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

1916.

The 91st Division (Clausius Division) was formed about August, 1916, from two Landwehr regiments—the 349th and the 350th, which constituted the 175th Brigade, taken from the 88th Division—and an active regiment, the 150th, temporarily transferred from the 37th Division. Later the organization of the 91st Division was modified.

VOLHYNIA.

1. As soon as it was organized the 91st Division was engaged on the Stokhod, north of the Kovel-Sarny railway and in the vicinity of Borovno (August, 1916). During these attacks the 150th suffered very big losses. This regiment rejoined its division (the 37th) shortly thereafter and was replaced by the 37th Landwehr, which had exercised a discreet surveillance over the Austrian troops (Russian information).

1917.

VOLHYNIA.

1. During the year 1917 the 91st Division was kept in Volhynia in the region of the Kovel-Sarny railway.

2. About the month of April it transferred the 350th Landwehr to the 45th Landwehr Division. It received the 437th Infantry, which had been organized in 1916 from Prussian elements taken from the 344th Infantry, the 349th Landwehr, and the 350th Landwehr, and which was with Austrian units.

In November the division seemed to have no particular sector and is “distributed among the little reliable troops of the Austrian Army,” (Weekly Bulletin of Information of Russian Army, Dec. 16–23, 1917.)

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Kept in Russia for the occupation of Ukrainia, the 91st Division had but a very small combat value (April, 1918).

1918.

1. The division was last identified in the Ukraine at the end of August. There is evidence that the division was brought to the Western Front in September. Reports and prisoners’ statements pointed to the presence of the division in the Muelhausen area during October. However, it did not come into line on the Western Front. The division was not identified after the armistice among the retreating German units.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

92d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │28 Ldw. │39 Ldw. │28 Ldw. │39 Ldw. │ │419. │ │2 Ldw. │ │432. │ │32 Ldw. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │ (?) │1, 3, and 4 Sqns. 3 │ │ Cuirassier Rgt. │ │4 Sqn. Body Gd. Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │12 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. (except │ │ Rgt. Staff, 1 Abt. Staff, │ │ 1 and 5 Btries., 2 Abt. │ │ Staff, 7 and 9 Btries.). │ 2 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 895 F. A. Btry. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│Pion. Btn.: │1 Ldw. Co. 14 C. Dist. Liaisons. │ │ Pions. │ 346 Pion. Co. │120 Searchlight Section. │ 92 T. M. Co. │92 Signal Command: │ 92 Tel. Detch. │ 92 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │276 Ambulance Co. │276 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │5 Ldw. Field Hospital. │5 Ldw. Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │242 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(39th Landwehr; 7th Corps District—Westphalia. 32d Landwehr; 11th Corps District—Thuringen.)

1917.

The 92d Division (Rusche Division) was formed at about the end of November, 1916, on the Eastern Front.

VOLHYNIA.

1. At first as a part of the Bernhardi Army, the 92d Division occupied in Volhynia the Gorokhov-Kisselin sectors south of the Kovel-Rovno railway (February-August, 1917). It was then made up of the 419th, 432d, and the 133d Landwehr (Saxon), the latter being afterwards replaced by the 39th Landwehr.

GALICIA.

2. In August, 1917, the division was transferred toward the south and put into line in the Zalosce (Galicia) sector. The 419th Infantry left the division to join the 77th Division, with which it left for France.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Having occupied from the time of its organization until April, 1918, but quiet Russian sectors, and, moreover, having given up its best men (those less than 35 years of age), who were transferred to other divisions on the Western Front, the 92d Division had but a mediocre combat value.

The 39th Landwehr, from the time of its formation in 1914, was noted in Belgium for its acts of insubordination (recruited from the mining population of Westphalia).

1918.

1. Relieved in the Zalosce sector in January, the division was in reserve in the vicinity of Zborow during February.

UKRAINE.

2. In April the division was in the Ukraine (39th Landwehr Regiment was identified near Kiev on the 23d; the 432d Regiment was in the vicinity of Klintsy on the 27th). The third regiment was the 32d Landwehr, left behind by the 197th Division upon its departure for France in February. The 432d Regiment sent to the Western Front was dissolved in May and was divided between the 22d Reserve and 82d Division. The 2d Landwehr and the 32d Landwehr Regiment were identified in the Ukraine early in October. Toward the end of the month elements of the division were reported along the Danube.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The Division was rated as fourth class.

93d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │215. │342. │166. │342. │ (?) │433 (10 │ │ │ │ │ │ and 11 │ │ │ │ │ │ cos.). │ │433. │ │433. │ │434. │ │434. │ │434. │ (?) │ (?) ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │5 Sqn. 16 Drag. │5 Sqn. 16 Drag. │ │ Rgt. │ Rgt. │ │4 Sqn. 85 Cav. Rgt.│4 Sqn. 4 Hus. Rgt. │ │ │85 Cav. (Heavy) │ │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │ │Art. Command: │253 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ (except the Rgt. │ │ │ Staff, and 1 and │ │ │ 2 Abt. Staffs, │ │ │ and 4 and 6 │ │ │ Btries. of the 3 │ │ │ Abt.). │ │ 35 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 899 F. A. Btry. │ │ │ 900 F. A. Btry. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│1 Res. Co. 26 │Pion. Btn.: │81 Searchlight Liaisons. │ Pions. │ │ Section. │93 T. M. Co. │ 2 Ldw. Co. 1 │93 Signal Command: │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 1 Ldw. Co. 17 C. │ 93 Tel. Detch. │ │ Dist. Pions. │ (except 2 Sect.). │ │ 93 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 93 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │233 Ambulance Co. │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │Field Hospital. │ │ │243 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(433d Regiment: 18th and 20th Corps District—Hesse and Eastern Prussia. 434th Regiment: 4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony.)

1916.

The 93d Division (von Kramsta) was formed on the Eastern Front about the month of October, 1916 (region of Lida). One of its regiments, the 342d, had come from the 86th Division. The 433d and the 434th were newly created units.

RUSSIA.

1. In November, 1916, the 93d Division was in line to the southeast of Vichnev. At that time, with the 85th Landwehr Division, it formed the 17th Reserve Corps.

1917.

RUSSIA.

1. During the whole year 1917 the division stayed on the Little Berezina (Vichnev) front with the 12th Army.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Mediocre combat value.

1918.

RUSSIA.

1. About the middle of December, 1917, the 93d Division left the Berezina and advanced toward the east.

2. It was in reserve near Minsk the 2d of March and in the Klintsy region the 27th of April. The 342d Regiment had entrained on April 10 at Lida for Belgium, where it was dissolved in May; its men being divided between the 22d Reserves and 119th Division.

UKRAINE.

3. About the middle of May the division was identified near Kiev, where it was also identified as late as the 9th of September.

RUMANIA.

4. Toward the end of October elements of the division were identified along the Danube.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The Division was rated as fourth class.

94th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │(?) │334. │(?) │365. │ │423. │ │439. │ │45 Landst. │ │24 Ldw. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 84 Heavy Cav. Rgt. │1 Sqn. 7 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │ (?) │8 F. A. Rgt. (Staff, 1 │ │ Abt., 2 Abt., 4 and 5 │ │ Btries., 3 Abt.). │ │405 Ft. A. Btn. │ │1042 Light Am. Col. │ │1051 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│Pion. Btn.: │411 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ T. M. Co. │ 2 Ldw. Co. 5 C. Dist. │ │ Pions. │ Tel. Detch. │ 2 Ldw. Co. 8 C. Dist. │ │ Pions. │ │ 85 Searchlight Section. │ │183 Signal Command: │ │ 183 Tel. Detch. │ │ 131 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │556 Ambulance Co. │551 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │328 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │331 Field Hospital. │ │519 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │1233 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Attached. │Bitterfeld Landst. Inf. │ │ Btn. (4 C. Dist. Btn. No.│ │ 4). │ │Cosel Landst. Inf. Btn. (6 │ │ C. Dist. No. 8). │ ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(46th Landstrum: 2d Corps District—Pomerania; 5th Corps District—Silesia. 45th Landstrum: 6th Corps District—Silesia; 3d Corps District—Brandenburg; 21st Corps District—Lorraine.)

1917.

RUSSIA.

The 94th Division was formed on the Eastern Front about June, 1917. At that time it comprised the 334th and the 423d Regiments and the 45th Landwehr.

1. From June to December, 1917, the 94th Division occupied a sector in the region of Niemen (Negnevitchi).

2. In July, 1917, some elements of the division were transferred to the vicinity of Baranovitchi to oppose a possible attack in that sector.

In December the 423d Regiment was transferred to the 84th Division and went with the latter to France.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Mediocre combat value.

1918.

1. When the 334th Regiment was transferred from Russia to the Western Front in May, 1918, and was disbanded, the 94th Division was considered as dissolved.

RIGA.

2. About September 21, the 94th Division was reformed at Riga out of the 439th Regiment and the 365th Regiment. The 439th Regiment was taken out of the 205th Division about the middle of September while stationed in Esthonia and sent to Riga. The 365th Regiment, which took part in the campaign of Osel Island, was sent to Riga in June. The 24th Landwehr Regiment joined the division at Metz.

3. The division left Riga about September 22 for Metz. (Route: Schawli- Kowno-Eydthkulnen-Bromberg-Posen-Leipsig-Erfurt-Frankfurt-Kreuznach- Neunkirchen-Metz.) The trip lasted about six days.

METZ.

4. The division rested in the Metz area about one week. Then it was joined by the 7th Hussar Regiment and the 8th Field Artillery Regiment.

WOEVRE.

On October 11 the division relieved the 107th Division at Doncourt aux Templiers. It held that sector without event until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was fairly strong in effectives in October. The men had received little training and their morale was bad.

95th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │(?) │271 Res. │(?) │422 (2d │ │ │ │ Btn.). │ │422. │ │52 Ldw. │ │430 Ldw. │ │(?) ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │ (?) │4 Sqn. 19 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │ (?) │69 Res. F. A. Rgt. (except │ │ 1 and 5 Btries.). │ │1017 Light Am. Col. │ │1035 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│Pion. Btn.: │1 Landst. Co. 15 C. Dist. Liaisons. │ │ Pions. │ 1 Landst. Pion. Co. │148 Searchlight Section. │ 95 T. M. Co. │95 Signal Command: │ 95 Tel. Detch. │ 95 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │Ambulance Co. │644 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │117 Res. Field Hospital. │567 Vet. Hospital. │567 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │1035 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(422d Regiment: 4th Corps District-Prussian Saxony. 430th Landwehr: (?).

52d Landwehr: 3d Corps District-Brandenburg.)

1917.

RUSSIA.

1. The 95th Division was formed on the Eastern Front about the month of July, 1917. At that time it was made up of the 422d Regiment and 271st Reserve Regiment and of the 430th Landwehr, the 271st being temporarily transferred from the 82d Division.

PINSK.

2. Until the end of 1917 the 95th Division occupied a sector in the Pinsk region. In November it sent reenforcements to the 15th Division (Western Front).

3. In December it gave up its younger men to the 82d Reserve Division then sent to the Western Front, and received in exchange older men—men from Alsace and recruits from the class of 1919. At this time it is made up of the 422d Regiment, the 430th Landwehr and the 52d Landwehr, the 271st Reserve Regiment having been returned to the 82d Division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Composed of older men and recruits of the 1919 class, the 95th Division seemed to have but a mediocre combat value.

1918.

UKRAINE.

1. In January many men of the division were sent to the 14th Division, which was on the Western Front. In April the division was reported in the Ukraine. The 430th Landwehr Regiment was to the north of Gloukhov (east of Koursk) on April 27; the 52d Landwehr Regiment “400 kilometers from Pinsk” on the 9th of May, after a three-day railroad journey. The division was identified in the Gomel region toward the end of September. Soon afterwards it was reported as having come to the Western Front, but it was never identified there. It was rated as a fourth-class division.

96th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │106 Res. │244 Res. │(?) │244 Res. │ │102 Ldw. │ │102 Ldw. │ │40 Ers. │ │40 Ers. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 18 Hus. Rgt. │4 Sqn. 18 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │53 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 32 Res. F. A. Rgt. │21 Ldw. Ft. A. Rgt. (1 and │ │ 6 Btries.). │ │876 Light Am. Col. │ │947 Light Am. Col. │ │1001 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│Pion. Btn.: │219 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │416 T. M. Co. │ 1 Co. 22 Pions. │Tel. Detch. │ Ldw. Co. 19 C. Dist. │ │ Pions. │ │ 136 Searchlight Section. │ │96 Signal Command: │ │ 96 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │278 Ambulance Co. │278 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │5 Res. Field Hospital. │5 Res. Field Hospital. │6 Res. Field Hospital. │6 Res. Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │568 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │608 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(102d Landwehr: 12th Corps District—Saxony. 244th Reserve Regiment and 40th Ersatz: 19th Corps District—Saxony.)

1917.

The 96th Division was a newly formed unit, being organized on the Galician front in July, 1917.

One of its regiments, the 244th Reserve, was part of the 53d Reserve Division (until the end of 1916) and later part of the 215th Division.

The 40th Ersatz, formerly of the 19th Ersatz Division, also came to this division from the 215th Division. As to the 102d Landwehr, it was with the 82d Reserve Division in the vicinity of Pinsk.

GALICIA.

1. After the Russian offensive beginning in July the 96th Division was put into line in the Zborow sector. At the end of July it took part in the German counteroffensive and advanced up to the Russian-Galician frontier. It held the Husiatin sector until February, 1918, sending important reenforcements in December, 1917, to the 241st Division (Saxon).

RECRUITING.

Division is entirely Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Coming from the Eastern Front at the beginning of April, 1918, the 96th Division seemed to have only a mediocre combat value (April, 1918).

1918.

1. The division continued to hold the quiet sector south of Blamont until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. It had practically no losses on the Western Front. The companies averaged 115 men of an average age of 25 to 35 years.

101st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │201. │45. │201. │45. │ │59. │ │59. │ │146. │ │146. │ │ │ 15 Res. Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼───────────────────────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 10 Drag. Rgt. │11 Drag. Rgt. (2 Sqns.). ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │201 F. A. Rgt. │201 F. A. Rgt. │ │1 Mountain A. Abt. │ │Austro-Hung. Mountain Art. (3 │ │ Btries.). │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│201 Pion. Co. │201 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │101 Mountain T. M. Co. │ │101 Pont. Engs. │ │101 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[27] ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │201. │11 Gren. │201. │45. │ │146. │ │146. │ │ │ │21 Res. │ │9 Jag. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │(?) Sqn. 10 Drag. Rgt. │3 Sqn. 10 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │138 Art. Command: │ 209 F. A. Rgt. │ 201 F. A. Rgt. │ 201 F. A. Rgt. (elements). │ │ │ │ 3 Mountain A. Abt. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(101) Pion. Btn.: │101 Pion. Co. (Mountain). Liaisons. │ │ │ 101 (Mountain) Pion. Co. │201 Pion. Co. │ 201 Pion. Co. │201 Searchlight Section. │ 205 Pion. Co. │101 Mountain T. M. Co. │ 2 Ldw. Co. 9 Pions. │171 Mountain T. M. Co. │ 101 Mountain T. M. Co. │101 Tel. Detch. │ 171 Mountain T. M. Co. │101 Pion. Btn. │ 201 Searchlight Section. │ │ 101 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │641 Ambulance Co. │101 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │641 Ambulance Co. │Vet. Hospital. │Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │590 M. T. Col. │ │4 Pack Trans. Col. (Wurtt.). ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │101 Cyclist Co. │101 Cyclist Co. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────── Footnote 27:

Composition at the time of dissolution, July, 1918.

HISTORY.

(146th Regiment: 20th Corps District—Eastern Prussia. 11th Grenadiers: 6th Corps District—Silesia.)

1915.

The 101st Division was formed in May, 1915, with the 45th Infantry (from the 2d Division), the 146th Regiment (from the 37th Division), and the 59th Regiment (from the 41st Division) all surplus regiments by reason of the reduction of divisions to three regiments. Later the 101st Division was subjected to a number of changes.

SERBIA.

1. After having been part of the Army of the South, on the Bug, the 101st Division was identified on the Serbian frontier at the end of May and the beginning of June.

GALICIA-POLAND.

2. At the end of June it was brought back to Galicia by way of Budapest and Stry and took part in the German offensive in Galicia, in Poland. It was on the Dniester on June 30 and on the Zlota-Lipa on July 20.

It was in the neighborhood of Lublin on August 12, at Siedlce on the 29th and advanced up to a position near Brest-Litowsk.

SERBIA.

3. Chosen to participate in the offensive against Serbia, it was entrained at Warsaw and went into action on the Serbian front on October 7. It was at Nish on December 9.

1916.

SERBIA.

1. At the end of January, 1916, the 101st Division was still in Serbia and with the 103d Division formed the 4th Reserve Corps.

MACEDONIA.

2. In February it was in front of Monastir.

VARDAR.

3. In March, together with the 103d Division, it was near the Greek frontier in the Vardar Valley (Guevgueli) (March to November). In August it supported the 5th Bulgarian Division.

CERNA.

4. In November the 45th and the 146th Regiments occupied the bend of the Cerna, while the 59th Regiment continued to hold the left bank of the Vardar.

1917.

MACEDONIA.

1. The Division was materially changed in 1917. The 45th was replaced by the 11th Grenadiers, which had in November, 1916, left the 11th Division in France to join the Hippel Division in front of Monastir. In June the 59th Regiment was withdrawn from the division and sent to the Roumanian front. It was replaced by the 9th Jaeger Regiment.

2. The 101st Division was kept on the Macedonian front (Vardar Valley, Doiran, Monastir) to the end of 1917, seemingly after that it breaks up. The 146th Infantry was still in the vicinity of Monastir in December and was reported as being sent toward Constantinople and Palestine (March, 1918). In March, 1918, the 9th Regiment of Jaegers arrived in Alsace.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division is rated as third class.

1918.

The 101st Division is considered as consisting of a divisional staff only, administering Bulgarian units. The division is, therefore, no longer counted as a German infantry division. The 12th active and 12th and 13th Reserve Jaeger Battalions are considered independent units.

103d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │205. │32. │205. │32. │ │71. │ │71. │ │116 Res. │ │116 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │2 and 4 Sqn. Horse Gren. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │205 F. A. Rgt. │205 F. A. Rgt. │4 Mountain A. Abt. │4 Mountain A. Abt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│205 Pion. Co. │205 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │9 Co. 28 Pions. │ │103 T. M. Co. │ │103 Pont. Engs. │ │103 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │205. │32. │205. │32. │ │71. │ │71. │ │116 Res. │ │144. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 6 Drag. Rgt. │3 Sqn. 6 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │103 Art. Command: │103 Art. Command: │ 205 F. A. Rgt. (9 Btries.). │ 205 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 3 Abt. 11 Res. Ft. A. Rgt. │ │ 721 Light Am. Col. │ │ 919 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1228 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│103 Pion. Btn.: │103 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 87 Res. Pion. Co. │ 87 Res. Pion. Co. │ 9 Co. 28 Pions. │ 9 Co. 28 Pions. │ 103 T. M. Co. │ 103 M. Co. │ (205) Searchlight Section. │ 208 Searchlight Section. │ 103 Tel. Detch. │103 Signal Command: │ │ 103 Tel. Detch. │ │ 15 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │103 Ambulance Co. │103 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │361 Field Hospital. │361 Field Hospital. │362 Field Hospital. │362 Field Hospital. │202 Vet. Hospital. │202 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │591 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │Divisional M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │M. G. Co. of the 4 Gd. Gren. │ │ Rgt. │ │12 T. M. Co. │ │24 Bomb Thrower. │ │14 M. G. Co. │ │75 M. G. S. S. Detch. │ │2 Bav. M. G. S. S. Detch. │ │1 Co. 629 Ambulance Co. │ │102 Gd. Pions. │ │2 Gd. Pion.Co. │ │1 Co. 29 Pions. │ │2 Co. 8 C. Dist. T. M. Btn. │ │1 Co. 8 C. Dist. T. M. Btn. │ │35 Flame-thrower Detch. │ │1 Btry. 107 F. A. Rgt. │ │22 Btries. 43 Res. F. Rgt. │ │1 Btry. 43 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │2 Btries. 2 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │ │7 Ft. Art. Rgt. │ │4 Btries. 19 Ft. Art. Rgt. │ │2 Btries. 1 Res. Ft. Art. │ │ Rgt. │ │1 Btry. 16 Ft. Art. Rgt. │ │42 Art. Survey Section. │ │127 Giant Periscope Section. │ │306 Supply Train. │ │497 Ammunition Train. │ │117 Bav. Art. Ammunition │ │ Train. │ │42 Res. Art. Ammunition │ │ Train. │ │295 Ammunition Train. │ │28 Ammunition Train. │ │216 Ammunition Train. │ │31 Supply Depot. │ │13 Supply Depot. │ │81 Field Bakery. │ │10 Reconnaissance Flight. │ │265 Reconnaissance Flight. │ │111 Balloon Sqn. │ │107 Balloon Sqn. │ │37 Wireless Detch. │ │1135 Signal Detch. │ │289 Pigeon Loft. │ │92 Pigeon Loft. │ │2 Co. 87 Labor Btn. │ │3 Co. 87 Labor Btn. │ │100 Pris. of War Labor Btn. │ │Chemnitz Landst. Labor Btn. │ │2 Co. 11 Bav. Labor Btn. │ │1 and 4 Cos. 72 Road Building│ │ Btn. │ │(According to a captured │ │ document of Sept. 26, │ │ 1917.) │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(32d Regiment: 11th. Corps District—Hesse—Electoral. 71st Regiment; 11th Corps District—Thuringen. 116th Reserve Regiment: 18th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Hesse.)

1915.

The 103d Division was formed at the Warthe cantonment in May, 1915, by taking the 32d Regiment from the 22d Division, the 71st Regiment from the 38th Division, and the 116th Reserve Regiment from the 25th Reserve Division.

SERBIA.

1. On May 10, 1915, the 103d Division was sent to a region near the Serbian frontier and stayed there, together with the 101st Division, until the end of June, between the Drave and the Save.

RUSSIA.

2. During the summer it appeared on the Russian front and participated in the offensive of the Linsingen Army—near Lemberg, July 29; near Sokal, August 16.

3. It was put at rest at the end of August.

SERBIA.

4. Transferred to southern Hungary (September), it took part in the Serbian campaign with the Gallwitz Army. It was at Kragujevac in November and at Nish at the beginning of December.

5. This expedition having been completed, it stayed at rest at Uskub, the 71st Infantry going to Veles.

1916.

MACEDONIA.

1. In January, 1916, the 116th Reserve Regiment advanced up to Macedonia and soon, at the end of February, the 103d Division was on the Greek frontier (Lake Dorian sector), to the left of the 101st Division, with which it formed the 4th Reserve Corps.

FRANCE.

2. Entrained for France about April 27.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. Detrained at Châtelet sur Retourne about May 6 and was reviewed at Avançon by the Emperor on the 9th and went into line on the 23d in the Prosnes-Prunay sector to the east of the 58th Division (these two divisions forming the 4th Reserve Corps).

VERDUN.

4. The 103d Division left Champagne on June 16 for the Verdun front. It was engaged on June 22 in the Vaux-Chapitre wood and took part in the big attack of June 23 on the Souville Fort and the attack of July 11. During this period (June-July) it suffered very heavy losses.

5. Relieved at the end of July, it went into line in a sector near Apremont Forest for a few days (until Aug. 2).

CÔTES DE MEUSE.

6. From the beginning of August to September 15 it occupied the front along the Côtes de Meuse (Bois des Chevaliers, Vaux les Palameix).

CHAMPAGNE.

7. Transferred to Champagne (Sept. 20), the division took over the Somme-Py sector, Tahure (until the beginning of October).

SOMME.

8. The 103d Division was next sent to the Somme (detrained at Bohain, Oct. 8). It was engaged between Bouchavesnes and the St. Pierre-Vaast wood (Oct. 15 to Nov. 10). The 116th Reserve Regiment was particularly put to the test.

CHAMPAGNE.

9. After a few days’ rest the division came back to Champagne (Nov. 13). It occupied the Souain sector (Nov. 15 to Jan. 15, 1917). While there was engaged only in a few local raids. In December and January it received important reenforcements.

1917.

VERDUN.

1. The 103d Division in January, 1917, went to the Verdun front (Samogneux-Louvemont). It stayed there four months and was always on the defensive.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

2. Relieved on May 23, the division was transferred to the Aisne. It held the Chemin des Dames sector (Malmaison, Les Bovettes, Panthéon, La Royère) from May 26 to October 11–12. It only participated in the attacks of June 6 and July 8 as supporting troops and as a result suffered but slight losses during that period.

3. Relieved from the Aisne front on October 11 the 103d Division was sent to rest in the region of Sissonne. It seems to have been transferred on October 24 toward the north of the Ailette as an attacking division.

ST. QUENTIN.

4. After a rest at the end of November and the first two weeks of December in the vicinity of Origny-Ste. Benoite, the division took over the sector of Itancourt (Dec. 27–28) near St. Quentin.

RECRUITING.

The 32d Regiment and the 71st Regiment, recruited in Thuringen and Hesse-Electoral, and the 116th Reserve Regiment in the Grand Duchy of Hesse. Although the 3d Batallion of the 85th Landwehr was transferred to the 116th as 3d Batallion of this unit, its recruiting was a great deal less from the 9th Corps District than from the 18th Corps District.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The showing made by the 103d Division in the conflicts in which it was engaged warrants its being classed among the good units. Its losses in 1917 were comparatively small. Its strength was gradually made up of younger men by the transfer from it of the older soldiers. It was classed as an attack division by the German Command. A secret order of the 103d Division of September 20, 1917, contains the following: “Our division, which was specially trained for offensive work, and which is designated as an attack division (Angriffs division), is, in an offensive, very superior to the adversary * * *.”

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division was in line south of St. Quentin on March 21 as the left division of Von Conta group. It advanced toward Vendeuil without meeting great resistance and reached there at midnight. The 22d it reached the Crozat Canal and crossed at Liezon the next day. Placed in reserve on the 23d, it followed the general advance by Villequier-Aumont (24th), Quesmy (25th), Lagny (27th). On the 28th the division captured the Dives-Lassigny road and relieved the 36th Division in that vicinity. It attacked Plemont on March 30, but was unable to maintain its position and fell back on April 1, after heavy losses. It was relieved about April 15.

AISNE.

2. About April 27 the division relieved the 108th Division at Corbeny. It was still in line when the attack of May 27 started and advanced to the Marne northwest of Chatillon via Romigny, Vandieres, Bois de Mareuil. It was relieved by the 22d Division between June 24 and 26.

BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

3. It rested near Fismes until it reentered line about July 14 in the sector Anthenay-Bois de Trottes. It was engaged until about August 1, when it was withdrawn from the battle front southwest of Rheims.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

4. The division rested at Malmaison until August 22, when it was engaged north of St. Aubin. In that locality it remained in line until about September 5.

CHAMPAGNE.

5. On September 26 the division entered line in Champagne, relieving the 202d Division in the area south of Fontaine en Dornmeois. It received the full weight of the French attack and in four days in line lost more than 2,000 prisoners, including 6 battalion commanders.

6. After three weeks of rest, elements of the division were reengaged southwest of Longwe on October 24. Other elements were identified in the sector of the 76th Reserve Division and the 2d Landwehr Division, near the junction of the American and French Armies. Elements continued to be identified in this general locality until the armistice. Most of the division appeared to have been opposed to the French Army. The last identification was at Sedan.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. At the end its effectives were greatly reduced. Discontent over their prolonged service in line had lowered the morale of the division.

105th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │209. │21. │209. │21. │ │122 Fus. │ │122 Fus. │ │129. │ │129. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │4 Mounted Jag. Rgt. (2 │4 Mounted Jag. Rgt. (Sqns.). │ Sqns.). │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │209 F. A. Rgt. (7 Btries.). │209 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│209 Pion. Co. │209 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │105 T. M. Co. │ │105 Pont. Engs. │ │105 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(21st and 129th Regiments: 17th Corps District—Western Prussia. 400th Regiment: 8th Corps District—Rhine Province.)

1915.

The 105th Division was formed at Thorn in May, 1915. At the outset it comprised the 122d Regiment of Fusileers obtained from the 26th Division (13th Corps District), the 21st Infantry from the 35th Division, and the 129th Infantry from the 36th Division (17th Corps District).

In 1917 the 400th replaced the 122d Regiment (Wurttemberg).

SERBIA.

1. In June, 1915, the 105th Division appeared on the Serbian front at the same time as the 101st and 103d Divisions.

GALICIA.

2. At the end of June it was transferred to Galicia via Budapest and Stry. It participated in the offensive against the Russians on the Gnila Lipa from June 24 to July 1, on the Zlota Lipa July 20. From Galicia it went to Poland; fought at Krasnostaw at the end of July and between Wieprz and the Jaselda until August 20. At the end of August it was on the Chtchertchev-Brest-Kobryn railway front.

SERBIA AND BULGARIA.

3. Chosen for the Serbian campaign, it again found itself in company with the 101st and 103d Divisions and went into line on the Serbian front in October but did not stay there long. While the 122d fusileers pushed on in the south of this country, the 21st and the 129th entrained in December for Eastern Bulgaria.

1916.

BULGARIA.

1. Assigned to watch the Roumanian frontier and the coast of the Black Sea, the 21st went to Varna and the 129th from Choumla to the coast. This mission did not end until May, 1916.

MACEDONIA.

2. At this time the division was being re-formed in Macedonia, where the three regiments were again together at the beginning of June.

GALICIA.

3. The June Russian offensive was responsible for its return to Galicia and at the end of the month it was in Bukovina. The 105th Division operated in the region of Kolomea (end of June, beginning of July) and suffered heavy losses. The 122d fusileers reported 26 officers and 1,165 men out of action. The division next fought in Galicia to the east of Stanislau in July and August (east of Tlumacz-Tysmienica), to the east of Halicz in September.

4. The division remained in the vicinity of Halicz until October.

COURLAND.

5. Relieved from Galicia, the division was sent to Courland, to the south of Kekkau (October).

6. On October 20 it took over the sector to the west of Jakobstadt.

1917.

JAKOBSTADT.

1. The 105th Division occupied the Jacobstadt front until November, 1917. In April the 400th Regiment replaced the 122d which was transferred to the 243d Division (old 8th Ersatz Division), a Wurttemberg unit. The division took Jacobstadt on September 21.

FRANCE.

2. On November 5 the 105th Division entrained at Mitau and was transported to France. (Itinerary: Kovno-Koenigsberg-Schneidemuehl- Berlin-Cassel-Coblenz-Treves-Thionville-Sedan-Mezieres.) It detrained at Juniville (south of Rethel) on November 11 and rested in this region.

RECRUITING.

The 21st and the 129th were classified as “troops from Western Prussia” in an official document. Although the 21st was called the 4th Pomeranian, it was actually recruited for the most part in the Province of Western Prussia, which was its station in peace time. The 400th was, by reason of its replacement depot, a Rhenish unit.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 105th Division was first put into line on the French front at the beginning of January, 1918. It suffered losses in Galicia during the Summer of 1916.

Its long stay in the Courland sector had not increased its combat value.

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division was engaged west of Noyon on April 15 and remained in that area until May 17, when it was relieved by the 223d Division. Losses were very considerable in the early part of the division’s occupation of that sector.

NOYON.

2. It rested north of Noyon until May 31 when it reenforced the Aisne battle front at Nampcel, east of the Oise. Throughout June it was engaged in this sector. It attempted a local attack on Moulin sous Touvent on July 3 without success. In minor operations in June and July the division lost about 1,000 prisoners. In August it was heavily engaged and forced back on Noyon, where it was relieved by the 54th Division about September 1.

3. The division rested for about three weeks in the area south of Ferte Chevresis-Montigny sur Crecy. It was engaged at Septvaux about September 27. It fought in the retreat through Fourdrain as far as Mesbrecourt- Assis sur Serre. It held that sector until the capture of Mesbrecourt on October 22, after which it took up a position to the north. The division was in the neighborhood of Pargny wood until November 5. Thereafter it was identified at Vervins (6th), Voulpaix (7th), north of Wimy (9th).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. As a sector holding division it saw almost constant service most of which was in the Noyon area. Its morale was greatly lowered in November.

107th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │213. │52 Res. │213. │52 Res. │ │227 Res. │ │227 Res. │ │232 Res. │ │232 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ (?) │3 Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │213 F. A. Rgt. (7 Btries.). │213 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│213 Pion. Co. │213 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │4 Co. 21 Pions. │ │107 T. M. Co. │ │107 Pont. Engs. │ │107 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(52d Reserve Regiment: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg. 227th Reserve Regiment: 4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony. 232d Reserve Division: 10th Corps District—Hanover.)

1915.

The 107th Division was formed at Glogau in May, 1915, with regiments transferred from the 49th Reserve Division (227th Reserve Regiment), from the 50th Reserve Division (232d Reserve Regiment), and from the 5th Reserve Regiment (52d Reserve Regiment).

GALICIA.

1. The division took part in the battles near Lemberg (June 17–22).

RUSSIA.

2. In July the division was engaged near the Bug, in the vicinity of Grubeszow (July 19–30).

3. On July 31 it fought to the northeast of Cholm. It was near Wlodawa from August 13 to 17.

4. On August 25 and 26 it participated in the taking of Brest-Litowsk. It entered Pinsk on September 16.

SERBIA.

5. From Pinsk it operated against Serbia, staying there from the beginning of October to the end of November, 1915.

1916.

COURLAND.

1. In January, 1916, the division was in reserve in the vicinity of Dvinsk, where it remained until March 15.

POSTAVY-SMORGONI.

2. On March 18 it took over the sector to the north of Postavy. From May to June 20 it was near Smorgoni. At the end of the month it was assigned to meet the Russian offensive in Volhynia.

VOLHYNIA.

3. It was engaged between the Styr and the Stokhod from June 21 until the middle of July.

4. In August and September it was still in Volhynia, near the Kovel- Rovno railway.

KOVEL.

5. The division stayed in this region and occupied the sector west of Kachovka until the beginning of November, 1917.

1917.

FRANCE.

1. Relieved about November 9, 1917, from the Kovel sector, the 107th Division entrained on the 13th at Poginski for the Western Front. (Itinerary: Kovel-Brest-Litovsk-Warsaw-Posen-Frankfort on the Oder- Berlin-Cassel-Coblenz-Treves-Thionville-Sedan-Charleville-Hirson.) It detrained east of Cambrai on the 18th.

CAMBRAI.

2. From November 21 on it was engaged to the southwest of Cambrai (Noyelles-Rumilly).

3. It was retired from the front about the end of December.

RECRUITING.

The 52d Reserve Regiment remained a Brandenburger regiment, as at time of its formation. The 227th Reserve Regiment, formed in the 5th Corps District at the end of 1915, had a majority of effectives from the 4th Corps District and still received replacements from Prussian Saxony. On the other hand, the 232d Reserve Regiment, formed in the 4th Corps District, recruited principally in Hanover (10th Corps District). The 107th Division had hence a heterogeneous organization.

1918.

CAMBRAI.

1. The division remained in line in the Gonnelieu sector until about February 15, when it was relieved by the 18th Division from “B” Army and went into reserve. On March 1 it returned and relieved the 18th Division in its former sector at Gonnelieu.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. It was still in line when the offensive of March 21 began and advanced via Mesnil to Avelny wood under the 39th Corps. It was relieved on April 16 by the 16th Reserve Division near Anthuille and went to rest near Cambrai.

3. On May 16 the division came into line at Morlancourt, relieving the 199th Division, and held that sector until the night of May 23–24. It rested in the Cambrai area until its return to line at Morlancourt on the night of June 20–21. It was withdrawn about August 1.

THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

4. When the British began the attack on August 8 the division hastily returned to line near Proyart. Until the 28th it was hotly engaged at Proyart, Mericourt, and Herleville. One thousand seven hundred prisoners were taken from the division in this fighting.

WOEVRE.

5. On September 3 the division started for Metz to rest. Its destination was changed and it detrained at Conflans on September 16, marched via Frianville-Brainville-Allamont-Moulotte to Harville, where it went into line. The sector was a quiet one, and the battalions were well rested.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

6. The division left that sector on October 11 and went in trucks from Conflans to Stenay via Longuyon-Montmedy-Sedan. By way of Dun sur Meuse the division entered the line on October 14. One regiment had previously entered line on the 11th. Until the 20th the division was engaged in resisting without especial success the American attack. Two of the regiments of the division were out of the line from the 20th to November 1. The total losses of the division up to this time were estimated at 2,100, including 352 prisoners. Two regiments of the division were again engaged from November 1 to 10 in the Villers area, when the division was considered withdrawn following a failure to identify it by contact.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. There was evidence that the morale of the men was low as a result of the heavy casualties that the division suffered throughout 1918.

108th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │(?) │97. │(?) │97. │ │137. │ │137. │ │265 Res. │ │265 Res. │ │ │ 14 Jag. Btn. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼───────────────────────────── Cavalry. │ (?) │1 Res. Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │243 F. A. Rgt. (7 Btries.). │243 F. A. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ (?) │1 Res. Co. 1 Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ │108 Pont. Engs. │ │ │ │108 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │885 F. A. Btry. │ │ │ │888 F. A. Btry. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[28] ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │(?) │97. │5. │97. │ │137. │ │137. │ │265 Res. │ │265 Res. │ 14 Jag. Btn. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │6 Sqn. 17 Hus. Rgt. │6 Sqn. 17 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │(?) Art. Command: │ 243 F. A. Rgt. (9 Btries.). │ 243 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(108) Pion. Btn.: │108 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Res. Co. 1 Pions. │ 1 Res. Co. 2 Pion. Btn. No. │ │ 1. │ 1 Co. 33 Res. Pion. Btn. │ 1 Co. 33 Res. Pions. │ 108 T. M. Co. │ 2 Landst. Co. 17 C. Dist. │ │ Pions. │ 275 Searchlight Section. │ 275 Searchlight Section. │ 108 Searchlight Section. │ 108 T. M. Co. │ 108 Tel. Detch. │ 108 Tel. Detch. │ │ 108 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │264 Ambulance Co. │264 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │94 Field Hospital. │94 Field Hospital. │258 Field Hospital. │334 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │197 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │2 Landst. Pion. Co. (17 C. │Attached. │ Dist.). │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────── Footnote 28:

Composition at the time of dissolution, October, 1918.

HISTORY.

(97th and 137th Regiments: 21st Corps District—Lorraine. 265th Reserve Regiment: 9th Corps District—Mecklenburg.)

1915.

The 108th Division was formed during the summer of 1915 in the Niemen Army (Scholtz Army) by taking the 137th Infantry from the 31st Division, the 97th Infantry from the 42d Division, and the 265th Reserve Infantry from the 80th Reserve Division. It was called the Beckmann Division in honor of its commanding general before it received the number 108.

COURLAND.

1. About December 1 it went into line to the west of Sventen Lake (region of Dvinsk).

1916.

VOLHYNIA.

