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HISTORIES
OF
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-ONE DIVISIONS OF THE GERMAN ARMY WHICH PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR (1914-1918)
COMPILED FROM RECORDS OF INTELLIGENCE SECTION OF THE GENERAL STAFF, AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, AT GENERAL HEADQUARTERS : : CHAUMONT, FRANCE : : 1919

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

1920

War Department

Document No. 905

Office of The Adjutant General

ADDITIONAL COPIES

OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE PROCURED FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON, D. C.

AT

60 CENTS PER COPY

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

The following pages contain the record of the organization and service of the 251 divisions of the German Army during the years 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, and 1918, or during as many of these years as they existed—for a number of them were created after the war had started. The record of each has been known as a “divisional history.”

The history of an enemy division is a summary of all the information obtained from all sources. It includes the latest composition—that is, the regiments and other units that make up the division; a record of its past engagements; its recruitment and racial features; commanders; present strength; and morale. On a basis of these factors the division’s fighting quality is rated on a standard of classes adopted by General Headquarters and noted in the history. The data is collected and filed daily at various troop headquarters and eventually in the Enemy Order of Battle subsection of the General Staff, Intelligence Section at the General Headquarters. The information comes chiefly from the front-line troops, resulting from their observation, reconnaissance, and the interrogation of the prisoners they take. This evidence is often fragmentary and inconclusive, being gathered as more or less disassociated items, here and there along the whole front. But when it is consolidated and collated it becomes of great value and warrants deductions which may be depended upon.

Prisoners’ statements and captured documents are the source of almost all the information contained in a divisional history. The outline of the past engagements of a division is known from the Battle-Order records. Prisoners add to this specific account of successes, citations, failures, internal disturbance, etc. The divisional composition is established by prisoners, and in the case of the smaller divisional units from addresses on captured letters. The effective strength is deduced from prisoners’ stories of recent losses incurred and drafts of new men arriving. In estimating the quality of a division the Intelligence Section considers principally the conditions under which the enemy command has used it in previous military operations.

All this information is kept posted up to date so that a history of present value can be written without delay and dispatched to our front-line troops opposite whom a new or additional enemy unit has appeared or is about to appear.

The use to our troops of these histories is obvious. Much of the information contained is of direct value to our commanders. The strength, morale, and fighting qualities of the opposing divisions are, of course, an important factor in our plans and operations. Other items, such as the names of the enemy commanders, assist the examining officer in checking the veracity and accuracy of prisoners’ statements. It has been often observed that the more the intelligence officer knows or appears to know of the prisoner’s organization the better results he obtains from his questions. The uses to which information of the enemy may be put have proved so various and unexpected that the principle is established that no fact about the enemy is too unimportant to be recorded.

In preparing this set of Histories of German Divisions the histories published by French General Headquarters have been used for the years prior to 1918. For the last year of the war the histories were written by the Second Section of the General Staff, General Headquarters, A. E. F., from the American records. These included all information from American sources and also that which was received from Allied armies.

Alpine Corps.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1915.

The Alpine Corps was formed in May, 1915.

Italy.

1. At the end of May, 1915, it was sent by way of Innsbruck to the Trentino, where it remained until October 16 (vicinity of Campitello). It took part in several smaller actions (particularly on Sept. 24).

France.

2. On October 17 it left Bozen and went to France by way of Innsbruck, Neu-Ulm, Stuttgart, Deux-Ponts, and detrained at Laonnois on the Mezieres-Rethel line on October 19.

3. It remained in this area until October 25. At that time it was transferred to Serbia by way of Mezieres, Germershein, Augsburg, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, Temesvar. It detrained at Weisskirchen on October 29.

Serbia.

4. The Alpine Corps advanced in Serbia by way of Kragujevac and Kraljevo as far as Novipasar (near the Montenegrin frontier); from that place to Mitrovica. Elements of the Alpine Corps remained south of Uskub until the end of March, 1916.

1916.

France.

1. On March 21, 1916, the Alpine Corps was taken to Hungary by way of Belgrade, and then to France. Itinerary: Budapest, Breslau, Dresden, Leipzig, Cologne, Aix-la-Chapelle, Liege, Charleville.

2. It went into line on the front east of Rheims (the Leib Regiment at Cernay) on April 1.

Verdun.

3. Relieved at the beginning of May, it went to rest in the vicinity of Charleville. About May 30 it went to the Spincourt area by way of Sedan. At the beginning of June it went into action at Verdun north of the Vaux Fort, northeast of Fleury, and took part in the attacks launched in this sector during the month of June (attack of June 23 upon Thiaumont).

4. After reorganization, at the end of June or the beginning of July, the Alpine Corps came back into line near Fleury on July 11.

Argonne.

5. After having lost 71 per cent of its Infantry in the various attacks at Verdun, the Alpine Corps was withdrawn on August 12 and took over the sector Fontaine-aux-Charmes-Vauquois, in the Argonne. The 3d Jaeger Regiment was taken from it and entered into the composition of the 200th Division (Carpathian Corps).

6. In the first half of September the Alpine Corps left the Argonne and entrained for Roumania.

Roumania.

7. At the end of September it went into action in the vicinity of Hermannstadt, then in the vicinity of Brasso. On December 10 it reached Ploesci; it was at Rimnicu-Sarat on the 24th. Upon the stabilization of the Roumanian front it occupied the front of Panciu-Focsani. During the active period in Roumania the Leib Regiment lost heavily.

1917.

1. Relieved northwest of Focsani on April 6, 1917, the Alpine Corps was sent to Hungary, in the vicinity of Karlsburg. After a rest of three weeks it was transferred to the western front. Itinerary: Karlsburg (May 10), Szegdin, Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, Rosenheim, Munich, Strassburg, Colmar, Neu-Breisach.

Upper Alsace.

2. On June 15 it went into line on the Alsatian front (Rhone-Rhine Canal, Aspach).

3. On July 20 it was withdrawn from the front and sent to rest.

Roumania.

4. At the beginning of August it was again sent to Roumania. It took over its old sector near Focsani and received the Russo-Roumanian attacks launched between Briala and Panciu.

Italy.

5. In September it was sent to the Italian front.

Izonzo.

6. On October 24 it attacked on both sides of the Tolmino and took possession of Mont Cucco on the 25th. It rested in November.

Monte Tomba.

7. On November 25 it was engaged at Monte Tomba, and on December 12 on the slopes of Monfenera, with the exception of the 1st Jaeger Regiment, which was in reserve.

8. Relieved between December 15 and December 20, it remained behind the lines until the middle of January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The Leib Regiment and the 1st Regiment of Jaegers are Bavarian, recruited principally from upper Bavaria. The 2d Regiment of Jaegers is purely Prussian.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The discipline and firmness of the commanding officers make the Alpine Corps an elite body, of a genuine combat value.

1918.

Lorraine.

1. In January the Alpine Corps entrained for Alsace (itinerary Salzburg, Munich, Ulm, Friburg, Saverne); then went to rest in the region of Sarreburg.

2. It remained here undergoing training until the 10th of April.

3. It was sent to Flanders, via Metz, Sedan, Namur, and detrained near Lille on the 12th.

Battle of the Lys.

4. The division was engaged northeast of Bailleul from the 14th to the 18th. It then rested east of Lille until the 23d. It reentered the line on the Kemmel-Locre front, where it remained until about the 10th of May, when it was withdrawn, after having suffered heavy losses.

5. It moved then to the Ghent region, where it rested until the end of July. It then rested near Tourcoing until the 8th of August. It entrained at Tourcoing and Tournai on the 8th and went to St. Quentin via Ham.

Battle of Picardy.

6. The division entered line in the Hallu-Fransart-Hattencourt sector north of Roye on the 11th. On the 27th it fell back along the Somme Canal near Bethencourt. It was withdrawn from line the beginning of September.

7. It came back to line almost immediately north of Peronne in the Moislain sector; on the 7th it was thrown back upon Longavesnes-Epehy-Villers-Guislain, where it was withdrawn on the 23d, after losing heavily (861 prisoners).

8. Elements of the Alpine Corps were identified at Walincourt in rear of the front on October 10.

Balkans.

9. Sent to the eastern front, the Alpine Corps reinforced the troops in the Balkans near Nish in October.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The Alpine Corps was considered one of the best German units. It showed its worth by retaking the village of Hallu on the 11th of August, and while counterattacking at Moislains on the 2d of September. Nevertheless, the morale was lowered. The Alpine Corps comprised about 3,500 Infantry combatants early in August. It lost about 700 prisoners in August and September.

Bavarian Cavalry Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1918.

1. The units of this division were used on police duty in the Ukraine and in Roumania in the spring of 1918. A part of the division was serving in the Crimea in the early summer. It continued in that general area through the year.

VALUE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

Bavarian Ersatz Division.

COMPOSITION.

[1]. Composition at the time of dissolution.

