │1 Sqn. 3 Jag. z. Pf. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command. │3 Artillery Command: │ 87 F. A. Regt. │ 38 Field Art. Rgt. │ │ 34 Ft. Art. Btn. │ │ 878 Light Mun. Col. │ │ 975 Light Mun. Col. │ │ 949 Light Mun. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│Pion. Btn.: │87 Pion. Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │ 4 Co. 26 Pions. │ 242 Pion. Co. │ │ │ 3 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │ 2 Ers. Pion. Btn. No. 26. │ 87 T. M. Co. │ 113 Searchlight Section. │ 264 Searchlight Section. │87 Div. Signal Command. │ 87 Tel. Detch. │ 87 Tel. Detch. │ │ 163 Div. Wireless. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │69 Ambulance Co. │69 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │131 Field Hospital. │131 and 132 Field Hospitals. │132 Field Hospital. │191 Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │157 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │156 Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(345th Regiment; 5th Corps District—Posen. 347th Regiment; 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 3d Reserve Ersatz Regiment; 9th Corps District—Schleswig—Holstein.)

1915.

The 87th Division as well as the 89th Division came from the Thorn Corps, which was engaged on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the war.

RUSSIA-POLAND.

1. Its battalions were made into a division at the beginning of June, 1915. Before that time the Ersatz battalions, from which it was formed, belonged to the Griepenkerl and Plantier detachments (Thorn Corps), and fought near the Polish frontier between the Vistula and Prasnysz. These were the Leimbach-Zerener regiments which became the 345th, the Runge which became the 346th and the Schwarz which became the 347th, and to which latter unit the 8th Landsturm Regiment organized in June, 1915, at the Elsenborn cantonment was joined.

2. Beginning in July the elements of the 87th Division took part in the offensive against the Russians: Battles between Drobin and the Vistula, then to the west of Pultusk; pursuit fighting up to lower Narew (July 18–22); siege of Novo-Georgievsk (Aug. 13–19); battles of Niemen (Aug. 31-Sept. 8) and of Vilna (Sept. 9–26).

3. After having fought between the Bogin and Drisviaty Lakes (Oct. 5–19), the division took up a position in that region.

1916.

DRISVIATY LAKE.

1. The 87th Division occupied the Drisviaty-Vidzy line the entire year 1916 and until the month of October, 1917.

1917.

COURLAND.

1. In October, 1917, the 87th Division relieved the 2d Division in the Illukst sector. While there it received its first reenforcements from the 1919 class.

2. Relieved from that front at the end of December, the division was brought together in the Kovno region. It got a great many men from the 23d Landwehr Division, especially from the 26th and 66th Landwehr Regiments.

RECRUITING.

This division was one of the most heterogeneous of the Prussian Army. Not only were its regiments recruited in three different Provinces, but the considerable amount of replacements received since November, 1917, were from various different regions—men from the class of 1919 from the 9th and 11th Corps Districts in November, 1917, later from the 14th Corps District; Landwehr from the 4th and 6th Corps Districts at the end of December; men from the 8th, 14th, and 18th Corps Districts (a small number) during its stay in Champagne.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 87th Division coming from Russia at the end of March seemed to have but a mediocre combat value (April, 1918).

1918.

1. The division held the quiet sector at St. Marie a Py until June 18, when it was relieved by the extension of the flanking divisions. The division up to that time had had slight losses and was available for active service.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

2. It entered line on June 22 on the Aisne front near Bouresches. During this period the division was engaged in harder fighting. In the American attack south of Torcy the division lost heavily in killed and wounded on June 25–26. Three hundred prisoners were taken on those days. It took part in the German retreat until July 26, when it was withdrawn near Charmel.

SCARPE-SOMME.

3. The division rested at Charleville until August 25. It entrained and moved to the Bapaume-Peronne area, where it was engaged on August 26–27, south of Longueval. It was pushed back by Flers (29th), les Boeufs (Aug. 31), north of Morval (Sept. 1), Le Transloy (3d), east of Manancourt and northeast of Etricourt (4th), northeast of Fins (7th), northwest of Gonzencourt (9th). It was relieved on the night of September 11–12. During this period in line the losses of the division were severe. More than 1,000 prisoners were taken from this division.

4. In spite of heavy losses it was given only a short rest at Vaucelles (south of Cambrai), and again placed in line east of Villers Guislain on September 18 for the purpose of delivering a counterattack. It was held in line at this point until about September 28, when it retired to rest at Walincourt.

LORRAINE.

5. On October 12 the division came into line southwest of Chateau Saline. It rested on that quiet front until about November 1, when it was sent north, and on November 8 came in line at Haut Bugny. The last identification was northeast of Rocquigny on November 10.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. As a sector holding unit it saw heavy service on the Marne and in Picardy.