1. In June, 1916, the division was transferred to Volhynia and opposed the Russian offensive in the vicinity of Svinioukhi. Here it had heavy losses. On June 16 the 1st Battalion of the 137th Infantry reported 24 officers and 978 men out of action. (Casualty List).

2. It was in this sector until its departure for the Western Front (middle of December, 1917.)

1917.

FRANCE.

1. Entrained on December 12 in the vicinity of Brest-Litowsk.

2. Detrained near Hirson about December 18 and stayed at rest for three weeks in the vicinity of Aubenton.

RECRUITING.

The 97th and the 137th of the old 21st Corps were among those regiments which did not find a sufficient source of recruits in their home stations and filled up their ranks with soldiers from the Rhine Province and Westphalia.

The 265th Reserve Regiment, originally recruited from the Hanseatic cities, was now principally recruited in Mecklenberg.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 108th Division, coming from Russia, only went in line on the Western Front on January 1, 1918.

At the end of January, 1918, the 137th and 97th still had in its ranks many men from Alsace and Lorraine, which must have been transferred shortly thereafter.

1918.

AISNE.

1. After having had some training in the Vervins area, the 108th Division relieved the 5th Reserve Division near Corbeny (northeast of Craonne) during the night of January 22–23. It was relieved about the 21st of April by the 103d Division.

SOMME.

2. On the 30th it relieved the 9th Bavarian Reserve Division near Villers-Bretonneux (south of Corbie). During the night of May 19–20 it extended its front to the south and relieved the jaeger division. It was relieved by the 41st Division on the 9th of July, and went to rest in the Cappy area, south of the Somme.

3. On the 7th of August it relieved the 43d Reserve Division astride the Somme (west of Bray). The next day the British captured 1576 men from the division. It was withdrawn from line about the 23d. It went to the Cambrai region, and was there disbanded—the 137th Regiment was transferred to the 15th Division, the 97th Regiment to the 202d Division, and the 265th Reserve Regiment was dissolved.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 108th was rated a third-class division, but considering that although it was trained in assault tactics (in January) it was not used in any of the German offensives, and that the only heavy fighting in which it participated was when it was caught by the British attack of the 8th of August, where it fought poorly, and also that the 15th and 202d Divisions—the units which received its regiments when it was disbanded—were second and third class, respectively, this rating seems to have been too high.

109th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │174. │2 Gren. │174. │2 Gren. │ │26 Res. │ │26 Res. │ │376. │ │376. │ │ │ 4 Btn. (57 Ldw. Rgt.). ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼───────────────────────────── Cavalry. │ │98 Cav. Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │227 F. A. Rgt. │227 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │1 Ldw. Co. Gd. Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ │109 Pont. Engs. │ │109 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[29] ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │174. │2 Gren. │174. │2 Gren. │ │26 Res. │ │26 Res. │ │376. │ │376. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 10 Drag. Rgt. │2 Sqn. 10 Drag. Rgt. │ │5 Sqn. 10 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │ 109 Art. Command: │ 227 F. A. Rgt. (9 Btries.). │ 227 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 2 Abt. 290 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(109) Pion. Btn.: │218 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 1 Ldw. Co. Gd. Pions. │ 338 Pion. Co. │ 2 Ldw. Co. 15 Pions. │ 2 Ldw. Co. 15 C. Dist. │ │ Pions. │ 109 T. M. Co. │ 276 Searchlight Section. │ 276 Searchlight Section. │ 109 T. M. Co. │ Tel. Detch. │ 109 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │228 Ambulance Co. │373 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │98 Field Hospital. │98 Field Hospital. │277 Field Hospital. │27 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │109 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │434 M. T. Col. │595 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────── Footnote 29:

Composition at the time of dissolution, September, 1918.

HISTORY.

(2d Grenadiers: 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 26th Reserve Regiment: 4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony. 376th Regiment: 1st Corps District—Eastern Prussia.)

1915.

The 109th Division was formed in Courland in May, 1915. It obtained the 2d Grenadiers from the 3d Division, which has since then completely changed its organization. It obtained the 26th Reserve Infantry from the 6th Reserve Division (3d Reserve Corps), and the 2d Ersatz Infantry Regiment (Koenigsberg), which received the number 376.

PONIEVIEJ.

1. It was a part of the Niemen Army from the time that army was organized until its departure for the Roumanian front (November, 1916). In July it was in the vicinity of Ponieviej.

JAKOBSTADT.

2. At the end of October it took a position in front of Jakobstadt.

1916.

COURLAND.

1. In 1916 the 109th Division still occupied the same sector in the vicinity of Jakobstadt to the southwest of Lievenhof (Buschhof). It stayed there until November, 1916.

ROUMANIA.

2. Transferred to Roumania, it took part in the campaign, valley of Jiu (November), southeast of Rimnicu-Sarat (December). In the meanwhile it headed the troops which entered Bucharest on December 6 (2d Grenadiers).

1917.

ROUMANIA-NAMOLOASA.

With the stabilization of the Roumanian front, the division took a position near the junction of the Rimnicu in front of Namoloasa (southeast of Focsani). It held this sector during the entire year 1917.

RECRUITING.

A composite division. The 2d Grenadiers was Pomeranian; the 26th Reserve Regiment was originally from Prussian Saxony, and the 376th got its recruits from depots in Eastern Prussia. It first appeared on the Western Front at the end of March, 1918.

1918.

SOMME.

1. The division came into line on the night of April 27–28 and relieved the 19th Division west of Hangard. It continued to hold this sector until August 10. In the first two days of the British attack the division lost 1,544 prisoners. After its withdrawal the division was taken to the vicinity of Trelon and disbanded.

2. The 26th Reserve Regiment was drafted to the 36th Fusileer Regiment and the 66th Regiment to the 113th Division. The 2d Grenadier Regiment passed intact from the 109th Division to the 3d Reserve Division. The 376th Regiment was divided among the three regiments of the 1st Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. After about four months in line on the Somme the losses in casualties and prisoners led to the dissolution of the division in September.

111th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │221. │73 Fus. │221. │73 Fus. │ │76. │ │76. │ │164. │ │164. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │3 and 4 Sqn. 22 Dragoon Rgt. │3 and 4 Sqn. 22 Dragoon Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│221 Pion. Co. │221 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │262 Pion. Co. │ │111 T. M. Co. │ │111 Pont. Engs. │ │111 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │221 F. A. Rgt. (7 Btries.). │221 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(73d Fusileers, 164th Regiment: 10th Corps District—Hanover. 76th Regiment: 9th Corps District—Hanseatic cities.)

1915.

The 111th Division was formed near Brussels on March 26, 1915, by obtaining the 73d Fusileers from the 19th Division, the 164th Infantry from the 20th Division, and the 76th Regiment from the 17th Division.

COTES DE MEUSE.

1. About the middle of April, 1915, the 111th Division was in line along the Cotes de Meuse (Calonne, Hattonchatel trench) after having detrained on April 11 at Mars la Tour.

ARTOIS.

2. In August it was transferred to Artois (Monchy au Bois sector).

1916.

1. The 111th Division stayed on the Artois front until August, 1916.

SOMME.

2. About August 21 it was relieved and sent to the north of the Somme. Engaged near Guillemont and Guinchy, it suffered serious losses (Aug. 25-Sept. 6).

COTES DE MEUSE.

3. After a few days’ rest in the Cambrai region it was put into line near Cotes de Meuse (Bois de Chevaliers, Sept. 15) and stayed there until October 26. It was brought up to strength by the addition of 2,000 replacements.

SOMME.

4. At the end of October it was brought back to the Somme. At first it was at rest in the region of Bohain and then took over a sector between Bouchavesnes and the St. Pierre-Vaast wood.

1917.

1. In January, 1917, it was south of the Somme near Barleux, from which position it was relieved a short time before it fell back on the Hindenberg Line.

HINDENBURG LINE.

2. It occupied the Bellicourt sector (north of St. Quentin) from May 10 to about June 24. On May 7 and 15 it received 600 replacements (classes of 1917 and 1918) to make up the losses sustained on April 27 at Arleux en Gohelle.

3. The division was then put at rest for a month in the vicinity of Cambrai.

YPRES.

4. It entrained on July 25 and 26 and was transported to Flanders, where it was engaged on the 27th and 28th to the north of Ypres(Boesinghe- Steenstraat). It met the artillery preparation and the attack of July 31, which caused it considerable losses. It was relieved the very night of the attack and was temporarily reorganized at Bohain.

LORRAINE.

5. Sent to Lorraine, it took the Regnieville sector (west of Pont à Mousson) about August 20; rested and reorganized.

FLANDERS.

6. It left this sector on October 14 to return to Flanders (Poelcappelle). It detrained on the 16th at Alost and was engaged from the 22d to the 26th and relieved November 4.

ARTOIS.

7. From the end of November to January 8, 1918, it held the Monchy le Preuxen-Vis en Artois sector (southeast of Arras). The division received the remaining necessary replacements; the 73d Fusileers received, on December 24, 400 men between the ages of 20 and 35, taken from the Russian front (especially from the 15th Landwehr Division).

RECRUITING.

The 76th Infantry was a Hanseatic unit while the 73d Fusileers was a Hanoverian organization. As men from the 9th Corps District quite frequently served in regiments from the 10th Corps District and reciprocally, in case of necessity, the regiments of a division drew without distinction from either source, it was to be expected that the 111th Division was termed as “regiments of Lower Saxony.”

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 111th Division, which was considered a good unit, was sorely tried in Flanders by the Franco-British attack of July 31, 1917. Many men left their formations either when going into line or under bombardment. The division stayed but four days in line and had to be relieved without having been able to counterattack. The 111th Division was composed of young men, part of whom had experience in very active sectors.

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division was relieved by the 234th Division at Arleux about the 1st of March. It remained in rear of the front until March 21 when it returned to its former sector to attack east of St. Leger. It had been resting at Auberchicourt, which place it left on the 17th and marched via Palluel to Villers lez Cagnicourt, arriving there on March 20.

The division was in the first wave of the attack and advanced via Ecoust, then south to Vaulx-Vraucourt on the 22d, Mory (24th). It passed into second line about this time and reentered line north of Hamelincourt on April 1 to relieve the 26th Division. After a week it side-slipped south and relieved the 239th Division northeast of Ayette, which sector it held until April 20. It was relieved by the 234th Division.

2. On May 6 the division relieved the 5th Bavarian Division north of Bucquoy. It continued to hold this sector until August 17, when it was relieved by the 4th Bavarian Division.

THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

3. The division taken from the comparatively quiet Bucquoy sector was used to reenforce the battle front at Favreuil on August 25. It was only engaged four days in this sector. Withdrawn on the 29th, it moved northward and on September 2 reenforced the front east of Hendecourt. It fought then for three days before it was withdrawn. In these two brief periods in line the division suffered very heavy casualties besides losing 500 prisoners.

LENS.

4. The division rested in the Tourcoing area until it reentered line south of Acheville on the night of September 24–25 in relief of the 207th Division. It was engaged here until October 11, when the 49th Reserve Division relieved it east of Lens.

5. The division rested in the Douchy-Haspres area in support until October 18, when it moved to Artres and came into line on the night of October 20–21 at Monchaux sur Ecaillon. Until November 7 the division was constantly in line. It was near Vendegies until October 24, and later at Arties (28th), Farmars (29th), Jenlain (Nov. 2), Sebourg (4th), west of Risin (5th), and near St. Amand (5th). It was out of line at the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was used as an assault division on the Somme in March, but thereafter served as an intervention division in the Somme area. The division showed considerable power of resistance.

113th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │225. │36 Fus. │225. │36 Fus. │ │48. │ │48. │ │32 Res. │ │32 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ (?) │3 Sqn. 8 Cuirassier Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │225 F. A. Rgt. (7 Btries.) │225 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│225 Pion. Co. │225 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │251 Pion. Co. │ │252 Pion. Co. │ │113 T. M. Co. │ │113 Pont. Engrs. │ │113 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │114 Anti-Aircraft Section. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

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

1915.

The 113th division was organized near Sedan on March 26, 1915. Its three infantry regiments were taken from old divisions: the 48th from the 5th Division (3d Corps District-Brandenburg), the 36th from the 8th Division (4th Corps District-Prussian Saxony), and the 32d Reserve from the 22d Reserve Division (11th Corps District-Thuringe).

In March, 1917, the 48th was replaced by the 66th Regiment (old 7th Division from Prussian Saxony) taken from the 52d Division.

1. Detraining at Conflans on April 8, the division spent a few days in the Woevre.

CÔTES DE MEUSE.

2. It appeared along the Côtes de Meuse (Calonne trench) on April 26, 1915.

3. From that date until January 14, 1916, it stayed around the Côtes de Meuse and in Woevre-Calonne trench, Ailly wood, St. Mihiel, Eparges, and Bois Bouchot.

1916.

1. January and February, 1916, rested at Brainville and Conflans.

VERDUN.

2. On February 24 the 113d Division was transferred to the Verdun front. It participated in the attacks of the 8th and 9th of March against the village of Douaumont and suffered considerable losses. In six weeks spent around Douaumont the losses are said to have been 30 officers and 2,000 men put out of action (letter).

OISE.

3. Relieved at the beginning of April it was put into line in a calm sector—region of Soissons, then in the region of the Oise (Tracy le Val, Puisaleine).

SOMME.

4. In July, at the beginning of the Franco-British offensive, it detached some of its elements in the Somme (Peronne, July 1, then at Frise, Assevillers, and Belloy). The three rest battalions of the division formed in an emergency an assembled regiment (notebook).

5. After a new stay in the Soissons region (August and September) the whole division was again engaged in the Somme between Rancourt and the St. Pierre-Vaast wood. It suffered very heavy losses near Bouchavesnes (Oct. 1–10).

6. At rest from October 14 to 21 in Woevre.

CÔTES DE MEUSE.

7. At the end of October, the 113th Division took over the Bonzee- Ronvaux sector (Côtes de Meuse).

1917.

1. The 113th Division stayed around the Côtes de Meuse until the end of January, 1917.

ALSACE.

2. At the beginning of February it went into Alsace and occupied a sector between the Thur and the Rhone-Rhine canal (March).

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

3. On April 21 it was hastily entrained at Mulhouse and transferred to the Aisne. It went into line on the 26th at Chemin des Dames and met the second French offensive in the Courtecon-Malval farm region (May 5).

ST. GOBAIN FOREST.

4. Relieved in the middle of May, it stayed at rest for six days in the vicinity of Assis sur Serre and thereafter in a sector in the St. Gobain forest (Deuillet-Fresnes).

5. On August 10 it was put at rest behind Laon.

CRAONNE.

6. It went back into line at the end of September in the Craonne sector. As a result of the French offensive it fell back to the east of Hurtebise where it was relieved about November 10.

7. It rested in the Laon region from the middle of November to January 20.

RECRUITING.

In 1917 the division took on a distinctly provincial aspect, its regiments receiving replacements from Prussian Saxony (the 36th Fusileers and the 66th Infantry) and in Thuringe (the 32d Reserve Regiment).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 113th Division was a good unit. It put up an energetic resistance on the Chemin des Dames on May 5, 1917. From that time up to the offensive of March, 1918, it had not been seriously engaged.

1918.

1. Having finished its training in the Sissonne region, the 113th Division relieved the 235th Division about the middle of January in the Juvincourt sector (east of Craonne), and was itself relieved by the 5th Reserve Division on the 21st of February. It trained for a week at Vervins, and then moved to Wassigny, where it underwent more training until the 16th of March, when it marched via Bohain and Fonsommes to Bellicourt.

ST. QUENTIN.

2. On the 21st it attacked in the first line near Maissemy (northwest of St. Quentin). Although suffering very heavy losses, the division had succeeded in pushing on as far as St. Christ-Briost and Pargny (on the Somme) on the 24th. It was withdrawn shortly after (probably on the 26th).

AISNE.

3. On the 27th of May the division reenforced the Aisne front near Craonne and attacked in the first line. It was withdrawn about the 14th of June and went to rest near Conde sur Aisne (east of Soissons).

4. The division reenforced the front near Troissy (east of Dormans) on the 15th of July. It was caught in the confusion caused by the Allied counteroffensive, and was forced to retire. It was not identified after the 22d, and so it seems as though it was not in line after that date until prisoners were again taken on the 29th near Villers-Agron (southeast of Fere en Tardenois), which is in a line almost due north of where it had previously been engaged. Here it took over the part of the line previously held by the 2d Guard Division. It was withdrawn early in August and went to rest in the region southeast of Maubeuge.

CAMBRAI.

5. On the 10th of September the division reenforced the front near Metz en Couture (southwest of Cambrai). It was withdrawn from line near Villers-Plouich (southwest of Cambrai) after having lost over 1,600 prisoners about the 2d of October, and went to rest east of Denain.

6. On the 22d it came back into line near Douchy (south of Denain). Two days later it side-slipped toward the south. It was identified in line to the north of Le Quesnoy in November, but was withdrawn a day or two later. It did not return to line.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 113th was rated as a second-class division. Although the division commander received Pour le Merite and the commander of the 36th Regiment was also decorated after the battle of the Somme, the division does not appear to have particularly distinguished itself there. On the whole, however, its conduct though not brilliant was dependable.

115th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │229. │136. │229. │136. │ │171. │ │171. │ │40 Res. │ │40 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │1 and 2 Sqn. 22 Dragoon Rgt. │1 and 2 Sqn. 22 Dragoon Rgt. │ (one-half picked troops). │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │229 F. A. Rgt. (7 Btries.). │229 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│229 Pion. Co. │229 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │115 T. M. Co. │ │115 Pont. Engs. │ │115 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(136th and 171st Regiments: 15th Corps District—Alsace. 40th Reserve Regiment: 14th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Baden.)

1915.

Formed in April, 1915, near Tournai, the 115th Division received the 136th and 171st from the 30th and 39th Divisions (15th Corps), respectively, and the 40th Reserve Regiment from the 28th Reserve Division (14th Reserve Corps).

1. In April, 1915, the 115th Division was in reserve in the Tournai- Courtrai region.

ARTOIS.

2. In May it was sent as a reenforcement to the north of Arras and fought at Notre Dame de Lorette and Neuville St. Vaast and was sorely tried. The infantry losses amounted to 128 officers and 5,208 men out of action (Casualty List), of which 47 officers and 2,258 men belonged to the 171st Regiment.

AISNE.

3. Relieved about June 15, the 115th Division took over the Missy sur Aisne sector (east of Soissons), which it occupied until the last days of July.

RUSSIA.

4. At the end of July it was transferred to the Eastern Front, and for a time in August operated on the Narew.

5. It took part in the summer offensive. It was before Kovno on August 19, in the region of Vileiki at the end of September, and near Narotch Lake at the beginning of October.

1916.

POSTAVY-NAROTCH LAKE.

1. The 115th Division occupied the Postavy-Narotch Lake sector until the beginning of August, 1916.

GALICIA.

2. About August 2 the division was transferred to Galicia. It was engaged to the west of Zalosce (south of Brody), August to September.

VOLHYNIA.

3. In October it was in line in Volhynia to the west of Loutsk (Sviniouki). The 171st was kept to the southwest of Brody with the Melior detachment.

ROUMANIA.

4. In the middle of December the 115th Division was transferred from Volhynia to Roumania, where, together with the 109th Division, it made up the 54th Corps, which operated between Buzeu and the Danube.

1917.

ROUMANIA.

1. In January, 1917, the 115th Division took a position on the Roumanian front to the south of Namoloasa and stayed in this sector until the middle of August.

2. It was then in line to the north of Focsani, in the Panciu-Marasesti region (August-December).

RECRUITING.

The Grand Duchy of Baden and the Rhenish countries supplied the greater part of the recruits.

1918.

1. The division was relieved on the Roumanian front on February 1 by an Austrian division and rested in the Braila area during February and March. On April 8 it entrained and traveled via Budapest-Vienna-Prague- Dresden-Coblenz-Cologne-Aachen-Liege-Brussels to Lille, when it detrained about April 18. About the 21st the division reentrained and was railed to Antwerp, where it went through a course of intensive training.

BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

The division left Antwerp on May 21 and traveled via Brussels-Mons- Maubeuge-Le Cateau-Bohain, detraining north of St. Quentin on May 22. Four days later it continued its journey by rail to Versigny, southeast of La Fere, and was billeted in the Crepy area until May 29. On the following day it left and marched via Chaillevoois-Vailly (May 31)- Ambrief (June 1)-Villers-Helon (2d) and relieved the 37th Division near Longpont on the Aisne battle front on the night of June 2–3. It withstood the Allied counterthrust at Corcy in July, suffering heavy losses. It was relieved on the night of July 19–20.

VERDUN.

2. The division was moved to Brieulles and in the first days of August relieved the 22d Reserve Division in the sector Malancourt-Forges. In this vicinity it remained until September 19, when it was relieved by the 7th Reserve Division.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

3. On the second day of the American attack the division returned to bolster up the line in the Gesnes area. The division now included the 173d Regiment, which came from the 223d Division (dissolved) to supplant the 40th Reserve Regiment (disbanded). The division took part in the several captures and recaptures of Gesnes. It fought hard and suffered heavy losses before its relief on October 12 by the 3d Guard Division. Two days later it came back to support the 3d Guard Division and was engaged in the fighting around Romagne until October 18. On November 1 the division again came into line near Remonville and fought until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was badly hit on July 18 by the French attack and later in the Argonne. It showed good qualities in the Meuse fighting and was mentioned in the official German communiqué.

117th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │233. │157. │233. │157. │ │11 Res. │ │11 Res. │ │22 Res. │ │22 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ (?) │1 and 2 Sqn. 8 Cuirassier │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │233 F. A. Rgt. (7 Btries.). │233 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│233 Pion. Co. │233 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │117 T. M. Co. │ │117 Pont. Engs. │ │117 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(6th Corps District—Silesia.)

1915.

The 117th Division was created by the 7th Army near Liart about April 7, 1915. Its three regiments were obtained from the 6th Corps and the 6th Reserve Corps—the 157th Infantry from the 12th Division, the 11th Reserve Regiment from the 11th Reserve Division, and the 22d Reserve Regiment from the 12th Reserve Division.

1. In April, 1915, the 117th Division was in Champagne (region of Châtelet).

ARTOIS-NOTRE DAME DE LORETTE.

2. Transferred to Artois, it was engaged to the north of Souchez and at Notre Dame de Lorette (May and June). In this fighting it was hard hit, 107 officers and 5,255 men out of action, of whom 44 officers and 2,161 men belong to the 11th Infantry. (Casualty List.)

3. The division was re-formed at the end of June in the region of Lille.

LENS.

4. Toward the middle of July it went back into line to the northwest of Lens (from Vermelles to the Grenay-Lens railway). It suffered very heavy losses in the attacks occurring at the end of September and the beginning of October (Loos)—109 officers and 6,463 men out of action. (Casualty List.)

5. Taken away from the Artois front in the middle of October, it was put at rest in the vicinity of Roubaix-Tourcoing.

FLANDERS.

6. At the end of October it took over the Messines sector.

1916.

1. The 117th Division occupied the Messines front until the beginning of March, 1916.

2. Rest at Courtrai; instruction and training at the Beverloo Camp (March-April and May).

YPRES.

3. At the beginning of June the division went into line to the east of Ypres (near the road from Ypres to Menin, and until July 20).

SOMME.

4. On July 23 it went to the Somme (Pozieres); it was engaged from the end of July to the middle of August.

5. On August 17 the division entrained for the Eastern Front.

BUKOVINA.

6. It was identified in the Carpathian Mountains as part of the 3d Austro-Hungarian Army (region of Jablonica, October).

1917.

CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS.

1. The 117th Division remained here (Jablonica, Worochta, Koeroesmezoe, Jacobeni sectors) until the middle of May, 1917.

ROUMANIA.

2. At the end of May it was transferred via Maramaros-Sziget to the Roumanian front (Putna valley, region of Ocna, June-September). At rest in Transylvania in September and was there reequipped for mountain warfare.

ITALY.

3. Sent to Italy at the beginning of October, it was on the 24th behind Tolmino as an army reserve. In December it was on the left bank of the Piave.

RECRUITING.

Silesian division, with recruits coming especially from Upper Silesia (mining district and mountainous districts), it was used on several occasions as mountain troops (Carpathians, Italy).

On the Carpathian, Roumanian, and Italian fronts (August, 1916-March, 1918).

1918.

LORRAINE.

1. The division rested in the vicinity of Vahl-Ebersing until April 6, when it entrained at St. Avold and moved to Lille. It went into billets near there on the 7th and came into line near Neuve Eglise on April 13.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

2. It was engaged in the Bailleul, Kemmel, and La Clyette area until the 1st of May. After a few days in support, the division reentered west of Dranoutre on May 4 and held that sector until mid-May.

3. The division rested near La Madeleine. Its units were very much weakened. The 11th Reserve Regiment was disbanded about May 16 and transferred its effectives to the other two regiments of the division. It was replaced by the 11th Grenadier Regiment, which was brought from the Macedonian front about May 21. The division remained at rest until about June 3, when it was again reported in line near Voormezeele.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

4. The division held that sector without event until June 25, when it was withdrawn and sent to rest near Ghent. On August 4 it was moved by rail to Peronne, where it went into the Vrely-Hangest wood sector until August 18. In the British attack south of the Somme on August 8 the division lost about 2,700 prisoners.

On August 27 it reenforced the battle front at Maricourt for a couple of days. It was withdrawn about September 1.

ARGONNE.

5. The division rested and was reconstituted in rear of the Argonne front in early September. The 22d Reserve Regiment suffered so heavily on the Somme that it was dissolved and its men divided between the other two regiments. The 450th Regiment from the dissolved 233d Division replaced the 22d Reserve Regiment in the division.

6. About September 12, the division relieved the 37th Division in line near Avocourt. It was swamped in the first drive of the American Army on September 26. Elements kept up the fight until September 29, when they were withdrawn after having been pressed back to about Cierges. Its defense was not particularly vigorous, but was better than that of the divisions on either side. Its total losses were estimated at 3,200, including 1,861 prisoners.

MEUSE.

7. On November 2 the division returned to line just west of the Meuse. While resting at Juvigny the division received replacements. In the retreat it crossed to the east bank of the Meuse and was in line on the day of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second-class. Up to the middle of June the division seems to have been a holding rather than an attacking one. After the Somme battle in August its effectives were feeble and morale low. It had many older men, returned wounded, and convalescents, and a large number of Poles and Alsatians.

119th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │237. │46. │237. │46. │ │58. │ │58. │ │46 Res. │ │46 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │Wedel. Rgt. (1 and 3 Sqn. 1 │ │ Uhlan Rgt. and 4 Sqn. 1 │ │ Mounted Jag. Rgt.). ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │237 F. A. Rgt. (7 Btries.). │237 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│237 Pion. Co. │237 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │119 T. M. Co. │ │119 Pont. Engs. │ │119 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │237. │46. │237. │46. │ │58. │ │58. │ │46 Res. │ │46 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 1 Mounted Jag. Rgt. │4 Sqn. 1 Jag. z. Pf. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │119 Art. Command: │119 Artillery Command: │ 237 F. A. Rgt. (9 Btries.). │ 237 Field Art. Rgt. │ │ 2 Abt. 27 Foot Art. Rgt. │ │ (Btries. 5 to 7). │ │ 1274, 1275, and 1338 Light │ │ Mun. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│119 Pion. Btn.: │119 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 237 Pion. Co. │273 Pion. Co. │ 273 Pion. Co. │91 Searchlight Section. │ 3 Res. Co. 32 Pion. Btn. │119 Div. Signal Command. │ 119 T. M. Co. │119 Tel. Detch. │ 237 Searchlight Section. │65 Div. Wireless Detch. │ 119 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │119 Ambulance Co. │119 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │605 Ambulance Co. │382 and 383 Field Hospitals. │381 Field Hospital. │168 Vet. Hospital. │382 Field Hospital. │ │383 Field Hospital. │ │168 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │600 M. T. Col. │600 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │16, 17, 60, and 61 (?) Light │ │ Machine Gun Sections. │ │79 M. G. S. S. Detch. │ │1 Co. 3 T. M. Btn. │ │352 Pion. Mining Co. │ │Kortemarck Pion. Park. │ │Strovendorp Pion. Park. │ │57 Ft. Art. Btn. │ │157 Ft. Art. Btn. │ │5 Btry. 7 Res. Ft. A. Rgt. │ │404 Ft. Art. Btn. │ │5 Btry. 39 Ldw. Ft. A. Rgt. │ │6 Btry. 29 Ldw. Ft. A. Rgt. │ │8 Quick-firing Mortar Co. │ │182 Ft. A. Btry. │ │187 Ft. A. Btry. │ │428 Ft. A. Btry. │ │478 and 642 Mountain Ft. Art.│ │ Btries. │ │2 and 4 Mountain Ft. Art. │ │ Btries. (18 C. Dist.) │ │1,000 Ft. Art. Btry. │ │9 Art. Survey Section. │ │819 Tel. Detch. │ │62 Div. Wireless Detch. │ │21 Pigeon Loft. │ │218 Messenger-dog Detch. │ │48 Reconnaissance Sqns. │ │26 Combat Sqn. │ │30 Balloon Sqn. │ │4 Co. 44 Labor Btn. │ │3 Co. 53 Labor Btn. │ │4 Co. 122 Labor Btn. │ │61 Supply Train. │ │19, 108, 121 Bav. and 835 M. │ │ T. Col. │ │491 Ammunition Train. │ │682, 711, and 758 Truck │ │ Trains. │ │587 Supply Train. │ │571 Depot Supply Col. │ │119 Supply Depot. │ │ (According to a captured │ │ document dated Sept. 29, │ │ 1917.) │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(5th Corps District—Posen and Lower Silesia.)

1915.

GALICIA-POLAND.

1. Formed in April, 1915. Its three regiments were obtained from divisions belonging to the 5th Army—the 46th from the 10th Division, the 58th from the 9th Division, and the 46th Reserve from the 10th Reserve Division. Assembled in annexed Lorraine, it was sent to Galicia for the April German offensive. The division took part in the battle of Gorlice at the end of the month.

2. In July it was in Poland, west of the Wieprz, and at the end of October in the region of Baranovitchi.

1916.

BARANOVITCHI.

1. In January, 1916, the division held a sector to the east of Baranovitchi (Russia).

NAROTCH LAKE.

2. About March 28 it went to Narotch Lake and opposed the Russian offensive.

3. Sorely tried on March 30, it was relieved on April 7.

SMORGONI.

4. In May it was found at the west of Smorgoni.

GALICIA.

5. It was transferred to Galicia at the end of June at the time of the Russian offensive. Engaged on July 27, it suffered heavy losses. The 1st Battalion of the 58th was almost entirely captured and the division retired 15 km. (letter). On August 7 new losses at Tlumacz. The division was placed in reserve behind Stanislau until the beginning of September. On September 6 it reappeared on the front in the region of Halicz.

1917.

GALICIA.

1. The division stayed near Halicz until March 9, 1917. It was then sent to the vicinity of Brzezany, where it was almost immediately put in reserve.

2. At the beginning of May it was sent to the Western Front. (Itinerary: Brzezany (May 3)-Lemberg-Breslau-Liegnitz-Dresden-Leipzig-Cassel- Frankfort-Aix la Chapelle-Liége-Brussels-Roulers (May 8).)

FLANDERS.

3. Ypres sector; went into line at the beginning of June and was relieved on July 18.

4. Bixschoote sector; went into line at the beginning of August. The division met the attack in Flanders, in which it suffered serious losses on August 16. The 9th Company of the 58th Infantry was reduced to 38 men (notebook). On the 9th and 10th of October there were new engagements.

5. Relieved from the front on October 15 the division rested in the vicinity of Gand.

CAMBRAI.

6. After a month’s rest the 119th Division went into line on the Cambrai front to participate in the counterattacks which followed the surprise attack of November 20. It fought here from the 23d to the 27th, not without some losses.

7. Relieved after December 6, the division was reorganized in the vicinity of Solesmes.

RECRUITING.

This division recruited from the 5th Corps District. A document dated November 23, 1917, described the division as composed of “regiments of Lower Silesia and Posen.” In order to overcome the majority of Poles, the division received recruits from the 3d and 6th Corps Districts (Brandenburg and Silesia), which were fruitful sources of recruiting.

Twenty-one per cent of the prisoners taken from the 119th Division in August, 1917, belonged to the 1917 class. The 1918 class was meagerly represented. The 46th Reserve Regiment had a large proportion of Poles. The soldiers from Alsace-Lorraine remained on the Eastern Front when the division left Galicia (May, 1917).

1918.

1. About the end of January the division was relieved near Pronville by the 20th Division. It replaced the 3d Guard Division astride the Bapaume-Cambrai road about February 12. The date of its relief in this sector is not known. A captured diary shows that the division was training in the Helesmes area (north of Denain) until the middle of March. On the 16th it marched to Noyelles sur Selle, and on the following day reached Cambrai, where it remained until March 20.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. The division came into line near Inchy on the 21st and took part in the initial attack. It was withdrawn on the 23d and rested two days. It reappeared in line on the 25th and fought southeast of Hebuterne until relieved by the 5th Bavarian Reserve Division on April 7–8. The division lost heavily in this fighting.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

3. Withdrawn from the Somme, the division reentered the Lys battle line on April 26 near Locon. It was engaged there until early in May (6th), when it was withdrawn near Hinges and rested in the area Lille-Tournai until June 11. On that date it marched to Orchies, was railed to Le Forest, and from there came into line via Noyelles, relieving the 12th Reserve Division on the night of June 13–14. While at rest the division received a number of drafts, mostly of the 1919 class.

4. The division held the Mericourt sector until the night of July 12–13, when it was relieved by the 52d Division and took over the billets of the 52d Division in the Orchies area.

5. The division rested until August 1, when it moved to Ham via Douai- Cambrai-Caudry-Bohain-St. Quentin. Then it rested until August 8, when it was alarmed and rushed up in busses to the Le Quesnel sector.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

6. On August 9 the division was engaged south of the Somme. In the fighting it lost about 900 prisoners before its relief on August 17. On August 27–28 it returned to line in the Misery-Licourt sector and remained in line until September 24, when it was withdrawn from west of Bellenglise. After a week’s rest the division reentered line at Estrees; was engaged for 17 days in the Beaurevoir-Le Cateau area. Since August 8 it has lost nearly 3,000 prisoners.

YPRES.

7. The division rested at Ghent until October 27, when it relieved the 3d Landwehr Division south of Machelen. It retreated via Olsene to Nazareth, in which area it was withdrawn about November 9.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was used as an attack division in the March and April offensives. While on the defensive in August and September on the Somme it was decimated.

121st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │241. │60. │241. │60. │ │7 Res. │ │7 Res. │ │56 Res. │ │56 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │2 and 3 Sqns. 12 Horse Jag. │12 Horse Jag. Rgt. (? 2 │ Rgt. │ Sqns.). │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │241 F.A. Rgt. │241 F.A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│241 Pion. Co. │241 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │260 Pion. Co. │ │4 Co. 27 Pions. │ │121 T. M. Co. │ │121 Pont. Engs. │ │121 Tel. Detch. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │Labor Btn. of the 121 Div. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(60th Regiment: 21st Corps District—Lower Alsace. 7th Reserve Regiment; 5th Corps District—Posen. 56 Reserve Regiment; 7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1915.

The 121st Division was formed in the Falkenhausen Army in Lorraine in April, 1915. Its three regiments came from divisions which had been in existence for some time. The 60th came from the 31st Division (21st Corps), the 7th Reserve from the 9th Reserve Division (5th Reserve Corps), and the 56th Reserve from the 13th Reserve Division (7th Reserve Corps). These regiments were brought together in the region of St. Avold-Faulquemont at the beginning of April and on the 9th reached Thiaucourt, Euvezin, and the Mort Mare wood (notebooks).

HAYE.

1. The 121st Division next appeared in the Bois de Prêtre sector at the beginning of May, 1915.

2. It stayed there until the end of February, 1916.

1916.

1. The division left the Bois de Prêtre on March 1, 1916, and rested in the vicinity of Metz.

VERDUN.

2. On March 15 it came to the Verdun front (north of Vaux). On April 1 it attacked and took the village of Vaux; it again attacked on April 11 and made progress between Vaux and Douaumont, paying dearly for the advance.

3. Relieved from the Verdun front on April 20, it was put at rest near St. Avold until May 15. It had lost 58 per cent of its infantry strength in front of Verdun. From March 18 to May 30 the 6th Company of the 7th Reserve Regiment received no less than 192 replacements.

SOMME.

4. Transferred to Péronne by way of Sedan, Charleville, Hirson, and Bohain, the 121st Division went into line on the left bank of the Somme on May 18.

5. On July 1, while in this sector, it was surprised by the French offensive and suffered heavy losses (numerous prisoners).

6. Relieved on July 4, it was put at rest and reorganized.

RUSSIA.

7. On July 18 it entrained for the Eastern Front. (Itinerary: Aix la Chapelle-Cologne-Thorn, Warsaw, and Brest-Litowsk.)

KOVEL.

8. Taking over the Kovel sector on July 26, it launched counterattacks, in which it was sorely tried.

1917.

NAROTCH LAKE.

1. At the beginning of January, 1917, the 121st Division left the Kovel sector to go into the region of Narotch Lake and stayed in the latter place until May 17.

FRANCE.

2. On May 20 it entrained for France. (Itinerary: Vilna-Insterberg- Allenstein-Bromberg-Landsberg-Berlin-Stendal-Minden-Duesseldorf-Aix la Chapelle-Verviere-Liége-Brussels-Audenarde.) It detrained at Elsegem on May 25.

CAMBRÉSIS.

3. Transferred to Cambrai on June 10, it took over the Moruvres- Avrincourt sector, which it occupied from June 12 to the beginning of August.

FLANDERS.

4. It was thereafter brought to the Ypres front to the south of the railway running from Ypres to Roulers (Aug. 19). Artillery fire caused it to lose heavily; the British attack of September 20, of which it bore the brunt, increased its losses. Before the battle of the 20th the 12th Company of the 56th Reserve Regiment was reduced to 65 men, of whom 40 were men of the class of 1918. The 9th Company was entirely destroyed or captured.

5. Relieved in the night of the 21st of September the division was sent to rest (region of Mars la Tour) and reorganized (more than 2,000 men coming from the 605th and 614th Landstrum, Batallion X 12, and the 109th Landwehr). These replacements were very heterogeneous—soldiers from Westphalia, Hanover, Baden, Magdeberg (men previously wounded and convalescents).

COTES DE MEUSE.

6. At the beginning of October the 121st Division took over a sector near Cotes de Meuse (les Éparges, Ravin de Malochis). It stayed there until about April 10, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The name “7th Brandenberger” for the 60th Infantry was only of historic interest. The regiment recruited almost entirely in Westphalia. The 56th Reserve Regiment was also recruited in Westphalia, and there were numerous soldiers from there in the 7th Reserve Regiment to counterbalance the numerous Poles in the 5th Corps District; hence the make-up of the division was for the most part Westphalian.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 121st Division fought very well in its last battle in Flanders (September, 1917) and was put to a good test.

In March, 1918, the number of men in the ranks who had taken part in these attacks was about 35 or 40 per cent, and the replacements used after the battle of Flanders were generally of inferior military value.