HISTORY.

(Bavaria.)

1914.

The Bavarian Ersatz Division consisted, at the outbreak of the war, of the three mixed Bavarian Ersatz brigades, Nos. 1, 5, 9 (12 battalions), which detrained on August 17 and 18 in the region of Schelestadt. But afterwards this designation indicated a composite division (Benzino Division) formed from the 3d Bavarian Reserve Brigade and the 59th Landwehr Brigade (28th Ersatz, Baden) and the 120th Landwehr Regiment (Wurttemberg).

Vosges.

1. The Benzino Division was first engaged in the Vosges (St. Marie Ridge, St. Die, Laveline) until September.

Haye.

2. After a rest in the Valley of the Bruche, it entrained at the end of September for Mars-la-Tour and reinforced the 3d Bavarian Corps in the St. Mihiel area.

1915.

Woevre.

1. The Benzino Division occupied the area east of St. Mihiel (Spada to Apremont) during the entire year 1915. In November it took the name of Bavarian Ersatz Division.

2. The division rested in Lorraine from December, 1915, to the end of February, 1916.

1916.

At the beginning of February, 1916, the 120th Landwehr Regiment was replaced by a Prussian Regiment, the 81st Landwehr.

Woevre.

1. On February 28, 1916, the Bavarian Ersatz Division took over the sector of Fresnes-en-Woëvre-Ronvaux. It remained there until the end of October, 1916. On October 17, the 4th Bavarian Reserve Regiment left the division temporarily to go to Galicia, to the 199th Division, and came back in November.

Somme.

2. From October 25 to November 15 the Bavarian Ersatz Division took part in the battle of the Somme east of Gueudecourt, with the exception of the 81st Landwehr, which was definitely detached from the division.

3. Transferred to the Aisne, it went into line in the vicinity of Craonne at the end of November.

1917.

Aisne.

1. On the Aisne front, east of Craonne, the Bavarian Ersatz Division received the French offensive of April, and its conduct gained the order “Pour le Mérite” for its general.

2. Relieved at the end of April, it occupied a sector in the Apremont Wood from the middle of May to the end of August.

Ypres.

3. On September 1 it was in Belgium, where it was engaged on both sides of the Ypres-Menin road until September 25. The 3d Battalion of the 4th Bavarian Reserve Regiment was almost destroyed on September 20.

Galicia.

4. At the beginning of October the division was transferred to the eastern front and sent into line southeast of Tarnopol in December.

5. At the end of autumn 1917, the 28th Ersatz Regiment (Baden) was withdrawn from the division and replaced by the 18th Bavarian Reserve. The division was then entirely Bavarian.

RECRUITING.

The Bavarian Ersatz Division is recruited from the 1st and 2d Bavarian Corps districts.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The Bavarian Ersatz Division is a very mediocre division.

1918.

Verdun.

1. The division held the quiet Verdun sector until July 12, when it was relieved by the 231st Division.

Vesle.

2. It was moved to the Vesle front and on July 25 relieved the 40th Division near Oulchy-le-Chateau. It remained in this sector until August 12, when it was withdrawn and sent to rest in the vicinity of Maubeuge.

Champagne.

3. On September 1 it proceeded to Mauchault and during the first days of September relieved the 88th Division in line near Perthes. It was in the fighting between September 23 and October 3 in Champagne, losing about 2,000 men in that engagement.

4. The division was so reduced in strength that it was dissolved shortly after its retirement from line in October. The 18th Bavarian Reserve Regiment was dissolved and the men drafted to the 15th Bavarian Division. The 15th Bavarian Reserve Regiment was also dissolved.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was used only in defensive sectors during 1918.

Jaeger Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1917.

The Jaeger Division appears to have been formed about November, 1917.

In November and December the Division was engaged on the Italian front at Monte-Tomba. Relieved at the beginning of January, 1918, it was sent to rest.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The Jaeger Division is a very good Division.

1918.

1. The division again entrained March 20 and was transported to the area northeast of St. Quentin by way of Strasbourg, Treves, Cologne, Liege, Namur, Charleroi, Maubeuge, Bohain. From there it marched to the region south of Chaulnes and rested three weeks.

Somme.

2. It was in line in the Villers-Bretonneux sector from April 27 to May 19–20. After its withdrawal from line it rested southwest of Guise (Bernot, Hauteville) from 25th to 30th. The division marched toward the front by Ham (May 30) and arrived in the neighborhood of Lassigny on June 7–8.

Oise.

3. The division was engaged near Lassigny (Le Plessier) on June 9 and advanced as far as Elincourt. It was relieved about mid-June.

4. It rested between St. Quentin and Guise for a time, and was then railed to Alsace (near Mulhausen), where it rested during four weeks. It entrained at Mulhausen about July 24–27 and was moved to Liesse (northeast of Laon) on July 30. From there it marched toward the front north of Soissons.

Second Battle of the Marne.

5. The division was engaged at Soissons and Pommiers, then at Bieuxy-Juvigny, from August 2 to 28. It rested for two weeks and returned to line at Gouzaucourt on September 12. Between September 27–30 it was forced to fall back on La Vacquerie and Gonnelieu. It was relieved at the end of the month after suffering very heavy losses.

Cambresis.

6. On October 6–7 the division was reengaged south of Cambrai (Walincourt). It fell back on Briastre by Caudry and on the 15th retired from the front. It rested from October 15 to 22. On the 12th the division is known to have received a reinforcement of 600 men.

7. It was engaged southwest of Le Quesnoy from October 22 to November 1, losing numerous prisoners on the 24th. After a short rest it was again in line at Etreux and south of Le Quesnoy on November 4–5. It retreated by Pont-sur-Sambre on November 6.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was used as an attack division in the Matz offensive, but in general the division was used to replace assault divisions and hold an important sector.

1st Guard Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1914.

Belgium.

1. Detrained on the 11th and 12th of August in “Prussian Wallonia,” at Weismes and neighboring stations. Entered Belgium August 13, via Stavelot; crossed the Meuse at Huy on the 18th. The 23d it fought at Fosse and St. Gerard, after having crossed the Sambre at Jemmapes. Fought at Fournaux on the 24th. Was engaged, August 29, between Guise and Vervins (le Sourd, Leme).

Marne.

2. It fought next on the Marne (St. Gond marsh).

3. It was in Artois near Hebuterne the end of September.

Flanders.

4. In November the 1st Bde. was in Flanders (Gheluvelt); the 2d Bde. remained at Hebuterne. From the beginning of the campaign until January 19, 1915, the 3d Ft. Gd. Regt. suffered casualties of 49 officers and 2,707 men.

1915.

Champagne.

1. The beginning of January the 1st Bde. went from Gheluvelt to Champagne.

2. The beginning of February the 2d Bde. rejoined the 1st.

3. In March the division went to Alsace, where the whole Guard Corps was brought together again.

Russia.

4. In April the division went to Russia (Galicia), detraining at Bochnia the 22d.

5. It fought at Tarnow and Krasnoslaw, skirted Brest-Litowsk, and pushed on to Krobin. The losses of the 3d Ft. Gd. Regt. in Russia (May 15-Aug. 31) were 17 officers and 2,116 men. The 1st Ft. Gd. Regt. lost 53 officers and 3,005 men.

France.

6. Brought back by stages to Warsaw; entrained about the 15th of September for the western front. Itinerary: Thorn, Posen, Frankfort-on-the-Oder, Berlin, Cassel, Giessen, Coblentz, Treves, Luxemburg, Namur, Charleroi.

Artois.

7. Reassembled at Charleroi, the division was alerted September 25, and engaged on the Artois front (Folie). Losses of the 1st Ft. Gd. Regt. in the fighting of the end of September amounted to 1,522.

8. Relieved October 20, it took over the Lassigny-Beuvraignes sector.

1916.

1. The division remained in the calm Lassigny sector until July 20, 1916.

2. After some days rest in the neighborhood of Nesles, the division went by stages to the Peronne region, where it was put in reserve.

Somme.

3. August 15 it relieved, in the course of the battle of the Somme, what was left of the 1st Bavarian Reserve Division.

4. The division lost heavily (5,000 men, only 300 of whom were prisoners) during the attacks of the 19th and 20th of August and at the time of the costly defense of Clery (Sept. 3), and therefore it was relieved.

5. Reassembled in the Catelet region, and having received reenforcements, it went back into line south of the Somme, in the Biaches-Barleux sector. Its losses there were considerably less.

1917.

1. The division was withdrawn from the Biaches-Barleux sector the end of January.

2. It reformed, went through a course of training, and then proceeded to the Guiscard region. During February, 1917, it received 500 reenforcements (1917 class, recuperated men). In March its depot was empty (all the men having been sent to the division).

3. The beginning of April the division reassembled in the Sissonne region.

Chemin des Dames.