88th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │21 Ldw. │10 Ldw. │175 Ldw. │(349) Ldw. │ │38 Ldw. │ │(350) Ldw. │1 Ldw. Ers. │4 Ldw. Ers. │176. │351. │ │5 Ldw. Ers. │ │352. │ │6 Ers. │177. │353. │ │8 Ers. │ │(354). │ │7 Ers. │ │ │ │9 Ers. │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │6 C. Dist. Field Cav. Rgt. (2│88 Cav. Rgt.(4 Sqns. ex-Field │ Sqns. of 6 Hus. Rgt. and 2 │ Cav. Rgt. 6 C. Dist.). │ Sqn. of 2 Uhlan Rgt.). │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │1 Ers. Abt. 42 F. A. Rgt. │88 F. A. Rgt. │ │223 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│1 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │6 Ldw. Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │2 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │ 88 T. M. Co. │3 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │ 88 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │ 88 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │31 Landst. Inf. Rgt. │ │111 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(352d and 353d Regiments; 6th Corps District—Silesia. 426th Regiments; 9th Corps District—Hanseatic cities.)

1915.

1. The 88th Division grew out of the war garrison of Breslau, which was made up of the 21st Brigade of Landwehr (10th and 38th Landwehr) and by Silesian and Saxon Ersatz battalions. This originally was the Breslau Corps, which after the brigade of Landwehr was taken from it, became the Menges Division. The Ersatz battalions being formed into regiments, the division then comprised three brigades—1st Landwehr Ersatz Brigade (later the Schmiedecker Brigade), Paczensky (later Buddenbrock) Brigade, and the Zenger Brigade. Its regiments bore the names 4th and 5th Landwehr Ersatz and 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th Ersatz.

RUSSIA-POLAND.

2. In April-May, 1915, the Menges Division fought on the Pilica.

3. In July it was between the Vistula and Pilica taking part in the offensive against Russia.

4. It advanced in August through the region of Narew (to the south of Pultusk, Aug. 4; to the north of Bielsk, Aug. 19). At the end of August it reached the region of Vilna; to the west of Dvinsk in September.

DRISVIATY LAKE.

5. When the front became stationary it took a position near the Drisviaty Lake (September).

6. The Menges Division became the 88th Division. The Ersatz Battalion Brigades were regrouped and distributed between six regiments, numbered 349th and 350th Landwehr, 351st, 352d, 353d, 354th Regiments of Infantry, forming in turn the 175th, 176th, and 177th Brigades.

1916.

DRISVIATY LAKE.

1. The 88th Division occupied the Drisviaty Lake sector from September, 1915, until September, 1917.

2. In July, 1916, the division was reconstituted. The 354th Regiment went to the 216th Division. In August the 349th Landwehr and the 350th Landwehr Regiments were engaged on the Stokhod with the 150th Regiment of the 37th Division.

The 88th Division was now made up of the 351st, 352d, and 353d Regiments.

1917.

DRISVIATY LAKE.

1. In May, 1917, the 123d Division gave the 88th Division the 425th Regiment in exchange for the 351st Regiment of Infantry (Saxon). At this time all the Saxon elements were out of this division and it became entirely made up of Prussian personnel.

2. Thus constituted (352d, 353d, and 425th) the 88th Division was relieved from its position near Drisviaty Lake about September. It remained in the Dvinsk region.

3 The 425th Regiment was replaced by the 426th Regiment, the latter coming from the 3d Division.

RECRUITING.

The oldest regiments of the division, the 352d and the 353d, were primarily recruited in Silesia, and the 426th in the 9th Corps District.

Members of the 1919 class were identified with the division in April, 1918.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Average.

1918.

ST. QUENTIN.

1. Early in January the division left Russia and, traveling via Kovno- Wirballen-Koenigsberg-Posen-Berlin-Trèves-Thionville, detrained at Sedan. After resting and training in the Cambrai region, it entered line in the Fresnoy sector (northwest of St. Quentin). It remained in line here, although it had two 10-day rest periods during which it was occupied only in field service training and in the usual practice marches, excepting two manœuvres with artillery. It attacked on the 21st, and although held up a day in front of Holnon wood it did very well, especially when it is considered that the division was considered unfit for combat upon its arrival from Russia.

2. Just before reaching Vermand on the 24th it stopped advancing, and the line continuing to go forward it remained in reserve. On the 27th it proceeded to the Moreuil area (southeast of Amiens), where it arrived when the German advance was already checked. It was withdrawn about the 2d of April, after having suffered very heavy losses.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. About the 12th of April it relieved the 11th Division south of Rouvroy in eastern Champagne. It was relieved about the 25th of June by the 33d Reserve Division and went to rest near Monthois, where it was trained.

4. About the 13th of July it came back into line in the Tahure sector just west of where it had previously been. The next day it attacked in the first line; it could make no progress (it will be remembered that thus the whole offensive was a failure) and suffered heavy losses, especially on account of gas. It was relieved early in September and was reported at rest south of Rethel on the 4th.

WOEVRE.

5. On September 12 the division moved up behind the front near Dampvitoux (north of Thiaucourt), but since it was soon seen that the American offensive had only a limited objective it did not enter line until the 23d. It was relieved by the 224th Division during the night of October 16–17.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

6. The division arrived at Stenay during the night of the 19th–20th of October and on the 21st entered line near Cunel (north of Montfaucon). It remained in line until the armistice was signed.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

In March the British wrote: “From the bearing of prisoners of the 88th Division, recently captured, it appears that this formation, which from its composition might be expected to be indifferent is of a very fair quality and well-disciplined. Men and officers are mostly young and keen; many of the latter are active.