1918.

1. The division was relieved on the Woevre about April 11. It entrained on April 24 at Conflans and traveled via Sedan-Charleville-Hirson- Valenciennes to Pont a Marcq, where it detrained on April 26, after a journey of about 20 hours. It came into line in the Dranoutre sector on May 2 in relief of the 10th Erzsatz Division.

LOCRE.

2. It held the Locre sector until May 21, when it was relieved by the 16th Bavarian Division. On June 19 it returned to its former sector at Dranoutre and held it until July 7.

3. The division rested in the Tourcoing area until July 31, when it entrained and traveled via Courtrai-Valenciennes-St. Quentin to Laon, where it detrained on the following day. Here it rested until 5 p. m. on August 8, when it was alarmed and marched to the La Fere area (19 miles), arriving on the next day about 11 a. m. On the same day at 8 p. m. the division was again alarmed and was moved in motor busses via Chauny-Noyon-Roye to the Damery area, where it arrived on the 10th of August about 10 a. m. and was immediately engaged.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

4. The division fell back by Parvillers-Damery-Fresnoy-Cremery-Sept Fours-Nesle to the east bank of the Somme Canal. It was relieved on the night of September 1–2 by the 25th Reserve Division. The division lost 800 prisoners in this fighting.

5. It rested in early September in the Maretz area (southeast of Cambrai). On September 18 it was hurried to the line and counterattacked at Bonyon that evening. Until October 1 it was engaged at Hargicourt, Villeret, and Le Catelet. After only four days of rest the division again came into line on October 5 in the Gouy area. It was withdrawn to be reorganized on October 9.

6. After resting near Maubeuge the division returned to line west of Catillon on the night of October 18–19. It fought for about seven days between that place and Ors. On November 6 it was engaged at Maroilles and was in line near Limont-Fontaine on the day of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was an average division. In the final campaign it showed no particular power of resistance and lost abnormally in prisoners.

123d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │245. │178. │245. │178. │ │182. │ │182. │ │106 Res. │ │106 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │5 Sqn. 20 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │245 F. A. Rgt. │245 F. A. Rgt. │246 F. A. Rgt. │246 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│245 Pion. Co. │245 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │264 Pion. Co. │ │1 Co. 2 Bav. Pions. │ │123 T. M. Co. │ │123 Pont. Engs. │ │123 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │96 Antiaircraft Section. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(178th and 351st Regiments: 12th Corps District—Saxony. 106th Reserve Regiment: 19th Corps District—Saxony.)

1915.

The division was formed in April, 1915, by taking three regiments (178th, 182d, and 106th Reserve) from established divisions of the 12th Corps the 12th Reserve Corps (Saxons). In October, 1916, the 182d Regiment was transferred to the 216th Division and was replaced by the 425th Infantry, which was also transferred from this division in March, 1917, and replaced by the 351st Regiment (Saxon).

CHAMPAGNE.

1. In May, 1915, the 123d Division occupied the region northwest of Rheims.

2. At the end of May it was transported to Lille, where it seems to have been transferred as a reserve; in the middle of June it was in the vicinity of Arras.

ARTOIS.

3. It next occupied different sectors in Artois.

4. In September it held the Souchez front. On October 8 it took part in the attack on Loos and left Artois in the middle of that month.

FLANDERS.

5. After a rest at Lille the division went to Flanders (November), where it held a sector south of the canal from Ypres to Comines.

1916.

FLANDERS.

1. In the middle of March, 1916, the 123d Division was put at rest near Bruges.

2. It was temporarily in line about April 9 at St. Éloi; then remained as a reserve to the armies in the vicinity of Menin and Courtrai until July 5.

SOMME.

3. At this date it was transferred to the Somme and fought near Hardecourt and Maurepas until July 22, losing more than 6,000 men.

RUSSIA.

4. At the beginning of August, 1916, the 123d Division left the Western Front for the Russian front.

NAROTCH LAKE.

5. It went into line in the region of Narotch Lake about September.

1917.

NAROTCH LAKE-MITAU.

1. At the end of January, 1917, the 106th Reserve Regiment was detached as a reenforcement in the Mitau sector, which was menaced by a Russian attack.

In March the 425th Infantry (Prussian) was exchanged for the 351st Infantry, which had been grouped under this number since 1915, and was originally three battalions of the Saxon replacement depot of the old war garrison of Breslau.

SMORGONI.

2. In the middle of August the division, which up to that time had held the Narotch Lake sector, was engaged between Smorgoni and Krevo.

3. It again returned to the Narotch Lake vicinity in November.

FRANCE.

4. About November 8 it was transferred to France. (Itinerary: Chavli- Varsovie-Lodz-Kalich-Cottbus-Cassel-Frankfort on the Main-Sarrebrueck- Metz). It detrained at Piennes, Baroncourt, and was billeted in that district for eight days.

MEUSE.

5. About November 22 it took over a sector on the Verdun front (south of Bezonvaux). It stayed there all winter. It was identified to the southeast of Damloup in February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

Since March, 1917, there have been but Saxons in the 123d Division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 123d Division had but a mediocre combat value by reason of its long stay in calm sectors on the Russian front.

In Russia it fraternized on two occasions, the second one at the time of its last stay on the Russian front.

The losses of the division on the Russian front were almost nothing and it suffered no losses on the Verdun front until February, 1918.

1918.

VERDUN.

1. The division continued to hold the uneventful Bezonvaux sector until June 3, when it was relieved by the 7th Reserve Division.

RHEIMS.

2. On the night of June 18–19 it relieved the 232d Division north of the Bligny (southwest of Rheims). It participated in the attack of July 15 and made a slight advance. On the 20th it was relieved.

3. The division marched by Savigny-Trigny-Bourgogne-Houdicourt. It was railed to Asfeld and rested at Sery. On the 27th it marched to Novion- Porcien and was railed to Montmedy. From there it marched to Grand Failly, where it camped until the 31st.

VERDUN.

4. On August 8 the division relieved the 6th Bavarian Division near Samogneux and rested in that sector until September 3.

ST. MIHIEL.

5. After it rested in the St. Mihiel sector until September 12, it was put into line at Thiaucourt to check the American offensive. It remained there until the night of October 7–8, when it was withdrawn.

6. The division was moved by autotrucks to Dun via Spincourt-Billy- Damvillers-Haraumont-Fontaines, arriving there on the night of October 9–10. It marched into line near Cunel on October 11.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

7. The division was engaged in almost continuous fighting without any major attack, until it was withdrawn on October 25. While it did not win special merit for its defense, it fought persistently and was quick to take every advantage of the terrain. The division lost 238 prisoners and 2,200 other casualties (estimated). The division was considered in reserve of the 5th Army at the time of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its conduct in the July offensive was mediocre and in the Argonne it did nothing to distinguish itself.

183d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │183. │183. │183. │183. │ │184. │ │184. │ │122 Res. │ │122 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │183 F. A. Abt. (3 Btries.). │183 F. A. Abt. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│183 (Saxon) Pion. Co. │183 (Saxon) Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │401 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[30] ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │33 Res. │184. │33 Res. │184. │ │418. │ │418. (Saxon). │ │440 Res. │ │440 Res. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 10 Hus. Rgt. │4 Sqn. 10 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │183 Art. Command: │183 Art. Command: │ 183 F. A. Rgt. (9 Btries.). │ 183 (Saxon) F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│183 Pion. Btn.: │183 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 2 Res. Co. 16 Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. 2 Pion. Btn. No. │ │ 16. │ 1 Res. Co. 20 Pions. │ 1 Res. Co. 20 Pions. │ 183 (Saxon) Pion. Co. │ 183 (Saxon) Pion. Co. │ 401 T. M. Co. │ 401 T. M. Co. │ 183 Searchlight Section. │ 183 (Saxon) Tel. Detch. │ 183 (Saxon) Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │575 Ambulance Co. │575 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │42 Field Hospital. │42 Field Hospital. │344 Field Hospital. │344 Field Hospital. │228 Vet. Hospital. │228 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │603 M. T. Col. │603 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────── Footnote 30:

Composition at the time of dissolution October, 1918.

HISTORY.

(184th Regiment: 4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony. 418th Regiment: 18th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Hesse. 440th Reserve Regiment: 10th Corps District—Hanover and Grand Duchy of Oldenberg.)

1915.

The 183d Division (known as the 183d Brigade until June, 1916) was created at Cambrai in May, 1915. It comprised at that time the 183d Infantry (Saxon) and the 184th Infantry (Prussian), to which there was added in July, 1915, the 122d Reserve Regiment (Wurttemberg), three newly formed regiments, the 184th being organized out of companies taken from various regiments of the 7th and 8th Divisions. In November, 1916, the 183d Division was modified. Two of its original regiments (the 183d and the 122d Reserve) were respectively replaced by the newly formed 418th and 440th Reserve—the 418th Regiment being formed from companies of the 111th Division, the Ersatz Division of the Guard, the 8th, Ersatz Division, and the 10th Ersatz Division, and the 440th Reserve Regiment being organized out of various elements, including the 3d Battalion of the 79th Reserve Regiment and the 4th Battalion of the 75th Landwehr.

AISNE.

1. In June, 1915, the 183d Brigade occupied the Missy sur Aisne sector (east of Soissons).

2. At the end of June it was engaged at Quennevieres.

LORRAINE.

3. Transferred to Lorraine (end of July), it stayed there until the end of September (region of Benestroff).

CHAMPAGNE.

4. It was brought to the Champagne front (between Prunay and Souain) about September 23 and opposed the French offensive (September-October). The 184th Infantry was nearly wiped out on September 25, the 183d losing a very large number of prisoners.

5. Relieved from the front in November, the brigade was put at rest in the vicinity of Charleroi.

1916.

1. In January, 1916, the division was in reserve in the vicinity of Machault.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. From February to May it was on the Champagne front near the Souain- Somme Py road.

3. June; at rest (region of Tournai). At the end of June the 183d Brigade became the 183d Division by changing the 183d Field Artillery Detatchment into a regiment.

SOMME.

4. On July 2 it was brought to the north of the Somme and engaged in the vicinity of Pozières-Contalmaison until July 24. It suffered very heavy losses here—from the 10th to the 15th the 184th Infantry lost about 2,000 men.

5. About July 25 it was withdrawn from the front and reorganized. (It received 2,000 replacements, mostly men from the 1916 and 1917 classes.)

ARTOIS.

6. From the end of July to September 21: Neuville-St. Vaast sector (north of Arras).

SOMME.

7. From the beginning of October to the 21st it went into its second engagement on the Somme (Belloy-Deniécourt sector) and was again sorely tried.

CÔTES DE MEUSE.

8. November 15 to February, 1917, Côtes de Meuse (Lamorville-Spada sector.) In November the 183d Division was reorganized and became entirely Prussian (present composition)

1917.

1. From the middle of February to the beginning of April, 1917, it was at rest in the region of Conflans, then in the vicinity of Anizy le Château.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

2. At the beginning of April the 183d Division came to strengthen the Chavonne-Soupir-Braye en Laonnois sector. While opposing the French attack of April 16 it suffered very heavy losses (2,100 prisoners), and while fighting fell back to the Chemin des Dames (April 18–21). As a result of the losses on the 16th the companies of the 184th Regiment were reduced to 25 to 30 men.

3. The division was relieved on April 21. In May the 184th Regiment received 1,500 replacements from the 4th Corps District, half of which belong to the class of 1918.

ALSACE.

4. From May 11 to June 24 it held the Aspach-Rhone to Rhine Canal sector.

5. From the end of June to July 31 it was at rest, successively to the south of Colmar (15 days), near Friberg, and to the south of Longuyon (Pierrepont).

6. It entrained at Longuyon for Belgium (July 31) and detrained at Roulers the 1st and 2d of August.

FLANDERS.

7. On August 15 the division was engaged near St. Julien (southwest of Poelcappelle) until August 20.

CAMBRAI.

8. After a short rest in the region of Cambrai it took over the Vendhuile-Hargicourt sector, to the west of Catelet, on September 9. On November 20 part of the 440th Reserve Regiment was sent as a reenforcement to the south of Cambrai (Masnières); later the entire 183d Division was transferred to the northeast of Vendhuile to cover the flank of the German attack executed on November 30.

RECRUITING.

The 183d was more homogeneous than it seemed at first glance. The recruits of the 9th and 10th Corps District were often mixed and the 418th and 440th Regiments have many men from the same Provinces. Also the 184th received in the main men from that portion of the 4th Corps District which adjoined the 10th Corps District (Harz section).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

During the French attack of April 16, 1917, the division as a whole showed up well. The 418th and the 440th Reserve gave proof of vigor and courage and only gave way under continual pressure of the opposing troops.

It seemed that the German Command wished to reward the division for this resistance by giving Gen. von Schuessler, commanding the 183d Division, the Ordre pour le Mérite.

The 183d Division was sorely tried in the course of these attacks and had to be entirely reorganized.

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division held the Vendhulle sector until February 2, when it was relieved by the 79th Reserve Division. It returned to this part of the line on February 25, relieving the 79th Reserve Division. It took part in the attack of March 21, advancing by Epehy (21st), Manancourt (23d), to Bazentin (25th). It retired to rest at Contalmaison.

ALBERT.

2. The division received drafts in early April. On the 16th it came into line north of Albert and held there for four weeks. On the 13th of May it was relieved by the 243d Division.

3. On the 19th the division was engaged at Ville sur Ancre, but after four days in line it was relieved and sent to a quiet sector.

WOEVRE.

4. On June 22 the division took over the Regnieville sector, which it held until July 14 without event. It was relieved by the 77th Reserve Division on that date.

5. It entrained at Thiaucourt on July 16 and traveled via Montmedy- Sedan-Charleville-Charleroi-Mons-Valenciennes and detrained near Cambrai on the night of July 17–18. From there it marched to Ypres, rested there for six days, and on the 25th relieved the 26th Reserve Division in the Hebuterne sector.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

6. The division was struck by the British offensive in August, and before it was withdrawn near Irles on August 24 it had suffered heavy casualties, including the loss of 1,400 prisoners.

7. It marched to Cambrai, where it remained three days. On the 28th it was marched to Douai and entrained for Lille, from where it marched to Templemars. On the night of September 3–4 it relieved the 18th Reserve Division north of the La Bassee Canal.

8. The division was engaged in the La Bassee sector until September 10. Immediately after it was withdrawn from line the division was dissolved. The 440th Reserve Regiment was sent as a draft to the 11th Division. The other two regiments of the division were also disbanded and used as drafts.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was used as an assault division in the March offensive but thereafter deteriorated. It was next seriously employed on the Somme in August, where its tremendous losses robbed it of further utility.

185th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │185. │185. │185. │185. │ │186. │ │186. │ │190. │ │190. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │185 F. A. Abt. (3 Btries.). │185 F. A. Abt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│185 Pion. Co. │185 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │186 Pion. Co. (dissolved in │ │ Aug.). │ │190 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(65th and 161st Regiments: 8th Corps District—Rhenish Province. 28th Reserve Regiment: 8th Corps District—Rhenish Province.)

1915.

The division was created in May, 1915. Merely a brigade (the 185th) at the outset, it was composed of the 185th Infantry (from various Baden regiments), of the 186th Regiment (Hessian elements), and of the 190th Regiment (Westphalian elements). Later the 185th Brigade underwent changes which entirely changed its original composition.

HÉBUTERNE.

1. In June, 1915, the 185th and 186th Infantry Regiments were engaged in the vicinity of Hébuterne.

2. The three regiments of the 185th Brigade entrained at Douai at the end of July and were transferred to Alsace.

ALSACE.

3. At first it was in reserve in the region of Mulhouse; later it was put in line between Altkirch and the Swiss frontier, where it stayed until the end of September.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. At the beginning of October it was in Champagne holding the sector west of the Souain-Somme Py road.

1916.

1. The 185th Brigade stayed on the Champagne front (Tahure) until the middle of June, 1916.

SOMME.

2. At the beginning of July it opposed the Franco-British offensive in the Somme at the northeast of Fricourt, near Thiepval, Contalmaison, and Bazentin (beginning of July to the 18th). It suffered serious losses.

3. At the end of July it rested at St. Quentin, Vermand and Cateau. At this time the 185th Brigade became the 185th Division by the transformation of its field artillery detachment into a regiment.

OISE-AISNE.

4. In August it held a sector to the west of Soissons (from the Oise to Chevillecourt). The 185th Division was reorganized by the transfer of its three infantry regiments which were replaced by the 65th and the 161st Infantry from the 15th Division and by the 28th Reserve Regiment from the 16th Reserve Division—both Rhenish divisions.

SOMME.

5. The 185th, thus reorganized, was brought back to the Somme about September 7. It was engaged near Ginchy and Combles until the middle of October.

6. After a short stay north of Soissons (end of October to the beginning of November) it came back for a third time in the Somme district (Saillisel, night of Nov. 10–11). Here it was again put to a test.

7. It left the Somme on December 9 and rested in Belgium (Alost).

1917.

1. At the beginning of January elements of the division were in line to the south of Grenier wood (region of Lille).

FLANDERS.

2. The division occupied a sector north of Ypres (Wieltje) from the beginning of February to April 15.

ARTOIS.

3. About April 20 it was engaged in front of Arras (to the north of the Scarpe until the beginning of May). Losses sustained obliged it to have recourse to a distant source for replacements: the Ersatz Truppe of Warsaw (class of 1918 and men put back of the 1917 class), which reenforcements arrived at top speed on May 5.

LA BASSÉE.

4. The division held the La Basée sector (Hulluch-Vermelles) from the end of May to September 21.

5. In October it was at rest for three weeks in the vicinity of Carvin.

FLANDERS-CAMBRAI.

6. Transferred to Belgium (Oct. 28) it took over a sector to the west of Houthulst Forest (Nov. 6–7). In December it was on the Cambrai front (until about Jan. 10, 1918).

RECRUITING.

Since August, 1916, the division had been entirely composed of regiments coming from the Rhine Province (8th Corps District) and as such is entirely homogeneous.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 185th Division gave good account of itself in all the battles in which it took part.

1918.

1. The 185th Division was withdrawn from the Cambrai front near Gonnelieu, being relieved by the 9th Reserve Division during the night of January 11–12. It went to the Solesmes area, where it was trained with a view of being used in offensive operations.

ARRAS.

2. About the middle of February it relieved the 24th Division near Monchy le Preux (southeast of Arras). On the 28th of March it attacked with all three regiments, and suffered heavy losses from enfilade machine-gun fire; officer casualties for the division amounted to 90. It was withdrawn about the 27th of April.

3. It relieved the 26th Reserve Division near Mercatel (southeast of Arras) between the 13th and 16th of May. It was relieved by the 39th Division during the night of August 2–3.

SOMME.

4. On the 18th it reenforced the front near Herleville (south of Bray). It was withdrawn on September 5.

5. On the 18th it reenforced the front near Villeret (northwest of St. Quentin), and was withdrawn on the 1st of October. During these last two engagements the division lost heavily, more than 2,050 in prisoners alone.

6. A week later it reenforced the front near Ligny en Cambresis (west of Le Cateau). It was withdrawn on the 25th.

7. After a fortnight’s rest it relieved the 6th Division southwest of Mons on the 8th of November.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 185th was rated as a second-class division. Although trained in open warfare, it was used in only one of the great German offensives, and there did nothing to indicate that it merited a better rating.

187th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │187. │187. │187. │187. │ │188. │ │188. │ │189. │ │189. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │5 and 6 Sqns. 16 Dragoon Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │231 F. A. Abt. │231 F. A. Abt. │ │3 Mountain Art. Abt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│187 Pion. Co. │187 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │192 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transports. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │417 Anti-Aircraft Section. ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(187th Regiment: 9th Corps District—Schleswig—Holstein. 188th Regiment: 4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony. 189th Regiment: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg.)

1915.

The 187th Division (the 187th Brigade until June, 1916) was created May 20, 1915. Its regiments were made up as follows: The 187th, from the 9th Corps District; the 188th, from the 4th Corps District; and the 189th, a Brandenburger unit.

ALSACE.

1. In June, 1915, the 187th Brigade was sent to Alsace and stayed in line in the Fecht valley and the vicinity (Metzeral-Sondernach- Hilsenfirst-Reichackerkopf) until the end of December.

2. It next went to rest in the vicinity of Colmar.

1916.

ALSACE.

1. At the end of January, 1916, it went back in line in the Fecht valley and the region of Guebwiller. It was kept there until the summer, participating in battles for the possession of the heights (Hartmannswillerkopf, Reichackerkopf).

2. At the beginning of July the 187th Brigade became the 187th Division by the transformation of its field artillery detachment into a regiment.

TRANSYLVANIA.

3. Relieved at the end of August from the Muenster, it rested eight days at Rouffach then entrained at Colmar for the Roumanian front. (Itinerary: Karlsruhe-Stuttgart-Ulm-Munich-Vienna-Budapest-Sieben- Buergen.)

ROUMANIA.

4. On September 13 it was engaged in Transylvania (region of Hermannstadt, Tour Rouge passes), then took part in the battle of Brasso (Kronstadt) at the beginning of October and in the operations in the vicinity of Slanic (December). It suffered heavy losses.

1917.

ROUMANIA-FRANCE.

1. On February 11, 1917, the 187th Division left Roumania for the Western Front. (Itinerary: Arad-Budapest-Oppeln-Breslau-Dresden- Wuerzberg-Strassberg.) It was at rest near Dieuze (about six weeks).

LORRAINE.

2. About April 20 it took over the Moncel-Arracourt sector.

AISNE.

3. Hastily relieved on April 28, it entrained at Morhange on May 2 and detrained in the vicinity of Amagne and was put into line on May 10 on the Rheims front (north of Bermericourt; southeast of Berry au Bac) until June 15.

4. At rest in the Aussonce-La Neuville area (end of June to July) the 187th Division was held in reserve as a “Stossdivision” or “Eingriffsdivision.”

CHAMPAGNE.

5. About July 14 it was engaged in the Cornillet, Mont Blond, Mont Haut sector, which it held until August 26. The 187th Infantry was particularly tried during the attack of July 26.

6. From August 26 to September 29 it was at rest in camps at La Neuville en Tourne à Fuii later in the region of Vervins.

FLANDERS.

7. Transferred to Belgium (Sept. 30), the division opposed the British attack near Poelcappelle. It was partially relieved after the attack and went into line and counter attacked on the 10th to the north of Langemarck. Its losses in this sector were heavy.

8. After a rest to the north of Bruges from the 12th of October to November, it went back to the front near Blankaart (south of Dixmude).

RECRUITING.

The three regiments of this division came from different Provinces—the 187th from Schleswig-Holstein, the 188th from Prussian-Saxony, and the 189th from Brandenburg. This was confirmed by a German communiqué which mentioned “the attack troops from Schleswig-Holstein and Brandenberg” at Mont Haut (July, 1917).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 187th Division was made up of young men who were well trained and who came from active divisions.

The 187th Division was a division equipped for mountain warfare.

1918.

ARMENTIERES.

1. The 187th Division was withdrawn from line south of Lake Blankaart about the 10th of January, and on the 16th relieved the 38th Landwehr Division near Bois Grenier (south of Armentieres). It was relieved by the 6th Bavarian Division about February 20 and went to the Lille area, where it most probably received training in open warfare, though the fact has not been definitely established.

ARRAS.

2. It left there and arrived at Douai on the 25th of March. It spent the night of the 27th–28th in Vitry. On the 28th it reenforced the front near Fampoux (east of Arras) on the 28th, when it attacked. A man of the 188th Regiment subsequently wrote: “We tried to break through on the 28/3/18, but only pushed Tommy back to his reserve line, and don’t forget that it was with enormous losses to ourselves.” It was relieved by the 2d Guard Reserve Division during the night of May 18–19, and went to rest in the region east of Douai.

3. During the night of June 18–19 it came back and relieved the 2d Guard Reserve Division. It was relieved by the 48th Reserve Division on the 7th of July.

ARMENTIERES.

4. After less than a week’s rest, the division came to the Armentieres front and relieved the 39th Division between Neuf-Berquin and Vieux- Berquin (north of Merville). It was relieved early in September by the extension of fronts of the neighboring divisions.

CAMBRAI.

5. On the 7th it reenforced the front in the Inchy en Artois sector (west of Cambrai). After suffering exceedingly heavy losses, it was withdrawn about the 28th and went to rest in the Boushain region.

DOUAI.

6. October 3 it relieved the 15th Reserve Division in the Oppy sector (west of Douai), and was withdrawn about the 20th.

7. On the 27th it reenforced the front in the Chateau l’Abbaye sector (northeast of St. Amand), but was withdrawn a few days later.

VALENCIENNES.

9. It was identified in line near Quievrechain (northeast of Valenciennes) on November 5.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 187th was rated as a second-class division. The only offensive in which it participated was that of the Somme, where it did not distinguish itself. Subsequently it was used only to hold the front. Toward the end of the year it was very much reduced in strength.

192d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │192. │192. │192. │192. │ │193. │ │193. │ │25 Bav. │ │25 Bav. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │1 Ldw. Sqn. (12 C. Dist.). │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │192 F. A. Abt. (3 Btries.). │192 F. A. Abt. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│192 Pion. Co. │192 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │404 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

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

1915.

The 192d Brigade (became the 192d Division in June, 1916) was formed out of regiments created by selection of men from various units. It was formed at the beginning of June, 1915, with the 192d Infantry (Saxon), formed out of elements taken from the 32d Division, the 193d (Westphalian, 7th Corps District), detached after its creation to the 13th Reserve Division, and with the 25th Bavarian Regiment, formerly belonging to the 4th Bavarian Division, the regiments of which had contributed to the formation of this last regiment.

1. Until the month of September, 1915, the three regiments of the brigade occupied different sectors on the Western Front—the 192d near Charency in August, the 193d on the Aisne (region of Chamouille), and the 25th Bavarian near Warneton (Flanders) in July.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. At the end of September the elements of the 192d Brigade were brought together in the rear of the Champagne front. Engaged as a reenforcement against the French offensive (Sept. 27 to the beginning of October) near the Souain-Somme Py road, it suffered heavy losses (50 officers and 3,594 men out of action, according to official lists). The brigade stayed in the Souain sector until the end of November.

3. In December it was at rest in the region of Bignicourt-Machault.

1916.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. At the beginning of January, 1916, the 192d Brigade again took a sector in Champagne (until Jan. 26).

2. From the end of January to the beginning of March it was at rest in the vicinity of Montcornet.

3. From the 4th to the 18th of March the regiments were engaged in making defensive works in the region of Laon.

VERDUN-BOIS D’AVOCOURT.

4. On March 18 the brigade was brought near Vouziers and Stenay, then assembled in the rear of the Verdun front on the left bank of the Meuse (Mar. 22). On the 23d it relieved the 11th Bavarian Division, sorely tried by the attacks on Malancourt and the Bois d’Avocourt. It took part itself in the battles which effected the capture of that wood and suffered heavy losses. From April 13 to May 10 the 11th Company of the 192d Infantry received at least 125 replacements and the 12th Company 116 replacements.

5. The 192d Brigade stayed in the Malancourt-Avocourt wood sector until the end of August, holding it alternately with the 11th Bavarian Division. During this period (May-August) it only took part in local engagements.

6. In June it was changed into a division, its composition remaining unchanged except for the expansion of its field artillery.

FLEURY-DOUAUMONT.

7. On August 22 the new division was relieved and transferred to the right bank of the Meuse (Charency-Longuyon). On the 28th it was engaged in the Fleury-Douaumont sector. Its regiments were sorely tried by the French attacks of September 3 and 9.

8. Relieved from the front at the end of September and beginning of October the division was entirely reorganized. The 193d Infantry went to the 222d Division (being organized) and was replaced by the 418th, newly formed; the 25th Bavarian went to the 14th Bavarian Division and was replaced by the 245th Reserve Regiment of the 54th Reserve Division.

CÔTES DE MEUSE.

9. About the end of October the 418th Regiment, which had been put in line in the Moranville sector (Côtes de Meuse), replaced the 183d Infantry in the 183d Division, the last-named regiment going to the 192d Division, which was now entirely Saxon.

BEZONVAUX.

The 192d Division, having thus acquired its present organization, took a position to the east of Bezonvaux in December.

1917.

VERDUN-BEZONVAUX.

1. It occupied this sector until December, 1917, and during this long period remained entirely passive.

HILL 344.

2. Relieved from this calm sector about December 10, 1917, it immediately went into line north of Hill 344, where it still was in January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The division was entirely Saxon after the end of 1916.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 192d Division stayed more than a year in a very calm sector (east of Bezonvaux, December 1916, to December, 1917).

In January, 1918, the division might be considered as rested, but its combat value at that time seemed rather mediocre. In the various actions in which it took part on the Verdun front it did not distinguish itself.

1918.

OISE.

1. The division held the sector on the Verdun front until the middle of April, when it was relieved, and on May 19 it relieved the 200th Division southeast of Rouvrel. It was still in line when the Allies attacked on August 8. About August 11 the division was withdrawn.

ST. MIHIEL.

2. The division marched to Origny via Rosieres-Athies-St. Quentin. It left there August 25 and went by train to Chambley via Ribemont-Crecy- Mortiers-Marle-Charleville-Sedan-Montmedy-Longuyon-Metz, arriving on August 26. On the 20th the division entered line in the tip of the St. Mihiel salient.

3. The division extracted itself from the salient and was relieved about September 22, when the line had stabilized. It was moved west and again came into line at Bezonvaux.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

4. From October 8 until about October 22 the division held the Bezonvaux sector. It was then shifted northward to the area south of Etrayes, where it remained until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It did well at St. Mihiel, but in its other sectors its conduct was mediocre.

195th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │101 Res. │6 Jag. │101 Res. │6 Jag. │101 Res. │6 Jag. │ │8 Jag. │ │8 Jag. │ │8 Jag. │ │233 Res. │ │233 Res. │ │14 Jag. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │(3 Sqn. 14 Uhlan │2 Sqn. 14 Uhlan │ │ Rgt.) │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │260 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │260 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 260 F. A. Rgt. │860 Light Am. Col. │ │ │873 Light Am. Col. │ │ │1282 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(195) Pion. Btn.: │195 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 1 Co. 32 Res. │ 1 Co. 32 Res. │ │ Pions. │ Pions. │ │ 55 Res. Pion. Co. │ 55 Res. Pion. Co. │ │ 195 T. M. Co. │ 102 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ 195 Tel. Detch. │195 Signal Command: │ │ │ 195 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 66 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │207 Ambulance Co. │207 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │22 Field Hospital. │22 Field Hospital. │ │347 Field Hospital.│347 Field Hospital. │ │ │231 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │860 M. T. Col. │607 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │64 (?). M. G. S. S.│ │ │ Detch. │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(6th and 8th Jägers: Various sections of Prussia. 233d Reserve Regiment: 11th Corps District—Thuringen.)

1916.

1. The division was organized in July, 1916, in the Ruddervoorde region with the following elements: (1) 233d Reserve Regiment, obtained from the 51st Reserve Division; (2) the 6th Jägers (5th and 6th Battalions of Jägers, 14th Battalion of Jägers—the last after arriving on the Russian front was thereafter replaced by the 2d Reserve Battalion of Jägers); (3) 8th Jägers (4th, 16th, and 24th Battalions of Reserve Jägers).

GALICIA.

2. It was shortly thereafter transferred to Galicia.

3. The division took part in the open warfare of August, 1916.

4. It next went into line with Austrian troops in the Zloczow sector.

1917.

FRANCE.

1. It was transferred to the Western Front at the end of April, 1917. (Itinerary: Leniky-Cracovie-Oppeln-Breslau-Leipzig-Halle-Paderborn- Essen-Duesseldorf-Aix la Chapelle-Verviers-Liége-Louvain-Brussels- Cambrai.)

2. The division was successively in line in the Ypres sector (May), in the Wytschaete sector (June-July), and in the St. Quentin sector (August).

3. During the month of August it rested in the Walincourt region.

FLANDERS.

4. From October 3 to 12 it fought in the Passchendaele sector. It sustained heavy losses (more than 600 prisoners).

5. Relieved on October 12 the division was reorganized at Meulebecke from the 14th to the 18th and was transferred by rail to Gand. At the time it was relieved the 233d Reserve was reduced to 800 men (story of deserter).

6. On about the 21st it entrained at Heydinge and was brought via Brussels-Namur-Dinant-Givet-Charleville-Sedan-Montmedy and Conflans to Haye, where it detrained on the 23d.

HAYE.

7. On October 28 it took over a sector to the southwest of Thiaucourt (Flirey).

ITALY.

8. On November 11 the division was entrained at Metz for Italy. It detrained at Trente on November 14, where it rested until the 24th. It left Trente on December 3 without having participated in any engagement. (Itinerary: Trente-Innsbruck-Munich-Carlsruhe-Offenberg-Friberg- Mulhouse.)

ALSACE.

9. Arriving on December 6, it was billeted in the region of Sundgau, where it stayed until February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The division was very heterogeneous. The 233d came from Thuringen (11th Corps District). The various jaeger regiments came from various depot jaeger battalions (2d, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 11th Corps Districts).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 195th Division was sorely tried in Flanders in October, 1917. In November, 1917, the greater part of its strength came from the classes called during the war. The average age was 25. It can be classed as a good division.

1918.

CAMBRAI.

1. The 195th Division left Alsace, where it had been resting since its return from Italy, the 5th and 6th of February, and proceeded to Valenciennes. On the 27th a prisoner was captured near Bullecourt (northeast of Bapaume), who stated that his battalion had relieved another battalion of the same regiment during the night of the 25th–26th. The 195th Division had probably relieved the 16th Bavarian Division some days before. It was relieved by the 16th Bavarian Division on the 2d of March. It was very probably trained in open warfare, but the fact has not been definitely established.

2. On the 21st it came back reenforcing the front near Noreuil (northeast of Bapaume). The heavy fighting on this front did not come in the first days of the offensive but a few days later the division was heavily engaged, especially on the 28th and 31st near Bucquoy. This represented an advance of only a few kilometers gained at the cost of heavy losses in many attacks. It was relieved by the 17th Division during the night of April 1–2.

3. On the 9th it relieved the 16th Bavarian Division in the Ayette sector (northwest of Bapaume). It remained here fighting hard until relieved by the 5th Bavarian Reserve Division about the 24th. In this fighting the losses were very heavy, especially in the 233d Reserve Regiment (the commander of which was awarded Pour le Merite) which was dissolved soon after; its place was taken by the 14th Jaeger Regiment. It was sent to the Cambrai region to rest and refit.

MARNE.

4. The first day of the battle of the Marne-July 15—it reenforced the front near Chatillon sur Marne (northwest of Epernay). It was withdrawn early in August and went to rest near Metz.

ST. MIHIEL.

5. On the 14th of September, after the line reached by the American First Army had stabilized, the division entered line in the Haumont sector (northeast of St. Mihiel). It was not heavily engaged and was withdrawn about the 28th.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

6. The division then moved to the Champagne front, where it reenforced the front in the St. Etienne à Arnes sector (south of Machault) on the 6th of October. It was opposed by French troops until the 24th; after that it was opposite the Americans on account of a readjustment of sectors. It was withdrawn on the 29th.

7. On the 2d of November it was thrown back into line near Verrieres (northwest of Buzancy). Its losses were so heavy in this fighting, and the division was in such a state of exhaustion, that although the division was still in line on the 11th there were rumors that it was soon to be dissolved.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 195th was rated a second-class division. Its conduct whenever heavily engaged was such as to lead to the conclusion that it was one of the better divisions of that class.

197th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[31] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │210. │273 Res. │210. │273 Res. │210. │273 Res. │ │7 Jag. │ │7 Jag. │ │7 Jag. │ │ (Saxon).│ │ │ │ (Saxon). │ │32 Ldw. │ │32 Ldw. │ │28 Ers. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 14 Uhlan │2 Sqn. 14 Uhlan │2 Sqn. 14 Uhlan │ Rgt. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │261 F. A. Rgt │(?) Art. Command: │(?) Art. Command: │262 F. A. Abt. │ 261 F. A. Rgt. │ 261 F. A. Rgt. │ (Saxon). │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│170 T. M. Co. │197 Pion. Btn.: │197 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 90 Res. Pion. Co. │ 90 Res. Pion. Co. │ │ 2 Co. 32 Res. │ 2 Co. 32 Res. │ │ Pions. │ Pions. │ │ 415 T. M. Co. │ 300 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ 195 Tel. Detch. │ 426 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 197 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │208 Ambulance Co. │208 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │284 Field Hospital.│284 Field Hospital. │ │532 Field Hospital.│532 Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport │ │1053 M. T. Col. │M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 31:

Composition at the time of dissolution Nov. 1, 1918.

HISTORY.

(273 Reserve Regiment; 10th Corps District—Hanover and Brunswick. 7th Jaeger; 12th and 19th Corps Districts—Saxony. 28th Ersatz; 14th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Baden.)

1916.

The 197th Division was created in August, 1916, on the Eastern Front by the union of the following regiments: (1) 273d Reserve Regiment, formed out of four battalions taken from the 362d Infantry (4th Ersatz Division); the 368th Infantry (10th Ersatz Division); the 130th Reserve (33d Reserve Division) which all came from France. (2) 7th Jaegers (13th Battalion of Jaegers), 25th and 26th Battalions of Reserve Jaegers, all Saxon, and also all coming from France. (3) The 32d Landwehr, which had been under orders of the 33d Division in the Argonne.

GALICIA.

1. As part of the 2d Austrian Army (Boehm-Ermoli), the 197th Division occupied in August 1916 the Zborow sector (northwest of Tarnopol) where it met the offensive carried on by Broussilov. On August 10 the 7th Regiment of Jaegers had 35 officers and 1,039 men out of action (letter).

2. In September it was in line to the northeast of Zalosce and to the north of Zborow and later in the vicinity of Zloczow.

1917.

GALICIA.

1. The 197th Division stayed in this same Zloczow sector until July, 1917. While there it met the Russian attack of July 1, which reduced the strength of the 1st Battalion of the 32d Landwehr to 160 men (letter).

2. The division participated in the German counteroffensive of July 19 and advanced by way of Zborow up to Husjatin (August), where it was relieved to go into reserve.

3. It went back into line at the beginning of September at Hlesczawa (region of Trembowla).

4. At the beginning of November the 32d Landwehr was replaced by the 28th Ersatz, taken from the Bavarian Ersatz Division, and originally from the 14th Corps District (Grand Duchy of Baden). This replacement of a mediocre regiment for a good one was the prelude of preparations for a transfer to the Western Front.

RECRUITING.

This division had a composite make-up. The 7th Jaegers was Saxon; the 28th Ersatz was from Baden; and the 273d was formed from battalions coming from the 7th, 9th, and 10th Corps District and got its replacements in theory from the 10th Corps District.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 197th Division, coming from Galicia, appeared for the first time on the Western Front in March, 1918. All the maneuvers executed in the rear and at rest in Galicia tended to accustom the units to defensive warfare methods (Verteidigungskrieg). (Interrogation of a prisoner of the 273d Reserve on Mar. 13, 1918.)