4. As early as April 12, before the French attack on the Aisne front, it was alerted. April 17 it was engaged in the Ailles-Hurtebise sector. There it went through the attack of May 5. (Losses, 2,500 to 3,000 men for the whole division, only 141 prisoners.)

5. Relieved a few days later, it took over a sector in the Argonne (Grand Courte-Chaussee), where it remained the month of June.

Russia.

6. On July 4 it left for Russia. (Itinerary: Namur, Liège, Aix-la-Chapelle, Duesseldorf, Minden, Hanover, Berlin, Frankfort-on-the-Oder, Posen, Lodz, Brest-Litowsk, Kovel, Lemberg, Ozidow; it detrained July 9.)

7. The division participated in the counterattack against the Russians, and later in the attack of Riga.

France.

8. It was brought back to France in the middle of October. (Entrained at Riga Oct. 16. Itinerary: Koenigsberg, Posen, Halle, Cassel, Coblentz, Sedan, Novion-Porcien; detrained near Rethel, Oct. 21.)

9. The division took over the Marquise sector in Champagne the end of October.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 1st Guard Division may be considered one of the very best German divisions. Excellent conduct under fire.

It displayed on the Aisne as well as on the Somme energy and determination while on the defensive.

Among its heavy losses there was an exceedingly small number of prisoners.

Again on the Aisne (April-May, 1917), it displayed remarkable military qualities.

It received important reenforcements of the younger classes (15–16–17), 30 per cent from the class of 1917.

Its normal value was reduced temporarily on account of the arrival of elements which had never been under fire (June, 1917).

Prisoners taken in the Argonne (June, 1917) seemed less keen for fighting.

1918.

France.

1. The division remained in line until the 21st of January.

2. It was withdrawn at that date and put through a course of training in open warfare until March 1, when it entered line east of Reims (relieving 203d Division), remaining in until the 15th in order to become familiar with the terrain.

Somme.

3. It remained in close support north of Montdidier, and finally entered line March 28 near Hangest-en-Santerre, fighting until April 5, and giving a good account of itself.

Chimay.

4. The division went through another course of training in the Chimay area until May 27.

Aisne.

5. The division entered line in the Grivesnes sector. It fought very well in this the Aisne offensive, immediately after which its commander, Prince Eitel Friedrich, was promoted from colonel to major general, but suffered exceedingly heavy losses. It was withdrawn June 7, going to rest in the Charleroi region, where it remained until July 16.

Marne.

6. It entered line on that date east of Dormans, and despite stubborn resistance by the French succeeded in making some headway. July 22–23 it moved slightly to the west, relieving the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division near Passy-sur-Marne. It moved back, giving ground to the Allied counter offensive, and was finally withdrawn from line north of Fere-en-Tardenois August 5.

Crecy-au-Mont.

7. The division rested then until August 25 in the vicinity of Rethel, and then came into line near Crecy-au-Mont and fought until September 6.

Argonne.

8. September 20 the division moved eastward and relieved the 53d Reserve Division in the Varennes sector, where it was when (Sept. 26) it was swamped by the opening of the American Meuse-Argonne offensive. It did not resist as strongly as it might have, and so the 5th Guard Division moved to its support. Withdrawn on the 29th, it, in turn, returned October 3 to support the 5th Guard. It was finally withdrawn on the 8th after it had most of its battalions reduced to one company. It left 1,788 prisoners in our hands; its total losses probably being about 4,000.

Champagne.

The division was identified in line farther to the west October 14 at Olizy, and near Chestres on the 21st. It remained in line in this region contesting the French advance until the Armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

Throughout the war the division was rated as one of the very best German shock divisions. During the last year it fought a great deal and, until the last stages, very well. It suffered severe losses, and finally, due to the lack of effectives, it was found impossible to refill its depleted ranks; its morale deteriorated and it did not fight well.

1st Guard Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1914.

Belgium.

1. At the beginning of the war the 1st Guard Reserve Division forming, together with the 3d Guard Division, the Guard Reserve Corps swept into Belgium—as part of the 2d Army under von Buelow—the 16th of August, crossed the Meuse at Ardenne (massacres) the 20th, and pushed on as far as Namur. On the 29th the two divisions (Guard Reserve Corps) were brought back to Aix-la-Chapelle, and left for east Prussia September 1.

Poland.

2. The beginning of October the Guard Reserve Corps, attached to the Southern Army Group, took part in the invasion of the southern part of Poland, fought at Opatow (Oct. 4), and suffered severe losses at Lodz while retreating from the Russian armies.

3. During the winter of 1914–15 it fought on the Bzura.

1915.

Poland.

1. In February, 1915, the Guard Reserve Corps was split up. The 1st Guard Reserve Division was sent to the north of the Vistula, in the Mlawa-Prasnysz region. By the 6th of March the 1st Guard Reserve Infantry Regiment had already had its thirty-ninth engagement there (letter).

2. In March the 93d Reserve Regiment was attached to the 4th Guard Division (new). During the summer of 1915 the 1st Guard Reserve Division was engaged in the operations to the north of the Vistula (von Gallwitz’s army).

Smorgoni.

3. The pursuit of the Russians brought the division as far as the neighborhood of Smogorni-Vishnev, where it took part in violent fighting and where it was relieved the middle of September.

France.

4. During the early days of October it entrained at Grodno for the western front. (Itinerary: Warsaw, Posen, Berlin, Hanover, Aix-la-Chapelle, Liège, Cambrai.)

Cambrai.

5. It went into rest cantonments on the banks of the Scheldt between Marcoing and Bouchain (November-December).

1916.

1. The 1st Guard Reserve Division and the 4th Guard Division then formed the reconstituted Guard Reserve Corps.

2. During January and February, 1916, the division was employed on defensive works in the Wytschaete-Messines sector; it also held a sector in that region. At the same time it underwent a course of training in the neighborhood of Cambrai.

Artois.

3. The beginning of May the division took over the sector south of Neuville-St. Vaast.

Somme.

4. At the end of July it was engaged on the Somme (Belloy-Barleux).

5. After August 19 it spent some days at rest near Cambrai, and came back into line until September 8 between the Mouquet Farm and Martinpuich. It suffered local attacks, in which it was constantly pushed back with heavy losses.

Flanders.

6. After a rest in the neighborhood of Cambrai it was sent to a calm sector to the north of Ypres, near the Ypres-Pilkem road.

Somme.

7. November 5 the division returned to the Somme (Warlencourt) where it spent the winter of 1916–17.

1917.

Somme.

1. In March, 1917, the 1st Guard Reserve Division commenced the withdrawal movement on the Hindenburg Line, leaving prisoners in rear-guard actions (PysGrevillers region). It was withdrawn from the front about March 20 to go to rest near Tournai.

2. The 1st Guard Reserve Division and the 4th Guard Division then became independent divisions.

Artois.

3. April 25 the division took over the Oppy-Gavrelle sector and fought off the British attacks.

4. Relieved the beginning of May, it was sent to rest at Templeuve, and was later employed in the construction of defensive works near Cambrai (May).

Flanders.

5. The 1st of June it was carried to Tourcoing, and from there to Warneton, June 8 it went into line to the east of Messines, where it relieved the 3d Bavarian Division, very much worn out the day before. It was itself withdrawn as early as the 12th.

Artois.

6. The division then went back to Artois and held the Moeuvres-Pronville front (June 21–22 to Aug. 16) taking part in no important action.

Lens.

7. After some days rest at Douai, it became reengaged August 21, on the Lens front, in a series of very heavy conflicts following the attack of August 15. The 64th Reserve Infantry Regiment was particularly exhausted. Gas attacks caused it to suffer equally heavy losses in September and December.

8. The division remained in this sector until the end of 1917. In November it sent some elements to reinforce the Cambrai front against the British attack.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division was recruited in all provinces of Prussia, like the rest of the Guard. Despite their numbers, the 64th and 93d Reserve Infantry Regiments do not come (to any considerable extent) from the 3d and 4th Corps Districts. The 93d Reserve Infantry Regiments came from what was, before its dissolution, a “guard landwehr battalion (Magdeburg)” (seal of pay book).

The 1st Guard Reserve Division is not above the average German division in value. The Alsatians in its ranks were withdrawn and sent to Russia in 1916, but there are still numerous Poles, who do not constitute an element of strength. It seems much less to be feared than most of the Prussian organizations that do not have the “Litze” (braiding), less, too, than the Wurttemburgers of the 13th Corps District and the better Bavarian troops. (British document, February, 1918.)

1918.

Lens.

1. The 1st Guard Reserve Division was relieved in the Lens sector by the 220th Division the first of the year and was withdrawn, remaining at rest in this region until it relieved the 220th Division, February 4.

Carvin.

2. The division was relieved by the 220th Division February 20 and went to the Carvin area, where it went through a course of training in open warfare so as to become the assault division of the Souchez Group.

Somme.