“As a fighting formation, the 88th Division thus appears to have been brought up to the standard of the majority of the German divisions in the western theater and in addition has a leader well acquainted with the conditions of warfare on this front.”

Although its subsequent conduct was not such as to justify completely the above estimate, it did at least prove that its rating as a fourth- class unit was too low.

89th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │21 Ldw. │10 Ldw. │178. │333. │ │38 Ldw. │ │375. │(In November the above passed│ │8 Ldw. │ to the 14 Ldw Div.) │ │ │Jonas (178). │333. │ │ │ │375. │ │ │ │8 Ldw. │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │89 Cav. Rgt. │89 Cav. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │89 F. A. Abt. │89 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │911 F. A. Btry. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │5 Co. 6 Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ │2 Res. Co. 17 Pions. │ │89 T. M. Co. │ │89 Pont. Engs. │ │89 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd Units. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │11 Labor Btn. │ │45 Labor Btn. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(333d Regiment: 5th and 6th Corps District—Silesia. 375th Regiment: 17th Corps District—Western Prussia. 8th Landwehr: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg.)

1915.

The 89th Division reached its present form of organization about October, 1915. With the 87th Division, it was used to form, while named Westernhagen Division, the Thorn Corps, and was engaged on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the war. It at first was comprised of the 21st Landwehr Brigade, taken from the Breslau Corps and the Jonas Brigade (Keller Regiment and the 8th Landwehr) which became the 178th Brigade. In November, 1915, this division having given up the 21st Landwehr Brigade to form the 14th Landwehr Division, it brought up its strength to three regiments by taking the 333d Regiment from the 84th Division.

RUSSIA.

1. During the middle of October, 1915, the 89th Division was identified in the Krevo sector, which it occupied until the end of August, 1916.

1916.

ROUMANIA.

1. About the 24th of August, 1916, the 89th Division was transported to the Transylvanian front (detraining near Maros-Ludas on Aug. 30).

2. It fought in the vicinity of St. Georges de Brasso (middle of October); near the Roumanian frontier in the valley of Buzeu (October- November); on the Buzeu-Rimnicu-Sarat highway (end of December); and near Plaginesci (Dec. 31).

1917.

ROUMANIA.

1. In the middle of January, 1917, the 89th Division was in line to the north of Rimnicu.

2. From the end of January to the middle of August it occupied a sector north of Focsani, east of Odobesci. It took part in the attacks made, in August, north of Focsani and suffered very heavy losses. After a few days’ rest it took over the sector between Panciu and Marasesci.

RECRUITING.

The 89th Division took part in the entire campaign against Roumania.

It was kept on the Roumanian front until May, 1918.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Its offensive value seemed mediocre.

1918.

ROUMANIA.

1. In January, 1918, the division furnished a great many replacements to the 76th Reserve Division which was destined to leave for the Western Front; men were also sent to the 115th Division.

2. Relieved southeast of Panciu early in January, the division remained for some time in reserve in the Focsani region, then came back into line northeast of that town. It was identified there in March and April. In June the 375th Regiment was identified by contact near Drenoud in Macedonia, but left soon after for the Panciu region where it was identified on the 28th of July. The division was identified near Bucharest late in October.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The Division was rated as fourth class.

91st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │175 Ldw. │33 Ldw. │175 Ldw. │37 Ldw. │175 Ldw. │37 Ldw. │ │349 Ldw. │ │349 Ldw. │ │349 Ldw. │ │350 Ldw. │ │437. │ │437. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 5 Cuirassier│3 Sqn. 12 Mounted │2 Sqn. 10 Drag. │ Rgt. │ Jag. Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │ │277 F. A. Rgt. │277 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│385 T. M. Co. │91 Pion. Btn.: │91 Pion. Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 3 Co. 1 Pions. (?)│3 Ers. Co. Pion. │ │ │ Btn. No. 1. │ │ 3 Ers. Co. 1 │2 Ldst. Pion. Btn. │ │ Pions. │ 6 Army Corps. │ │ (91 T. M. Co.). │219 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ Tel. Detch. │91 Div. Signal │ │ │ Command. │ │ │91 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │67 Ambulance Co. │67 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │27 Ldw. Field │110 Field Hospital. │ │ Hospital. │ │ │Vet. Hospital. │27 Ldw. Field │ │ │ Hospital. │ │ │241 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │801 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd Units. │ │Deuxponts Landst. │ │ │ Inf. Btn. (2 C. │ │ │ Dist. Btn. No. │ │ │ 2). │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(37th Landwehr; 5th Corps District—Posen. 349th Landwehr; 8th Corps District—Rhenish Province. 437th Regiment; 11th Corps District—Thuringe.)

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Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918) (part 4 of 5)

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Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918) (part 4 of 5)