This was also true of its stay in the Marchais region (February 1918).

1918.

CHATEAU THIERRY.

The division held the quiet Chemin des Dames sector until the Aisne offensive of May 27. Attack divisions passed through the 197th Division, which followed up the attack in close reserve and was engaged on May 31 northwest of Chateau Thierry. It came in for some heavy local fighting while opposite the 2d United States Division near Veuilly before it was relieved on June 8.

VERDUN.

2. It was moved to Eastern Champagne, and on June 23 relieved the 15th Bavarian Division in the Ornes sector. During July the division received drafts. It held this sector without loss until about the 1st of August.

ST. QUENTIN-OISE.

3. On August 15 the division reenforced the front at Ribecourt. Until September 10 it was constantly engaged in the Noyon fighting. After resting nine days the division returned to line north of Gricourt, and until October 19 resisted every foot of the way to Seboncourt.

4. After the withdrawal from line the division was broken up. The 273d Reserve Regiment and the 28th Ersatz Regiment were disbanded, while the 7th Jaeger Regiment passed intact to the 241st Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was heavily engaged on an active front for two months in 1918 during which fighting it suffered so heavily in casualties and morale that it was dissolved in late October.

199th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │237 Res. │59 Ldw. │114. │59 Ldw. │114. │ │4 Bav. │ │357. │ │357. │ │ Res. │ │ │ │ │ │9 Jag. │ │237 Res. │ │237 Res. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 14 Uhlan │1 Sqn. 14 Uhlan │1 Sqn. 14 Uhlan │ Rgt. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │263 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │263 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 263 F. A. Rgt. │3 Abt. 2 Bav. Ft. │ │ │ A. Rgt. │ │ │927 Light Am. Col. │ │ │1240 Light Am. Col. │ │ │1241 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(199) Pion. Btn.: │199 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 199 T. M. Co. │ 6 Co. 23 Pions. │ │ 330 Searchlight │ 286 Pion. Co. │ │ Section. │ │ │ 199 Tel. Detch. │ 199 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 38 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ │199 Signal Command: │ │ │ 199 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 10 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │209 Ambulance Co. │209 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │Field Hospital. │68 Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │339 Field Hospital. │ │ │244 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │609 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(114th Regiment: 14th Corps District—Southern part of the Grand Duchy of Baden. 357th Regiment: 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 237th Reserve Regiment: 8th Corps District—Rhine Province.)

1916.

The 199th Division was created in August, 1916, in the region of Stryj- Halicz (Galicia), with troops coming from the Western Front. Until the beginning of 1917 its infantry was made up as follows: The 237th Reserve Regiment (coming from the 52d Reserve Division), the 4th Bavarian Reserve Regiment (from the Bavarian Ersatz Division), and the 9th Jaegers (12th and 13th Battalions of Reserve Jaegers (Saxon) and the 8th Battalion of Jaegers).

GALICIA.

1. From the end of August to the beginning of November the 199th Division was engaged in Galicia (Brzezany, Halicz, Zlota-Lipa) and suffered heavy losses.

2. About November 1 the division was transferred to the Western Front. (Itinerary: Lemberg-Cracaw-Breslau-Dresden-Leipzig-Coblenz-Treves- Sedan.) It detrained at Dun and was billeted for three weeks in the vicinity of Spincourt.

SOMME.

3. Sent to the Champagne district at the end of November and then in the Bohain region, it went into line in the Rancourt-Saillizel sector (end of December).

1917.

1. At the beginning of 1917 the 114th and 357th replaced the 4th Reserve and the 9th Jaegers.

SOMME.

2. The 199th Division stayed on the Rancourt front until March, 1917.

HINDENBURG LINE.

3. On March 27 it was identified to the east of Longavesnes; then at Villers-Faucon, Lempire, in the new German positions (April).

ARTOIS.

4. Relieved about April 20, it was engaged to the southeast of Arras (Wancourt-Vis en Artois-Cherisy) and suffered heavy losses (April 27, May 3).

5. Coming back to the west of Catelet (Hargicourt-Bony) about the middle of May, it left this line on June 8 to go to rest in the vicinity of Ostend.

BELGIAN FLANDERS.

6. In the middle of July it took over the Nieuport-Lombartzyde sector, which it occupied until the beginning of August and was at rest near Ostend from August 10 to the middle of September.

7. It reappeared in the Lombartzyde sector until October 24. On November 10 after a short rest it was put in line to the north of Passchendaele, where it was found, with the exception of some brief withdrawals for rest, until February, 1918, when it went to rest near Courtrai.

RECRUITING.

Division with composite elements; a regiment from Baden (the 114th, active), a regiment from Pomerania (the 357th, growing out of brigade Ersatz Battalions), and a Rhenish regiment (the 237th).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 114th was considered the best in the division. The 237th Reserve did not seem to have a very good combat value. It did not hold its ground when opposed by the British at Cherisy (April, 1917). It is said that a company of this regiment refused to come out of the trenches in the month of July, 1917.

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division left Flanders at the end of February and trained in the Le Quesnoy area until the middle of March; left on the 17th for the battle front. It marched to Escaromain, and on the 18th to Quievy. On the day before the offensive the division marched via Caudry to Villers Outreaux. It was not identified in the fight until the 25th at Hardecourt. The next day it was at Maricourt wood, after which it appears to have been withdrawn. On April 4 it relieved the 243d Division south of Thennes.

2. After its relief the division marched by stages via Beaucourt en Santerre-Vauvillers-Peronne to Templeux, la Fosse, where it rested for a fortnight. The heavy losses incurred by the division during its last time in line south of the Somme were made good chiefly by drafts of the 1919 class from the depots at Warsaw and Bruges. The division contained a large proportion of this class and its fighting quality suffered in consequence. On the 26th of April the division moved to Maurepas and proceeded to Maricourt on the 28th; from there it marched into line in the Morlancourt sector.

3. The division held the Morlancourt sector from about May 1 to 16. It was relieved by the 107th Division and rested in the Valenciennes area in June.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. It was engaged at Le Teton on July 15 and held a sector in that area until the end of the month.

RHEIMS.

5. On August 3 it reenforced the battle front at Sapicourt west of Rheims. It was engaged in that area except for a week’s rest until the end of September.

6. After October 1 the division was engaged in Champagne in the region of Orfeuil. It contested hotly the advance through Vaudy and Vouziers until its relief in late October. It rested but a few days out of line and after November 3 was engaged at St. Lambert, Roix-Terron, and Dom le Mesnil (Nov. 10).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second-class. It was used as an attack division in March and did well. Thereafter it saw almost constant service in resisting allied pushes. In October’s fighting it was frequently spoken of by the German official communique.

200th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │2 Jag. │3 Jag. (4│2 Jag. │3 Jag. (4│2 Jag. │3 Jag. │ │ Btns.).│ │ Btns.).│ │ │ │4 Jag. │ │4 Jag. │ │4 Jag. │ │5 Jag. │ │5 Jag. │ │5 Jag. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │1 Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt.│2 Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt. │ │ (passed to 228 │ │ │ Div. in June, │ │ │ 1917). │ │ │2 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt.│ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │257 F. A. Rgt. │(?) Art. Command: │22 F. A. Rgt. │2 Mountain Art. │ 257 F. A. Rgt. │1 Abt. 26 Ft. A. │ Abt. (Bavarian). │ │ Rgt. (1 and 3 │ │ │ Btries.). │ │ 7 Mountain Art. │843 Light Am. Col. │ │ Abt. │ │ │ │1157 Light Am. Col. │ │ │1161 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(220) Pion. Btn.: │42 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 105 Pion. Co. │ 105 Pion. Co. │ │ 282 Pion. Co. │ 282 Pion. Co. │ │ 173 Mountain T. M.│ 173 T. M. Co. │ │ Co. │ │ │ 200 Tel. Detch. │ 99 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ │200 Signal Command: │ │ │ 200 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 50 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │214 Ambulance Co. │214 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │44 Field Hospital. │44 Field Hospital. │ │370 Field Hospital.│19 Bav. Field │ │ │ Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │300 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │35 Landst. Inf. │ │ │ Rgt. │ │ │37 Landst. Inf. │ │ │ Rgt. │ │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

1916.

CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS.

1. The 200th Division, composed of three regiments of Jaegers, was formed in July, 1916, in Galicia with the 3rd Jaeger Regiment (4 battalions equipped with skis) coming from the Alpine Corps, with the 4th Jaegers (11th Battalion of Jaegers), 5th and 6th Battalions of Reserve Jaegers, and with the 5th Jaegers (17th, 18th, and 23d Battalions of Reserve Jaegers).

BUKOVINA.

The 200th Division, together with the 1st Division, formed the Carpathian Corps. The division took part in the counteroffensive in the Carpathians against the Russians and beginning in September 1, 1916, occupied a sector to the north of Mont Tomnatik (Bukovina.)

1917.

BUKOVINA.

1. The 200th Division stayed in the same part of the Carpathians (south of Mt. Pnevié-Mt. Tomnatik) until July, 1917. At this time it took part in the offensive waged in Bukovina and took a position north of the Sereth. It was kept here until September.

2. At the end of September the 200th Division was entrained for Italy. Its itinerary to Vienna was Kolomea-Lemberg-Cracaw.

ITALY.

3. Detraining in the vicinity of Laibach, it went toward the Italian frontier, where it took about 15 days’ rest. On October 22 it drew near the Italian frontier and on the 24th was engaged in the offensive on the Isonzo and advanced by way of Cividale and Udine, where it fought the Italian rear guards (Oct. 28–30). It reached Codroipo about November 3 and Quero on the Piave the 23d.

MONT TOMBA.

4. After a short period of rest it was again sent to the Mont Tomba region in December.

RECRUITING.

The 200th Division had recruits from the various mountainous districts of the empire—Upper Silesia, Harz, Black Forest, etc.—which gave it a certain character in spite of the different sources of its recruiting.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Composed of young and vigorous men with high morale, the 200th was one of the best divisions in the German Army (1918).

1918.

FRANCE.

1. After having suffered heavy losses, the 200th Division was withdrawn about the 1st of January, and went to rest for about a month southeast of Bellune. Early in February, it entrained at Santa Lucia and traveled via Rosenheim-Munich-Ulm-Freiburg-Colmar. It detrained at Bening and went to rest and to be trained for about three weeks in the vicinity of St. Avold.

MONTDIDIER.

2. The division entrained near Marsal (southwest of Dieuze) on the 26th of March and, traveling via Thionville-Luxemburg-Namur, detrained at Cambrai two days later. It rested in the caserne here until the 31st, when it marched to Peronne, where it remained in the English barracks the 2d and 3d of April, when it marched via Guillaucourt to Moreuil (northwest of Montdidier). During the night of the 7th–8th it relieved the 14th Division west of Moreuil. It was relieved on May 14 by the 192d Division. It was reported near Quesnoy the end of May and in the Le Cateau region early in June. Men of one of its regiments were reported as having been seen near Fere en Tardenois on the 3d of June. Again, parts of the division were reported near Caudry and Chateau Thierry during June.

MARNE.

3. On the 15th of July the division attacked west of Dormans. It crossed the Marne at Sailly, and was identified at Chapelle Monthod on the following day. In this fighting, the division suffered very heavy losses. The colonel and all the battalion commanders of the 3rd Jaeger Regiment were lost. It was withdrawn from line on the 21st.

4. During the night of the 26th–27th it came back into line near Roncheres (north of Dormans), its mission being to cover the retreat between Sergy and the Meuniere wood. It was withdrawn about the 3d of August and went to the Sedan area, where it rested for a fortnight.

5. During the night of the 22d–23d the division relieved the 22d Reserve Division northwest of Souain. In the heavy fighting that followed the division lost heavily. It was driven back to St. Etienne à Arnes, where it was relieved by the 195th Division on the 6th of October.

WASSIGNY.

6. The division then moved by easy stages, with frequent halts, via Rozoy-Montcornet-Origny-Escautpont-Le Nouvion-Beaurepaire-Barzy. During the night of October 22–23 it relieved the 5th Reserve Division near Oisy (east of Wassigny). It had not been withdrawn on the 11th of November.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 200th was rated as a second-class division. Composed of Jaeger units, which are good fighters, it distinguished itself in the East and in Italy, and did well in the heavy fighting it was called upon to do on the Western Front, though not brilliantly. It was one of the best of the second-class divisions.

201st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[32] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │401. │401. │402. │401. │402. │401. │ │402. │ │402. │ │402. │402. │403. │ │403. │ │403. │ │404. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │4 Sqn. 4 Mounted │4 Sqn. 7 Drag. Rgt. │ │ Jag. Rgt. (?). │ │ │4 Sqn. 7 Drag. Rgt.│ │ │ (?). │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │401 F. A. Abt. │Art. Command: │156 Art. Command: │402 F. A. Rgt. │ 401 F. A. Rgt. │ 402 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│401 Pion. Co. │(201) Pion. Btn.: │201 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 385 Pion. Co. │ 385 Pion. Co. │ │ 401 Pion. Co. │ 401 Pion. Co. │ │ 181 T. M. Co. │ 358 Pion. Co. │ │ 50 Searchlight │ 2 Res. Co. 7 │ │ Section. │ Pions. │ │ 201 Tel. Detch. │ 50 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ │ 181 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 201 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │401 Ambulance Co. │401 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │401 Field Hospital.│401 Field Hospital. │ │402 Field Hospital.│402 Field Hospital. │ │66 Res. Field │66 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │863 M. T. Col. │611 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd Units. │ │201 Cyclist Co. │201 Cyclist Co. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 32:

Composition at the time of dissolution, November, 1918.

HISTORY.

(401st Regiment; 20th Corps District. 402d Regiment; 17th Corps District. 403d Regiment, 5th Corps District.)

1916.

The 201st is one of a series of divisions (numbered 201–204) created at the beginning of July, 1916, at the time of the Russian offensive conducted by Broussilov.

The 201st Division was formed out of recruits obtained from depots in the 5th, 17th and 20th Corps Districts. The Allenstein (401st) Regiment and the Danzig (402d) Regiment came from the Arys cantonment. The Glogau (403d) Regiment and the Posen (404th) came from the Warthe cantonment. Men taken from the front, convalescents from depots and a majority of young men from the class of 1917 made up the initial strength, which was 230 to 240 men per company.

RUSSIA.

1. As soon as formed the division occupied a sector on the Russian front (north of Baranovitchi) and stayed there from the beginning of July, 1916, to the beginning of December, 1917. During this period it only took part in two local actions (November, 1916, and November, 1917).

1917.

1. The 404th Infantry was taken away from this division in the beginning of 1917 and was joined to the divisions in the neighborhood (the 18th Landwehr Division and later the 4th Landwehr Division).

RUSSIA-FRANCE.

2. At the end of November, 1917, the 201st Division was relieved, reassembled at Baranovitchi, and entrained for the Western Front. (Itinerary: Baranovitchi-Brest-Litowsk-Warsaw-Chemnitz-Nuerenberg- Heilbronn-Rastatt-Sarreguemines.)

LORRAINE.

3. Beginning on December 15, elements of the 201st Division were put in line on the right bank of the Moselle opposite the Xon (northeast of Pont a Mousson).

RECRUITING.

The eastern Provinces of the Empire.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 201st Division was composed to the extent of at least one-half of young and vigorous men. It had not been exhausted physically and had in no way lost its morale. Fraternization did not lessen its morale, but rather raised it on account of their belief that war could be terminated on the Western Front by an easy victory after peace was concluded with Russia.

Since its return from Russia its regiments had undergone an intensive training in trench and open warfare (February, 1918).

1918.

WOEVRE.

1. The division held the Apremont sector (southeast of St. Mihiel) until the end of May, when it was withdrawn. It rested and trained in the Woevre (Sponville) until June 9. It entrained at Mars la Tour and moved to Laon via Sedan and Liart. From there it marched to the Marne front through Vailly-Lannoy-Brecy.

BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

2. It was in line on the Chateau Thierry-Vaux sector from June 15 to the end of July. In the attacks of late July the division was hit hard. It was thrown back on Bezu-St. Germain, Beuvardes, Pere en Tardenois and relieved about July 30.

3. The division was moved to the Argonne in early August and about the 10th entered the Vacquois sector, which it held until the end of the month.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

4. It returned to the Somme area and on the night of September 6–7 relieved the 6th Cavalry Division northeast of Fins. Until the 28th it was engaged at Fins, Hendicourt, Gouzeaucourt, Villers, and Guislan. Losses were very heavy, including 2,200 prisoners.

CAMBRESIS.

5. After a week’s rest, the division reentered line south of Cambrai on October 5 and fought in this region until the 15th. Here it lost another 650 prisoners.

6. As a result of these extraordinary losses the division was dissolved at Maubeuge on October 22.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its losses were unusually heavy in prisoners whenever it was engaged in an active front. When it was dissolved its effectives numbered less than 1,000 rifles.

202d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │405. │406. │408. │406. │97. │ │406. │ │411. │ │408. │ │407. │ │412. │ │411. │ │408. │ │ │ │412. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │ │3 Sqn. 2 Gd. Uhlan │ │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │406 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │66 Art. Command: │ │ 406 F. A. Rgt. │ 406 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 65 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ │ 867 Light Am. Col. │ │ │ 868 Light Am. Col. │ │ │ 1387 Light Am. │ │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(202) Pion. Btn.: │202 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 383 Pion. Co. │ 383 Pion. Co. │ │ 402 Pion. Co. │ 402 Pion. Co. │ │ 182 T. M. Co. │ 98 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ 352 Searchlight │ 182 T. M. Co. │ │ Section. │ │ │ Tel. Detch. │202 Signal Command: │ │ │ 202 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 91 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │403 Ambulance Co. │403 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │403 Field Hospital.│403 Field Hospital. │ │404 Field Hospital.│404 Field Hospital. │ │302 Vet. Hospital. │302 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │867 M. T. Col. │612 M. T. Col. │ │983 M. T. Col. │ │ │1387 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd Units. │ │203 Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(408th Regiment: Guard. 411th and 412th Regiments: 10th Corps District—Hanover.)

1916.

The 202d Division was formed in October, 1916, in the Lockstedt cantonment (9th Corps District, Altona). The 405th and the 406th were organized at the Lockstedt cantonment, the 407th at the Altengrabow cantonment, and the 408th comes from Guard depots.

RUSSIA.

1. In the course of October, 1916, the 202d Division was sent to the Russian front. Its organization was changed; it gave up the 405th to the 203d Division, the 406th and the 407th to the 205th Division. It was at this time composed of the 408th and two regiments received from the 203d Division, the 411th and the 412th (Hanover), which were formed at the Munster cantonment as “coast-defense regiments.”

COURLAND.

2. In December, 1916, the 202d Division was identified in the region of Riga.

1917.

1. In March, 1917, and until the end of August, 1917, the 202d Division occupied in Courland a sector in the vicinity of Toukkoum.

RIGA.

2. In the middle of September it was at the east of Riga. It was also identified at Riga on October 29.

3. In November the 202d Division was entrained for the Western Front. (Itinerary: Riga-Mitau-Insterburg-Koenigsberg-Thorn (408th)- Schneidemuehl-Posen-Leipzig-Halle-Frankfort on the Main-Sarrebrueck- Sarreguemines.) It detrained at Dieuze on November 20.

LORRAINE.

4. The division stayed in the rear of the front in the vicinity of Dieuze until the middle of January, 1918 (six weeks’ training).

RECRUITING.

The 408th Regiment was built up out of depots of the Guard and was recruited from all sections of Prussia. The 411th and 412th were theoretically from Hanover, with some recruits furnished by the 9th Corps District.

1918.

1. The division held the Lorraine sector until May 19, when it was relieved by the 3d Guard Division. It entrained near Moyenvic on May 19 and traveled via Metz-Spincourt-Longuyon-Sedan-Charleville-Marle to Flavy le Martel, where it detrained on May 21.

OISE.

2. On the night of May 22–23 it relieved the 11th Division west of Noyon. It was in line when the attack of June was made and advanced by Orval as far as Bethencourt. Here it remained in sector until about July 10, when it exchanged sectors with the 105th Division at Autreches. In this area it was struck by the Allied attack in mid-August and forced back on Audignicourt. The losses were very heavy, including 2,000 prisoners. It was relieved on August 27.

3. The division was railed to the vicinity of Vouziers after its relief in line. While resting at Sugny (Sept. 2–12) it was re-formed. The 412th Regiment was dissolved and its effectives distributed between the 408th and 411th Regiments. The 97th Regiment, from the dissolved 108th Division, replaced the 412th Regiment in the division.

4. It was engaged in Champagne near Maisons de Champagne from September 12 to 24. After that it was in close support of the 42d Division until the 27th, when it reentered line at Fontaine les Dormois. Until October 10 the division saw heavy fighting about Meuse and Challerange. It lost very heavily, including more than 800 prisoners.

5. The division rested from October 11 to 21. It was reengaged southeast of Vouziers (near Falaise) on the 21st, and after the 1st of November retreated by way of Longwe (2d), Boult aux Bois (34d) to the Meuse (8th).

When it appeared opposite the United States front on November 3, the division had been completely shattered. The 411th Regiment, for instance, had only three companies each with a rifle strength of 100 to 110 men.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. After the battle in eastern Champagne in late September the division could be regarded as destroyed.

203d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │405. │405. │405. │405. │406. │ │409. │ │409. │ │409. │ │410. │ │410. │ │410. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │ │2 Sqn. Body Gd. │ │ │ Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │ │203 Art. Command: │203 Art. Command: │ │ 406 F. A. Rgt. (2 │ 403 F. A. Rgt. │ │ Abts.). │ │ │ 403 F. A. Rgt. │ 2 Abt. 8 Res. Ft. │ │ │ A. Rgt. │ │ │ 778 Light Am. Col. │ │ │ 969 Light Am. Col. │ │ │ 977 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│403 Pion. Co. │Pion. Btn.: │417 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 403 Pion. Co. │ 403 Pion. Co. │ │ 183 T. M. Co. │ 1 Ers. Co. 23 │ │ │ Pions. │ │ Tel. Detch. │ 20 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ │ 183 T. M. Co. │ │ │203 Signal Command: │ │ │ 203 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 152 Wireless │ │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │Ambulance Co. │402 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │405 Field Hospital.│405 Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │406 Field Hospital. │ │ │303 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd units. │ │202 Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(406th Regiment; 3d Corps District—Brandenburg. 409th and 410th Regiments; 9th Corps District—Schleswig—Holstein.)

1916.

The 203d Division was formed in Germany (September, 1916) and trained at the Lockstedt cantonment (a great many men from the class of 1917; also men previously wounded or sick and men taken from units at the front).

COURLAND.

1. On October 20 the 303d Division took over a sector on the Dvina (region north of Dvinsk.)

1917.

RIGA.

1. The division stayed on the Dvina until September, 1917. It participated in the offensive on the Riga and fought to the north of Friedrichstadt.

2. After the taking of the town the 203d Division occupied a sector at Grenyn. Favored by calm conditions, it gave up men to the 75th Reserve Division, which was preparing to go to France. On December 8 it was billeted in Riga. About December 18 the 405th Regiment left the Division and was replaced by the 406th, coming from the 205th Division. In the meanwhile the division had brought up its strength by obtaining men from the 332d Infantry, which did not intend to leave until March, 1918 (with the 77th Reserve Division).

FRANCE.

3. At the end of December the 203d Division entrained for the Western Front. The 410th left Riga on the 26th. (Itinerary: Eydtkuhnen- Koenigsberg-Schneidemuehl-Berlin-Giessen-Coblenz-Treves-Thionville- Charleville.) It detrained at Tournes in the night of January 1–2, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 406th recruits in Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, and, to a lesser extent, Hanover and the Hanseatic cities; furnished the recruits for the 409th and the 410th. The changes effected in the personnel during the last part of the stay on the Russian front left these units fairly heterogeneous.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The offensive value of the 203d Division in February, 1918, was only mediocre. Before leaving for the Western Front the 405th, which was to have remained in (hardly glorious) Russia, changed all its young men for the older men in the other two regiments. The 203d was said to have played a part in the Riga offensive. Gen. von Luettwitz commanding the division, was said to have been relieved of his command a short time thereafter.

1918.

BATTLE OF REIMS.

The division continued to hold the sector east of Reims (near Beine) until the German offensive of July 15. It attacked west of Prunay and penetrated as far as the Vesle. In front of Beaumont it lost very heavily. After the failure of the attack the division held the sector from Prunay to east of Les Marquises until August 30, when it was relieved by the 9th Division.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. It rested near Laon until October 1, when it was reengaged in Champagne between Orfeuil and Marvaux. In 8 days of severe fighting it lost very heavily and was obliged to retire from line.

3. The division was in army reserve until October 15, after which it was engaged southeast of Vouziers near Olizy and Falaise. On November 1 it was opposite the American front and took part in the final retreat of the Meuse at Mohon.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. By the end of hostilities the division was decimated and completely exhausted.

204th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │407. │413. │407. │413. │407. │413. │ │414. │ │414. │ │414. │408. │415. │ │120 Res. │ │120 Res. │ │416. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │4 Sqn. 19 Uhlan │4 Sqn. 19 Uhlan │ │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │407 F. A. Abt. │Art. Command: │204 Art. Command: │408 F. A. Abt. │ 27 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 27 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 101 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ │ 1263 Light Am. │ │ │ Col. │ │ │ 1264 Light Am. │ │ │ Col. │ │ │ 1317 Light Am. │ │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│404 Pion Co. │204 Pion Btn.: │204 Pion Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 3 Res. Co. 13 │ 3 Res. Co. 13 │ │ Pions. │ Pions. │ │ 116 Pion. Co. │ 116 Pion Co. │ │ 184 T. M. Co. │204 Signal Command: │ │ Tel. Detch. │ 204 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 75 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │563 Ambulance Co. │563 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │407 Field Hospital.│252 Field Hospital. │ │408 Field Hospital.│407 Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │249 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Odd units. │ │204 Cyclist Co. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(13th Corps District—Wurttemberg.)

1916.

The 204th Division was formed in Germany in June and July, 1916. Its original composition was the 407th Brigade (413th and 414th Infantry, 13th Corps District, Wurttemberg) and the 408th Brigade (415th and 416th Infantry, 12th and 19th Corps Districts, Saxony).

1. The two brigades, which had respectively been trained at the Muensingen cantonment in Wurttemberg (the 407th) and at Neuhammer (the 408th), were brought together at the end of July, 1916. The division was then sent to Belgium. It detrained at Cortemarck on July 27.

FLANDERS.

2. Almost immediately put in line, the 204th occupied the Dixmude- Bixschoote sector until October 1 and then the Ypres salient (southeast). At the end of 1916 the 415th and the 146th Infantry were taken from the front and transferred to the 212th Division and replaced by the 120th Reserve Infantry (Wurttemberg), coming from the 58th Division.

1917.

1. After four weeks’ rest in the region of Ghent in February, 1917, the division came back to the sector at the southeast of Ypres.

2. It was relieved on June 10, three days after the British attack against the heights of Wytschaete-Messines. The division was only partially subjected to this attack, but suffered some losses during the artillery preparation.

ALSACE.

3. After having been at rest at Gheluvelt on about June 20, the 204th Division was transferred to the vicinity of Sarreberg, then on July 8 to the west of Basle, where it remained until July 20. From July 20 until August 15 it held a sector in Upper Alsace (north of the Rhone-Rhine Canal).

FLANDERS.

4. Again sent to Belgium, it went into line to the north of St. Julien, southeast of Poelcappelle, at the end of August. No important engagement.

CAMBRÉSIS.

5. Relieved from the Ypres front on September 13, it took over a sector near Cambrai (Boursies-Demicourt; Sept. 24-Nov. 13).

FLANDERS.

6. Relieved about the middle of November, it went back to Flanders, where it alternated with the 58th Division to the north of Poelcappelle until the end of February.

RECRUITING.

The division has been entirely made up of Wurttemberg recruits since December, 1916.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Fairly good division.

1918.

1. After its relief northeast of Poelcappelle on February 28, the division rested near Lille until March 21. Elements of the division were in line at Fromelles on March 9 and others participated in a raid (the 13th) in the Boutillerie sector.

2. The division left the Lille area on March 21 and marched in stages to Douai, arriving there on the 27th. It was in support northwest of Vitry en Artois on the 29th. On the 30th it marched toward the battle front south of the Somme via Inchy-Peronne (Apr. 1), Assevillers, Rosieres, south of Moreuil.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

3. It was engaged in the Braches-Sauvillers sector from April 1 to May 11. It was relieved by an extension of the front of the neighboring divisions and retired to rest and train near Chaulnes until June 5.

BATTLE OF THE OISE.

4. The division left Chaulnes about June 5 and marched in three days to the Lassigny-Noyon front. It advanced in reserve on the 9th by Gury- Mareuil-Lamotte. It was engaged south of Ribecourt near Bethancourt until the 12th. From the 13th to the 18th the division was in reserve. It was reengaged on the night of the 18th–19th and held the sector of Vignemont-Antheuil until the 1st of August, when it was relieved by the 54th Division.

THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

5. It rested in the suburbs of Lassigny until August 8. It then marched to Damery, arriving there on the 10th and immediately entering line. In the next week the division was thrown back by Damery, Villery les Roye to Goyencourt. The division suffered heavy losses, including about 370 prisoners near Roye.

LORRAINE.

6. The division was railed to Lorraine and rested near Blamont during September. Drafts amounting to about 700 men were incorporated in the division in mid-September.

7. The division left Lorraine on October 5 and detrained at Bertry on the 7th. It was engaged on October 8 east of Catelet, and in the next 10 days fell back through Cremont, Maretz, Sains, Souplet, Catillon. Its heavy losses, including 1,200 prisoners, led to its withdrawal on October 18.

8. On October 22–23 the division was reengaged southeast of Le Cateau. It held there until the breakdown of the line on November 5. Thereafter it fell back on Maubeuge, through Favril, Limont, Fontaine.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Before the attack of August it had about 2,700 rifles. The losses in August had a depressing effect on the morale of the troops.

205th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │ │406. │403. │406. │ │407. │ │407. │ │439. │ │427. │ │ │ │439. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │ (?) ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │405 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │ │ │ │ 405 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│377 Pion. Co. │(205) Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ 377 Pion. Co. │ │ 408 T. M. Co. │ │ 205 Tel. Detch. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │255 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │615 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1918 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │ │405. │403. │405. │ │407. │ │407. │ │439. │ │329. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │ │2 Sqn. 13 Uhlan. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │405 F. A. Rgt. │405 Field Art. Rgt. (Rgt. │ │ Staff, 1 and 2 Abt.). │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │(?) Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ │350 Searchlight Section. │ │71 Searchlight Section. │ │205 Div. Signal Command. │ │205 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │255 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │215 and 216 Field Hospitals. │ │305 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │615 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │612 Landst. Inf. Rgt. │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(405th, (?) 407th: 4th District-Prussian Saxony.) (439th: 15th District- Alsace.)

1916.

The 205th Division was organized at the end of 1916, partly from new regiments formed in the interior, partly from regiments taken from the zone of the armies on the Eastern Front.

RUSSIA.

1. The end of November, 1916, the division was reported behind the front (region northeast of Vilna). At that time it comprised the 406th and 407th Infantry, taken from the 202d Division, and the 439th Infantry formed in the region of Vilna. With the 226th Division next to it, it belonged to the reenforced 3d Reserve Corps (10th Army).

1917.

COURLAND.

1. In January, 1917, the division was in line on the left bank of the Aa (Courland). The 407th Infantry lost heavily in January and February.

2. The division then occupied the front east of Kalzeen (region of Mitau) from April to September.

3. In October it was identified north of Lake Lobé. During the last three months of 1917 many men were taken from this division for the Western Front. In this manner it sent men to the 47th Reserve Division in April, to the 14th Division at the end of October, and to the 75th Reserve Division (before it left) in November.

RECRUITING.

The division from its origin was of a very mixed composition. This diversity increased following the many drafts taken from it in 1917 and the diversity of origin of the men sent in exchange.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

On the Russian front since its organization.

Fighting value mediocre.

1918.

COURLAND.

1. In February the 205th Division was to the southeast of Riga.

2. In April it was in Livonia near Walk. About this time the commanding general was decorated. Toward the beginning of June the division was identified in the Narva region, where it remained until the end of the war, with the exception of the 439th Regiment, which was transferred to the 94th Division about the middle of September.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated third class.

206th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │2 Res. │359. │2 Res. │359. │2 Res. │359. │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │ │394. │ │394. │ │394. │ │4 Res. │ │4 Res. │ │4 Res. │ │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │ Ers. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │2 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt.│5 Sqn. 10 Drag. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │265 F. A. Rgt. │206 Art. Command: │206 Art. Command: │ │ 265 F. A. Rgt. │ 265 Field Art. │ │ │ Rgt. │ │ │ 1 Abt. 27 Foot │ │ │ Art. Rgt. │ │ │ (Btries. 2 to 4). │ │ │781, 1215, and 1230 │ │ │ Light Mun. Cols. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(206) Pion. Btn.: │206 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 6 Co. 30 Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. Pion, │ │ │ Btn. No. 27. │ │ 2 Ldw. Co. 18 │ 6 Co. 30 Pion. │ │ Pions. │ Btn. │ │ 167 T. M. Co. │204 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ 206 Tel. Detch. │206 Div. Signal │ │ │ Command. │ │ │206 Tel. Detch. │ │ │142 Div. Wireless │ │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │210 Ambulance Co. │210 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │157 Field Hospital.│156 and 157 Field │ │ │ Hospitals. │ │158 Field Hospital.│306 Vet. Hospital. │ │306 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │781 M. T. Col. │616 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(359th Infantry: 3d District—Brandenberg. 394th Infantry: 9th District—Schleswig—Holstein. 4th Reserve Ersatz: 10th District—Hanover.)

1916.

The 206th Division was organized in Belgium at the beginning of 1916. It was composed of three infantry regiments—the 359th (9th, 10th, and 120th Brigade Ersatz Battalions), the 394th, composed of men taken from the 17th Reserve Division, and the 4th Reserve Ersatz (36th, 37th, and 38th Reserve Brigade Ersatz Battalions).

SOMME.

1. After holding for some time in September the sector of Dixmude (359th), the division was sent to the Somme in October, where it was engaged at four different times (region of Péronne, La Maisonnette, and vicinity of Marchelepot) and suffered heavy losses.

ALSACE.

2. Relieved November 25 and entrained near St. Quentin for Alsace. Took over the sector of Ban de Sapt until the beginning of January, 1917.

1917.

LORRAINE.

1. Sent to rest in the region of Chateau Salins and went into line about the middle of February, 1917, between the forest of Bezange and Leintrey. Remained there until April 20.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

2. Sent to the Laonnois, where it was stationed near Mont Cornet from April 22 to 30, then at Laon from April 30 to May 4. Then went to the Chemin des Dames (Laffaux, west of the Oise-Aisne Canal). Relieved June 10, after suffering very heavy losses.

LORRAINE.

3. After a month’s rest in Lorraine at Blamont-Sarrebourg, the division was in reserve about the middle of July in the region of Romagne- Montfaucon.

HILL 304.

4. At the end of July it took over the sector of Hill 304-Pommerieux, where its losses were very heavy during the French attack of August 20 (1,074 prisoners). Relieved in haste two days after this attack and sent to rest behind the Reims front until the middle of September, and received about 1,000 replacements taken from the Russian front.

REIMS.

5. The division then held the Berru-Cernay sector, where it did not take part in any important operations (middle of September to Nov. 24).

ST. QUENTIN.

6. About November 28 sent to the St. Quentin front (Pontruet sector).

RECRUITING.

“Regiments from Hanover, Schleswig-Holstein, and Brandenburg,” according to a German communique which designated in this fashion the 4th Reserve Ersatz, the 394th Infantry, and the 359th Infantry.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division attacked energetically May 24, 1917, at the Panthéon, and June 6 at La Royere. Composed of men from the active army, the reserve and the Ersatz. It is a good division. Its three regiments gave proof of good fighting qualities during the many local attacks at the Chemin des Dames.

It should, however, be noted that in front of Verdun the division did not offer any resistance to the French attack of August 20, 1917. As early as August 14 two regiments of this division had already had 100 deserters.

The sanitary conditions of this division were bad at this period (many cases of dysentery).

1918.

1. The 206th Division was withdrawn from line in the sector northwest of St. Quentin early in February, and went to rest in the region of Fresnoy le Grand. After a short stay here it moved to the Fourmies area, where it received intensive training in open warfare.

PICARDY.

2. On March 16 the division began marching toward the front via Wassigny-Fresnoy le Grand-Fonsommes-Fontaine Uterte. On the 20th it rested in the Hindenburg Third Line. On the 22d it started out again via Lesdins-Fayet, crossed the old front lines northwest of St. Quentin, and spent the night in the former British lines in the Holnon wood. The following day it marched to Martigny, where it spent the night in tents. On the 24th it crossed the canal; the 4th Reserve Regiment encamped at Voyennes; the 394th Regiment marched to Bethencourt and attacked along the canal without suffering heavy losses. On the 26th, the 394th proceeded by Damery and Andechy without being engaged; the 359th was engaged at Guérbigny, and the 4th Ersatz reached the former German trenches near Roye. During the night of the 27th–28th the division entered Montdidier. The 28th, the 4th Ersatz was engaged at Mesnil-St. Georges, leaving many prisoners in the hands of the French. On the 30th the division attacked at Fontaine sous Montdidier. It was relieved during the night of the 12th–13th of April by the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division and went to rest in the region of Gruny, Sept-Fours and Languevoisin. Here it was reconstituted.

3. During the night of the 14th–15th it relieved the 45th Reserve Division near Assainvillers (southeast of Montdidier). It was relieved by the 222d Division on May 9, and was sent to the Nesles, where it was identified on the 26th. Three days later it received 700 replacements from its depot. It was also trained during the period spent here. Toward the end of May it came to the vicinity of Baboeuf (east of Noyon); eight days later it was near Bussy; then on June 8 in the Boulogne area.

OISE.

4. On the 11th of June it came into line reenforcing the 19th Division near Belloy (southeast of Montdidier). It was still in line at the time of the attack of August 8, during the course of which it was forced back with heavy losses as far as Boulogne le Grasse. It was withdrawn near here on the 15th.

5. After a brief rest it came back into line on the 22d near Pontoise (southeast of Noyon). It was withdrawn on the 30th.

6. On the 6th of September it came back into line near Fresnes (south of Peronne). It was relieved by the 105th Division on the 20th.

CAMBRAI.

7. On the 3d of October it relieved the 3d Naval Division, north of Rumilly (south of Cambrai). From the 8th until the division was withdrawn (about the 11th) it was heavily engaged and severely punished, losing some 1,200 prisoners; it was forced back to Carnières (east of Cambrai).

8. The division rested and refitted for a fortnight and then reenforced the front on November 1 near Villers-Pol (southeast of Valenciennes). It continued in line but was made to fall back; prisoners were captured on the 11th at Hyon (south of Mons).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 206th was rated a second-class division. The division commander was decorated after the battle of the Somme. On the other hand, the brigade commander issued an order (Oct. 6) to remedy straggling in the division. On the whole, however, the division did well, though not brilliantly.