3. The opening day of the March 21 offensive the division was identified at Lagnicourt (northeast of Bapaume). It was very probably “leap-frogged” by some other division the next day, but it reappeared the 27th near Bucquoy, in a straight line with the advance taken as a whole. It suffered exceedingly heavy losses, finally having to utilize its pioneers as Infantry.

La Bassée.

4. April 20 the division was withdrawn from the Somme front and marched to Givenchy (just north of the La Bassée Canal) the next day, where it relieved the 4th Ersatz Division. It fought there until about May 21, giving a good account of itself, considering its weakened condition, and as a result its brigade commander was promoted a lieutenant general, and the division commander received Pour le Mérite.

Grammont.

5. The division moved to the Grammont area, where it underwent a course of training with artillery and aeroplanes in preparation for a coming offensive.

La Bassée.

6. It relieved the 38th Division at Festubert, north of the La Bassée Canal July 5; it was relieved July 14 by the 18th Reserve Division.

7. The division rested in the Fauquissart area, and then relieved the 12th Reserve Division north of Hinges the night of August 2–3. It was relieved about August 26 by extension of front of the neighboring divisions.

Cambrai.

8. The 2d of September the division reinforced the front north of the Arras-Cambrai Road. About the 10th it side-slipped south, for it was identified southwest of Moeuvres. It remained here, suffering heavy casualties (450 prisoners), and was relieved by the 7th Cavalry Division during the night of September 22–23.

9. It remained in this region, however, and was thrown back into line in attempt to stem the British advance, being identified at Bourlon September 28; withdrawn about October 5.

10. The division returned October 16–17, relieving the 30th Division east of Neuvilly, and was withdrawn about the 20th.

11. November 4 it was identified north of Landrecies. It took part in the general retirement, being identified south of Berlaimont November 5, and east of Maubeuge on the 9th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 1st Guard Reserve Division was rated as in the first of four classes. During 1918 it did not fight brilliantly, but it was always to be depended upon. It was called upon to fight much in heavy engagements, and suffered very severe losses.

Guard Ersatz Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1914–15.

Formed in August, 1914, by grouping the Guard Ersatz Battalions and the Ersatz Battalions of the 2d Corps District, the division detrained at Saverne August 19. In reserve during the battle on the 20th, it crossed the frontier on the 23d with the 6th Army, fought southeast of Lunéville the first days of September, and toward the end of the same month it went to Haye (Woevre).

Haye.

1. There it formed part of the Ersatz Corps and held various sectors of the region until March, 1916 (St. Baussant, Flirey, Bois de Mort-Mare, etc.).

1916.

1. In March, 1916, the 1st Guard Ersatz Mixed Bde. (6th and 7th Guard Regiments) left the Apremont region to go to the north of Combres and to the south of Fresnes-en-Woevre.

Verdun.

2. After a rest of 10 days at St. Marie aux Chênes (Apr. 24-May 3) it went to the front north of Verdun. May 11–12 it entered line in the Bois-Nawé (west of Douaumont), where it took part in several attacks (notably that of May 25). It rested in June, and fought again, beginning July 1, to the southeast of the Thiaumont works.

3. The 5th Guard Ersatz Mixed Bde. which had remained in the Montsec region, entrained at Vigneulles-St. Benoît (July 23–26), detrained at Spincourt, and during the night of August 3–4 entered line to the east of Fleury. Together with the 1st Bde., it took part in the attack of August 5, and both suffered heavy losses.

4. The Guard Ersatz Division was withdrawn from line the end of August, after having lost 50 per cent of its infantry before Verdun.

Flirey-en-Haye.

5. After a rest in the region west of Spincourt it went back into line to the north of Flirey-en-Haye; it remained there until about the 5th of November.

In September the 357th and the 358th Infantry Regiments were attached to the Bavarian Ersatz Division and the 214th Division, respectively. The Guard Ersatz Division received in exchange a regiment newly formed from companies taken from the 6th and 7th Guard and the 357th Infantry Regiments.

Cote du Poivre.

6. The division rested in November, leaving December 18 to go to the region north of Côte du Poivre, following the French attack of December 15.

1917.

1. About January 15, 1917, the Guard Ersatz Division was withdrawn from the Verdun front and sent to Champagne (St. Hilaire sector).

2. Relieved toward the end of March, the division was sent to reserve in the Chateau-Porcien region, which it quitted April 12.

Aisne.

3. April 16 and the days following elements of the division counterattacked toward Bermericourt; then relieving (Apr. 18) the remnants of the 21st Division, the Guard Ersatz Division went through the French attack of May 4. It left this front soon after.

4. May; rest in rear of the Champagne front.

Russia.

5. After a stay in a sector in Haye to the north of Flirey (from the beginning of June to the middle of July), the division was carried to the eastern front (July 23–27). (Itinerary: Sarrebrucken, Kreuznach, Frankfort, Leipsic, Cottbus, Glogau, Warsaw, Grodno, Vilna.)

6. The Kaiser reviewed the division July 29. From the 1st to the 17th of August it was trained in open warfare near Vilna.

Riga.

7. Taken to Chavli (Aug. 28), then to the Gross-Ekkau region, the division entered line in the Uxkuell region and participated in the Riga offensive, entering Riga September 3–4.

France.

8. September 8 the division entrained for the western front. (Itinerary: Chavli, Kovno, Eydtkuhnen, Insterberg, Posen, Cottbus, Leipsic, Frankfort, Thionville, Briey.) It encamped near Spincourt, and then, about October 10, entered line to the north of Bezonvaux.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The Guard Ersatz Division was recruited all over Prussia just as all the other Guard divisions.

Good division. The 6th and 7th Guard Regiments are not to be considered as tried troops. The 399th Infantry Regiment seems to have but a slight combative value.

The men are said to have shown dissatisfaction when they left Russia for the western front. Desertions are said to have taken place en route. (Inter. pris. Dec. 15–17.)

1918.

Verdun.

1. The division remained north of Verdun until February 20, when it was relieved and went to Damvillers, entrained, and went to the Arlon area and was trained until March 15.

Somme.

2. It entrained at Arlon on that date and traveled via Charleroi to Mons, where it arrived the following day. By night marches the division passed through Maubeuge-Bavai-Englefontaine-Fontaine au Bois-Bazuel-Le Cateau-Busigny-Bohain-Fresnoy-Péronne, without taking part in any fighting. It came into line March 25–26, and was heavily engaged at Proyart the 27th.

Hangard.

3. The division was withdrawn about April 6, after having large casualties, and reinforced the front near Hangard the night of April 9–10, not being relieved until about May 4. Flanking divisions extended their fronts.

Mons.

4. It rested northwest of Mons until the end of June.

Champagne.

5. It then went to reserve in Champagne, and entered line west of Auberive July 15. It was withdrawn on the 21st.

Oulchy le Chateau.

6. The division was identified in line north of Oulchy le Chateau July 29, where it fought until withdrawn, about August 9.

Alsace.

7. It went into rest cantonments at Helfrantzkirch (northeast of Basle), and remained there until September 25.

Ypres.

8. Prisoners of the division were captured southwest of Roulers, and they stated that it entered line October 5–6. The division remained in line fighting stubbornly, but to no purpose, until withdrawn, November 7.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

Reliable information is to the effect that the Guard Ersatz, the Guard Cavalry, and the Jaeger Divisions bore the title “Oberste Heeresleitungs Angriffsdivisionen,” and that they were held under the direct control of the Supreme Command. Nevertheless, the Guard Ersatz has always been considered as being in the second of four classes.

Guard Cavalry Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1918.

1. The division left the eastern theater in the middle of March. It was reconstituted in the camp at Zossen (south of Berlin), and was then moved to the Maubeuge area, where it underwent six weeks’ training for open warfare. It now consisted of 9 dismounted regiments, grouped in 3 brigades, 2 companies of pioneers, and a trench mortar company.

Champagne.

2. About May 28 the division relieved the 23d Division east of the Suippe. It was relieved about July 2, and on the 15th returned to strengthen the battle front near Souain. It was relieved about July 20.

Soissons.

3. The division was moved to the Soissons area, and on August 22 relieved the Jaeger Division east of Soissons. It retired from the front about September 5.

Champagne.

4. On September 23–24 it relieved the 15th Bavarian Division north of Prosnes, and was thereafter constantly in line in Champagne. The direction of its final retreat lay through Herpy (Nov. 1), St. Ferguex (5th), Rethel (6th), and Rocquigny (7th).

VALUE.

The division was rated as second class. It was reported to be one of the General Headquarters attack divisions held under direct control of the Supreme Command. After the failure of the July offensive east of Reims the division was constantly on the defensive.

1st Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1914–15.

Along with the 2d Division, the 1st Division forms the 1st Army Corps (Koenigsberg).

Russia.

1. The 1st Army Corps was engaged on the Russian front at the very beginning of the war.

2. Up until November the 1st Division participated in the operations of East Prussia, and notably in the battle of Tannenberg (Aug. 27–29).