207th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │89 Res. │413. │89 Res. │98 Res. │89 Res. │98 Res. │ │209 Res. │ │209 Res. │ │209 Res. │ │213 Res. │ │213 Res. │ │213 Res. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │(?) Sqn. 7 Uhlan │4 Sqn., 7th Uhlan │ │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │268 F. A. Rgt. │(?) Art. Command: │207 Art. Command: │ │ 268 F. A. Rgt. │ 75 Field Art. Rgt. │ │ │ 38 Ft. Art. Btn. │ │ │834, 1217, and 1330 │ │ │ Light Mun. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│236 Pion. Co. │(207) Pion. Btn.: │207 Pion. Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 4 Co. 14 Pions. │3 Ers. Co. Pion. │ │ │ Btn. No. 24. │ │ 336 Pion. Co. │168 T. M. Co. │ │ 169 T. M. Co. │190 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ 207 Tel. Detch. │207 Div. Signal │ │ │ Command. │ │ │207 Tel. Detch. │ │ │98 Div. Wireless │ │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │211 Ambulance Co. │211 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │240 (?) Ambulance │159 and 160 Field │ │ Co. │ Hospitals. │ │159 Field │307 Vet. Hospital. │ │ Hospital. │ │ │160 Field │ │ │ Hospital. │ │ │307 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(98th Reserve: 16th District—Lorraine. 209th Reserve: 2d District—Pomerania. 213th Reserve: 9th District—Schleswig—Holstein.)

1916.

1. The 207th Division was organized in Belgium toward the end of September, 1916. The 45th Reserve Division furnished the 209th Reserve and the 46th Reserve Division the 213th Reserve. Its third regiment, the 413th, which came from the 204th Division, was replaced by the 98th Reserve (from the 212th Division) at the beginning of 1917.

FLANDERS.

2. Assembled in October on the Belgium coast (Zeebrugge-Blankenberg) and went into line before Ypres toward the end of November (Zonnebeke-Ypres road to the Ypres-Comines Canal).

1917.

1. Held the Ypres front until the end of April, 1917.

ARTOIS.

2. At the beginning of May it fought in Artois (Bullecourt, south of Pronville).

MESSINES.

3. Relieved about June 3 and went back into line in the region of Ypres, east of Messines, June 12 to July 6. Did not have heavy losses in spite of serious fighting.

4. In July sent to rest in the vicinity of Roubaix.

YPRES.

5. Beginning on the night of August 1–2, it was again engaged east of Ypres in the vicinity of Hollebeke and Zandvoorde, and counterattacked to recapture Hollebeke. Remained in this sector until October 8.

LENS.

6. On October 20 took over the sector north of Lens, where it alternated with the 220th Division.

RECRUITING.

A composite division. The 98th Reserve got replacements principally from Westphalia; the 209th Reserve from Pomerania; the 213th Reserve from Schleswig-Holstein.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

This division has only a moderate fighting value.

1918.

LENS.

1. The division continued to hold the quiet Loos sector until April 13, when it was relieved by the 220th Division.

LA BASSEE CANAL.

2. It was engaged north of the La Basse Canal on the night of April 13–14. The 98th Reserve Regiment attacked on the 18th on the canal. After the attack the three regiments held the line to the south of the canal until the end of April.

3. The division rested in early May. On the 18th it was engaged south of the La Basse Canal, near Hulluch and Anchy les La Basse. It held this sector without event until it was relieved on the night of July 1–2 by the 10th Erzsatz Division. The regiment marched to Wahagnies, entrained at Libercourt on the 3d and detrained near Bac St. Maur on the same day.

VIEUX BERQUIN-CAMBRAI.

4. It relieved the 44th Reserve Division during the nights of July 3–4 and 4–5 near Vieux Berquin. After a month it exchanged sectors (between Aug. 6 and 8) with the 52d Division which had been holding a sector south of Lens. The sector continued quiet in August and September. The division was relieved on the night of the 24th–25th by the 111th Division and reenforced the front northwest of Cambrai on September 28. After three days of severe fighting and heavy losses it was obliged to withdraw.

BELGIUM.

5. The division was taken to Deynze about October 8 and came into line on the 14th near Thielt between Pittem and Iseghem. It was pushed back toward Denterghem (18th–19th) and later toward the line Courtrai-Ghent (Deynze, Tulte, Waereghem, Oct. 21 to Nov. 1). The division withdrew to reserve on November 1 and thereafter was out of line.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. Its morale was reported to be indifferent at the end of October.

208th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │185. │25. │185. │25. │185. │25. │ │185. │ │185. │ │185. │ │65 Res. │ │65 Res. │ │65 Res. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │1 Sqn. 6 Res. │1 Sqn. 6 Res. │ │ Dragoon Rgt. │ Dragoon Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │267 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │267 Field Art. Rgt. │ │ 267 F. A. Rgt. │157 Foot Art. Btn. │ │ │819, 1284, and 1357 │ │ │ Light Mun. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(208) Pion. Btn.: │208 Pion. Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 252 Pion. Co. │252 Pion. Co. │ │ 338 Pion. Co. │338 Pion. Co. │ │ 16 T. M. Co. │16 T. M. Co. │ │ 291 Searchlight │28 Searchlight │ │ Section. │ Section. │ │ 208 Tel. Detch. │208 Div. Signal │ │ │ Command. │ │ │208 Tel. Detch. │ │ │80 Div. Wireless │ │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │113 Ambulance Co. │113 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │78 Field Hospital. │78 and 300 Field │ │ │ Hospitals. │ │300 Field Hospital.│308 Vet. Hospital. │ │308 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │618 M. T. Col. │618 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(25th: 8th District—Rhine Province. 185th: 14th District—Grand Duchy of Baden. 65th Reserve: 8th District—Rhine Province.)

1916.

The 208th Division was organized in the region of Sissonne at the beginning of September, 1916. Its three infantry regiments came from older divisions—the 25th from the 15th Division, the 185th from the 185th Division, the 65th Reserve from the 16th Reserve Division.

Before being transferred to the 208th Division these regiments were engaged in the battle of the Somme, where the 18th Infantry especially was particularly tried (July 5–18).

GALICIA.

1. On September 3 the division was sent to the Eastern Front, via Luxemburg-Aix la Chapelle-Berlin-Leipzig-Cracow-Lemberg.

2. Fought at Brzezany and Halicz from the middle of September to the end of October.

FRANCE.

3. About the beginning of November it returned to the Western Front, via Lemberg-Budapest-Vienna-Salzburg-Rosenheim-Munich-Frankfurt-Cologne-Aix la Chapelle-Liege. Detrained November 13 at Caudry.

SOMME-ANCRE.

4. On November 18 it went into line north of the Ancre, where it was seriously engaged in a series of local attacks.

5. Relieved December 12 and went to rest northeast of Ghent.

1917.

FLANDERS.

1. At the beginning of February, 1917 the division took over the sector Ypres-Comines Canal, which it held until February 25.

2. After a month’s rest in the region north of Ghent it returned to the front (sector Bixschoote-Langemarck) from March 28–29 to middle of April.

ARTOIS.

3. April 24 the division was engaged before Arras between Gavrelle and Roeux and was severely tried during the British offensive.

HINDENBURG LINE (OISE).

4. Withdrawn from the Artois front May 8 and went into line in a quiet sector south of St. Quentin, between Berthenicourt and Moy, where it remained for more than three months, May 14–15 to August 18. Received about 1,000 replacements, among others from the 616th Infantry dissolved, in May.

FLANDERS.

5. About August 23 went to Flanders, via Origny-Le Cateau-Mons-Ghent- Deynze-Lichtervelde. September 4–5 it went into the sector of Langemarck. Though already sorely tried by artillery fire, it was subjected to the British attack of September 20, which again caused it very heavy losses. The 1st and 3d Companys of the 185th Infantry were entirely destroyed or captured; the rest of the 1st Battalion was reduced to a handful of men (letter).

ST. MIHIEL.

6. Left the Flanders front September 29 and went to Lorraine where it took over the St. Mihiel sector.

CAMBRAI-ST. QUENTIN.

7. November 26 it entrained for the region of Cambrai where the 25th Infantry fought on the 30th in support of the 34th Division. The division then held the sector southwest of Villers Guislain-north of Epehy until the beginning of February, 1918. Relieved at that time, and at the beginning of March took over the sector west of Bellenglise, northwest of St. Quentin.

RECRUITING.

The 185th Regiment is a Baden regiment (German communiqué of Nov. 26, 1916). The other two regiments are from the Rhineland, and thus the division may at times be designated under the general appellation of “Rhenish troops.”

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division took part in many battles on different fronts and generally did well.

When it was put in line at Ypres in September, 1917, 25 per cent of its fighting forces belonged to the 1918 class, and these young elements seem at this time to have weakened the fighting spirit of the division. (Information from the British, October, 1917).

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division was in the Bellenglise line sector when the attack of March 21 began. By the evening of the 21st it had advanced as far as le Vergnier. The next day it advanced via Bernes and Catigny and entered Peronne on the following day, remaining there until the 25th, when it crossed the Somme near Biaches. On the 26th the division advanced 4 kilometers encountering slight opposition, and on the 27th advanced 12 kilometers without opposition. It reached Framerville on the 28th after some fighting and on the 29th was engaged against a British counterattack between Cayeux and Beaucourt. A day or so later it was retired from the front near Marcelcave. The casualties of the division in the offensive were estimated by the British as 70 per cent.

HANGARD.

2. It rested near Clery, in the vicinity of Peronne, from April 1 to 18. It came into line north of Hangard (night of Apr. 21–22) and was heavily engaged until May 4. Again the division suffered very heavy losses.

WOEVRE.

3. The division went to rest in the Valenciennes area on May 7. About June 4 it entrained and traveled via Mons-Namur-Charleville-Conflans to Chambley, where it detrained a day later. On the night of June 4–5 it entered line of the quiet St. Mihiel sector and stayed there until the end of July.

SECOND BATTLE OF PICARDY.

4. Relieved on July 28, at St. Mihiel, the division was transported to the Noyon area, and on August 12 was engaged near Belval (south of Lassigny). In the next two months the division was constantly being pressed back. The line of its retreat was through Beaurains-Genvry- Guiscard-Berlancourt-Ville Selves-Crigny-Flavy le Martel-Benay-Cerisy (south of St. Quentin). It was relieved by the 1st Reserve Division on September 30.

5. After hardly a week’s rest, the division reentered lines near Cambrai (southwest of Merguies, later Haussy) about October 8. It held in that sector until the 23d. Few days later it was reengaged between Valenciennes and Le Quesnoy (Ruesnes), but after a few days in line retired from the front.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It took a prominent part in the March offensive and thereafter was a strong defensive division. Although its effectives were greatly diminished in the fall, its morale remained above the average.

211th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[33] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │27. │211. │27. │211. │27. │ │75 Res. │ │75 Res. │ │75 Res. │ │103 Res. │ │390. │ │390. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │1 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt.│1 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │269 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │(?) Art. Command: │ │ 269 F. A. Rgt. │ 269 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(211) Pion. Btn.: │1 Res. Co. 2 Pion. Liaisons. │ │ │ Btn. No. 27. │ │ 1 Res. Co. 27 │421 T. M. Co. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 268 Pion. Co. │211 Tel. Detch. │ │ 421 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 211 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │222 Ambulance Co. │222 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │170 Field Hospital.│170 Field Hospital. │ │173 Field Hospital.│171 Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │173 Field Hospital. │ │ │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transports. │ │M. T. Col. │M. T.Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 33:

Composition at the time of dissolution, August, 1918.

HISTORY.

(27th; 4th District—Prussian Saxony. 75th Reserve; 9th District—Schleswig—Holstein and Hansa towns. 390th; 18th District—Hesse—Nassau.)

1916.

The 211th Division was organized September 15, 1916, at Tournai.

The 27th Infantry came from the 27th Division (4th Army Corps), the 75th Reserve from the 17th Reserve Division (9th Army Corps), the 103d Reserve (which was replaced by the 390th in January, 1917) came from the 23d Reserve Division (Saxon). These three regiments fought in July to August, 1916, in the battle of the Somme before being assigned to the 211th Division.

1. About September 20, its organization being completed, the division was sent north of the front of the Somme, to put up defensive works in the region of Nurlu-Manancourt.

SOMME.

2. October 14 it went into line at the St. Pierre-Vaast wood, from where it was relieved November 6.

SOISSONS.

3. It then took over the sector north and west of Soissons (Nov. 20).

1917.

1. In January, 1917, the 103d Reserve was transferred to the 58th Division (Saxon) and replaced by the 390th, recruited in the Rhineland and Hessa, coming from the 16th Reserve Division, which had been formed from drafted companies as well as from elements of the 21st and 25th Divisions and 25th Landwehr Brigade.

AISNE.

2. The division, thus composed, held the Soissons sector until about March 20. On this date it retired through Terny, Margival, to Vauxaillon, where it established its lines and opposed the French attack of April 16.

LAFFAUX.

3. Temporarily withdrawn from the front on April 20, the division went to the north of Laffaux, south of Vauxaillon, from May 10 to 25. During these two periods on the Aisne front the division suffered heavy losses (especially the 27th, which had already received men from the 1918 class, among other reenforcements, at the end of April). It was reorganized partly from the dissolution of the 625th Infantry (Hessian).

FOREST OF ST. GOBAIN.

4. June 25 the division held the forest of St. Gobain (sector of Bassoles-Aulers). At the end of July it took over the sector of Cerny- Malval Farm.

5. At the end of December it went to rest and train at Gizy (west of Liesse) and vicinity for four weeks.

RECRUITING.

The three infantry regiments came from three different Prussian Provinces-Prussian Saxony (27th Infantry), Schleswig-Holstein and Hanse towns (75th Reserve), Hesse-Nassau, 390th Infantry. The reenforcements from the Russian front in 1917 also gave a certain number of Hanoverians from the 411th Infantry.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division had many losses on the Aisne in April to May, 1917, and was completed by reenforcements containing a strong proportion of the 1918 class. These young soldiers, according to prisoners’ statements, showed only mediocre military qualities (counterattacks at Laffaux).

During the four weeks which it spent in the vicinity of Liesse the division took part in several training exercises (breaking through maneuvers on an 8-kilometer front with simulated enemy tanks). (Interrogation of prisoners, Mar. 7, 1918.)

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division was relieved the 8th of March in the Chamouille area and went to rest and train near Laon until the 19th. It marched toward the jumping off point east of La Fere by Crepy en Laonnois, arriving there on the 20th. It followed up the attack at La Fere, crossing the Oise near Travecy, until the 22d, when it was engaged west of Travecy. It advanced through Farguiers-Quessy-Liez-Chauny-Quierzy-Varesnes, suffering heavy losses, until the line stabilized near the Aisne Canal at Manicamp and Champs. It held this sector until May 27.

OISE.

2. When the French retired on the front, following the German advance to the Marne, the division advanced as far as Moulin sous Touvent-Nampcel (May 27–31). It held that sector until the beginning of July. It withstood a French attack on July 3, lost 666 prisoners, and was at once relieved by the 15th Division.

SOISSONS.

3. The division rested until mid-July southeast of Soissons. It was brought back on the 20th at Mercin-Vauxbuin to oppose the Allied counterthrust and was in line until August 3.

4. After its withdrawal the division was taken to the neighborhood of Charleville and dissolved. The 390th Regiment and 75th Reserve Regiment were broken up and sent as drafts to the 42d Division and the 87th Division. The 27th Regiment replaced the dissolved 32d Reserve Regiment in the 113th Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was in line almost without interruption from February to August, 1918. When the effective strength had reached a minimum the division was dissolved.

212th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │57. │20. │212. │415. │ │182. │ │114. │ │416. │ │ │ │98 Res. │ │182. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │2 Sqn. 18 Uhlan │5 Sqn. 18 Hussars. │ │ Rgt. │ │ │ │Staff, 2 Bav. Uhlan │ │ │ Rgt. │ │ │1 to 4 Sqns. 2 Bav. │ │ │ Uhlan Rgt. │ │ │M. G. Sqn. 2 Bav. │ │ │ Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │279 F. A. Rgt. │67 Art. Command: │67 Artillery │ (Saxon). │ │ Command: │ │ 279 F. A. Rgt. │ 279 Field Art. │ │ │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│2 Ldw. Pion. Co. │(212) Pion. Btn.: │212 Div. Signal Liaisons. │ (14 C. Dist.). │ │ Command: │ │ 3 Res. Co. 22 │ 212 Tel. Detch. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 422 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 212 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │225 Ambulance Co. │177 Field Hospital. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │177 Field Hospital.│312 Vet. Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │757 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(12th and 19th Districts—Saxony.)

1916.

The 212th Division was organized between the 5th and 15th of September, 1916, in the region of St. Quentin. At that time it comprised the following three infantry regiments, taken from already existing divisions: The 20th from the 6th Division, the 114th from the 29th Division, and the 98th Reserve from the 10th Reserve Division. Later its infantry composition was completely changed until the division from being Prussian became entirely Saxon.

SOMME.

1. From September 15 to October 3–5 the division was engaged north of the Somme (sector of Cléry to Béthune-Péronne road).

2. Withdrawn from the front October 5 and sent to rest in the region of St. Quentin. Went back into line about the 25th, south of the Somme, between Genermont and Ablaincourt. Suffered heavy losses (the 3d Battalion of the 98th Reserves lost 297 prisoners).

CHAMPAGNE.

3. The division left the Somme November 23–25 and went to rest (end of November to beginning of December). Then went to the Champagne front (sector of Prosnes—south of Ste. Marie a Py).

1917.

1. In January, 1917, the division was reorganized. The 98th Reserve and the 20th went to the 207th Division and the 5th Guard Division, respectively, and were replaced by the 9th Jäger Regiment (from the 199th Division) and the 415th (from the 204th Division). These were Saxon regiments and they were joined a short time after by the 416th (also from the 204th Division and Saxon), in place of the 114th, assigned to the 199th Division.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Thus composed the division continued to hold the Prosnes sector until the end of March, 1917.

ROUMANIA.

3. Relieved about March 25, before the attacks began and sent to Roumania.

At this time the 9th Regiment of Jägers left the division and went to the 101st Division, in Macedonia. The 415th and 416th were sent to the Russian-Roumanian front (region of Braila in July, then Focsani- Tecuciu). The division was brought up to three regiments by the assignment of the 182d (from the 216th Division), a Saxon regiment. The division suffered heavy losses, especially the 182d Infantry, on September 9.

4. In December the division was relieved from the sector west of Tecuciu. The 415th and 416th were identified southeast of Panciu December 14; the 182d, northwest of Namoloasa, on the 20th.

RECRUITING.

The division at the end of 1917 was entirely Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Remained on the Roumanian front during a part of 1917 and the beginning of 1918. Moderate fighting value.

1918.

1. The division was still in Rumania on the 15th of April.

UKRAINE.

2. Toward the end of May the division was identified north of Kherson. All the younger men were sent to the Western Front, but the remainder of the division did not leave this region.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

213th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │37 Res. │149. │37 Res. │149. │37 Res. │149. │ │368. │ │368. │ │368. │ │74 Res. │ │74 Res. │ │74 Res. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 5 Res. Hus. │2 Sqn. 5 Res. Hus. │2 Sqn. 5 Res. Hus. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │272 F. A. Rgt. │213 Art. Command: │213 Art. Command: │ │ 272 F. A. Rgt. │ 272 Field Art. │ │ │ Rgt. │ │ │ 79 Foot Art. Btn. │ │ │733, 1104, and 1127 │ │ │ Light Mun. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│284 Pion. Co. │(213) Pion. Btn.: │213 Pion Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │ │423 T. M. Co. │ 2 Res. Co. 28 │ 2 Res. Co. Pion. │ │ Pions. │ Btn. No. 18. │ │ 284 Pion Co. │ 284 Pion Co. │ │ 378 T. M. Co. │ 423 T. M. Co. │ │ 423 T. M. Co. │ 118 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ Tel. Detch. │ 234 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ │313 Div. Signal │ │ │ Command. │ │ │ 213 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 26 Div. Wireless │ │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │220 Ambulance Co. │220 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │68 (*) Field │168 and 169 Field │ │ Hospital. │ Hospitals. │ │168 Field │313 Vet. Hospital. │ │ Hospital. │ │ │169 Field │ │ │ Hospital. │ │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │179 M. T. Col. │623 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(149th: 2d District—Pomerania. 368th and 74th Reserves: 10th District—Hanover.)

1916.

The 213th Division was formed near Spincourt, northeast of Verdun, at the beginning of September, 1916. Its three infantry regiments came from already existing divisions, the 149th from the 4th Division, the 74th Reserves from the 19th Reserve Division, and the 368th (former Brigade Ersatz Battalions 37 (Osnabrueck), 38 (Hanover), 39 (Hildesheim), from the 10th Ersatz Division.)

SOMME.

1. Although apparently destined for the Roumanian front, the division was sent in all haste to the Somme on September 14. It fought beginning the 18th east of Combles and suffered heavily.

AISNE.

2. Withdrawn from the front at the end of September and moved to Bohain by stages and from there was transported on October 1 to Coucy le Chateau. On the same day it took over the Nouvron-Vingre sector north of Vic sur Aisne. It remained there until the end of October, and after a short rest went back into line in the same region (Moulin sous Touvent- Autreches) at the beginning of November.

1917.

1. About January 4, 1917, the division was relieved from the Aisne front and sent for a rest and training to the camp at Sissonne (region of Lappion). Maneuvers with a view to open warfare.

OISE.

2. After three weeks training it entrained at St. Erme on January 22; detrained the same day at Apilly, near Chauny, and went into line between the Oise and Quennevieres (Bailly-Pracy le Val).

3. On March 17 it retired north of the Ailette in the direction of Chauny and went in reserve in the region of Laon.

AISNE.

4. An emergency call was sent for it at Sissonne April 16 and it was brought to St. Erme and engaged beginning April 16–17 east of Craonne (north of Ville aux Bois). Counterattacked violently in the region of Juvincourt, but suffered considerable losses, which necessitated its retreat, on April 21–22.

5. Sent to rest near Amifontaine and reorganized (replacements especially from the 617th Regiment (Stettin and vicinity), which was dissolved) April 26 it was reengaged south of Corbeny and again suffered heavily from the French attack of May 8 and from its counteroffensive of the 10th.

6. Left the Craonne front May 29 and went to rest by the Meuse (Spincourt).

HILL 304.

7. At the end of July, after two months’ rest, went into line east of Hill 304. Only the 149th was engaged during the French attack of August 20, and it suffered heavy losses.

CHAMPAGNE.

8. Relieved August 25 and sent to Champagne (5 weeks’ rest near Asfeld), then went into line before Brimont on October 5.

RECRUITING.

Two of the regiments, the 74th Reserves and the 368th were from Hanover. The 149th which as a rule was recruited in the second district (Pomerania), was as a matter of fact very mixed, like the other regiments of this district.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

A good division. However, the 149th, in line east of Hill 304, offered no resistance to the French attack of August 20, 1917. The two other regiments gave no assistance.

Relatively small proportion of 1918 class men in August, 1917.

During its stay in the rear (January, 1918) the division was trained for open warfare. (Examination of prisoners, March, 1918.)

1918.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

1. The division continued to hold the quiet Brimont Courcy sector until May 10, when it was relieved by the 242d Division. It rested near Asfeld until the 24th, when it returned to the Brimont sector on the night of the 24th–25th, and attacked on the 27th. It advanced through Loivre, Merfy, and Guex until the line stabilized west of Reims (Vrigny-Ormes- Champigny). It held that sector until September 27.

2. It was moved in motor trucks on the 27th to south of Arnes, and the next day was engaged near Ste. Marie a Py. The division was engaged without pause until the armistice. In the first week of October it was pushed back to Ste. Etienne a Arnes, losing 560 prisoners. From then it retreated to east of Machault, between Vouziers and Attigny and later to the region northeast of Attigny (Le Chesne-Louvergny). It was last identified at Louvergny on November 6.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its morale remained fairly high, and the division did well in the Ardennes in September-October.

214th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │50. │214. │50. │214. │50. │ │358. │ │358. │ │358. │ │363. │ │363. │ │363. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │ (z) │1 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │ │(z) Art. Command: │214 Art. Command. │ │ 44 F. A. Rgt. │44 Field Art. Rgt. │ │ │1 Abt. 15 Foot Art. │ │ │ Rgt. (Btries. 1 │ │ │ to 3). │ │ │922, 1246, and 1300 │ │ │ Light Mun. Cols. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(214) Pion. Btn.: │214 Pion. Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 2 Res. Co. 23 │2 Res. Co. Pion. │ │ Pions. │ Btn. No. 23. │ │ 341 Pion. Co. │341 Pion. Co. │ │ 424 T. M. Co. │47 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ 214 Tel. Detch. │214 Div. Signal │ │ │ Command. │ │ │214 Tel. Detch. │ │ │112 Div. Wireless │ │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │224 Ambulance Co. │224 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │25 Field Hospital. │25 and 274 Field │ │ │ Hospitals. │ │274 Field Hospital.│314 Vet. Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │624 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │22, 59, and 20 M. │ │ │ G. Sec. Abt. │ │ │4 Btry. 18 Foot │ │ │ Art. Regt. │ │ │150 Saxon Balloon │ │ │ Detch. │ │ │268 Aviation Detch. │ │ │ (Oct. 29, 1918.) ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(50th: 5th District—Posen. 358th: 2d District—Pomerania. 363d: 8th District—Rhine Province.)

1916.

The 214th Division was formed in Lorraine in September, 1916. Two of its regiments came from the Ersatz Divisions—the 358th, former Brigade Ersatz Battalions Nos. 1, 2, 5, and 50; from the Ersatz Guard Division; the 363d, former Brigade Ersatz Battalions Nos. 29 (Aix la Chapelle), 30 (Coblentz), and 31 (Trèves), from the 8th Ersatz Division. These two regiments were for two years in the Haye. The 50th Infantry was taken from the 10th Division (Verdun front).

SOMME.

1. Started for the Eastern Front September 10, 1916, but was stopped at Frankfort on Main and brought back to France to oppose the offensive on the Somme. Hastily engaged at Rancourt September 19–20, but lost that village. Lost heavily (600 prisoners) and was relieved October 2.

BOIS LE PRÊTRE.

2. From October 15 to November 25 the division held the Bois le Pretre sector.

SOMME.

3. At the beginning of December it again went to the Somme in the region of Bapaume (Gueudecourt).

1917.

1. The division was withdrawn from the Somme about February 6, 1917, and went to rest; obtained replacements from the 609th Infantry (Rhineland).

CHAMPAGNE.

2. About February 20 the division was north of Nouroy-Moronvilliers. Its regiments were successively put in line beginning with the first part of March, then were placed all together in line April 15. April 17 and 18 the division opposed the French attacks on the Nauroy-Auberive front. Its losses were considerable (19 officers and 1046 unwounded prisoners). Losses of the 12th Company of the 50th Infantry, 129 men (document).

3. On the night of the 18th–19th the division was relieved and sent to rest southwest of Monthois and reorganized. The 5th Company of the 363d Infantry received at least 134 replacements, mostly from the 1918 class, some of them with only three months’ training.

ARGONNE.

4. About May 4–5 the division went back into line south of Rouvroy (Cernay en Dormois) and stayed there until July 22 or 23. No important action during this period.

FLANDERS.

5. During the first days of August the division was sent to Flanders via Charleville, Namur, Brussels, and Ghent. It went to the Bixschoote- Langemarck sector, where it fought until August 17 (battle of Flanders, French attack of August 16).

CAMBRAI.

6. After a rest on the coast it went to Douai August 23 and took over the Oppy-Gavrelle sector (September to November). November 22 it went in all haste to oppose the advance of the British army southwest of Cambrai, and fought until December 4. At that date it was sent to rest near Valenciennes.

RECRUITING.

A composite division. The 50th (5th District) and the 358th (2d District) had a pretty large proportion of Poles, and some Brandenburgers to counterbalance them. The 363d was a Rhenish regiment, as well as the field artillery of the division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 214th Division must be considered as a good division. However, it should be noted that in Champagne during the attack of April 17, it was more or less demoralized by the losses suffered. A large number of men are said to have fled during the preparatory artillery fire.

At Ypres in August, 1917, the 358th and 363d opposed great resistance, particularly where there were enough officers to hold the men under the artillery fire.

Of the three regiments of the division, the 50th was the worst; many Poles.

1918.

BELGIUM.

1. The division held the Dixmude sector until April 5, when it was relieved by the 6th Bavarian Division. It was withdrawn to Couckelaere and Ichteghem, when it entrained on the 6th and 7th and traveled via Thourout-Lichtervelde-Roulers-Coutrai to Lauwe, from where they marched to Halluin.

LYS.

2. It was engaged north of Armentieres from April 10 to 13 (Ploegsteert- Neuve Eglise). It was relieved on the 13th–14th and went to rest near Lille until May 19. On May 6 some elements of the division reenforced the Alpine Corps at Locre for a short time.

ARRAS.

3. On May 19–20 the division came in line east of Arras (Feuchy-Monchy le Preux) and held that quiet sector until the British attacked them on August 27. The division lost 1,171 prisoners and was relieved on the 28th.

PICARDY.

4. The division rested until September 24, when it entered line southwest of Douai (Sailly Ostrevent Biache, St. Vaast) and held there until October 8. It retreated between Douai and Valenciennes as far as east of St. Awand. It withdrew from line near Conde on the 24th. A day later it was reengaged south of Valenciennes (Famars) and in line until November 5. On the first 10 days of November the division lost 750 prisoners.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. In 1918 it played a rather colorless rôle. Its hardest fighting was in October in the Cambrai battle.

215th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │61 Res. │60 Res. │61 Res. │71 Ldw. │61 Res. │224 Res. │ │2 Res. │ │224 Res. │ │2 Res. │ │ Ers. │ │ │ │ Ers. │ │40 Ers. │ │2 Res. │ │ │ │ (Saxon).│ │ Ers. │ │ │61 Res. │71 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │2 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ Ers. │ │ │ │ │ │40 Ers. │ │ │ │ │ │ (Saxon).│ │ │ │ │ │244 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │ (Saxon).│ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┬┴─────────┴────────┬┴─────────┴──────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 8 Res. Hus. │3 Sqn. 8 Res. Hus. │ │ Rgt. │ Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │274 F. A. Rgt. │274 F. A. Rgt. │274 Field Art. Rgt. │ │ │1413 Light Mun. │ │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(215) Pion. Btn.: │6 Co. Pion. Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │ No. 29. │ │ 249 Pion. Co. │115 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ 6 Co. 29 Pions. │215 Div. Signal │ │ │ Command. │ │ 425 T. M. Co. │215 Tel. Detch. │ │ Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │221 Ambulance Co. │221 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │166 Field Hospital.│315 Vet. Hospital. │ │174 Field Hospital.│ │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │625 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │21 Res. Jag. Btn. │ │ │ (Until fall of │ │ │ 1917.) │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(224th Reserve Infantry Regiment: 18th Corps District—Hesse—Nassau. 2d Reserve Ersatz and 71st Landwehr Regiments: 11th Corps District—Thuringia and Prussian Saxony.)

1916.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 215th Division, formed about September, 1916, and comprising at this time the 40th Ersatz Regiment, taken from the 19th Ersatz Division; the 2d Reserve Ersatz, from the 1st Reserve Ersatz Brigade; the 60th Reserve, from the 13th Landwehr Division, was identified for the first time on September 29, 1916, on the Champagne front, east of Auberive. It occupied the sector of Prosnes, south of Ste. Marie a Py, until the end of November.

2. Relieved in Champagne, the 215th Division was transferred to the Eastern Front, leaving the 60th Reserve Regiment in France as a part of the 221st Division and taking with it the 71st Landwehr Regiment from the 13th Landwehr Division.

RUSSIA.

3. Arriving in Russia at the beginning of December, the 215th Division formed a part of the 22d Reserve Corps (Army of the Bug) and was reenforced by the addition of the 244th Reserve Infantry Regiment from the 53d Reserve Division.

1917.

VOLHYNIA.

1. At the beginning of 1917 the composition of the 215th Division was again changed—the 244th Reserve Infantry Regiment went over to the 119th Division and was replaced by the 224th Reserve Infantry Regiment from the 48th Reserve Division.

2. During the year 1917 the 215th Division occupied, in Volhynia, the sector situated east of Gorokhov (northwest of Berestiecko).

3. Its composition was once more modified—the 40th Ersatz Regiment was transferred to a newly formed Saxon division, the 96th.

RECRUITING.

The 215th Division was fairly homogeneous. It was mostly recruited from the 11th and to some extent from the 18th Corps Districts (Thuringia, the Electorate of Hesse, and Hesse-Nassau).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division had been in Russia since December, 1916, and was only mediocre.

1918.

UKRAINE.

1. Early in the year the division was still in Russia. It was identified near Kiev on the 12th of March and in the Kharkov region in April. Early in May the division had advanced to the Sea of Azov. Early in September, all unmarried men less than 35 years of age (Alsace-Lorrainers included) were sent to the Western Front, which probably explains the many reports of the division having been sent to France. In all probability the division never left the Ukraine.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

216th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │182. │177. │42. │(?) │42. │ │354. │ │354. │ │354. │ │21 Res. │ │59. │ │59. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │ │205 Cav. Sqn. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │54 F. A. Rgt. │54 F. A. Rgt. │216 Art. Command: │ │ │ 54 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 3 Abt. 10 Ft. A. │ │ │ Rgt. (Staff, and │ │ │ 9 and 11 Btries.) │ │ │ 762 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│2 Gd. Ldw. Pions. │(216) Pion. Btn.: │217 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 2 Ldw. Co. Gd. │ 247 Pion. Co. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 216 Tel. Detch. │ 2 Ldw. Co. Gd. C. │ │ │ Dist. Pions. │ │ │ 78 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ │216 Signal Command: │ │ │ 216 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 167 Wireless │ │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │260 Ambulance Co. │260 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │53 Field Hospital. │324 Field Hospital. │ │324 Field Hospital.│332 Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │257 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(42d Infantry Regiment; 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 59th Infantry Regiment; 20th Corps District—Eastern part of West Prussia. 354th Infantry Regiment; 6th Corps District—Silesia.)

1916.

The 216th Division was formed in Galicia in July, 1916, by drafts upon regiments of other divisions. At the time of formation it comprised the 182d Infantry Regiment, from the 123d Division (Saxon), the 354th Infantry Regiment from the 38th Division and the 21st Reserve Infantry Regiment from the 217th Division.

GALICIA-TRANSYLVANIA.

1. In Galicia (Brzezany) beginning of October, the 216th Division was transferred to the Transylvanian front (valley of the Olt) on November 8.

ROUMANIA.

2. It took part in the Roumanian campaign.

3. At the end of December it was south of Rimnicu-Sarat.

1917.

ROUMANIA.

1. In January, 1917, the 216th Division was in line east of Focsani, where it remained until August.

2. It took part in the attacks north of Focsani in August, where the 182d Infantry Regiment lost especially heavily.

3. At this time the 42d and 59th Infantry Regiments, filled up in June by men borrowed from the 76th Reserve Division, then in the rear of the Roumanian front replaced the 182d Infantry Regiment, transferred to the 212th Division and the 21st Infantry Regiment, sent to the Macedonian front.

4. With this composition the 216th Division occupied the line north of the mouth of the Buzeu. It was still there at the end of December. The 354th Infantry Regiment was identified on December 28 by fraternizing.

RECRUITING.

The 42d Infantry Regiment, Pomeranian, and the 59th Infantry Regiment, from Posen, also contained contingents from the 2d, 5th and 20th Corps Districts, and since 1915 have contained a large number of Alsace- Lorrainers. The 354 Infantry Regiment, formed from mobile depot battalions of the former Breslau Garrison, replaced its 3d Battalion (Saxon) by Prussians, and consisted almost entirely of drafts from Silesia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 216th Division fought and held sectors almost entirely on the Roumanian front.

1918.

1. On the 1st of April the division started for the Western Front. It traveled via Bucharest-Budapest-Prague-Dresden-Leipsig-Erfurt-Frankfort- Thionville-Luxemburg-Namur-Mons-Valenciennes, and detrained at Orchies and Somain from April 12 to 20.

KEMME.

2. It entered line at Kemme on May 9 and with the exception of the first week in June held that sector until June 18.

3. The division rested and underwent training north of Courtrai (Oostroosebeke-Marialoop) until July 23. It was then railed to Laon and marched toward the front south of Fismes through Urcel, Brenelle, Bozoches, Mont St. Martin. It was in reserve northeast of Cierges on July 28–29.

VESLE-AISNE.

4. It was engaged near Cierges and west of the Bois Meuniere on July 29 and 30. The next day it returned north of Cierges and later to the Vesle east of Fismes (Magneux). The division lost heavily in their retreat. It held the sector on the Vesle until September 5, when it fell back through Merval toward the line of the Aisne. It held on the line west of Revillon, south of Villers en Prayeres until October 10. Again it gave way before the Allied pressure and retired through Bouconville, north of Aubigny (11th–12th), Montaigu (13th) toward Liesse-Sissonne. In this area the division was withdrawn from line on October 23.

CHAMPAGNE.

5. Without having had an opportunity to rest, the division was returned to line northwest of Chateau Porcien on October 25 and fought until November 5.

6. At the time of the armistice the division was considered in reserve of 5th Army.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its conduct during the retreat to the Vesle was good. The three months of constant service in line greatly fatigued the troops and lowered the morale of the division.

217th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │45. │18 Ldw. │9 Res. │18 Ldw. │9 Res. │ │9 Res. │ │22 Ldw. │ │22 Ldw. │ │22 Ldw. │ │29 Bav. │ │21 Res. │ Nov. to Jan. 1 │ │ │ │ │ │9 Res. │ │ │ │ │ │22 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │21 Res. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │47 Res. Cav. Detch.│47 Res. Cav. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │ │65 Res. F. A. Rgt. │274 F. A. Rgt. (2d │ │ │ Abt.). │ │ │65 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ (except 3d Btry. │ │ │ and 2 Abt. Staff │ │ │ and 4 and 6 │ │ │ Btries.). │ │ │1049, 1056, and │ │ │ 1073 Light. Am. │ │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│2 Res. Co. 17 │(217) Pion. Btn.: │2 Res. Co. 17 Liaisons. │ Pions. │ │ Pions. │ │ 2 Res. Co. 17 │130 Searchlight │ │ Pions. │ Section. │ │ 174 T. M. Co. │217 Signal Command: │ │ 427 T. M. Co. │ 217 Tel. Detch. │ │ 217 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │Ambulance Co. │237 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │58 Field Hospital. │149 Field Hospital. │ │149 Field Hospital.│317 Vet. Hospital. │ │317 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │1044 M. T. Col. │ │ │1094 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(9th Reserve Infantry Regiment: 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 22d Landwehr Regiment: 6th Corps District—Upper Silesia. 29th Bavarian Infantry Regiment: Mixed—Prussia and Bavaria.)

1916.

The 217th Division was formed on the Eastern Front about August, 1916.

ROUMANIA.

1. Composed of the 9th Reserve Infantry Regiment from the 3d Reserve Division, the 45th Infantry Regiment from the 101st Division, and the 22d Landwehr Regiment from the 4th Landwehr Division, the 217th Division left the Brest-Litowsk area at the beginning of October, 1916, to take part in the Roumanian campaign.

2. It was in Dobroudja about the end of October; in the area south of Bucarest in November. At the beginning of November the 45th Infantry Regiment, which returned to Macedonia, was replaced by the 21st Infantry Regiment from the 36th Reserve Division.

3. At the end of December elements of the 9th Reserve Infantry Regiment occupied the front south of Isaccea (Dobroudja).

1917.

BRAILA.

1. In January, 1917, the 217th Division was in the Braila area; in February, at the mouth of the Buzeu.

ODOBESTI.

2. In the month of May the division left the Braila front and went into line northwest of Odobesti in the vicinity of Focsani. At this time it acquired its definite organization: 9th Reserve, 29th Bavarian, and 22d Landwehr Infantry Regiments.

PANCIU.

3. From July to December the 217th Division remained in line northwest of Panciu.

RECRUITING.

The 217th Division was one of the most heterogeneous.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division had been on the Roumanian front since October, 1916, and was mediocre.

1918.

ROUMANIA.

1. Early in April the division was still on the Roumanian front, but was leaving shortly for another theater.

UKRAINE.

2. At the beginning of May the division was in the Kherson region.

CRIMEA.

3. The middle of the month the division was near Sebastopol.

GEORGIA.

4. About the middle of July elements of the division were identified at Poti and Tiflis.

SERBIA.

5. Early in October the division having moved to the vicinity of Nish opposed the advance of the Serbian and allied troops.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

218th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[34] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │204 Res. │62. │204 Res. │ │256 Res. │ │256 Res. │ │256 Res. │ │5 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ (2d │ │ │ │ │ │ Btn.). │ │5 Ldw. │ │5 Ldw. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │4 Sqn. 1 Gd. Drag. │4 Sqn. 1 Drag. Rgt. │ │ Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │85 F. A. Rgt. │85 F. A. Rgt. │85 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ (except 2 Abt. │ │ │ Staff, 4 and 6 │ │ │ Btries.; 3d Abt. │ │ │ Staff, 7 and 9 │ │ │ Btries.). │11 Mountain F. A. │ │ │ Btry. │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(218) Pion. Btn.: │218 Signal Command: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 2 Res. Co. 26 │ 218 Tel. Detch. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 388 Pion. Co. │ │ │ 428 T. M. Co. │ │ │ 267 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ │ 218 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │121 Ambulance Co. │121 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │145 Field Hospital.│145 Field Hospital. │ │96 Field Hospital. │318 Vet. Hospital. │ │367 Field Hospital.│ │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │628 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 34:

The below comprises only the elements under 308th Postal Sector (Nov. 13, 1918). The 62d Infantry Brigade, and elements of the 5th Landwehr Regiment were in the 310th Postal Sector and are carried as attached to other divisions.

HISTORY.

(204th Infantry Regiment: Guard. 256th Reserve Infantry Regiment: 7th Corps District—Westphalia. 5th Landwehr Regiment: 17th Corps District—West Prussia.)

1916.

The division was formed on the Eastern Front about September, 1916.

GALICIA.

1. Concentrated, beginning of October, in the Brest-Litovsk area, the 218th Division was transferred to Galicia, in the Brody, sector in the middle of October.

ROUMANIA.

2. Beginning of December the 218th Division was sent to the Roumanian front. It was then composed of the 204th Infantry Regiment, taken from the 43d Reserve Division; the 256th Reserve Infantry Regiment, from the Mitau Group; and of the 5th Landwehr Regiment, taken from the 11th Landwehr Division. It occupied the sector of Oitoz (December).

1917.

ROUMANIA.

1. The 218th Division remained in line between the valleys of the Trotus and of the Putna (south of Ocna, northwest of Panciu) until July, 1917.

2. At the end of July it was engaged in its sector in front of Kezdi- Vasarhely and retired to the south bank of the Putna on July 29.

3. In August and until the end of the year 1917 the 218th Division remained in line in the vicinity of Soveja.

RECRUITING.

The 204th Reserve Infantry Regiment was recruited from the whole of Russia; the 256th Reserve Infantry Regiment from Westphalia and the Rhine Districts; the 5th Landwehr Regiment from West Prussia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 218th Division had been on the Roumanian front since December, 1916, and was mediocre.

1918.

ROUMANIA.

In June the division was still in Roumania. Men under 35 years of age were sent to the Western Front, which gave rise to the report of the division’s presence in the Lille-Armentières region early in June. The 256th Reserve Regiment was identified in Macedonia early in July, but the remainder of the division was still in Roumania the middle of October.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

219th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │47 Ers. │101 Res. │47 Ers. │101 Res. │ │391. │ │391. │ │431. │ │431. │ │(100 Ldw.). │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │ (?) │4 Sqn. 19 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │ (?) │45 Saxon Ers. F. A. Rgt. │ │767 Light Am. Col. │ │768 Light Am. Col. │ │785 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(219) Pion. Btn.: │205 Pion. Btn. Rgt. Liaisons. │ │ │ 254 Pion. Co. │ 377 Pion. Co. │ 54 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 78 Res. Pion. Co. │ 416 T. M. Co. │ 222 Searchlight Section. │ 219 Tel. Detch. │219 Signal Command: │ │ 219 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │444 Ambulance Co. │404 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │111 Field Hospital. │111 Field Hospital. │153 Field Hospital. │153 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │226 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transports. │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

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

1917.

The 219th Division (Saxon) appeared to have been formed in January, 1917.

LORRAINE.

1. Concentrated in Lorraine and comprising the 431st Infantry Regiment, made up of drafts from various Saxon Regiments, the 101st Infantry Regiment, from the 23d Reserve Division, and the 100th Landwehr Regiment, a surplus regiment of the 19th Ersatz Division, the 219th Division occupied the sector of Blamont in February, 1917.

2. It remained on the Lorraine front in the vicinity of Leintrey- Badonviller until June 10.

ARTOIS.

3. Sent to the north of France, it relieved the 79th Reserve Division north of La Bassée (Neuvechapelle-Fromelles) on July 8. With the 42d Landwehr Division, it exchanged the 100th Landwehr Regiment for the 391st Infantry Regiment, Saxon also.

RUSSIA.

4. About the end of September the 219th Division was withdrawn from the front and transferred to Russia at the beginning of October.

RIGA.

5. It was in the Riga area in October and November.

RECRUITING.

The division was entirely Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 219th Division had been in Russia since October, 1917, and was a fairly good division.

1918.

LIVONIA.

1. The 219th Division took part in the occupation of Livonia; on the 17th of March it arrived at Dorpat.

SERBIA.

2. The 101st Reserve and the 431st Landwehr Regiments were identified at Nish on the 9th of October. The 391st Regiment was seen at Walk in Livonia at the beginning of October, when the men said they were leaving for the western theater (the regiment was never identified there). The whole of the 219th Division had thus left the Russian front and two regiments at least went to Serbia.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class.

220th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │4 Gd. │55 Res. │4 Gd. │190. │4 Gd. │190. │ │99 Res. │ │55 Res. │ │55 Res. │ │207 Res. │ │99 Res. │ │99 Res. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │4 Sqn. 14 Uhlan │4 Sqn. 14 Uhlan │ │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │51 F. A. Rgt. │220 Art. Command: │220 Art. Command: │ │ 51 F. A. Rgt. │ 51 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 87 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ │ 938 Light Am. Col. │ │ │ 1326 Light Am. │ │ │ Col. │ │ │ 1327 Light Am. │ │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │220 Pion. Btn.: │220 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 2 Res. Co. Gd. │ 2 Gd. Res. Pion. │ │ Pions. │ Co. │ │ 88 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 88 Res. Pion. Co. │ │ 417 T. M. Co. │ 417 T. M. Co. │ │ 220 Tel. Detch. │ 189 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ │220 Signal Command: │ │ │ 220 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 124 Wireless │ │ │ Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │40 Ambulance Co. │40 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │55 Res. Field │55 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │74 Res. Field │74 Res. Field │ │ Hospital. │ Hospital. │ │276 Vet. Hospital. │276 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │630 M. T. Col. │630 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(190th Infantry Regiment and 55th Reserve Infantry Regiment; 7th Corps District—Westphalia. 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment; 15th Corps District—Alsace.)

1916.

The 220th Division was formed at the end of 1916 with regiments taken from divisions then in line on the Somme and south of Artois. The 207th Reserve Infantry Regiment coming from the 44th Reserve Division, the 55th Reserve Infantry Regiment and the 2d Reserve Guard Division and the 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment from the 26th Reserve Division.

1917.

ARTOIS.

1. Concentrated at Boyelles (west of Croisilles) on February 6, 1917, the 220th Division went into line at Ransart, south of Arras. About March 18 it took part in the retirement of the German forces and established its position at Hénin sur Cojeul, Ecoust St. Menin, Croisilles. It was engaged, in April, between Croisilles and Arras. In April the 190th Infantry Regiment replaced the 207th Reserve Infantry Regiment.

2. Withdrawn from the Arras front at the end of April, the 220th Division was sent to rest in the vicinity of Montagne du Nord, then to Belgium between May 6 and 15.

3. It came back to its old sector in Artois (Fontaine les Croisilles, Bullecourt) about May 29, and remained there until about July 6.

LENS.

4. After a rest in the rear of Douai, northwest of Lens, from the beginning of July to the middle of August, the division was engaged near Lens from August 16 to 22.

YPRES.

5. At the beginning of October it was sent to Belgium. On the 12th it went into line east of Zonnebeke.

CAMBRAI.

6. Sent to rest about October 15 in the vicinity of Bruges, it then fought on the Cambrai front, south of Crèvecoeur, at the end of November (German counterattack).

7. It was sent to rest in December.

RECRUITING.

The 220th Division may be considered as Westphalian since two of its regiments were normally filled up from the 7th Corps District, and since the 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment, like a number of regiments in Alsace, received most of its men from there.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The regiments of the 220th Division did not appear to have any great offensive value.

The division lost quite heavily in the sector of Lens at the beginning of 1918.

1918.

LA BASSÉE.

1. During the night of December 31-January 1 it relieved the 1st Guard Reserve Division in the Hulluch-Loos sector (south of La Bassée). On the 27th it was relieved by the 1st Guard Reserve Division.

2. A day or two later it relieved the 207th Division in the sector to the right of the one it had just held. During the night of the 18th–19th of February it was relieved by the 207th Division.

3. It went back to the Lens sector then and relieved the 1st Guard Reserve Division on the 20th. It was not withdrawn until April 25, when it was relieved by the 42d Division. During these three months the division had about 1,600 casualties (mainly gas), and so now a week or so was spent refitting in the region north of Douai.

4. On May 6 it relieved the 44th Reserve Division southeast of Locon (west of La Bassée). This front had been stabilized by now, but still there was a great deal of artillery activity and constant raiding. The division was withdrawn about the 1st of August, the neighboring divisions extending their fronts.

BAPAUME.

5. After a fortnight’s rest the division reenforced the front in the Biefvillers sector (northwest of Bapaume) about the 20th of August. It was withdrawn about the 3d of September after losing some 600 prisoners.

CAMBRAI.

6. It rested again for a fortnight, and then reenforced the front near Blécourt (north of Cambrai) about the 29th of the month. It was heavily engaged here and suffered severely; withdrawn on the 13th of October.

VALENCIENNES.

7. About the 21st it reenforced the front near Anzin (northwest of Valenciennes). It was withdrawn on November 4.

8. On the 7th it was put back into line near Elouges (southwest of Ghislain); it was not withdrawn before the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 220th Division was not used in any of the German offensives during 1918; on the contrary, its rôle seems to have been that of a holding division. The 55th Reserve Regiment was mentioned as having displayed “marked gallantry” in the German communiqué of October 2. It is rated as a second-class division.

221st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │1 Res. │41. │1 Res. │41. │1 Res. │41. │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │ │60 Res. │ │60 Res. │ │60 Res. │ │1 Res. │ │1 Res. │ │45. │ │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 2 Res. Uhlan│1 Sqn. 2 Res. Uhlan│5 Sqn. 8 Uhlan Rgt. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │273 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │221 Art. Command: │ │ 273 F. A. Rgt. │ 273 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 40 Ft. A. Btn. │ │ │ (Staff, and 1, 2, │ │ │ and 3 Btries.). │ │ │ 126 Light Am. Col. │ │ │ 1276 Light Am. │ │ │ Col. │ │ │ 1345 Light Am. │ │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(221) Pion. Btn.: │(221) Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 2 Res. Co. 21 │ 1 Res. Co. 25 │ │ Pions. │ Pions. │ │ 1 Res. Co. 25 │ 2 Res. Co. 21 │ │ Pions. │ Pions. │ │ 431 T. M. Co. │ 431 T. M. Co. │ │ 221 Tel. Detch. │ 200 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ │221 Signal Command: │ │ │ 221 Tel. Detch. │ │ │ 71 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │223 Ambulance Co. │223 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │161 Field Hospital.│161 Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │163 Field Hospital. │ │ │321 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │631 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │ │7 Art. Observation │ │ │ Section. │ │ │82 Carrier Pigeon │ │ │ Loft. │ │ │21 M. G. S. S. │ │ │ Detch. │ │ │1 Btry. 39 Ft. A. │ │ │ Rgt. │ │ │2 Btry. 39 Ft. A. │ │ │ Rgt. │ │ │119 Balloon Sqn. │ │ │238 Reconnaissance │ │ │ Flight. │ │ │ Elements attached │ │ │ Sept. 29, 1918. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(41st Infantry Regiment: 1st Corps District—East Prussia. 60th Reserve Infantry Regiment: 21st Corps District—Lorraine, 1st Reserve Ersatz Regiment: Guard Depots.)

1916.

The 221st Division was formed in the Ardennes (vicinity of Mouzon) in October, 1916, by taking the 41st Infantry Regiment from the 1st Division, the 60th Reserve Infantry Regiment (21st Corps District) from the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division, and the 1st Reserve Ersatz Regiment (Guard Depots) from the 1st Reserve Ersatz Brigade.

SOMME.

1. A short time after its formation the 221st Division was transferred south of the Somme. On October 21–23 it went into line east of Berny; it remained there during the entire winter of 1916–17 and launched only a few local attacks.

1917.

HINDENBURG LINE.

1. At the end of March, 1917, the division withdrew with the German Army to the new positions on the Hindenburg Line, northwest of St. Quentin.

ARTOIS.

2. Relieved about April 8, it rested for 10 days near Tournai, and on April 27 went into line in the sector of Guémappe-Monchy le Preux (southeast of Arras). It was seriously engaged against the British offensive until May 8–9.

3. About May 28 it returned to the Hindenburg Line between Moeuvres and Havrincourt.

FLANDERS.

4. On July 12 it left this sector for Flanders, where it was sent into reserve near Winckel-St. Eloi. It did not take part as a whole in the British attack of July 31. On August 1 the entire division was engaged in the sector of Zonnebeke, where it launched a violent counterattack, in the course of which it lost heavily.

5. The 221st Division was relieved from the Ypres front during the night of August 3–4, but left some units in line until the 10th. Transferred to Champagne, it went into line east of Auberive on August 17, without having had any rest. It there filled up its effectives (with replacements comprising a large proportion of the 1918 class). Its activity was not manifested there except by a few raids.

CAMBRAI.

6. On November 7 the division left the Champagne front, was transferred to Belgium, and remained at rest at Deynze until November 23. On this date it was taken by railroad to the Cambrai front, attacked by the British troops. Sent into line between Bourlon and Fontaine-Notre Dame on the 27th, it took part in the German counterattack. Relieved on December 7, it rested for a month in the vicinity of Douai.

RECRUITING.

The division was very mixed. The 1st Reserve Ersatz Regiment, originating in the Guard depots, was recruited from the entire Province of Prussia; the 41st Infantry Regiment (from East Prussia) was one of the regiments of the Prussian Army which had received the most replacements because of losses; the 60th Reserve Infantry Regiment comprised a majority of Westphalians and men from the Rhine Province, but also a large number from other corps districts.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 221st Division always gave a good account of itself in the battles in which it took part. The 1st Reserve Ersatz Regiment, especially, in the course of the attacks of November, 1916, showed great tenacity on the defensive and great vigor on the offensive.

The morale of the 221st Division was good in November, 1917. The general commanding the division and the major commanding the 41st Infantry Regiment both received the order “Pour le Merite.”

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division continued to hold the sector near the Arras-Cambrai road until shortly before the March offensive. It was withdrawn, given a short rest, and attacked on the 21st at Queant. In two days it advanced as far as Ervillers (north of Bapaume). From the 25th of March to April 16 it rested in close support.

2. On April 16 the division was engaged the second time in the battle. It entered south of Arras in the Boyelles sector and remained there until May 25, when it was relieved by the 5th Bavarian Division.

3. The division rested and trained for almost two months in the locality east of Douai (Bruille, Somain, Aniches). The 45th Regiment, coming from the Macedonian front, replaced the 1st Reserve Ersatz Regiment, which was dissolved. Toward the end of July the division marched by stages to Noyon. It was held in reserve west of that place from July 30-August 8.

BATTLE OF THE SANTERRE AND SECOND BATTLE OF PICARDY.

4. On August 9 the division was engaged at Arvillers-Hangest. In two days it was thrown back on Andechy, west of Roye. It was re-formed to the north and then to the southwest of Nesle (Aug. 11–17). It was reengaged on the 18th, and between that and the 27th fought north and south of the Avre near Roye (St. Mard-Sancourt). Again it was pushed back on the Canal du Nord at Buverchy-Libermont (Aug. 26–27). Its retreat continued toward Ham (Sept. 3–4) and St. Quentin (5th–8th). After that the division was in line near Fontaine les Cleres and Dallon until September 28. About 1,000 prisoners were taken from the division in this last sector.

5. The division was reengaged almost immediately south of Joncourt, Levergies, and Sequehart (Sept. 30). By October 10 it had reached Fresnoy le Grand. It was withdrawn on the 10th and rested a week near Bergues sur Sambre.

6. On the 18th it was engaged in the sector of the forest d’Antigny (near Wassigny). It retreated across the Sambre Canal on the 19th and passed into reserve. On the 24th it was reengaged near the Serre River (west of La Ferte Chevresis). In the final retreat it fell back through La Herie la Vieville, Laigny, and east of Vervins. It was in line on November 11.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was used as an attack division in the March offensive and as a counterattack division in the last three months of the war. It was noted for its energetic higher command. When called in to oppose the French attack near Roye in August, the division had a rifle strength of 4,000. By the end of October this had been reduced to about 1,000. The 45th Regiment was reduced to four small companies by October 24. The 41st and 60th Reserve Regiments had but three companies to a battalion.

The division fought very well in spite of its losses and fatigue in the final months.

222d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[35] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │7. │193. │7. │193. │7. │193. │ │81 Res. │ │81 Res. │ │397. │ │397. │ │397. │ │81 Res. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │3 Sqn. 2 Res. Uhlan│ │ │ Rgt. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │278 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │222 (?) Art. │ │ │ Command: │ │ 278 F. A. Rgt. │ 278 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│2 Res. Co. 27 │Pion. Btn.: │2 Res. Co. 2 Pion. Liaisons. │ Pions. │ │ Btn. No. 27. │ │ 2 Res. Co. 27 │345 Pion. Co. │ │ Pions. │ │ │ 345 Pion. Co. │432 T. M. Co. │ │ 432 T. M. Co. │222 Tel. Detch. │ │ 222 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │231 Ambulance Co. │231 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │162 Field Hospital.│162 Field Hospital. │ │175 Field Hospital.│175 Field Hospital. │ │322 Vet. Hospital. │322 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │1071 M. T. Col. │M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 35:

Composition at the time of dissolution, October, 1918.

HISTORY.

(81st Reserve Regiment: 18th Corps District—Hesse—Nassau. 193d Reserve Regiment: 7th Corps District—Westphalia. 397th Reserve Regiment: 2d Corps District—Pomerania.)

1916.

Formed about September 11, 1916, behind the front north of Verdun, the 222d Division took two of its regiments from existing divisions—the 81st Reserve Regiment from the 21st Reserve Division, and the 193d Reserve Regiment from the 192d Division. Its third regiment, the 397th, was formed at Stenay from elements of the 16th and 53d Reserve Regiments (13th Reserve Division), of the 159th Regiment (14th Reserve Division), of the 118th Infantry Regiment (56th Division), and especially from the 140th Infantry Regiment (4th Division).

1. From September 15 to October 24, 1916, the 222d Division was at rest in Alsace in the vicinity of Rouffach.

SOMME.

2. Entrained on October 25, it was transferred to the vicinity of Cambrai by way of Sarrebruecken, Aix la Chapelle, Brussels, Tournai. About November 5 it went into action on the Somme front near Lesboeufs, Le Transloy, and remained in line until December 7–8.

3. After a few days of rest it was sent by railroad into the Laonnois. Detraining at St. Erme between December 15 and 29 it took over the sector of the Ville aux Bois (southeast of Craonne), which it occupied until February 15, 1917.

1917.

1. Upon its release the 222d Division was employed in defensive works behind the Aisne-Oise front (north of La Fère, St. Gobain, Laffaux, Chavignon).

AISNE.

2. About March 16, 1917, it was engaged east of Soissons (Vregny-Combe Plateau); counterattacked on March 21 north of Missy sur Aisne; retired in the direction of the Laffaux Mill-Jouy-Aizy (at the beginning of April) and fought on this front April 18 to 21.

The 193d Infantry Regiment, sent as reenforcement troops to Soupir, suffered serious losses there and retired by way of Ostel on April 20.

3. The 222d Division, having established its position between Laffaux Mill and Malmaison Farm, was again severely tried during the attacks of May 5 and 6.

4. Withdrawn from the Aisne front on May 13, it was sent to rest in the area Marle-Vervins and reorganized.

5. At the end of June the division took over its former sector (Laffaux), where the attack of July 8 was the only important action in which it took part during this time, which lasted until the beginning of August.

6. After a short rest in the vicinity of Montigny, it came back into line (Ailles—north of Hurtebise) about September 5 and remained in this sector until November 2. At this time it took part in the withdrawal and occupied new positions north of the Ailette.

7. On November 28, the 222d Division was relieved in the sector of Chermizy and sent to rest at Laon and in the vicinity of Marle (one month’s training).

8. At the end of December it occupied the front Brancourt-Anizy.

RECRUITING.

The 81st Reserve Infantry Regiment and the 193d Infantry Regiment were recruited in the Rhine districts (Hesse-Nassau, Rhine Province, and Westphalia). Many elements from these same regions were in the 397th Infantry Regiment in addition to Pomeranians.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Although it had suffered only slight losses since the beginning of November, 1917, the 222d Division was exhausted by a stay of more than seven months in the different sectors of the Aisne. It is a mediocre division (January, 1918).

During its rest in December the division received continual but moderate training, like the maneuvers of peace times. (Interrogation of prisoner, Feb. 4, 1918.)

AILETTE.

1. This was a very quiet sector and the division remained here without incident until the Somme offensive was well under way. However, the division took part in the attacks of April 7 and 8, when the enemy endeavored to squeeze out the new salient of Coucy le Château, which was developed by the progress of the main advance toward Montdidier. It suffered heavily in several attacks but gained little ground.

MONTDIDIER.

2. About the 3d of May the division was withdrawn and sent to the front southeast of Montdidier, where the main battle line had stabilized, but where infantry was still continuing, and during the night of the 9th–10th relieved the 206th Division in the Assainvillers sector. However, the sector soon grew quiet. The division remained in line and took part in the battle of the Oise on June 9, advancing via Courcelles to Mery. The division made but little headway (it will be remembered that this whole offensive failed) and suffered heavy losses in several days of hard fighting. It was relieved by the 11th Division about the 8th of July and went to rest near Coucy le Château.

SOISSONS.

3. During the night of the 25th–26th the division reenforced the front near Nouvron (northwest of Soissons). Here it was subjected to the full weight of the attack of the 18th of August and was driven back to Audignicourt and the Ailette. After having suffered very heavy losses (1829 prisoners), it was withdrawn about the 27th and went to rest near Laon. About the middle of September it was disbanded, the 81st Reserve Regiment going to the 21st Reserve Division, the 193d Regiment going to the 14th Division, and the 397th Regiment going to the 45th Reserve Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 222d was rated a second-class division. It took little part in offensive operations but was not incapable of putting up a tenacious defense. In June two of its regiments threatened to leave the trenches if they were not relieved, but the difficulty seems to have been smoothed over though there was no relief until July 8. It is interesting to note that the divisions receiving regiments when the 222d was disbanded were all second-class units.

223d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[36] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │67. │144. │67. │144. │67. │144. │ │173. │ │173. │ │173. │ │29 Ers. │ │29 Ers. │ │29 Ers. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 3 Res. Drag.│(2 Sqn. 3 Res. │2 Sqn. 3 Res. Drag. │ Rgt. │ Drag. Rgt.). │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │280 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │(z) Art. Command: │ │ 280 F. A. Rgt. │ 280 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│343 Pion. Co. │(223) Pion. Btn.: │5 Co. 23 Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 5 Co. 23 Pions. │343 Pion. Co. │ │ 343 Pion. Co. │433 T. M. Co. │ │ 433 T. M. Co. │223 Tel. Detch. │ │ 223 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │232 Ambulance Co. │232 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │164 Field Hospital.│164 Field Hospital. │ │170 Field Hospital.│176 Field Hospital. │ │176 Field Hospital.│Vet. Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 36:

Composition at the time of dissolution, October, 1918.

HISTORY.

(144th Infantry Regiment: 16th Corps District—Lorraine. 173d Infantry Regiment: 16th Corps District—Lorraine. 29th Ersatz Regiment: 14th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Baden.)

1916.

The 223d Division was concentrated at Mulhousen at the beginning of October, 1916. Its regiments formerly belonged to other divisions. The 144th Infantry Regiment was taken from the 3d Division on the Verdun front; the 173d from the 34th Division, then at Thiaumont; the 29th Ersatz from the 39th Bavarian Reserve Division, on the Lorraine front.

1. Entraining at Mulhousen on October 26, 1916, the 223d Division was transferred to the north by way of Sarrelouis-Treves-Aix la Chapelle- Louvain-Brussels-Valenciennes, and detrained north of Cambrai on October 28. During the night of November 11–12 it came to the Ancre front (Serre-Grandcourt) and lost heavily there.

2. Relieved about November 25, it was sent to rest in the area east of Cambrai. Elements of the 173d Infantry Regiment were sent on detached service south of Bapaume (Ligny-Tilloy).

1917.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. At the end of January, 1917, the 223d Division left the Cambrai area for Champagne. It occupied the sector north of Rheims (Witry les Rheims, March and April).

2. About April 27 it was engaged south of Nauroy at Mont Cornillet and lost heavily between April 30 and May 8.

GALICIA.

3. Withdrawn from the Champagne front about May 18, the 223d Division was transferred to Galicia. (Itinerary: Amagne (May 21)-Sedan- Thionville-Sarrebruecken-Frankfort-Leipzig-Breslau-Cracow-Lemberg.) It detrained at Zloczow, May 26.

4. At the beginning of July it opposed the Russian offensive in the vicinity of Brzezany; on July 18, it took part in the Austro-German counterattack and marched in the direction of Husiatyn, which it reached on the 30th and remained in line there until the middle of December. It was sent in reserve on this date, and prepared to leave for the Western Front, borrowing men from the regiments of the 83d Division.

RECRUITING.

The 223d Division was recruited from Westphalia and the Rhine Province so far as concerns the 144th and 173d Infantry Regiments. The 29th Ersatz Regiment came from the Grand Duchy of Baden.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 223d Division may be considered good.

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division rested in a camp at Sissonne until March 19, after which it was railed to La Fere, arriving there on March 21.

2. On the second day of the attack it was engaged near Tergnier-Chauny and advanced to the Guiscard region by the 24th. Shortly after its withdrawal from Guiscard (25th) it took over the Morlincourt-Appilly sector on the Oise (east of Noyon) and held it until May 1.

EAST OF OISE.

3. It rested near Guiscard during the first half of May. On the 15th it was engaged in front of Noyon (Larbroye-Mont Renaud-Pont l’Eveque) until the 30th. It took part in the Oise offensive of June, crossing the river and advancing in the Bois de Carlepont in the direction of Caisnes and Cuts. It established itself on the line Bailley-Tracy le Val-Oise and held that sector until the French attack of August 18.

OISE-AISNE.

4. The French attack of the 18th threw the division back on Salency. It was relieved on the 22d and railed to Anizy le Chateau the same day. From there it was taken to north of Soissons and reengaged on the 29th on the line Chauvigny-Juvigny. In these two engagements the division lost 688 prisoners.

5. The division had lost heavily in March and in the August fighting. Its morale was poor. The authority of the officers was low and desertions were frequent. As a result the division was dissolved in September. Its effectives were turned into the 52d, 103d, and 115th Divisions.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Prior to the March offensive it had been regarded a good division.

224th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │ │19 Ldw. │216. │19 Ldw. │216. │19 Ldw. │ │61 Ldw. │ │61 Ldw. │ │61 Ldw. │ │429 Ldw. │ │429 Ldw. │ │429 Ldw. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │(?) Sqn. 10 Mounted│4 Sqn. 10 Mounted │ │ Jag. Rgt. │ Jag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │284 F. A. Rgt. │224 Art. Command: │224 Art. Command: │ │ 284 F. A. Rgt. │ 284 F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ 795 Light Am. Col. │ │ │ 1015 Light Am. │ │ │ Col. │ │ │ 1029 Light Am. │ │ │ Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │224 Pion. Btn.: │423 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 2 Co. 27 Pions. │ 2 Co. 27 Pions. │ │ 434 T. M. Co. │ 3 Landst. Co. 9 C. │ │ │ Dist. Pions. │ │ Tel. Detch. │ 251 Searchlight │ │ │ Section. │ │ │224 Signal Command: │ │ │ 224 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │234 Ambulance Co. │234 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │181 Field Hospital.│336 Field Hospital. │ │330 Field Hospital.│324 Field Hospital. │ │324 Vet. Hospital. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │794 M. T. Col. │ │ │795 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Attached. │ │1 Landst. Pion. Co.│ │ │ (8 C. Dist.). │ ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(429th Landwehr: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg. 19th Landwehr: 5th Corps District—Posen. 61st Landwehr: 17th Corps District—West Prussia.)

1916.

RUSSIA.

1. Upon its formation the 224th Division appeared on the Eastern Front about October, 1916.

2. At this time it was near the 31st Division, north of Lake Narotch.

1917.

VOLHYNIA-SVINIOUKI.

1. At the beginning of February, 1917, the composition of the 224th Division appeared to be as follows: 19th Landwehr Regiment taken from the 18th Landwehr Division; 61st Landwehr Regiment, from the 85th Landwehr Division, and the 429th Landwehr Regiment, a new formation (1916).

2. The 224th Division then occupied the sector of Sviniouki in Volhynia. It remained there during the entire year of 1917, during the latter months furnishing important replacements to the Western Front, to such a degree that in November the companies of the 429th Landwehr did not have more than 100 men left (Russian interrogation).

RECRUITING.

The 224th Division was recruited from Brandenburg and the eastern Provinces of the empire.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division was on the Russian front from its formation and was of mediocre combat value.

In December, 1917, in Volhynia, 50 men of the youngest classes were taken from each company of the 429th Landwehr Regiment to be sent to the Flanders front.

In January, 1918, the companies of the 61st Landwehr Regiment were composed of men of the Landsturm. (Prisoner’s statement, Jan. 13.)

1918.

VOLHYNIA.

At the beginning of March the division left the Sviniouki region and went via Pinsk to Gomel.

UKRAINE.

2. Toward the end of April the division was identified in the Vorojva region (southwest of Koursk). On the 9th of September the division was identified a little farther to the north in the Delgorod region.

WOEVRE.

3. On September 29 the division was relieved (probably by the 45th Landwehr Division) and, entraining at Sadtowo, traveled via Kubiantz- Kharkov-Kiev-Kovel-Kattovitz-Dresden-Frankfort on the Main-Saarbrueken- Metz-Batilly, where it detrained on October 12. Resting here until the 16th, it marched via Bruville-Mars la Tour-Chambley and relieved the 88th Division during the night of the 16th–17th south of Dampvitoux. The division was identified by prisoners on November 7 here and does not seem to have been withdrawn before the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was a very poor one. About the middle of the summer the best men were chosen to be sent to the Western Front. They were paraded before the commanding general and when they reached the place where he was standing they dropped their guns and went back to the caserne. Later when the whole division was to come to the west, the men were far from satisfied, not being entirely consoled when they were informed that they were to enter a quiet sector.

225th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[37] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │5 Ers. │18 Res. │5 Ers. │18 Res. │5 Ers. │373. │ │217 Res. │ │217 Res. │ │18 Res. │ │373. │ │373. │ │217 Res. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 13 Uhlan │3 Sqn. 13 Uhlan │3 Sqn. 13 Uhlan │ Rgt. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │ │225 Art. Command: │225 Art. Command: │ │ 47 F. A. Rgt. │ 47 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(225) Pion. Btn.: │259 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │ │ 259 Pion. Co. │413 T. M. Co. │ │ 344 Pion. Co. │225 Tel. Detch. │ │ 413 T. M. Co. │ │ │ Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │259 Ambulance Co. │240 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │155 Field Hospital.│259 Ambulance Co. │ │172 Field Hospital.│155 Field Hospital. │ │265 Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │ │M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 37:

Composition at the time of the dissolution, September, 1918.

HISTORY.

(18th Reserve: 18th Corps Division—East Prussia. 217th Reserve: 7th Corps District—Westphalia. 373d Infantry Regiment: 1st Corps District—East Prussia.)

1916.

The 225th Division, including the 18th Reserve Infantry Regiment (from the 1st Reserve Division), the 217th Reserve Infantry Regiment (from the 47th Reserve Division), and the 373d Infantry Regiment (from the 10th Landwehr Division), was formed on the Eastern Front in the vicinity of Wladimir-Volynski about September, 1916.

ROUMANIA-TRANSYLVANIA.

1. In November, 1916, the 225th Division was transferred to the Roumanian Carpathians. It was there in December in the valley of the Uz.

1917.

ROUMANIA.

1. During the first half of 1917 the 225th Division occupied the calm sectors in the vicinity of Uz (Hills 1031 and 1640).

2. In July the 373d Infantry Regiment was transferred to the valley of the Putna to withstand the Russo-Roumanian offensive. The division took part in the Austro-German counterattack and established its positions near Ocna in September and October.

FRANCE.

3. Relieved about November 11, it went to Bereczk, where it entrained on the 18th for the Western Front. (Itinerary: Kronstadt (Brasso)-Budapest- Vienna-Munich-Carlsruhe-Sarrebruecken.) It detrained on November 25 at Vallieres-Vantoux, near Metz, and from there was transferred to the vicinity of Vigneulles (Cote de Meuse).

COTES DE MEUSE.

4. On December 4–5, it took over the sector of Chevalierswood, south of Vaux les Palameix-Seuzey.

RECRUITING.

Two regiments were drawn from East Prussia (18th Reserve and 372d Infantry Regiment), the 217th Reserve from Westphalia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 225th Division which comprised drafts from Baden, Alsace, Westphalia, East Prussia, and the Rhine was not homogeneous and was not considered as a fighting division.

The 18th Reserve Regiment had a bad reputation. On January 6, 1917, it refused to attack at Hill 1298 in Hungary. (Interrogation of prisoners Feb. 3 and Mar. 17, 1918.)

The division included a large number of Poles. However, men of the young classes gradually replaced the older men, who still made up a large part of the division in 1917; consequently, the combat value of the division may have improved.

1918.

1. The division held the Woevre sector until the beginning of May. It entrained at Jeandelize about May 15 and was railed by Sedan, Givet, Dmant, Namur, Charleroi, Mons, and Cambrai. It detrained near Peronne and marched toward the Avre front by Chaulnes, Rosieres en Santerre.

BATTLE OF THE SANTERRE.

2. It was engaged north of Moreuil (east of the Villers aux Erables- Thennes) on May 22. The Allied attack struck the division and threw it back on Beaufort, losing 2,358 prisoners. It was relieved on the 10th and rested 15 days. Reengaged on the 25th east of Albert (Contalmaison, Montauban) the division again lost heavily. It was withdrawn on the 30th.

3. After its withdrawal the division was dissolved to the profit of the 1st Reserve Division and 2d Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. In the August fighting in Picardy it did not make a strong resistance. In the two engagements in August the division lost 3,593 prisoners.

226th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬─────────────────── │ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[38] ─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬───────── │Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Infantry. │5 Ldw. │2 Ldw. │5 Ldw. │2 Ldw. │5 Ldw. │2 Ldw. │ │9 Ldw. │ │9 Ldw. │ │9 Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ Rgt. │ │439. │ │427. │ │427. ─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴───────── Cavalry. │ │1 Sqn. 4 Mounted │1 Sqn. 4 Mounted │ │ Jag. Rgt. │ Jag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Artillery. │ │64 Res. F. A. Rgt. │(?) Art. Command: │ │ │ 64 Res. F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Engineers and│ │(226) Pion. Btn.: │2 Ers. Co. 18 Liaisons. │ │ │ Pions. │ │ 2 Ers. Co. 18 │Searchlight │ │ Pions. │ Section. │ │ (?) T. M. Co. │430 T. M. Co. │ │ 26 Searchlight Co.│226 Tel. Detch. │ │ 226 Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Medical and │ │257 Ambulance Co. │257 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │Field Hospital. │Field Hospital. │ │262 Vet. Hospital. │262 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────────────── Transport. │ │471 M. T. Col. │635 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 38:

Composition at the time of dissolution, May, 1918.

HISTORY.

(2d Corps District—Pomerania.)

1916.

The 226th Division was formed about December, 1916.

RUSSIA.

1. At the end of December it was identified on the Eastern Front in the vicinity of Smorgoni, forming, with the 205th Division, the 3d (reenforced) Reserve Corps of the 10th Army.

1917.

1. The 226th Division included in 1917 the 2d and 9th Landwehr Regiments (5th Landwehr Brigade), taken from the 35th Reserve Division, and the 439th Infantry Regiment, formed in 1916.

SMORGONI.

2. The division occupied the sector of Smorgoni-Krevo from January until August, 1917. In this sector it received the Russian attacks of July 2 and 23, which caused it very heavy losses, in consequence of which Emperor William II called himself commander of the 2d Landwehr Regiment.

3. About the beginning of August the 226th Division was relieved south of Smorgoni and replaced the 123d Division south of Lake Svir. In November the 2d Landwehr Regiment sent men to reenforce the 121st Division and the 9th Landwehr to reenforce the 2d Guard Division.

LAKE NAROTCH.

4. In December the division was in line north of Lake Narotch, relieving the 31st Division, which was sent to the Western Front.

1918.

1. The division was still there in January, 1918. It was dissolved in June.

ROUMANIA.