3. In December the two divisions of the 1st Corps separated. The 2d Division remained in the north; the 1st Division went to the 9th Army, from December, 1914, to January, 1915 (Bzura-Rawka), then to the Army of the South, operating in the Carpathians and on the Dniester, from February, 1915, to February, 1916.

1916.

France.

1. The division went to France in March, 1916. The 41st Infantry Regiment detrained March 13 near Metz; the 48th Infantry Regiment at Hagondange March 5.

Verdun.

2. The division was put in line near Vaux April 20, fought in the bois de la Caillette in May, in the bois de Vaux Chapitre, and the bois Fumin in June and July. It suffered enormous losses there. In the 1st Company of the 41st Infantry Regiment, the numbers on the pay books passed from 1,359 (Apr. 10) to 1,674 (July 19), indicating the arrival of at least 316 reinforcements. From the beginning of the war until July, 1916, the regiment had received an average of 1,360 men per company.

Russia.

3. At the end of July, 1916, the 1st Division, leaving behind the 41st Infantry Regiment, which fought before Verdun in August, was once more taken to the eastern front, where it formed part of the Carpathian Corps.

1917.

Bukovina.

1. In July, 1917, the division was in the Kirlibaba-Dorna-Vatra region. Beginning July 27, it followed up the retreating Russians, halting, early in August, in the Sereth region.

France.

2. The division entrained, the beginning of December, near Czernowitz, and was carried to the French front. (Itinerary: Kolomea, Stanislau, Lemberg, Tarnow, Oppeln, Breslau, Dresden, Leipsic, Halle, Cassel, Coblentz, Treves.) Ordered to Lorraine, it was sent to the region east of Etain, relieving the 13th Reserve Division and occupying the sector in front of Moulainville (Dec. 27; still there Jan. 23, 1918).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Theoretically, the regiments of the 1st Division are recruited in East Prussia, but since the 1st Corps District, sparsely populated and of restricted size, could not keep it up alone, the elements coming from outside this district are numerous. During the stay on the eastern front Alsace-Lorrainers were used in considerable number. While in France the division’s ranks were filled up with the aid of the abundant resources of Brandenburg and Silesia (3rd and 4th Corps Districts); consequently, the division does not display to any degree the local character like the majority of the German divisions.

The 1st Division was on the Russian front from August, 1914, until December, 1917, with the exception of the period April-July, 1916, during which it was engaged before Verdun.

The troops of the division fraternized with the Russians for about three weeks in April, but this came to an end early in May with the arrival opposite them of new Russian troops, who received their advances with bullets. (Inter. pris., Jan. 24, 1918.)

1918.

Woevre.

1. The division remained in line in the Verdun sector until relieved by the 11th Bavarian division about February 15.

2. It moved to the Conflans area, where it went through a course of training in open warfare in order to fit itself to become an assault division. At this time, too, it exchanged its Alsatians for Prussians of the 78th Reserve Division.

Somme.

3. March 27 the division reinforced the front at Bray, north of the Somme. It fought until the 30th, and lost to such an extent that its companies, which had been filled up while in the Conflans area, were reduced to an average strength of 40 men.

4. It was withdrawn March 30, and rested immediately in rear of the position it had held in line until about April 19.

5. The following day the division went back into line just south of the Somme, and immediately suffered heavily. It was relieved May 2 by the 24th Reserve Division.

6. The division went to rest in the Peruwelz area, and then had some more training in the same region.

Champagne.

7. Early in July the division was identified in reserve near Hirson.

8. July 16 it entered line near St. Hilaire, and was withdrawn the 20th.

Rheims.

9. It was immediately thrown into line in the Bois de Vrigny, where it fought in an attempt to prevent the Allies from annihilating the German troops in the Soissons-Chateau Thierry-Rheims pocket.

Laon.

10. About August 10 the division was withdrawn and went to rest in the region of Laon.

Laffaux.

11. September 3 it relieved the 27th Division near Laffaux, and, being surprised by a French attack, lost heavily (2,300 prisoners).

12. September 16 it was relieved by the 29th Division.

Rheims.

13. The division came back into line near Betheny (northeast of Rheims) on October 2 and was withdrawn about the 8th.

St. Fergeux.

14. It reentered line in the St. Fergeux region October 14, and was again withdrawn the 29th.

Liart.

15. November 7 the division was identified near Liart (south of Rocroi), and remained in line until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class.

1st Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1914–15.

Russia.

1. The 1st Reserve Division was on the Russian front from August, 1914, until November 1, 1917, at which time it entrained for France.

East Prussia-Poland.

2. In 1914 it and the 36th Reserve Division formed the 1st Reserve Corps (Gen. Otto von Buelow). It took part in the operations of East Prussia (Hindenburg’s Army), in the Lodz maneuver (Von Mackensen’s Army), and in the combats on the Bzura.

3. In February, 1915, the division was in the Prasnysz region, northeast of the Bohr-Narew line.

Courland.

4. In May, as part of Eichhorn’s Army, it took part in the raid on Courland.

1916.

Galicia.

1. It was on the Dvina in the Friedrichstadt region until July.

2. In August it was identified in Galicia, in Bothmer’s Army, opposed to the Broussiloff offensive. Here it had heavy losses. (The 11th Company of the 3d Infantry Regiment, in particular, was reduced to 30 men.) During September the division was reinforced. The depot at Friedrichstadt, near Warsaw, was completely emptied to make good its losses.

Courland.

3. Toward the end of September elements of the division were in line near Friedrichstadt, along the Dvina, in a calm sector. The 18th Reserve Infantry Regiment was attached to the newly formed 225th Division.

1917.

1. January 5, 1917, the division was taken to the Mitau region, where it helped stop the Russian attack. Losses in this sector were light, but there was considerable discontent due to the cold.

2. The division was relieved about the 15th of March and sent to the neighborhood of Gross-Eckau, near Mitau, where it rested two months.

Riga.

3. The middle of May it was put back into line before Riga. It took part in the offensive against that city in September, stayed there from the 3d to the 7th of September, and then took up again its march toward the east. It organized its positions about 70 kilometers from Riga, near Hintzenberg (or Hildersberg?) (near Wenden) and established itself there.

France.

4. Relieved the end of October, it entrained near Wenden for the western front (Itinerary: Riga, Mitau, Kovno, Eidtkuhnen, Insterburg, Thorn, Posen, Lissa, Breslau, Cottbus, Leipsic, Erfuhrt, Frankfort-on-the-Main, Sarrebruecken, Thionville, Sedan, Vouziers.) It detrained November 6 at Semide (southeast of Vouziers).

Champagne.

5. After a rest of two days, the division went into line in the St. Hilaire sector (east of Vaudesincourt-Auberive).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division was recruited in East Prussia and, as a result of insufficient local resources, from divers other localities—a great many Alsace-Lorrainers during the sojourn on the Russian front.

The 1st Reserve Division has taken part in all the important attacks which have taken place on the eastern front since the beginning of the war. It seems, however, from interrogation of deserters (in Champagne, November, 1917), that the cadres and men were little prepared for war as it was waged on the western front.

1918.

Champagne.

1. The division remained in line east of Auberive until relieved by the 23d Division April 30.

Montdidier.

2. May 13–14 it relieved the 76th Reserve Division in the Givesnes sector.

3. It was relieved August 4, but came back into line on the 10th a little farther to the north, in the region of Hangest-en-Santerre. It was withdrawn a few days later and rested several days in the neighborhood.

4. August 19 it relieved the 75th Reserve Division near Beuvraignes. It fought until relieved September 2.

St. Quentin.

5. After 10 days’ rest it relieved the 21st Division near Le Verguier, northwest of St. Quentin. It was withdrawn on the 20th.

Ribemont.

6. October 1 the division relieved the 208th Division near Ribemont. Withdrawn October 31.

Dompierre.

7. It came back into line November 7 and remained until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division has suffered very heavily, notwithstanding the fact that, until about the 10th of August, it had taken no part in any really important actions this year. On the 18th of September the 1st Reserve Regiment was almost wiped out, its three battalion officers being captured with their staffs. It had also suffered a great many casualties the 9th and 10th of August. It is difficult to estimate the strength of its companies, owing to the fact that it is still in an active sector, but it is probably not over 50 rifles.

In the main the recruitment is East Prussian. There have been many Alsace-Lorrainers in its ranks, but since many of these have deserted there are probably not a great many of them left. For the most part the men are between 25 and 35 years old, but there are many older men and something less than 10 per cent of the division is made up by recruits of the 1919 class. It is again to be noted that the division was not employed in any of the German offensives this year.