2. The presence of the headquarters of the 226th Division at Targovistea was reported early in October. These headquarters apparently had under its order the 58th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment, of which the headquarters and three batteries are at Bucharest, the remaining batteries at Durnu Margurelf, Targovistea, and Cantulung.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

227th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │49 Ldw. │417. │49 Ldw. │417 and 477. │ │441. │ │ │ │477. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │ (?) │1 Sqn. 10 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │92 F. A. Rgt. │227 Art. Command: │ │ 92 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 3 Abt. 20 Ft. A. Rgt. (9 │ │ and 11 Btries.). │ │ 853 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1102 Light Am. Col. │ │ 113 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│227 Pion. Btn.: │227 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 339 Pion. Co. │ 339 Pion. Co. │ 347 Pion. Co. │ 347 Pion. Co. │ 162 T. M. Co. │ 162 T. M. Co. │ 227 Tel. Detch. │ 213 Searchlight Section. │ │227 Signal Command: │ │ 227 Tel. Detch. │ │ 155 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │65 Ambulance Co. │65 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │278 Field Hospital. │278 Field Hospital. │285 Field Hospital. │285 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │208 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │637 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(417th Infantry Regiment; 14th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Baden. 441st Infantry Regiment; 18th Corps District—Hesse—Nassau. 477th Infantry Regiment; 8th Corps District—Rhine Province.)

1917.

The 227th Division, formed in March, 1917, was composed of three newly- formed regiments—the 417th (Baden), the 441st (18th District-Hesse), the 477th, formed by drafts upon the units of the 38th and 13th Divisions and upon the 16th Corps, then attached after its formation in the autumn of 1916 to the 33d Division of this corps.

ARGONNE.

1. The 227th Division was identified for the first time on March 27, 1917, on the Argonne front. It occupied the calm sector of the Fille- Morte until May 26.

AISNE.

2. About June 1 it went into line south of the Aisne (La Neuville-Godat) and extended its sector, at the beginning of July, to Hill 108 (Sapigneul).

3. Relieved about August 5, it was sent for rest and training to the Asfeld area. On August 20 it went into line north of Berry au Bac, between the Miette and Hill 108, from which it was withdrawn on August 2.

The division did not take part in any important engagement on the Aisne front. Its losses were very slight.

FLANDERS.

4. On October 5 and 6 the 227th Division entrained at Amagne (east of Rethel), and was transferred to Belgium by way of Hirson-Toumai- Courtrai-Thielt. Detraining at Pitthem on October 6 and 7, it reached the front north of Poepcappelle on the night of the 8th–9th, was in action for a week and suffered very heavy losses.

5. The division left the Ypres front about October 15 to go to Ghent (two days), then into the Champagne in the vicinity of Aussonce. It was filled up with three replacements, the most important of which was made up of 1,200 men taken from units on the Eastern Front, especially from the 12th Landwehr Division, from the same Provinces as the 227th Division (end of October).

CHAMPAGNE.

6. At the beginning of November the 227th Division went into line north of Cornillet.

RECRUITING.

The 227th Division was recruited from the Rhine Districts (Baden, Hesse- Nassau, the Rhine Province), which gives rise to a certain homogeneity.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 227th Division lost very heavily in Flanders and received as replacements a certain number of men coming from the Russian front whose combat value was mediocre (October, 1917).

The 227th Division was of only mediocre offensive value.

1918.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. About the middle of January the 227th Division was relieved by the 28th Division and went to the Juniville area, where it was intensively trained in open warfare with a view to its being used as an assault division.

2. On February 16 it relieved the 28th Division. It was withdrawn toward the end of March.

PICARDY.

3. About the 10th of April it relieved the 5th Guard Division near Canny sur Matz (west of Lassigny). The battle of the Somme had come to end by this time, and so, although there was still considerable artillery activity here, the division was not seriously engaged in infantry attacks, and remained in line until relieved by the 75th Reserve Division during the night of May 16–17, when it went to rest and be trained in the region of Ham.

OISE.

4. On June 7 it started to march to the front via Ognolles-Champien Wood-Beuvraignes-Crapeaumesnil. On the 9th it attacked through the line and succeeded in passing Ricquebourg, Ressons, and Marqueglise. This advance cost the divisions heavy losses, and it suffered still more heavily when the French counterattacked in force on the 12th. The following day it was relieved by the 17th Reserve Division and marched by stages to the region east of St. Quentin.

WOEVRE.

5. About the 20th it entrained at Origny and traveled via Charleville- Sedan-Longuyon-Conflans-Dampvitoux, where it detrained the 21st and 22d. It relieved the 8th Bavarian Reserve Division in the St. Baussant- Richecourt sector (south of Thiaucourt) on the 27th. It was relieved by the 10th Division on the 22d of August.

SOISSONS.

6. About the 30th it reenforced the front in the Terny-Sorny sector (north of Soissons). It was withdrawn about the 8th of September.

AISNE.

7. There was some talk of dissolving the division at this time, but it was not done, and it came back into line, relieving the 17th Division in the Pont-Arcy sector (east of Vailly) on the 17th. It remained in line, falling back via Monchâlons-Coucy les Eppes-Pierrepont-Montcornet- Ebouleau-Renneval-Jeantes la Ville. It had not been withdrawn on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 227th was rated a third-class division. It was in no heavy fighting during 1918 until June, when it did not distinguish itself, neither advancing far nor holding its ground in counterattack. Its conduct, however, can not be characterized as poor. It is to be noted, moreover, that the division commander was awarded “Pour le Mérite” in July.

228th. Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │104. │35 Fus. │104. │35. │ │48. │ │48. │ │207 Res. │ │207 Res. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt. │1 Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │228 Art. Command: │228 Art. Command: │ 39 F. A. Rgt. │ 39 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 92 Ft. A. Btn. (Staff, and │ │ 1, 2, and 3 Btries). │ │ 1143 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1144 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1145 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(228) Pion. Btn.: │228 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 389 Pion. Co. │ 389 Pion. Co. │ 395 Pion. Co. │ 395 Pion. Co. │ 197 T. M. Co. │ 197 T. M. Co. │ Tel. Detch. │ 116 Searchlight Section. │ │228 Signal Command: │ │ 228 Tel. Detch. │ │ 56 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │567 Ambulance Co. │567 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │63 Field Hospital. │63 Field Hospital. │260 Field Hospital. │260 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │55 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport │M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(3d Corps District—Brandenburg.)

1917.

The 228th Division appears to have been formed in the Sedan area in May, 1917. Its three regiments belonged to the 3d Corps District—the 35th Fusileer Regiment was taken from the 56th Division, the 48th Infantry Regiment from the 113th Division, and the 207th Reserve Regiment from the 220th Division.

VERDUN.

1. On June 22, 1917, the 228th Division was identified on the Verdun front in the sector of Les Chambrettes (35th Fusileers). It was still in line on the right bank of the Meuse (Louvemont) when the French attacks of August 20–24 were launched. It lost heavily there. “Our regiment has only two companies left” (letter from a man of the 48th Infantry Regiment, Aug. 23).

CÔTES DE MEUSE.

2. Relieved about August 24, it was sent to rest for a few days, then into line again about September 6 on the Côtes de Meuse (between Moulainville and Damploup). It was reorganized in both men and material. At the end of September 900 men came as replacements from the 1st Corps District (returned wounded for the most part). The 35th Fusileer Regiment, decimated in August, remained in the rear for reorganization.

RECRUITING.

The division was purely Brandenburg (infantry and field artillery).

For its reorganization after the attacks of August 20–24, 1917, the 228th Division received replacements from the 1st Corps District. A replacement unit was formed from the 3d Corps District, but the men are said to have refused to leave for the Western Front. In default of men from Brandenburg, they called upon the 1st Corps District. (Interrogation of prisoner, Sept. 30, 1917.)

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

This was a fairly good division.

1918.

1. The division was relieved northeast of Verdun in mid-February and went to rest and train southeast of Montmedy (near Marville) until March 17. It was then railed to Picardy via Montmedy, Sedan, Hirson, Aulnoye. From there it moved toward the front by Croix, Maurois, Beaurevoir, Bellicourt, Roisel, Maurepas, Bray, arriving there on the 27th.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. It was engaged on the 29th–30th near Le Hamel, north of Marcelcave, and participated in heavy fighting about Hamel until April 13. All three regiments lost heavily in the attack. The 207th Reserve Regiment was too weak to hold more than 160 yards of front. The 35th Fusileer Regiment lost 700 men in killed and wounded. After resting from April 13 to 18 the division was reengaged on the 18th. It attacked at Villers- Bretonneux on the 24th without success. After suffering very heavy losses the division was withdrawn on April 27–28.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. On the 28th it entrained east of Peronne and was railed to Valenciennes, where it rested until May 6–7. From rest the division proceeded to south of Vouziers (May 7) and entered line near Tahure on the 13th and held that quiet sector until July 15. It did not attack in the offensive in Champagne, but remained behind in reserve of the 88th Division. Later it was used by battalions in support of units in line until the end of the month.

4. From the end of July to September 12 the division held a quiet sector of the line near Maisons de Champagne.

5. On the 12th it was moved to Spincourt by Mezieres, Sedan, Montmedy, Longuyon. It rested and trained until the 28th, when it marched toward the front at Romagne sous Montfaucon (Sept. 28 to Oct. 2).

6. The division was engaged near Cunel on October 8. Four days later it shifted to the right bank of the Meuse (east of Sivry sur Meuse) and held there until November 5. It retreated toward Fontaine and Ecurey after that date. The division was still in line on the day of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. After its failure on the Somme in the spring it was used on unimportant sectors until October. It did not distinguish itself in the Meuse-Argonne battle.

231st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │231. │442. │231. │442. │ │443. │ │443. │ │444. │ │444. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │ │1 Sqn. 9 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │3 Gd. Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 3 Gd. Res. F. A. Rgt. │90 Ft. A. Btn. │ │910 Light Am. Col. │ │912 Light Am. Col. │ │1135 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(231) Pion. Btn.: │231 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 353 Pion. Co. │ 353 Pion. Co. │ 354 Pion. Co. │ 354 Pion. Co. │ 358 (?) T. M. Co. │ 181 Searchlight Section. │ 418 T. M. Co. │231 Signal Command. │ 231 Tel. Detch. │ 231 Tel. Detch. │ │ 57 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │243 Ambulance Co. │243 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │183 Field Hospital. │184 Field Hospital. │184 Field Hospital. │217 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │227 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │641 M. T. Col. │641 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(Guard.)

1917.

The 231st Division was formed on January 15, 1917, at the Zossen Camp, near Berlin. Its infantry regiments (442d, 443d, and 444th) were formed from the depots of the Guard and the 43d Reserve Division, likewise a subsidiary of the Guard. Initial effectives: 235 to 240 men per company, one-half of the 1918 class, one-fourth of returned sick and wounded, one-fourth men withdrawn from the front. The composition is practically the same for the divisions Nos. 231 to 242, as regards infantry and pioneers.

HAYE.

1. The 231st Division left the Zossen Camp on March 30, 1917, detrained at Audun le Roman on April 3, and went into line on the 13th at Flirey (Haye). It did not show any activity there and left the front on May 12.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Entraining at Jaulny on May 16, it was concentrated in the vicinity of Epoye, northeast of Rheims, and went into line on May 18–19 north of La Pompelle.

MONT HAUT.

3. In the middle of June it went into line in the Nauroy sector, between Cornillet and Mont Haut, and suffered the French attack of the 18th, which caused it heavy losses (especially in the 443d Infantry Regiment, where the 10th Company had only 1 officer and 10 men left). It was relieved about July 6.

4. After two weeks’ rest in the vicinity of Rethel the division was sent into line at Bermericourt on July 21.

RECRUITING.

The 231st Division was recruited from the entire extent of Prussian territory, the same as the Guard from whose depots it was formed.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

At the time of the formation of the 231st Division 40 per cent of the men were of the 1918 class. In consequence of replacements, the proportion of the men of this class appeared to be 50 per cent in November, 1917.

The 231st Division opposed an honorable resistance to the French assault of June 18, 1917, at Le Cornillet.

However, taking into consideration that it has never given proof of offensive qualities, it seems impossible to class it among the good divisions.

1918.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. Early in February the 231st Division was relieved by the 213th Division and went to the Givet-Namur area for training in open warfare.

PICARDY.

2. On the 21st of March it was in support behind the 45th Reserve Division. Two days later it attacked southwest of Ham in the direction of Esmery-Hallon, suffering heavy losses. It was in reserve near Roye on the 28th. Early in April it was resting near Laon, and later in the month it moved to the Marle area, where it was reconstituted.

AISNE.

3. It then relieved the 3d Reserve Division in the Bouconville sector (southeast of Laon) early in May. On the 27th other divisions attacked through its sector, the 231st following up in reserve via Fismes and Fère en Tardenois. It became engaged on the 30th near Beuvardes and advanced through Verdilly to Château Thierry; relieved by the 201st Division about the 16th of June. It refitted in the Laon region, entrained at Sissonne, and traveled via Asfeld to Dun sur Meuse.

VERDUN.

4. About the 1st of July it relieved the Bavarian Ersatz Division in the Avocourt sector (northwest of Verdun). It was relieved by the 37th Division on the 7th of August.

PICARDY.

5. The division traveled via Sedan-Laon-Chauny and reenforced the front near Appilly (east of Noyon). In the fighting that followed the division was forced to withdraw through Lagny, Champagne, Villeselve, Artemps, Mont d’Origny, and Hauteville. It was withdrawn about the 20th of October.

6. After having rested about a week it came back into line west of Guise about the 28th. Again it fell back, being identified east of Guise and southeast of Etreux. It was still in line on the 11th of November.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division did not distinguish itself during the battle of the Somme, but, on the other hand, it did not do badly, for soon afterwards the division commander was granted “Pour le Mérite.” After the Aisne offensive the brigade commander also received it. The division was mentioned in the German official communiqués of September 4 and October 31. Its losses necessitated the reduction of the battalions to three companies but did not lower the morale to any great extent. It should be considered as a good second-class division.

232d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │232. │445. │232. │445. │ │446. │ │446. │ │447. │ │447. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt. │4 Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │37 F. A. Rgt. │232 Art. Command: │ │ 37 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 776 Light Am. Col. │ │ 981 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1093 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(232) Pion Btn.: │232 Pion Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 355 Pion Co. │ 346 Pion. Co. │ 356 Pion Co. │ 356 Pion. Co. │ 419 T. M. Co. │ 419 T. M. Co. │ 232 Tel. Detch. │ 119 Searchlight Section. │ │232 Signal Command: │ │ 232 Tel. Detch. │ │ 162 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │244 Ambulance Co. │244 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │185 Field Hospital. │185 Field Hospital. │186 Field Hospital. │186 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │267 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │642 M. T. Col. │642 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(445th Infantry Regiment: 1st Corps District—East Prussia. 446th and 447th Infantry Regiments: 20th Corps District—Eastern section of West Prussia.)

1917.

The 232d Division belonged to the series of divisions 231 to 242, formed in January, 1917, by drafts upon the depots (1918 class) and upon the front. It was recruited principally from the 1st and 20th Corps Districts (East Prussia).

After its formation the division was sent for training to the Arys Camp and then, on April 3, 1917, to the Eastern Front.

COURLAND.

1. On April 6 the 232d Division went into line in the vicinity of Illukst; it remained there until July.

SMORGONI.

2. Relieved by the 2d Division, coming from Flanders on July 7, it entrained on the 9th, was transferred by railroad to Soly on July 11, and from there went to the sector of Smorgoni-Krevo, where it suffered the Russian attack of July 22.

GALICIA.

3. On July 31 the 232d Division left the Smorgoni front for Galicia. It went into line northeast of Tarnapol, west of Zbaraz. It was identified there on December 25 (fraternization with the Russians). It was during this rest period, in November and December, that the division received its first reenforcements of the 1919 class, which it later took to France.

RECRUITING.

The 232d Division was recruited from East and West Prussia, with a certain number of Alsace-Lorrainers.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Having always occupied the Eastern Front from its formation (beginning of 1917) until March, 1918, the 232d Division was of mediocre combat value (April, 1918).

In the 445th Infantry Regiment the majority of men were very young; many belonged to the 1919 class (April, 1918). (Interrogation of prisoner.)

In the 2d Company of the 1st Battalion of the 447th Infantry Regiment, one-third belonged to the 1919 class (May, 1918). (Interrogation of prisoner.)

1918.

1. The division held the sector west of Vaudesincourt until about May 10, when it went to rest in the Juniville-Neuflize area. While there the division was trained for mobile warfare.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

2. On May 22 the division left the region of Juniville and moved in three marches to Lor and Le Thour (north of Asfeld). On May 26 the division left Lor and advanced toward the battle front, following the 86th Division. It passed the former French first line near Juvincourt, arrived near Treslon-Bouleuse on May 29, and on the 30th was engaged to the right of the 86th Division, near Sarey, where it relieved the troops of the 7th Reserve Division.

3. After that date the division was in the sector on the west bank of the Ardre near Chambrecy. The division losses were small during the first three days of the offensive, but later it suffered seriously, especially in its unsuccessful attack on Bligny on June 4. The division was relieved on the 18th by the 123d Division.

4. It marched by stages to Asfeld and was railed to Montmedy. On the night of June 28–29 it relieved the 19th Ersatz Division in the Beaumont sector. It held the quiet sector until August 18, when it was withdrawn. On the night of August 26–27 the division entrained and traveled via Montmedy-Sedan-Charleville-Revin-Charleroi-Mons-Valenciennes-Cambrai, detraining near Etricourt and Manancourt on August 28 after a journey of 28 hours.

BAPAUME.

5. The division was engaged in the Bapaume area (Le Forest, Bouchavesnes, Moislains) on August 29. It lost 1,500 prisoners before it was withdrawn on September 9.

6. It rested in the Le Cateau area until September 21, when it reenforced the battle front northwest of Hargicourt. After four days it was relieved by the 54th Division and rested near La Capelle. It had been there but 10 days when it was hurried to the Oise front by motor trucks.

7. On October 6 it was engaged at Lesdins, with the exception of the 447th Regiment, which remained at rest at Pont a Bucy and joined the division later. It continued in line until about the end of the month, when it retired from the Villers le Sec vicinity. It was considered in reserve of the German 18th Army at the time of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as 4th class. By October its morale was very low and its combat value small. On October 25 the division had but 850 infantrymen, 300 machine gunners, and 120 trench mortar effectives. After August there were but three companies to a battalion and but two battalions to the 446th Regiment in October. Influenced by Bolshevists, elements of the division refused to go into action in October.

233d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[39] ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │243. │448. │243. │448. │ │449. │ │449. │ │450. │ │450. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │ │3 Sqn. 9 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │81 F. A. Rgt. │233 Art. Command: │ │ 81 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(233) Pion. Btn.: │233 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 357 Pion. Co. │ 357 Pion. Co. │ 358 Pion. Co. │ 358 Pion. Co. │ 420 T. M. Co. │ 420 T. M. Co. │ 233 Tel. Detch. │ 233 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │245 Ambulance Co. │245 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │187 Field Hospital. │187 Field Hospital. │188 Field Hospital. │188 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │268 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │880 M. T. Col. │643 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

Footnote 39:

Composition at the time of dissolution, September, 1918.

HISTORY.

(448th and 449th Infantry Regiments: 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 450th Infantry Regiment: 17th Corps District—West Prussia.)

1917.

The 233d Division, formed at the Hammerstein Camp in January, 1917, recruited its infantry (448th, 449th, 450th Regiments) from the 2d and 17th Corps Districts. It then contained 40 per cent of the 1918 class and 40 per cent returned wounded.

1. After six weeks in training at Hammerstein, the 233d Division was transferred to Beverloo, where it continued its training from the end of February to the beginning of April.

2. About April 10 it occupied a calm sector between La Fère and Alaincourt.

FLANDERS.

3. On May 16 it left the Oise front and went to Flanders. Sent into line at Ypres, on both sides of the Ypres-Roulers road (May 19–20), the division had very heavy losses in this sector toward the end of July, during the artillery preparation which preceded the British attack of the 31st. “In the course of the nine weeks passed in Flanders the 450th Infantry Regiment lost 900 men, more than half of whom were killed.” (Letter of Aug. 6.)

4. Relieved on the eve of the attack, the 233d Division was brought back by railroad into the Guise area and sent to rest for two weeks.

5. From the middle of August until September 28 it occupied the sector of St. Quentin (Gauchy), after having pillaged the city the same as several other divisions.

FLANDERS.

6. On October 2 it entrained for Flanders and was sent by way of Origny, Le Cateau, Maubeuge, Mons, Ath, Ghent, Deynze. From October 5 to 12 it was engaged southeast of Sonnebeke and lost very heavily during the British attacks of October 6 and 9.

LORRAINE.

7. The division was withdrawn from the Ypres front on October 12, sent to rest for four days at Sottegem, then sent to Lorraine by way of Brussels, Namur, Hirson, Charleville, Sedan, Metz. Detraining at Sarreburg, it rested from the 20th to the 29th, then went into line south of Blamont.

RECRUITING.

The 233d Division was recruited from Pomerania and West Prussia, with a certain admixture from the neighboring Provinces (3d and 5th Corps Districts).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

A German official document of June 12, 1917, gives the following appreciation of the troops of the 233d Division engaged at that moment in the Ypres sector: “These men are too young to be able to furnish prolonged resistance and to have great endurance in a critical situation. Nevertheless, their conduct is generally good. One cannot say that this organization is in a good condition; it is not suited for trench warfare.” (Report from the 2d Battalion of the 450th Regiment.)

It is to be noticed, however, that the 233d Division was left in line northeast of Ypres until July 29.

Since that time the division took part in numerous battles and improved.

It contained a certain number of Poles and some Alsatians.

From January 20 to February 24, 1918, it received special training for the warfare of movement, in the vicinity of Zabern-Haguenau.

It was a fairly good division.

1918.

KEMMEL.

1. The division was railed to Flanders in the middle of April and detrained at Zarren (southwest of Thourout). It marched toward the front south of Ypres through Ardoye, Tourcoing. It was engaged on April 25 at Mount Kemmel and took part in the heavy fighting there until May 3. Its losses were heavy in this engagement.

2. The division rested near Sottegem in Belgium until May 19. It was then transferred to Peronne. During June a regiment of the division came into line southwest of Morlancourt for a short period and reenforced the 54th Division. The rest of the division rested at Caudry, Bretigny, Morcourt until July 6.

THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

3. It was engaged on that date north and south of Alvert, where it was still in line at the time of the British attack of August 22. It was thrown back on Fricourt, La Boisselle, Bazentin le Grand, Montauban, where it was relieved on August 30, after losing 1,422 prisoners.

4. Following the heavy losses in August the division was dissolved. The 448th Regiment was transferred to the 107th Division, replacing the 227th Reserve Regiment, dissolved. The 405th Regiment replaced the 22d Reserve Regiment, dissolved in the 117th Division; while the men of the 449th Regiment were allotted to the 448th and 450th Regiments.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class.

234th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │234. │451. │234. │451. │ │452. │ │452. │ │453. │ │453. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 13 Dragoon Rgt. │1 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │234 Art. Command: │ 4 F. A. Rgt. │ 4 F. A. Rgt. │ │3 Abt. 21 Ft. A. Rgt. (7 │ │ and 9 Btries.). │ │841 Light Am. Col. │ │847 Light Am. Col. │ │1340 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(234) Pion. Btn.: │234 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 359 Pion. Co. │ 359 Pion. Co. │ 360 Pion. Co. │ 360 Pion. Co. │ 429 T. M. Co. │ 201 Searchlight Section. │ 234 Tel. Detch. │234 Signal Command: │ │ 234 Tel. Detch. │ │ 126 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │246 Ambulance Co. │246 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │189 Field Hospital. │189 Field Hospital. │190 Field Hospital. │190 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │269 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │644 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(451st and 452d Infantry Regiments: 3d Corps District—453d Infantry Regiment: 4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony.)

1917.

The 234th Division was formed on January 6, 1917, at the camp of Altengrabow. Its infantry regiments were recruited from the 3d and 4th Corps Districts (Berlin-Magdeburg) and were composed of men of the 1918 class (50 per cent) and of returned wounded and men withdrawn from the front (50 per cent).

ST. QUENTIN.

1. After three months’ training at Altengrabow, the 234th Division entrained, on March 28, for the Western Front. Going by way of Magdeburg-Aix la Chapelle-Liége-Brussels-Mons, it detrained on March 30–31 at Le Cateau, from which place it marched to the sector of Fayet, northwest of St. Quentin (on the Hindenburg Line) on April 8.

On April 14 the division was attacked by British troops and lost heavily (451st Infantry Regiment, 400 prisoners). This regiment again suffered seriously in the course of violent battles with the French east of Fayet, August 9 to 11.

YPRES.

2. About September 1 the 234th Division was relieved northwest of St. Quentin and sent to Roulers, by way of Bohain, Le Cateau, Denain, Lille, Courtrai, and Menin. In reserve first near Hooglede, on the Ypres front at the time of the British attack, it counterattacked on September 20, northeast of St. Julien. On September 23–24 it again went into reserve and after the British attack of the 26th sent some of its elements into action southeast of Zonnebeke on September 27.

3. Exhausted by these battles the division left the Ypres front for the Lille area. It had lost about one-half of its effectives.

LA BASSÉE.

4. It went into line north of La Bassée Canal on October 7, remained there six weeks, and about November 24 went to the Cambrai area.

ARTOIS.

5. On December 7 it took over the sector north of Bullecourt.

RECRUITING.

The 234th Division was recruited from Brandenburg and Prussian Saxony.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 234th Division lost very heavily at Ypres in September, 1917; these losses had some effect upon its morale. At all events, it acquired a certain combat experience in the course of these engagements.

The 451st Infantry Regiment seemed to be considered the best one in the division by the German High Command.

In the 453d Infantry Regiment, September, 1917, many officers belonged to the Reserve and to the Landwehr; some of these, during the war, were retired for inefficiency (document).

1918.

PICARDY.

1. The 234th Division remained in the Bullecourt sector until relieved by the 111th Division on the 8th of February, when it went to rest in the Douai area.

2. About the end of the month it relieved the 111th Division. On the opening of the Somme offensive on the 21st of March, although not engaged in the initial attack, the division was severely engaged in the fighting around Croisilles, and on the 31st some of its elements carried out a costly and unsuccessful attack against Boisleux-St. Mare. It was relieved about the 7th of April by the 231st Division.

3. The division rested a fortnight and then relieved the 111th Division in the Ayette sector on the 20th. During the night of the 24th–25th of May it was relieved by the 17th Division.

4. About June 21 it relieved the 17th Division. When the British attacked on the 21st of August, the division was thrown back upon Hamelincourt with heavy losses (including 1,585 prisoners). It was withdrawn on the 24th to the Douai region.

5. On the 22d of September it reenforced the front in the Gavrelle sector, being withdrawn a few days later.

6. On the 30th it came into line north of Cambrai in the Tilloy sector. Withdrawn about the 15th of October.

7. On the 18th it reenforced the front near Raches (northeast of Douai). It was relieved by the 35th Division about the 10th of November.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 234th was rated a third-class division. In the fighting around Arras in the spring it acquitted itself fairly well, and its commanding general received the “Pour le Mérite.” Its conduct during the rest of the year was mediocre.

235th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[40] ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │235. │454. │235. │454. │ │455. │ │455. │ │456. │ │456. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 9 Dragoon Rgt. │5 Sqn. 9 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │235 Art. Command: │235 Art. Command: │ 6 F. A. Rgt. │ 6 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│235 Pion. Btn.: │235 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 361 Pion. Co. │ 361 Pion. Co. │ 362 Pion. Co. │ 362 Pion. Co. │ 435 T. M. Co. │ 435 T. M. Co. │ 235 Tel. Detch. │ 235 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │247 Ambulance Co. │247 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │191 Field Hospital. │191 Field Hospital. │192 Field Hospital. │192 Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │961 M. T. Col. │645 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

Footnote 40:

Composition at the time of dissolution, August, 1918.

HISTORY.

(454th and 455th Infantry Regiments: 5th Corps District—Posen. 456th Infantry Regiment: 6th Corps District—Silesia.)

1917.

The 235th Division was formed in January, 1917, in the camps of the Warta and of Neuhammer, with elements from the 5th and 6th Corps District. Its regiments were made up mostly of men from the 1918 class (50 per cent) and the remainder from returned sick and wounded and men withdrawn from the front (initial strength, 230 to 235 men per company).

1. After six weeks of intensive training, the 235th Division was concentrated at Posen and sent to the Western Front on February 20, by way of Dresden-Aschaffenburg-Frankfort-Aix la Chappelle-Namur. It passed a new period of training in the Sissonne Camp, and on March 15 was sent to the St. Quentin area.

ST. QUENTIN.

2. At the beginning of April it went into line in the Itancourt sector. Its losses were enormous, principally from the attack of April 13, which necessitated replacements of 2,216 men during the following weeks.

3. Relieved at the beginning of July, it was sent to rest east of St. Quentin (Fontaine Notre Dame).

YPRES.

4. On July 25 it entrained at Guise for Belgium. Concentrated in the vicinity of Iseghem-Roulers, it went to the Ypres front on July 28–31, east of Wieltje, received the artillery preparation and the British attack of the 31st, which caused it very heavy losses. The 454th Infantry Regiment had very heavy losses (4th Company was reduced to 31 men) and was filled up hastily from the resources of the large depot at Beverloo (about 60 men per company).

5. The 235th Division was withdrawn from the front on August 1 and spent a week at rest in Flanders.

6. In the course of August it was transferred to Laonnois, in the vicinity of Montcornet.

AISNE.

7. About September 10 it took over the sector of Juvincourt-Corbeny, where the French attack of November 21 again occasioned it serious losses (400 prisoners). A prisoner of the 456th Infantry Regiment declared that in this company not more than one-fourth of the men were left who composed it in January.

RECRUITING.

The 235th Division was recruited from the Provinces of Posen and of Silesia; consequently, contained a large number of Poles.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 235th Division appeared to have only mediocre offense value.

Following the battle of November 21, 1917, in the Juvincourt sector, the commander of the 456th Infantry Regiment and the commander of the 2d Battalion of the same regiment were relieved in disgrace.

The division received training in the warfare of movement during January and February, 1918.

1918.

1. The division entrained at Sierentz (Alsace) April 4–5 and traveled via Mulhausen, Strasbourg, Treves, Cologne, Lille, Brussels, and Ghent. It detrained at St. Andre, north of Lille, on the 8th–9th and rested in that vicinity until the 22d.

FLANDERS.

2. It entered line east of Robecq on the night of April 22–23 and remained in that sector until May 11. During this engagement the division lost very heavily.

3. The division entrained at Lille on the 12th and was railed via Ghent, Brussels, Namur, Charleville, and Sedan. It detrained north of Briey on the 14th.

WOEVRE.

4. It was engaged on the heights of the Meuse (Vaux les Palameix-Bois des Chevaliers) from May 24–25 to August 8. It was withdrawn from north of St. Mihiel on the 8th and dissolved at Conflans.

5. The 545th Regiment was drafted to the 10th Division. The 11th Division and 82d Reserve Division received elements of the 456th Regiment.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its only active service in 1918 was near Armentieres, for which the division was commended by the Kaiser in his order dissolving the division.

236th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │236. │457. │236. │457. │ │458. │ │458. │ │459. │ │459. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt. │4 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │7 F. A. Rgt. │7 F. A. Rgt. │ │3 Abt. 16 Ft. A. Rgt. (11 │ │ and 13 Btries.) │ │956 Light Am. Col. │ │1337 Light Am. Col. │ │1343 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│363 Pion. Btn.: │363 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 363 Pion. Co. │ 363 Pion. Co. │ 364 Pion. Co. │ 364 Pion. Co. │ 436 T. M. Co. │ 436 T. M. Co. │ 236 Tel. Detch. │ 202 Searchlight Section. │ │236 Signal Command: │ │ 236 Tel. Detch. │ │ 125 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │248 Ambulance Co. │248 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │193 Field Hospital. │193 Field Hospital. │194 Field Hospital. │194 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col │ ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(457th and 458th Infantry Regiments; 7th Corps District—Westphalia. 459th Infantry; Regiment; 16th Corps District—Lorraine.)

1917.

The 236th Division was formed at the Senne Camp at the end of December, 1916 and the beginning of January, 1917. Recruited from the 7th and 16th Corps Districts its regiments were composed of men belonging to the 1918 class (40 per cent) and of returned wounded.

CAMBRESIS.

1. The 236th Division entrained at the Senne and Paderborn Camps on April 11 1917, and went to Cambrai by way of Dusseldorf-Aix la Chapelle- Liége-Namur-Charleroi-Valenciennes. Detraining at Caudry on April 13, it went into line southwest of Cambrai (Trestault-Gouzeaucourt) on the 18th. On April 24 it was attacked by British troops, lost the village of Villers Plouich, and suffered heavily (340 prisoners).

2. On May 9 it was sent to rest in the vicinity of Cambrai.

ARTOIS.

3. It then occupied the sector of Cherisy (southeast of Arras) from June 4 to September 2, and did not go into any serious action during this period.

FLANDERS.

4. The division left Artois at the beginning of September, was sent to rest at Courtrai until the 17th, went to Iseghem by railroad, then marched to Roulers. Until September 20 it remained in reserve as a counterattacking division. Between the 20th and 26th, it was in a violent battle east of Ypres, toward the Polygon wood and between this wood and Zonnebeke to oppose the British advance. Before going into line, on September 20, the 2d Battalion of the 459th Infantry Regiment, had lost more than 200 men from artillery fire; on the 22d, the 8th Company had only 15 men left.

5. Withdrawn from the Flanders front, during the night of September 28–29, the 236th Division was sent to rest in the vicinity of Douai.

ARTOIS.

6. On October 6 it went into line north of the Scarpe, between the Roeux and the Gavrelle; it enlarged its sector toward the north at the beginning of November. It was filled up by replacements taken from the Russian front; 400 men coming from the 32d Landwehr Regiment (197th Division) arrived in November.

RECRUITING.

The 236th Division was recruited from Westphalia and the Rhine Province.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 236th Division had serious losses while fighting at Ypres and its morale was weakened in consequence. It may be considered a mediocre division (February, 1918).

According to a deserter’s statement (Jan. 23, 1918), the 236th Division was a shock division in 1917.

1918.

1. The division was engaged from March 21 to April 3. On the March Somme offensive, first at Cherizy, later at Heninel. It was relieved south of Arras on the night of April 3–4 and moved to Passchendaele by way of Aubigny au Bac, Iseghem, and Meulebeke.

YPRES.

2. It entered line at Passchendaele on April 6 and held a sector in this vicinity until June 22, when it was relieved by the 31st Division. The division rested during July at Deynze. It again held the sector southwest of Ypres from August 10 to September 13.

LORRAINE.

3. The division moved from Flanders by way of Tourcoing-Brussels- Liége—Aachen-Cologne-Bonn-Bingen-Coblenz-Kreuznach to Strasburg. It did not detrain there, but was suddenly ordered to Metz, where it arrived on September 24 in the afternoon. It marched to Loringen, stayed one night and marched to Mars la Tour on September 26. The next morning it marched to Jarny and entrained there, going to Dun sur Meuse (via Longuyon and Montmedy). From Dun it marched through Doulcon to Villers, then to Cunel, and then forward into position.

4. The division was heavily engaged from September 29 to its retirement on October 17. It distinguished itself particularly, fighting stubbornly and successfully for many days in succession. It lost only 413 prisoners but its casualties were very heavy, estimated at 3,000. On November 4 the division was reengaged south of Beaumont and continued in line until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Apart from the fighting on the Meuse, the division did not do anything notable.

237th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │244. │460. │244. │460. │ │461. │ │461. │ │462. │ │462. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 13 Uhlan Rgt. │4 Sqn. 13 Uhlan Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │83 F. A. Rgt. │83 F. A. Rgt. │ │3 Abt. 23 Ft. A. Rgt. (7 │ │ and 9 Btries.). │ │783 Light Am. Col. │ │1013 Light Am. Col. │ │1057 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(237) Pion. Btn.: │237 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 365 Pion. Co. │ 365 Pion. Co. │ 366 Pion. Co. │ 360 Pion. Co. │ (437) T. M. Co. │ 124 Searchlight Section. │ 237 Tel. Detch. │237 Signal Command: │ │ 237 Tel. Detch. │ │ 25 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │249 Ambulance Co. │249 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │195 Field Hospital. │195 Field Hospital. │196 Field Hospital. │196 Field Hospital. │272 Vet. Hospital. │198 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │551 M. T. Col. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Attached. │4 Landst. Pion. Co. (10 C. │ │ Dist.). │ ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(8th and 21st Corps Districts—Rhine Province and Lorraine.)

1917.

The 237th Division was formed in January, 1917, at the Elsenborn Camp (one-half men of the 1918 class; the rest, returned sick and wounded and men taken from the front).

RUSSIA.

1. Detraining in Russia in the vicinity of Baranovitchi in March, 1917, the 237th Division went into line south of Vichnev, on the Little Berezina, about the beginning of April.

GALICIA.

2. Relieved on June 25, it was transferred to Galicia by way of Brest- Litowsk. On July 7 it was sent into line in the vicinity of Konioukhi.

3. It was engaged on July 21 northwest of Zbrow, and pursued the Russians by way of Trembowla (July 26) as far as Husiatin, where the front became stabilized. The division continued to occupy various sectors in this area until the end of 1917. It was identified south of Husiatin on December 12 (fraternization).

RECRUITING.

The 237th Division was recruited principally from the Rhine District.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 237th Division occupied the Russian front from its formation until the beginning of January, 1917.

Its combat value was mediocre.

1918.

1. On the 4th of January the division was relieved by Austrian troops and marched by easy stages to Buckas, in the direction of Lemberg. On March 4 it entrained between Brody and Lemberg and traveled via Lemberg- Brest-Litowsk-Warsaw-Kalisz-Goerlitz-Leipzig-Frankfort on the Main- Thionville-Sedan, detraining at St. Juvin on the 12th. It went into cantonments at St. Georges.

ARGONNE.

2. During the night of the 14th–15th it relieved the 80th Reserve Division west of Avocourt. While here it exchanged its Alsace-Lorrainers for more trustworthy men of the 9th Landwehr Division. It was withdrawn about the middle of May.

AISNE.

3. On the 26th and 27th the division entrained at Grandpre and St. Juvin, went through Sedan and Charleville and detrained at Bucy les Pierrepont (north of Sissonne) on the 27th and 28th. The division then marched via Sissonne—the Plateau de Californie-Fismes-Dravegny-Monthiers (northwest of Château Thierry). On the 1st of June it attacked in the Belleau wood, as a result of which it suffered heavy losses. It was withdrawn about the 22d.

ARGONNE.

4. The division entrained at Athies (east of Laon) and detrained near St. Juvin on the 30th. The division remained here a few days and then relieved the 240th Division in the Vauquois sector. While in line here the division received more than 2,000 replacements. It was withdrawn on August 14.

AILETTE.