Its conduct was remarkable in no way during the division’s participation in the heavy fighting around Hangest, Beuvraignes, and to the north of St. Quentin. During the early part of the year, when the division was in line in Champagne, there were a great many desertions, especially among the Alsace-Lorraine element. There have also been many cases of mutiny, especially in the 59th Reserve, the worst of the three regiments. About the middle of August a batch of some 500 recruits started out from the interior for the division. To sustain the morale of the men, these recruits were told they were going to simply support the artillery. Notwithstanding this, less than 250 men remained when the draft reached its true destination—the front lines. The men are very tired of the war, but on the whole seem resigned to the necessity of doing their duty.

The 1st Reserve is rated as a third-class division.

1st Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1914–15.

Called Jacobi’s Division at the beginning of the war, and a part of the 1st Landwehr Corps, the 1st Landwehr Division fought under this corps on the eastern front. It was first called the 10th Landwehr Division, taking the name of 1st Landwehr Division in July, 1915. It comprised the 6th Mixed Landwehr Brigade (34th and 49th Landwehr Regiments) and the 34th Mixed Landwehr Brigade (31st and 84th Landwehr Regiments).

East Prussia-Poland.

1. First engaged in East Prussia (Angerburg, Gumbinnen, August, 1914, to January, 1915), Jacobi’s Division took part in the operations between Mariampol and Suwalki. Early in March, 1915, it was before Lomza; then in the Ossowiec region on the Bobr. It was at this time that the division became known as the 1st Landwehr Division, and the 33d Landwehr Regiment was attached to it.

2. At the beginning of August the division was in the Kalvariia region, Suwalki. It took part in the summer offensive, but remained in support, never doing any actual fighting.

Courland.

3. After a rest on the Little Berezina, it went to Courland, going into line in the Uxkuell region (October).

1916.

1. The division remained to the south of Riga until the end of July, 1916.

Volhynia.

2. In August it went to Volhynia, where it took over the Borovno sector (on the Stokhod) and held it for more than a year, until about November, 1917. The 6th Landwehr Brigade was taken away and remained in the Mitau region (April, 1916). Since then the division has been composed of only three regiments.

1917.

Volhynia.

1. Relieved in the Borovno sector toward the end of 1917, went to rest in the vicinity of Kovel. In January, 1918, the division received reinforcements from the 9th Landwehr Regiment (dissolved) and also from the 20th Landsturm Regiment. It had already had men of the 1919 class since November, 1917. Still more arrived in February, 1918, when the division was on the point of departing for Belgium.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In theory, the 31st and 84th Landwehr Regiments were recruited in the 9th Corps District; the 33d Landwehr Regiment in the 1st Corps District. Latterly, however, widely diversified elements have been introduced—men of the 20th Landsturm Regiment (18th Corps District); from the 9th Landsturm Regiment (2d Corps District); also men from the 3d, 7th, and 17th Districts (class 1919). There is, too, a considerable number of Alsace-Lorrainers (33d Landwehr Regiment).

The 1st Landwehr is a mediocre division, composed of old men and of others that have little military value. (March, 1918.)

1918.

Belgium.

1. The division was then taken to the western front, and after some time spent in reserve (it was probably trained in the methods of warfare employed on the western front, although there is no evidence to establish it) it relieved the 35th Division near Merckem, March 20. It was relieved about April 19 by elements of the 83d Division.

2. April 26 it was identified in the St. Julien-Hooge sector, replacing part of the 236th Division, which side slipped to the south. In an unsuccessful attack during this time it suffered exceedingly heavy losses.

Alsace.

3. The division was relieved by the 6th Cavalry Division during the night of July 27–28 and went to rest in the Vosges.

4. About October 3 the division relieved the 30th Bavarian Reserve Division near Aspach le Bas.

Woevre.

5. It was withdrawn from this sector soon afterwards to be thrown in to meet the American advance east of the Meuse, being identified west of Flabas October 16. They lost heavily, staying in until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 1st Landwehr is rated as a third-class division. Still, although many of its younger men were sent to other divisions just before it came to the western front, it did rather well, its commanding officer having been promoted after its participation in the battle of the Lys, and the division as a whole having been lauded several times in the official communiques.

1st Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1914.

Lorraine.

1. At the beginning of the war the 1st Bavarian Division, forming, with the 2d Bavarian Division, the 1st Bavarian Corps, was part of the 6th Army (Bavarian Crown Prince). It detrained at Sarrebruecken (Aug. 8–9), crossed the frontier, sacked Badonviller the 12th, and withdrew to the north of Sarrebruecken the 17th. It fought at Sarrebruecken the 20th. In liaison on the left with the Badeners of the 14th Corps, it crossed the frontier and advanced to Nossoncourt and Xaffévillers (Sept. 6) via Baccarat. September 12 the division, having been withdrawn, was reassembled at Peltre (near Metz). It then entrained at Metz the 14th and 15th, and detrained near Namur, reaching Péronne the 24th.

Somme.

2. In the last days of September, 1914, at the time of the “race to the sea,” the two divisions of the 1st Bavarian Corps were in the 2d Army (Von Buelow), which operated on the Somme in the Péronne region. They became heavily engaged notably at Combles (Oct. 24) and at Maricourt (Dec. 17). By November 4 the 1st Bavarian Regiment had had casualties of 63 officers and 2,090 men since the beginning of the war. (Casualty list.)

1915.

Artois.

1. The 1st Bavarian Division was kept in line on the Somme (Dompierre-Maricourt) until October, 1915. Its composition was changed—the Body Infantry Regiment went to the Alpine Corps, the 16th Infantry to the 10th Bavarian Division. In return, the 24th Infantry (a new formation) was received.

2. The division was taken to the region north of Arras (Neuville-Souchez sector), where it remained almost seven months (October, 1915-May, 1916).

1916.

Verdun.

1. About May, 1916, the division was relieved to the west of Vimy and sent to the Verdun front, where it took part in the battles near Douaumont (May 23), and in those of June 1 and 8.

2. Re-formed in the Romagne-sous-les-Côtes area, it reentered line about June 22 for new attacks. During this offensive the division suffered severely. It was relieved at the beginning of July.

3. After a short rest behind the Verdun front the division reoccupied the Apremont-St. Mihiel sector, remaining there until October 11, when it was reconstituted, receiving large reinforcements (recuperates and men of the 1916 class).

Somme.

4. Taken to the Caudry sector (near Cambrai), it was engaged on the Somme (Sailly-Saillisel, Morval) October 13 to end of November, where its losses were once again exceedingly heavy.

5. The division reappeared in the region of St. Mihiel (Bois d’Ailly-Forêt d’Apremont sector) the beginning of December, and remained there until the early days of May, 1917.

1917.

Plateau de Californie.

1. Entrained about May 7 at Vigneulles, it proceeded to the Laon region, where it was in reserve (May 8–12). The following day it took over the sector west of Hurtebise, where it participated in several attacks (May 20-June 17), losing heavily therein.

2. The division was relieved June 21 and went to rest south of Mezieres (La Francheville, etc.), where it was reconstituted.

Champagne.

3. July 25 it went back into line on the Champagne front (sector south of Ste. Marie-a-Py); it did not take part in any important engagements there.

4. The division was withdrawn December 27.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division was recruited in the southern part of Bavaria. The presence of contingents from the Bavarian Alps was responsible for the withdrawal of the Body Regiment to form the Alpine Corps.

Despite the losses it suffered during May and June in the Hurtebise sector, the 1st Bavarian Division may still be considered a good division. It has had time to reconstitute itself during the long calm period spent in Champagne (July 25-Dec. 27, 1917).

1918.

Argonne.

1. Withdrawn from line, the division was put through a course of training. It relieved the 80th Reserve Division north of Vauquois February 17.

2. It was relieved by the 80th Reserve Division about the 1st of March.

St. Quentin.

3. The opening day of the March offensive the division reinforced the front south of St. Quentin. It was withdrawn the next day.

4. March 23 it came back into line north of Chauny. It was withdrawn about the 30th.

Lassigny.

5. April 6 it relieved the 3d Bavarian Division west of Lassigny. It was in turn relieved by the 3d Bavarian Division on the 12th.

Champagne.

6. Having suffered a great deal in the fighting on the Somme, the division was taken to a quiet sector in Champagne, relieving the 52d Reserve Division May 1 north of Souain. About June 30 it was relieved by the 30th Division.

7. It reinforced the front near Souain July 15. It was withdrawn about the 31st.

Soissons.

8. The division entered line northeast of Soissons August 11.

Noyon.

9. It was relieved by the Jaeger Division about August 19, and moved to the west, taking over the Cuts sector, southeast of Noyon, August 20, and was withdrawn the 22d.

Coucy-le-Chateau.

10. August 31 the division was identified at Folembray, northwest of Coucy-le-Chateau; withdrawn about September 12.

Champagne.

11. About September 27 it took over the Manre sector, southeast of Vouziers, where it remained, fighting, until the signing of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 1st Bavarian is rated as a first-class assault division; it was utilized as such throughout 1918. It fought well; its losses were severe.