5. It entrained at St. Juvin and went to St. Quentin and Ham; then it went by truck to the Coucy wood, and then to St. Paul aux Bois (south of Chauny). On the 21st it reenforced the 1st Bavarian and the 222d Divisions near St. Aubin. It was withdrawn early in September, after having fallen back upon Coucy le Château. It rested then for a fortnight in the St. Gobain forest.

SERRE-OISE.

6. On the 25th of September it relieved the 34th Division in the Servais sector (south of La Fère). The division remained in line until the end of the war, falling back through Deuillet-Anguilcourt-La Ferté—Chevresis-Villers le Sec to the La Capelle region, and suffering very heavy losses.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 237th was rated a fourth-class division. While it was in line in the Argonne in the spring the men (encouraged by their officers) fraternized with the French troops opposing them. Its morale was influenced to a most surprising extent by the measure of success of the German forces. The result was that while it was high in the spring it became low as soon as the tide turned. On August 22, while the division was in line on the Ailette, 80 men, armed and with ammunition, surrendered to 4 French soldiers. In this engagement (about 10 days) more than 900 prisoners were lost. While the division was in line the last time it lost over 1,000 prisoners. At the end of October the division had only about 800 rifles.

238th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │238. │463. │238. │463. │ │464. │ │464. │ │465. │ │465. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt. │2 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │238 Art. Command: │238 Art. Command: │ 62 F. A. Rgt. │ 62 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 53 Ft. A. Rgt. (Staff and │ │ 1, 2, and 4 Btries.). │ │ 944 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1211 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1233 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│238 Pion. Btn.: │238 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 367 Pion. Co. │ 367 Pion. Co. │ 438 T. M. Co. │ 368 Pion. Co. │ 238 Tel. Detch. │ 205 Searchlight Section. │ 368 Pion. Co. │238 Signal Command: │ │ 238 Tel. Detch. │ │ 30 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │250 Ambulance Co. │250 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │197 Field Hospital. │197 Field Hospital. │198 Field Hospital. │198 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │273 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │648 M. T. Col. │648 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(463d Infantry Regiment: 9th Corps District—Hanseatic cities. 464th Infantry Regiment: 9th Corps District—Schleswig—Holstein and Mecklemburg. 465th Infantry Regiment: 10th Corps District—Hanover.)

1917.

The 238th Division was formed at the beginning of January, 1917, at the Lockstedt Camp, near Hamburg. Its infantry regiments were recruited from the 9th Corps District (Schleswig-Holstein, Hanseatic cities, and Mecklemburg) and from the 10th Corps District (Hanover), and were composed in part (50 per cent) of men of the 1918 class.

1. After a training of almost three months, the 238th Division entrained at Lockstedt, on April 13, 1917, by way of Hamburg, Trèves, Sedan, Namur, Cambrai; it went to Caudry and Bertry (north), where it detrained on the 16th.

HINDENBURG LINE.

2. On April 20 it went into line in the sector of Vendhuille-Bellicourt, which it left on May 20 to go to rest in the vicinity of Douai (until May 28).

ARTOIS.

3. At the end of May it took over the sector of Roeux-Gavrelle, north of the Scarpe. It remained on this part of the front until September 27 and was not in any serious engagement. On June 6, however, the 463d Infantry Regiment suffered heavy losses in its 3d Battalion, which the two others hastily filled up (letter of June 10), and left 170 prisoners.

FLANDERS.

4. Sent to Flanders, the division remained at rest for a few days at Roulers, then in reserve in the vicinity of West-Roosebeke. On October 13 it went into line southwest of Passchendaele. Having suffered heavily from the British attack of October 30, it was hastily relieved on the 31st.

ST. QUENTIN.

5. It entrained on November 6 at Ledeghem. Detraining at Geise, it went to Macquigny, and after a few days of rest occupied the sector south of St. Quentin-Itancourt (Nov. 11–12).

RECRUITING.

The 238th Division was recruited the same as the 111th Division, from Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklemburg, the Hanseatic cities, and Hanover.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 238th Division was of mediocre value, but better than the majority of the divisions of this series.

The large proportion of young recruits in the ranks of the 238th Division gave rise to the nickname “The Division of the First Communicants.”

1918.

1. The division rested and underwent training in the vicinity of Origny- St. Benoite from the 1st of February to March 19. It was brought up to the front south of St. Quentin during the night of March 19–20.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. On the 21st the division attacked at Grugies and in two days advanced by Grand-Serancourt and across the canal near St. Simon. From the 23d to the 29th it advanced in reserve by Libermont-Beaulieu les Fontaines- Beuvraignes. It was reengaged on the 29th at Rollot and Boulogne la Grasse until mid-April. The division suffered heavy casualties in the Somme battle.

RHEIMS.

3. The division was engaged southeast of Rheims (Cernay les Rheims, northeast of St. Leonard) from April 18 to July 20. It carried out a local attack on Rheims on May 30 and June 1. The division did not take part in the offensive of July 15 except by artillery activity.

4. The division rested at Boult sur Suippe from July 20 to 28. From the end of July to August 20 it held its former sector at Cernay les Rheims. Relieved in that sector, it marched by stages toward Brancourt-Coucy le Chateau via Neufchatel sur Aisne, Marchais, Bruyeres (Aug. 21–28).

AISNE.

5. On August 31 the division was engaged at Leuilly-Terny. After September 10 it fought in the vicinity of Quincy-Basse-Aulers until October 12. On that date it retired toward Crepy and withdrew from line. The division started for Marle to rest but was alerted on the 14th and taken in trucks to east of Mart d’Origny. On the 15th it was again in the first line. Two of the regiments had but two battalions and the infantry effectives totaled 1,800. The period between the 18th and 24th of October was relatively quiet on the divisional sector. Following French attacks of October 25 and 26, the division fell back on a prepared position in front of Guise. Here it held until November 5, when it began a retreat by Audigny in the direction of La Capelle.

The last identification was at Buironfosse on November 6.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its morale was mediocre, and its effectives few during the latter half of 1918.

239th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │239. │466. │239. │466. │ │467. │ │467. │ │468. │ │468. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 9 Drag. Rgt. │4 Sqn. 9 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │55 F. A. Rgt. │ 55 F. A. Rgt. │78 Ft. A. Btn. │ │909 Light Am. Col. │ │1239 Light Am. Col. │ │1293 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(239) Pion. Btn.: │239 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 369 Pion. Co. │ 369 Pion. Co. │ 370 Pion. Co. │ 370 Pion. Co. │ 439 T. M. Co. │ 439 T. M. Co. │ 239 Tel. Detch. │ 89 Searchlight Section. │ │ 237 Searchlight Section. │ │239 Signal Command: │ │ 239 Tel. Detch. │ │ 11 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │251 Ambulance Co. │251 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │199 Field Hospital. │199 Field Hospital. │200 Field Hospital. │200 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │239 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │649 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(466th Infantry Regiment: 11th Corps District—Electorate of Hesse. 407th Infantry Regiment: 11th Corps District—Thuringia. 468th Infantry Regiment: 18th Corps District—Hesse—Nassau.)

1917.

The 239th Division belonged to the series of 12 divisions (231st to 242d) formed in Germany at the beginning of 1917, a strong proportion (50 per cent) of the 1918 class. It includes the 466th, 467th, and 468th Infantry Regiments recruited from the 11th and 18th Corps Districts (Electorate of Hesse, Thuringia, and Hesse-Nassua, and the Grand Duchy of Hesse).

1. From the beginning of January, 1917, to the middle of February, the 239th Division was in the training camps Ohrdruf and of Darmstadt. It entrained on February 17 and went to Rethel. It continued its training for some time behind the Champagne front.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. The entire division went into line north of Souain (Somme Py) on March 27. It remained there until May 15 without any important engagement. One battalion of the 467th Infantry Regiment was sent to Auberive as a reenforcement at the time of the French attack on April 16.

3. The division was at rest in the vicinity of Machault and at Asfeld from the end of May to the beginning of June.

4. About June 10 it went into line northeast of Reims (Cernay sector), then at the beginning of August northeast of Courcy. It occupied this sector until October 6 without having any important battle.

FLANDERS.

5. Transferred to Flanders by way of Hirson and Courtrai, the 239th Division went into line northeast of Poelcappelle on October 23. It lost heavily during the British attack of November 26 and continued to hold this sector, alternating with the 3d Naval Division.

6. Relieved about November 24, the 239th Division was sent to rest northeast of Ghent, then to the vicinity of Lille, at the beginning of September.

RECRUITING.

The 466th Infantry Regiment came from the Electorate of Hesse; the 467th Regiment was called Thuringian in an official document; the 468th Regiment came from Hesse-Nassau.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 239th was a fairly good division.

Considering the missions which have been assigned to it by the German High Command, it seems that the 239th Division is better than most of the divisions of this series.

1918.

1. The division trained in the Bourghelles area until March 17. On that date the division marched toward the front via Bersee-Douai-Estrees- Soudemont-Villers les Cagnicourt-Noreuil-Mory.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. It came into line on the 26th north of Courcelles, attacking Ayette on the 27th. It lost heavily, including numerous prisoners on April 2. The division was relieved on April 6 and rested a week at Aubigny au Bac. It entrained on the 11th and moved to Libercourt.

HANDES.

3. The division was engaged from April 15 to 23 east of Robecq. Elements took part in the attack of the 18th, in which the losses were very heavy.

LORRAINE.

4. After its relief on the 23d the division was railed to Lorraine by Mons-Namur-Sedan-Montmedy-Metz. It rested and was reconstituted near Dieuze from the end of April to May 13. At this time the division was reenforced by a draft coming from the 233d Reserve Regiment of the dissolved 195th Division.

AVRICOURT.

5. The division held the quiet Avricourt sector from May 13 to June 20. It was relieved by the 7th Cavalry Division and railed to Champagne.

CHAMPAGNE.

6. It rested and trained in the vicinity of Rethel-Attigny. About the 10th of July it marched toward the front and on the 15th was engaged in the Champagne offensive at Vaudesincourt. After the attack it held the sector until the beginning of October.

7. The division was attacked at Mont sans Nom on September 26, and on October 4 fell back on the line Betheniville-Hauvine, and later in the direction of Rethel (Oct. 12). The division was in reserve during the middle of October. Toward the end of the month the division was reengaged near Rethel. Its line of retreat in the last weeks was through Le Quesnoy, Jolimetz, Bermeries, south of Bavai, where it was identified on November 8.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. In October the division was very tired and its morale was low. Numerous infractions of discipline occurred. Its battalions were reduced to three companies at the beginning of August.

240th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │240. │469. │240. │469. │ │470. │ │470. │ │471. │ │471. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │8 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt. │3 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │240 Art. Command: │ 271 F. A. Rgt. │ 271 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 3 Abt. 6 Res. Ft. A. Rgt. │ │ 1092 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1336 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1342 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(240) Pion Btn.: │240 Pion Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 371 Pion Co. │ 371 Pion. Co. │ 372 Pion Co. │ 372 Pion Co. │ 440 T. M. Co. │ 440 T. M. Co. │ 240 Tel. Detch. │ 203 Searchlight Section. │ │240 Signal Command: │ │ 240 Tel. Detch. │ │ 127 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │252 Ambulance Co. │252 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │204 Field Hospital. │204 Field Hospital. │205 Field Hospital. │205 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │240 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │1092 M. T. Col. │650 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(469th and 470th Infantry Regiments: 14th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Baden. 471st Infantry Regiment: 15th Corps District—Alsace.)

1917.

The 240th Division was recruited in the depots of the 14th Corps District (Baden). Like all the divisions of this series, the 240th Division received a large contingent from the 1918 class at the time of its formation.

ALSACE.

1. After a period of intensive training (Feb. 4 to Mar. 28) in the training camps of Oberhofen and of Heuberg, the 240th Division was sent to Mulhousen about the end of March and went into line between the Rhone-Rhine Canal and Hirzbach (south of Altkirch) until August 20.

WOEVRE.

2. About August 25 it was sent to the Woevre in the sector of Calonne trench, in September.

YPRES.

3. Entraining at Conflans (Oct. 5–6) it appeared in Flanders on the 9th. It went into action between the Ypres-Staden railroad and Poelcappelle and suffered heavy losses in the course of the British attacks of October 9 and 12.

CAMBRAI.

4. Relieved during the night of October 13–14, it was sent to Artois. On October 23 it took over the sector of Bullecourt (southeast of Arras). On November 20, it lost heavily from the British attack launched north of Bullecourt at the same time as on the Cambrai front (700 prisoners).

5. About the middle of December it was withdrawn from the front and sent to rest in the vicinity of Douai.

RECRUITING.

The 240th Division was recruited principally from Baden, some elements from the Rhine Districts.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 240th Division appeared to be of mediocre combat value.

1918.

LENS.

1. The division was in line in the sector Fresnoy-Oppy at the beginning of the Somme offensive. It took no part in the attack on Vimy Ridge of March 28, but remained in support. It was relieved in this sector on April 8.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

2. It moved northward and was engaged north of Bethune (Hinges-Robecq on April 14.) In two weeks’ fighting in this sector the division lost very heavily including many prisoners.

ARGONNE.

3. Withdrawn on April 27, the division rested at Lille a week. It entrained about May 8 for the Argonne and detrained at St. Juvin. Engaged at Boureuilles-Vauqunois on May 13 the division held that quiet sector until July 10.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. The division was taken to Semide and held in reserve during the offensive of the 15th to be used as an exploiting division. When the attack failed the division was directed west of Reims via Machault, Warmeriville, Brimont. It camped at Jonchery from July 21 to 23.

REIMS.

5. On the 23d the division was engaged in the Bois de Reims. After the 27th it retreated on the Montagnes de Bligny, and later toward Aubilly- Bouleuse. On August 5 it passed into second line, and was relieved 10 days later. It rested 5 days west of Chateau Porcien and returned to line in the Prunay sector on August 13. There it held firm until October 10.

6. After its relief it waited near Rethel until the 14th, when it was railed to Stenay via Sedan. On October 17 it was engaged north of St. Juvin, Champigneulle, east of the Argonne forest. It continued in line until the end, retreating toward Mouzon.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its effectives were greatly reduced and its morale low in October.

241st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │246. │472. │246. │472. │ │473. │ │473. │ │474. │ │474. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │(?) 5 Sqn. 18 Hus. Rgt. │2 Sqn. 18 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │48 F. A. Rgt. │241 Art. Command: │ │ 48 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 102 Ft. A. Btn. (Staff, 1, │ │ 2, and 3 Btries.). │ │ 1055, 1061, and 1062 Light │ │ Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(241) Pion. Btn.: │241 Pion. Btn. Liaisons. │ │ │ 373 Pion Co. │ 373 Pion. Co. │ 374 Pion. Co. │ 374 Pion. Co. │ (441) T. M. Co. │ 441 T. M. Co. │ 241 Tel. Detch. │ 5 Searchlight Section. │ │241 Signal Command: │ │ 241 Tel. Detch. │ │ 27 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │253 Ambulance Co. │253 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │206 Field Hospital. │206 Field Hospital. │207 Field Hospital. │207 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │274 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │651 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

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

1917.

The 241st Division was formed at the beginning of 1917 and composed of new regiments (type of divisions 231 and following).

The 473d and 574th Infantry Regiments were formed in the camp at Zeithain in January, 1917, by drafts from the 1918 class and the depots and regiments of the 19th Corps District (Saxony). The 472d Infantry Regiment was originally in the 12th Corps District (Dresden) formed in the same way.

RUSSIA.

1. On March 1, 1917, the 241st Division went to Brest-Litowsk. In April it took over the sector of Postavy in the vicinity of Lake Narotch, where it remained until the middle of June.

GALICIA.

2. Relieved by the 21st Division, it entrained on June 17 at Sventsiany, northwest of Lake Narotch, and went to Galicia, southwest of Brzezany, detraining on June 22. At the beginning of July, it went into line in this region and took part in the German counteroffensive at the end of July advancing south of Skala at the beginning of August. It took up a position on the Zbrucz.

3. After this time the 241st Division occupied various sectors of the Galician front (Koroskow, Husiatin).

RECRUITING.

The 241st Division was entirely Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

It was on the Eastern Front from the time of its formation until February, 1918. “Our new regiment is a gang of headstrong kids.” (Letter from a man of the 473d Infantry Regiment, Apr. 2, 1917.)

1918.

1. The division rested in the vicinity of Signy l’Abbaye until March 15. It then proceeded by steps toward the St. Gobain forest (Fressancourt, Mar. 24).

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. It was engaged south of the Oise (Amigny-Septvaux) from March 25–26 to April 5. Between the 6th and 9th it advanced from Septvaux and Fresnes toward Coucy, encountering heavy losses. The division received the thanks of the King of Saxony for its conduct in this fighting.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

3. The division held the sector of Coucy le Chateau until May 29. On the 29th it attacked and advanced as far as Crecy au Mont. It halted on the line Nouvron-Vingre and held there until relieved at the end of June. In the attack of June 5–6 toward Vic sur Aisne the division lost heavily. On the 23d of June it received a draft of 1,500 men.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

4. It rested near Coucy le Chateau for about a week, and on July 10 was engaged south of the Aisne between Ambleny and Pernaut. Then it was struck by the Allied attack on the 18th and thrown back on Mercin. The division lost 42 officers and 2,074 men as prisoners alone. It was relieved at a date between July 22 and 26.

SECOND BATTLE OF PICARDY.

5. The division rested and was reconstituted at Vouplaix, Sains Richaumont near Vervins until August 20. It was moved to La Fere (22d) and on the 25th engaged east of Noyon (Baboeuf-Appilly) and September 4. After that date it fell back gradually by Chauny, Fravecy, on Vendeuil, where it was relieved about September 20.

CAMBRAI-ST. QUENTIN.

6. After 10 days’ rest the division was reengaged north of St. Quentin (Romicourt-Montbrehain) from October 1 to 10. It lost about 1,900 prisoners in this engagement.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

7. The division rested nearly a month at Audun la Roman after October 22. The 7th Saxon Jaeger Regiment from the dissolved 197th Division had replaced the dissolved 472d Regiment when it appeared in line on November 5 east of the Meuse. The last identification was at Murvaux on November 7.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. Its heavy losses of prisoners indicate its poor quality.

242d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │242. │127. │242. │127. │ │475. │ │475. │ │476. │ │476. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │2 Sqn. Wurtt. Res. Drag. │2 Sqn. Wurtt. Res. Drag. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │242 Art. Command: │ 281 F. A. Regt. │ 281 F. A. Regt. │ │ 3 Abt. 13 Ft. A. Rgt. (9 │ │ and 10 Btries.). │ │ 751 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1091 Light Am. Col. │ │ 1105 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│39 Pion. Btn.: │242 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 375 Pion. Co. │ 375 Pion. Co. │ 376 Pion. Co. │ 376 Pion. Co. │ 442 T. M. Co. │ 442 T. M. Co. │ 242 Tel. Detch. │242 Signal Command: │ │ 76 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │32 Ambulance Co. │32 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │208 Field Hospital. │208 Field Hospital. │503 Field Hospital. │503 Field Hospital. │275 Vet. Hospital. │275 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport │M. T. Col. │652 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Attached │ │78 M. G. S. S. Detch. │ │14 Art. Observation │ │ Section. │ │221 Reconnaissance Flight. │ │17 Balloon Sqn. │ │243 Carrier Pigeon Loft. │ │Elements attached, June 7, │ │ 1918. (German document.) ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(13th Corps District—Wurttemberg.)

1917.

The 242d Division was formed at the end of 1916. Like all of the divisions of the same series, the 1918 class entered largely into the composition of the regiments (475th and 476th). These two were recruited from the 13th Corps District (Wurttemberg). Initial effectiveness, 235 to 240 men per company.

The 127th Infantry Regiment is an active peace-time regiment taken from the 27th Division.

1. On March 11, 1917, the 475th and 476th Infantry Regiments left the camp of Muensingen, where they had received training since January, and went to Lorraine. They were joined there by the 127th Infantry Regiment.

LORRAINE.

2. From March 29 to April 30 the 242d Division was in line between Abaucourt and Bezange wood.

3. From May 4 to 15 it was employed upon defensive works north of the Suippe.

CHAMPAGNE-CORNILLET.

4. During the night of May 15–16 it went into line south of Nauroy (Grille-Cornillet wood), where the French attack of May 20 caused it heavy losses (3 officers and 194 men prisoners). Several companies of the 476th Infantry Regiment remained in the Cornillet tunnel.

5. The 242d Division was relieved during the night of May 31-June 1, and after a few days’ rest northeast of Lavannes went into line in a calm sector near Betheny from June 3–4 until August 6.

6. The 242d Division was at rest in the Charleville area from August 7 to 20.

MEUSE.

7. On August 20 it was transferred to the right bank of the Meuse (Beaumont sector). It received the French attack of August 26 (7 officers and 390 men prisoners, mostly from the 475th Infantry Regiment). It counterattacked to relieve Beaumont and remained in line until September 10.

AISNE.

8. From the beginning of October until December 16 it held the sector of Berry au Bac, where its only activity consisted in one raid on November 12.

RECRUITING.

The 242d Division was recruited entirely from Wurttemberg.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In Champagne the 242d Division showed itself energetic and tenacious (May, 1917).

It was a good division, with a high morale, and the prisoners talked very little (December, 1917).

The 242d Division was listed as an assault division and received the training for divisions of that category (February-March, 1918).

The 475th and 476th Infantry Regiments, however, were considered only mediocre.

1918.

1. The division marched to its entraining point at Bergnicourt (west of Junville) on March 22–24 and entrained for Guise. From there it marched by night toward the Montdidier-Noyan front via Ly Fontaine, Guiscard, Margny aux Cerises.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. It was engaged near Conchy les Pots, Orvillers, Sorel from March 29 to April 8, then near Boulogne la Grasse, Mortemer, from April 10 to 26. The division’s losses were heavy.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

3. After its relief it was transported to Champagne, detraining near Le Chatelet sur Retourne. There it rested three weeks. It entered in line between Brimont and Vitry les Reims after May 20. It attacked on the 27th and advanced by Merfy (29th), Tinquex (31st), as far as the line Betheny, Courcelles, St. Brice (June 2). It held that sector until the 1st of August, when it retreated on La Neuvillette and held the front Betheny-Vitry road. It was relieved about September 26.

4. The division was engaged northeast of St. Pierre a Arnes from October 5 to 11. It then fell back on Rethel. On the 20th it was moved to the area east of Vouziers and put in reserve. On October 23 it was engaged near Chestres, and later near Ballay, Quatre-Champs until November 4. Beginning on the 4th it retired in the direction of Sedan by Rancourt (Nov. 8).

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was a fair division, although the discipline was relaxed after September.

243d Division (formerly 8th Ersatz Division).

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1914–15 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── _Infantry. │29 Mixed Ers. │29, 30, and 31│29 Mixed Ers. │363. │ │ Brig. Ers. │ │ │ │ Btns. │ │ │ │32, 80, and 86│ │364. │ │ Brig. Ers. │ │ │ │ Btns. │ │ │41 Mixed Ers. │41, 42, 49, │51 Mixed Ers. │365. │ │ and (50), │ │ │ │ Brig. Ers. │ │ │ │ Btns. │ │ │51 Mixed Ers. │51 and 52 │ │51 Ers. │ │ Brig. Ers. │ │ │ │ Btns. │ │ │ │53 and 54 │ │52 Ers. │ │ Brig. Ers. │ │ │ │ Btns. │ │ │ │ │ (Composition in October.) │ │ │ │51 Ers. │ │ │ │52 Ers. │ │ │ │365. │ │ │ │400. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │Cav. Detchs. of the 29, 41, │8 Cav. Sqn. │ and 51 Ers. Brigs. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │Ers. Abtls. of the 23, 27, │8 Ers. Brig.: │ 44, 29, and 65 F. A. Rgts. │ │ │ 92 F. A. Rgt. │ │ 65 Ers. F. A. Rgt. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│1 Ers. Co. 16 Pions. │1 Ers. Co. 3 Pion. Btn. No. Liaisons. │ │ 16. │1 Ers. Co. 21 Pions. │1 Ers. Co. 21 Pions. │ │253 Pion. Co. │ │306 Pion. Co. │ │162 T. M. Co. │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached │ │117 Labor Btn. │ │44 Ldw. Brig. (93 Ldw. and │ │ 382 Ldw. Rgts.). ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── _Infantry. │247. │122 Fus. │247. │122. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │478. │ │478. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │479. │ │479. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 19 Uhlan Rgt. 13 C. │3 Sqn. 19 Uhlan Rgt. │ Dist. Ers. Cav. Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │238 F. A. Rgt. (formerly 65 │238 F. A. Rgt. │ Ers. F. A. Rgt.). │ │ │36 Ft. A. Btn. │ │1151 Light Am. Col. │ │1152 Light Am. Col. │ │1163 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(243) Pion. Btn.: │243 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 253 Pion. Co. │ 1 Res. Co. 13 Pions. │ 306 Pion. Co. │ 2 Res. Co. 13 Pions. │ 100 T. M. Co. │ 16 Searchlight Section. │ 162 T. M. Co. │243 Signal Command: │ 443 T. M. Co. │ 243 Tel. Detch. │ 248 Searchlight Section. │ 8 Wireless Detch. │ Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │420 Ambulance Co. │420 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │137 Field Hospital. │93 Res. Field Hospital. │138 Field Hospital. │94 Res. Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │277 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport │M. T. Col. │653 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(243d Division (former 8th Ersatz Division): 18th Corps District- Wurttemberg.)

1914–15.

The 243d Division is the former 8th Ersatz Division. The latter was formed in August, 1914, with the help of the surplus trained men in the depots (Reserve and Landwehr 1st Ban.) in the proportion of 1 battalion per active brigade. In this way it comprised 13 brigade Ersatz battalions grouped into 3 mixed brigades (29th, 41st, and 51st).

LORRAINE.

1. Detraining on August 17, 1914, at Sarrebruecken, in the rear of the 6th Army, elements of the 8th Ersatz Division went into action on the 20th. It fought at Hoéville and Serres, north of Luneville, on the 25th and took part in the attacks upon Nancy the first part of September. Sent to the rear of the front in the vicinity of Morhange, it was transferred to Haye at the end of September to relieve the 14th Corps. It stayed there for two years between Limey on the west and Le Pretre wood on the east.

2. In August, 1915, the brigade Ersatz battalions were grouped into regiments. The 8th Ersatz Division was then composed of the 363d, 364th, and 365th Infantry Regiments (Prussian) and of the 51st and 52d Ersatz Regiments (Wurttemberg). It continued to hold the lines in Haye, south of Thiaucourt.

1916.

LE PRETRE WOOD.

1. Until the beginning of October, 1916, the 8th Ersatz Division occupied the sector of the Pretre wood, north of Fey en Haye. In August it lost the 364th Infantry Regiment, assigned to the 33d Reserve Division, and on September 20 the 363d, which entered into the composition of the 214th Division. It received a new regiment, the 400th Infantry Regiment, formed in September by drafts upon its infantry units.

SOMME.

2. Leaving the 400th Infantry Regiment in Haye, and composed of three regiments (365th Infantry Regiment, 51st and 52d Ersatz Regiments), the 8th Ersatz Division went to the Somme on October 3. After a rest in the vicinity of Le Catelet until the 10th it went into the sector east of south of Bouchavesnes, where it did not take part in any important action.

LORRAINE.

3. Relieved on November 18, it returned to Lorraine at Fey en Haye. It went into line southeast of Thiaucourt November 25, where the 400th Infantry Regiment was again assigned to the division.

1917.

1. The 8th Ersatz Division remained on the Lorraine front, southeast of Thiaucourt, until about May 10, 1917. In February the 400th Infantry Regiment was sent to Russia.

At the beginning of May the division underwent several changes—it gave the 365th Infantry Regiment to the 5th Landwehr Division and received the 122d Fusileer Regiment (Wurttemberg) from the 105th Division. The 51st and 52d Ersatz Regiments received the 478th and 479th. The 8th Ersatz Division, already called Wurttemberg, then became the 243d Division.

AISNE.

2. The reserve, first (behind the Rheims front), behind Brimont and Neufchâtel, the 243d Division then occupied the front between Miette and the Aisne (north of Berry au Bac) from May 29 to August 20.

MEUSE HILL 344.

3. Transferred to Verdun, the division went into action at Hill 344 on September 9. The 479th Infantry Regiment lost heavily during the attack of the 9th. The 122d Infantry Regiment took part in the attack of October 2 and also had losses.

MEUSE (LEFT BANK).

4. About October 6 the 243d Division was relieved and sent to rest near Stenay. On October 17 it took up its position on the left bank of the Meuse (Bethincourt sector), where it still remained in December.

RECRUITING.

The division had become purely Wurttemberg.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The elements of the 243d Division appeared good. They were never engaged in very active sectors, except at Hill 344 in September, 1917. At Verdun they showed only mediocre combat value.

1918.

1. The division was relieved in the sector northwest of Verdun at the end of January and traveled by rail to the Stenay area north of Montfaucon, where it rested and trained until March 20. On that day it entrained at Stenay and traveled via Sedan-Charleville-Hirson-Ors to Bazeul. On the 22d the division marched by night via Le Cateau and Montbrehain to Raisel, crossed the Somme at St. Christ-Briost and came into line reenforcing the front on the night of March 25–26.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. It advanced in the first line of the attack through Guillancourt, Villers aux Erables, and attacked Moreuil on the 30th. It suffered very heavy losses, amounting to 50 per cent between March 26–30 at Estrees and Ignancourt, and in the attack on Moreuil. Two companies of the 122d Fusileer Regiment lost more than 207 of their fighting strength. The division was withdrawn about April 4. On April 2 the division received a draft of 350 to 400 men.

PICARDY.

3. The division was reengaged north and east of Villers Bretonneux, relieving the 228th Division. On the 24th it made an unsuccessful attack on Villers Bretonneux. On the 27th it was withdrawn to close reserve and rested until May 13.

THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

4. Between May 13 and July 7 the division was in line near Albert. It rested until August 10, when it was engaged east of Morlancourt, north of the Somme. It was forced back by Chuignolles, Proyart, Fouconcourt, Fay, Dompierre until its relief on August 29. Four hundred prisoners were lost in that engagement. It was again in line between September 2 and 9 east of Bouchavesnes.

5. The division rested in upper Alsace during September. It returned to Coutrai on October 6 and was engaged south and east of Le Cateau (St. Benin, Bazeul, Catillon and later east of Landrecies), mid-October to 1st of November. On November 6 it was again engaged south of Aulnoye and retreated east of Maubeuge, where it was last identified on November 9.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was largely used on active fronts and did creditably.

255th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1915 │ 1916 ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │31 Ldw. │30 Ldw. │31 Ldw. │30 Ldw. │ │68 Ldw. │ │68 Ldw. │ │1 Ers. Ldw. │ (?) │2 Ers. Ldw. │ │2 Ers. Ldw. │ │3 Ers. Ldw. │ │3 Ers. Ldw. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │Hus. Detch. │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │2 Ldw. Co. 11 C. Dist. Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ │1 Ldw. Co. 16 C. Dist. Pions. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │ │ Veterinary.│ │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │ │ ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(Former Metz Detachment. 68th Landwehr: 16th Corps District—Lorraine and the Rhine Province. 94th Landwehr: 11th Corps District—Electorate of Hesse and Thuringia. 153d Landwehr: 4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony.)

1915–16.

LORRAINE.

1. The 255th Division is the former Metz Detachment, the composition of which was remodeled and which was changed into a division in May, 1917.

2. The Metz Detachment, composed of the 31st Landwehr Brigade (30th and 68th Landwehr Regiments) and of the 1st, 2d, and 3d Ersatz Landwehr Regiments, occupied the same sector of Lorraine between the Moselle and Abaucourt (north of Pont à Mousson) from the end of October, 1914, to 1917.

1917.

1. About May, 1917, the Metz Detachment became the 255th Division. It then comprised the 31st Landwehr Brigade (30th and 68th Landwehr Regiments) and three regiments of recent organization, the 86th, 94th, and 153d Landwehr, formed by grouping the battalions of the old dissolved Ersatz regiments.

2. With this composition, the 255th Division continued to hold the front along the Moselle (right bank) until the month of October.

3. In July and August the 30th and 86th Landwehr Regiments left the 255th Division to form the new 31st Independent Landwehr Brigade. The latter remained in line on the right bank of the Moselle. The 255th Division, reduced to three regiments (68th, 94th, and 153d Landwehr), went to the left bank (Le Prêtre wood) about October 13.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Mediocre.

1918.

1. The division continued to hold its sector in the Bois le Pretre until the American attack on September 12. At that time the company strength was 180 to 200, with an effective rifle strength of 100. The men were mostly between 37 and 45 years of age.

2. The attack of the 12th of September threw the division back on Vandieres and Preny, where it was still in line at the time of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

301st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │ │ │ │48 Landst. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │ │1 Sqn. 9 Res. Hus. Rgt. │ │3 Sqn. 9 Res. Hus. Rgt. │ │4 Sqn. 9 Res. Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │ │217 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│ │342 Pion. Co. Liaisons. │ │ │ │410 T. M. Co. │ │310 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │ │Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │ │Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │ │M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Attached. │84 Brig.: │1 Rastatt Landst. Inf. Btn. │ │ (XIV/5). │ 70 Res. Inf. Rgt. │10 Ldw. Rgt. │ 9 Res. Hus. Rgt. │56 Ldw. Rgt. │ 252 F. A. Rgt. │3 Btn. 2 Bav. Ers. Rgt. │ │ Landst. Inf. Btns. │ 342 Pion. Co. │2 Koeln (8 C. Dist. Btn. │ │ No. 14). │ 410 T. M. Co. Landst. Inf.│8 C. D. No. 7 (Bonn). │ Btns. │ │ 3 Bav. C. Dist. No. 13 (2 │14 C. D. No. 1 (Mosbach). │ Nurnberg). │ │ 16 C. D. No. 7 (2 Sarre- │18 C. D. No. 10 │ Louis). │ (Friedberg). │ 14 C. D. No. 5 (Rastatt). │1 Bav. C. D. No. 15 │ │ (Dillingen). │ │1 Bav. C. D. No. 9 │ │ (Augsburg). │ │7 C. D. No. 49 (Elberfeld). │ │ (According to order of │ │ battle, Aug. 12, 1918.) ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(10th Landwehr Regiment: 6th Corps District—Silesia. 56th Landwehr Regiment: 7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1917.

VOSGES.

1. The 301st Division, apparently formed about the middle of 1917, was simply a military unit without permanent elements.

2. To this division were attached the 70th Reserve (84th Landwehr Brigade) from April, 1917, until the beginning of June, 1918 (Vosges front west of Senones and in the vicinity of Ban de Sapt), the 2d Bavarian Ersatz Regiment (an organic part of the 39th Bavarian Reserve Division) from June, 1917, and several Landsturm Battalions.

3. The sector of the 301st Division extends on the Vosges front from La Plaine as far as Provenchères. The headquarters of the division was at Saulxures.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division was mostly made up of elderly men. The troops assigned to the 301st Division were supposed to occupy calm sectors.

The 10th Landwehr Regiment was made up for the most part (three- quarters) of Silesians and Prussians from the Province of Posen. There were some Alsatians (4 in the 6th Company).

1918.

1. The division remained in its sector in Army Detachment A without event throughout 1918. Its losses were negligible. The companies had an average ration strength of 170 men; an average trench strength of 105.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. It was one of the lowest of that class in value. The morale was low and desertions frequent.

302d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │ (?) │42. │22. │11 Gren. │ │45. │ │9 Jag. │ │10 Jag. │ │10 Jag. │ (After June 1917.) │ │ │22. │45. │ │ │ │21 Res. │ │ │ │10 Jag. │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Artillery. │Art. Command: │ │ 10 F. A. Rgt. (elements). │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│Pion. Btn.: │Pion. Btn. No. 19 Liaisons. │ │ (elements). │ 19 Pion. Btn. (elements). │205 Pion. Co. │ 205 Pion. Co. │172 Mountain T. M. Co. │ 172 Mountain T. M. Co. │302 Tel. Detch. │ Tel. Detch. │ ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │202 Ambulance Co. │Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │Field Hospital. │Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │672 (?) M. T. Col. │(?) 672 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

1917.

MACEDONIA.

1. The 302d Division (former Hippel Division) was organized on the Macedonian front toward the end of 1916. At the beginning it included elements of various nationalities. It appears to have become entirely German during the first part of 1917. At this time its composition was as follows: The staff of the 22d Infantry Brigade (coming from the 11th Division); the 42d Infantry Regiment from the 3d Division; the 45th Infantry Regiment from the 101st Division and the 10th Jäger Regiment (the latter formed by grouping the Jäger and Fusileer Battalions of the Guard and the 9th and 12th Jäger Battalions). In January, 1917, the 45th Infantry Regiment had replaced the 11th Grenadier Regiment, transferred to the 101st Division and which had come to the Hippel Division in November.

2. The elements of the 302d Division occupied the Macedonian front (Monastir-Boucle de la Cerna) in 1917 and until the end of February, 1918.

3. In June, 1917, the 42d Infantry Regiment, the same as the 59th Regiment of the 101st Division, left the Macedonian front for Roumania (vicinity of Rimnicu-Sarat). It was definitely detached from the 302d Division and replaced by the 21st Reserve Infantry Regiment from the 216th Division.

1918.

1. The divisional staff operated in Macedonia until it surrendered as a complete unit, divisional commander, staff, and troops, numbering 7,000, about the 1st of October.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class at the time of its retirement from the Western Front.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

1. Changed “(?) Dion. Detchs.” to “(?) Pion. Detchs.” on p. 47. 2. Changed “Cuichy-Canal” to “Cuinchy-Canal” on p. 56. 3. Changed “2 Vac. Pion. Detch.” to “2 Cav. Pion. Detch.” on p. 69. 4. Added “VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.” heading on p. 77. 5. Changed “Mauberge” to “Maubeuge” on pp. 95 and 276. 6. Changed “abrustungs” to “abrüstungs” on p. 192. 7. Changed “Tanganrog” to “Taganrog” on p. 272. 8. Changed “Buskeque” to “Bousbecque” on p. 274. 9. Changed “Duenamuemde” to “Duenamuende” on p. 301. 10. Changed “Ghissegnies” to “Gussignies” on p. 326. 11. Changed “Kalwariia-Mariampol” to “Kalwaria-Mariampol” on pp. 397 and 538. 12. Changed “Rambluzim” to “Rambluzin” on p. 403. 13. Changed “Dhinzel” to “Dhuizel” on p. 404. 14. Changed “Grandelain” to “Crandelain” on p. 411. 15. Changed “Rozoy sur Sene” to “Rozoy sur Serre” on p. 420. 16. Added “1918.” sub-heading on p. 427. 17. Changed “October 19.” to “August 19.” on p. 437. 18. Changeed “Brandeberg” to “Brandenburg” on pp. 577 anf 593. 19. Changed “Yores” to “Ypres” on p. 615. 20. Changed “Schuz” to “Schutz” on p. 616. 21. Added footnote anchor after “COMPOSITION.” heading on p. 639. 22. Changed “405th Infantry Regiment” to “445th Infantry Regiment” on p. 719. 23. Silently corrected typographical errors. 24. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. 25. Enclosed italics font in underscores.

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