1st Bavarian Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1914.

Lorraine.

1. The Bavarian Reserve Division (1st Bavarian Reserve Corps, with the 5th Bavarian Reserve Division) was at the beginning of the war part of the 6th Army (Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria), and detrained in Lorraine August 13–14. After having helped to check the French offensive in Lorraine, participated in the battle of August 20, entered Luneville, and after having fought at Einville, early in September, it went to rest in the vicinity of the Paris-Avricourt railroad, and later march to Metz by stages.

Arras.

2. September 27–28 the division entrained at Metz and was carried to Cambrai. Entering line between Douai and Arras, it fought at Izel, Gavrelle, Rouvroy (Oct. 2–3). On the 5th its right wing was at Souchez, the whole 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps being then in line north of Arras. October 23 the two divisions of the corps attacked violently along the Carency-Roclincourt front; they remained in line until June, 1915, the 1st Bavarian Division being between Roclincourt and Écurie.

1915.

Neuville-St. Vaast.

1. In May, 1915, the 1st Bavarian Reserve Division was engaged at Neuville-St. Vaast, when it was reinforced by two battalions of the 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment. The 2d Bavarian Reserve Regiment suffered casualties of 14 officers and 1,413 men (casualty list).

Le Labyrinthe.

2. In June the division fought at the Labyrinth.

3. It continued to hold the sector north of the Scarpe, but moved toward the south in December, the front of the 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps extending as far as Blaireville.

1916.

1. The division remained in line east of Arras, straddling the Scarpe until August, 1916. From May to August, it comprised the 12th Bavarian Reserve Regiment, instead of the 3d Bavarian Reserve Regiment, loaned temporarily by the 5th Bavarian Reserve Division.

Somme.

2. Withdrawn August 8, it went to the Somme. It was engaged the 12th in the Clery sector, and was relieved as early as the 15th by the 1st Guard Division after having suffered heavily.

3. The second fortnight in August the division was at rest near Cambrai. The end of that month and early in September, some elements of the division were engaged near Clery and Martinpuich in order to facilitate reliefs.

Aisne.

4. About the middle of September the 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps was withdrawn from the region of the Somme and sent to the Aisne, where the 1st Bavarian Reserve Division occupied a sector to the west of Craonne until the beginning of December.

5. Brought back north of the Somme, it sent some elements into line in the Beaumont-Hamel sector (north of the Ancre, December-January).

1917.

Artois.

1. After sometime at rest, the division went back into line February 27 to the north of Arras (Roclincourt-Neuville-St. Vaast). April 9 it received the full shock of the British attack—lost the villages of Thelus and Bailleul and 1,500 prisoners.

La Bassée.

2. Relieved about the 15th of April, the division rested, and then entered line north of the La Bassée Canal (east of Festubert). It remained here five months, taking no part in any important engagements but suffering losses as a result of gas attacks.

Flanders.

3. It left for Belgium October 6–7, and took over the Zandvoorde sector (southeast of Ypres) on the 8th.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 1st Bavarian Reserve Division is a good division, but its combatant value can not be compared to that of the active Bavarian divisions.

1918.

1. Here it remained in line until February 11, when it was relieved by the 239th Division and withdrawn to rest in the Menin area, before it had suffered many casualties.

Dixmude.

2. March 9 it relieved the 54th Reserve Division in the Dixmude sector. It was relieved on the 22d by the extension of the fronts of the neighboring divisions.

3. It marched to Zedelghem the same day, and reached Seclin on the 23d. The 28th it came into reserve near Douai. It was undoubtedly intended to reinforce the German attack on the Arras front on the 28th, but as this was a complete failure, it returned to the Carvin area.

Lys.

4. April 9 the division reinforced the front near Richebourg-St. Vaast, and took part in the initial attack on the Lys battle front the same day. It advanced through Lacouture, Vieille-Chapelle, and had reached Zelobes April 10. After the first day’s fighting it met with a strong resistance and suffered heavily. It was relieved near Robecq by the 239th Division, April 18.

Loos.

5. April 27 the division relieved elements of the 207th Division east of Loos (south of the La Bassee Canal).

Ypres.

6. It was relieved by the 16th Division about September 27, marched to Carvin, which it left September 29, and entrained at Seclin for Heule, whence it marched into line via Moorseele. It was identified near Roulers October 4. It was relieved by the 6th Cavalry Division October 16.

7. After a rest of only a few days the division came back into line on the 23d to the south of Deynze, whence it was withdrawn about October 31. It did not return to line.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 1st Bavarian Reserve Division took part in no real fighting with the exception of the Lys offensive, in which it did nothing to distinguish itself. It would seem that the division does not deserve to be rated higher than third in a scale of four classes.

1st Bavarian Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1914.

Lorraine.

1. The origin of the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division dates from the stabilization of the Lorraine front after the check of the Germans before Grand-Couronne in September, 1914.

2. At the beginning of the war the different elements which were to enter into the composition of the division were employed in Lorraine in rear of the combatant troops. The 71st Landwehr Regiment came from the war garrison of Strasburg.

3. These elements grouped in three brigades forming the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division, were brought up to the front early in September and put into line in the Château-Salins sector (from Jallaucourt to the Rhine-Marne Canal).

1915.

Lorraine.

1. From that time on the division occupied the same front in Lorraine, on each side of the Rhine-Marne Canal, broadening or narrowing its front according to the number of troops in line in the region.

2. During the summer of 1915 its limit was carried to the southeast gradually as far as the Luneville-Avricourt railway, next to the region south of Leintrey; to the northeast as far as the western ledge of the Foret de Bezange.

3. In May, 1915, the 60th Landwehr Bde. was detached from the division, and replaced by the 5th Bavarian Landwehr Bde. (4th and 5th Bavarian Landwehr Regiments) coming from the 10th Ersatz Division.

1916.

Lorraine.

1. South of Leintrey—western edge of the Foret de Bezange. In January, 1916, the 14th Bavarian Landwehr Bde. was detached from the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division; the 122d Landwehr Regiment (Wurttemburg) passed to the 2d Landwehr Division; the 15th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment to the 39th Bavarian Landwehr Division. The brigade was replaced by the 9th Bavarian Landwehr Bde. (6th and 7th Bavarian Landwehr Regiments). The division thus became entirely Bavarian; it was increased, shortly after, by the addition of the 60th Reserve Regiment, which was later (September) attached to the 221st Division.

2. In July, 1916, the 13th Bavarian Landwehr Bde. was withdrawn from the division and replaced by battalions of Landsturm.

1917.

Lorraine.

1. In January, 1917, the division’s sector was shortened—it was limited on the southeast by the western edge of the Foret de Paroy. In March it ended northwest of Juvrecourt. In June it extended itself once more to the southeast, fixing itself finally in July between Juvrecourt and the eastern edge of the Foret de Paroy; the limits have not varied since then.

2. About the first of the year the 5th Bavarian Landwehr Regiment passed to the 2d Bavarian Landwehr Division (new formation—Russian front).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division established itself on the Lorraine front in September, 1914, after the hard fighting in that region had ceased. It executed some important raids with its assault company, notably in June, 1917 (Foret de Paroy), and November (Arracourt region). In general, however, it remained exclusively on the defensive. It is made up of men whose physical value is often diminished; who have, consequently, waged only position warfare, and that upon a defensive front.

1918.

Lorraine.

1. The division remained in the Parroy sector in Lorraine throughout 1918, and, with the exception of a very few raids executed by the divisional Stosstrupp, did nothing.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

Losses and reinforcements have been few. The strength of the companies appears to be about 80 men, of an average age of 35–40 years. The 1st Bavarian Landwehr is rated as a fourth-class division.

1st Cavalry Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1918.

1. Throughout 1918 the separate elements of this division were used in police duty in the Ukraine, in Lithuania, and along the Danube.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

As the division did not operate as a division in 1918, no estimate can be given of its fighting value.

1st Naval Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1914–1917.

Belgium.

1. At the beginning of the war the Field Army contained only one naval division. This division entered Belgium on September 4, 1914, detrained at Brussels, and on September 6 took up its position to the left of the corps which was besieging Antwerp. After the taking of the city on October 10 the division marched along the coast, arrived at a point between Ostend and Bruges on October 23, and on November 2 relieved the 4th Ersatz Division on the front of Nieuport-St. Georges.

2. On November 24, 1914, the Naval Corps was formed by adding a 2d Naval Division to the 1st.

3. After this time the Naval Corps occupied the sea front and the sector of the coast in occupied Flanders. The staffs of the 1st and 2d Naval Divisions were permanently in command of this sector—the sea front (from Raversyde to the frontier of Zeeland as far as Maldegem was assigned to the 1st Naval Division; the front on land from the North Sea to Schoorbakke, 4 kilometers southeast Nieuport, to the 2d Naval Division). The six regiments of Marine Fusileers alternated between the two sectors, and consequently changed from one division to the other.

4. In April, 1917, the three naval infantry regiments were withdrawn from the 1st and 2d Naval Divisions to organize a new Division, the 3d Naval Division. These regiments had already formed a provisional division, from the end of September, 1916, to January, 1917, when they were engaged on the Somme. After fighting east of Ypres (August to November, 1917), the 3d Naval Division came into line at Nieuport (Lombartzyde) to the right of the 2d Naval Division in December.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The Marine or Sailor Fusileers, recruited at the beginning of the war from among the seamen or the population of the ports, had only a mediocre combat value at the time.

Since 1917, in consequence of reinforcements taken from the land army, and also in consequence of reducing the age of the effectives, the regiments of Naval Fusileers seem to be of better quality.

From a recruiting standpoint, they may be compared with the active divisions of the German Army.

1918.

1. The division was out of line in 1918 until May 1. From that date until November 4 it held the extreme right of the German line.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. Until the last month of the war its front was quiet.

2d Guard Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1914.

France.

1. Entrained August 9 to 11 (notebooks). Detrained at Beutgenbach (12 kilos east of Malmedy). Entered Belgium August 14. Crossed the Meuse at Huy August 18. Crossed the Sambre at Auvelais (Aug. 22) on the right of the 1st Guard Division. Fought at Falisolle and Aisemont the 23d; at Mettet the 24th. Fought on the 29th at Haution and Vallee-aux-Bleds; on the 30th at St. Pierre (west of Vervins), on the left of the 1st Guard Division.

2. From there via Lugny, Boncourt, La Malmaison, Ville-aux-Bois, Sarcy, Epernay, Avize, Vertus; fought after September 6 at Ecury-le-Repos and Normee.

3. Retreated on the 9th at Vertus; 10th at Tauxieres; 11th at Thuizy. Was before Reims until September 30.

4. In Artois in October (Bucquoy, Monchy-aux-Bois, Adinfer), near the 1st Guard Division. Split up in November like the latter; sent one of its brigades, the 4th, in the region of Ypres (Gheluvelt), and remained there until the end of December.

1915.

Russia.

1. In January the division was again assembled. At rest at Douai from the end of January till the middle of February. On the Monchy-aux-Bois-Puisieux front till the end of March. Entrained March 30 at Cambrai for Schelestadt (Alsace), where it was placed at rest.

2. In April transferred to Galicia (Neu-Samdek, Apr. 26–30).

3. Beginning on May 2 it took part in Mackensen’s offensive—Battle of Gorlitz, May 2–3; at Jaroslav, May 16; battle of Krasnostav, July 17; crossed the Bug August 24. At Zegrje, on the Narew, September 14.

4. On September 16 it returned to Novo-Georgievsk and entrained for the western front. Detrained at Nivelles September 20.

France-Lorette.

5. The division was at rest for one month in Belgium.

6. On October 25 entrained for Orchies and reached Henin-Lietard by stages and fought at Lorette on November 5 for 6 days. It suffered casualties again there.

7. The division went into line in the region between Noyon and Roye.

1916.

France-Somme.

1. The 2d Guard Division remained in the sector of the region Noyon-Roye until August, 1916.

2. On August 15 it was sent to the Somme region (Chilly), where it suffered heavy losses both to the north and to the south of Peronne.

3. From October 1 to the end of December, 1916, it fought for a second time south of Peronne.

1917.

1. At the end of January the division was sent to rest near Guise. To the east of Clery-sur-Somme, end of February.

2. Then it held the Siegfried line, near Roisel and St. Quentin, for five or six days (beginning of March).

3. Entrained for Vervins and sent back to rest (Mar. 16 to Apr. 12).

Chemin des Dames.

4. About April 12 the division was sent to Sissonne. Went into line between Hurtebise and Craonne (Apr. 20 to 22), supporting or relieving the units of the 5th Guard Division. It remained for three weeks in the region of Craonne and Amifontaine. It suffered new losses and still heavier ones on Californie Plateau.

5. On May 11 the division went to the Argonne by road (La Harazee, May 17) and was reorganized, receiving replacements from the 613th, 614th, and 615th Regiments, which were dissolved.

Russia.

6. Withdrawn from the line at the beginning of July and entrained for the eastern front (from July 4 to 10), via Charleville, Givet, Namur, Liege, Herbestal, Hanover, Berlin, Posen, Skalmiercyze, Ozidof.

7. Took part in the attack on the Sereth (July 19); relieved August 1 and sent to rest.

Riga.

8. On August 9 entrained at Horlodylow and took part in the attack on Uxkull (Sept. 1). On the 4th it entered Riga.

France.

9. From September 7 to 9 the division entrained for France, via Zanke, Mitaul Vilna, Kovno, Posen, Berlin, Hanover, Dusseldorf, Aix-la-Chapelle, Liege, Namur, Givet, Charleville.

La Malmaison.

10. Beginning September 21 it was sent to Laon. About the 28th it went into line in the Malmaison sector. On October 23 the French attack commenced and caused them very heavy losses (1,800 prisoners, of whom 50 officers, and many wounded). Relieved on the 25th and its regiments, much reduced in strength, were sent to the Region of Vervins.

11. In the middle of November it held the sector of St. Mihiel, Forests of Apremont. The regiment received replacements from the interior and from the Russian front taken from the 226th Division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 2d Guard Division had the reputation of being a good division. It suffered heavy losses in the Aisne sector in May, 1917. However, even after this attack the morale of the men on the whole seemed quite high. At the Malmaison attack, October 23, the troops of the division, after three days, were completely defeated.

During the last battles the division showed only moderate fighting value.

1918.

1. The 2d Guard Division was relieved by the 201st Division January 11 and went to rest at Metz.

2. Here the division underwent a 10 weeks’ course of training. March 18 it entrained at Metz and traveled via Thionville to St. Amand, where it detrained on the evening of March 19. It went then via Marchiennes (Mar. 20–21), Montigny (Mar. 21–22), to Lambres, where it arrived the evening of March 22. After 5 days’ rest here the division moved up to the line at Vitry-en-Artois (Mar. 27) to reinforce the front for the attack north of the Scarpe on the 28th. Except for one battalion of the 1st Guard Grenadier Regiment, the division took part in the fighting, as the attack was unsuccessful.

Moreuil.

3. The following day it marched via Arleux-Morchies-Beaumetz-Haplincourt-Le Fansloy-Les Boeufs-Maricourt, crossing the Somme at Suzanne-Proyart-Framerville-Caix-Mézières. It went into reserve east of Mailly-Raineval, where it remained until April 5, when it came into line north of Rouvrel. It was relieved by the 6th Reserve Division May 2.

Aisne.

4. The division reinforced the Aisne battle front about May 26 to the west of Vailly. It was relieved, June 17, by the 40th Division.

Marne.

5. After a rest in the Marle region the division reinforced the front near Chatillon-sur-Marne July 15. It was withdrawn on the 22d.

Somme.

6. August 27 the division reinforced the front south of the Somme near Dompierre. It was relieved, September 3, by the Alpine Corps, after suffering heavy losses, and losing 1,450 prisoners.

Le Catelet.

7. During the night of September 11–12 it reinforced the front near Ronssoy (west of Le Catelet). It was withdrawn October 9.

Ypres.

8. After resting a fortnight the division relieved the 52d Reserve Division at Machelen, October 24. It was relieved by the 6th Cavalry Division November 4, and did not return to line.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 2d Guard Division is rated as a first-class assault division. It participated in a great deal of heavy fighting during 1918 and always acquitted itself very well. It was mentioned in the official communiqués on several occasions. Between the end of August and October 9 it had lost 2,800 in prisoners alone. Indeed, its losses must have been very heavy, since there is positive evidence at hand to show that it received 4,000 replacements between August 10 and October 10.

2d Guard Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

(15th Reserve: Eighth District—Westphalia. 77th and 91st Reserve: Tenth District—Hanover.)

1914.

Belgium.

1. At the beginning of the war the 2d Reserve Guard Division was grouped with the 19th Reserve Division in the 10th Reserve Corps. This corps formed a part of the Second German Army (Von Bülow).

The division entrained at Zulpich August 10, entered Belgium the 14th, passed the Meuse near Liege the 17th, surrounded Namur on the north, crossed the Sambre to the west of Charleroi on the 22d, fought at Marbaix the 23d, and the 29th and 30th at Ribemont and St. Quentin.

Marne-Champagne.

2. The 2d Reserve Guard Division was engaged in the battle of the Marne between Sezanne and Montmirail (Sept. 6–7). It retreated through Epernay and fought on the Rheims front. It held its position on this front (Courcy sector) up to the month of February, 1915.

1915.

Artois.

1. Toward the middle of February, 1915, the two brigades of the 2d Reserve Guard Division were separated. The 26th Brigade went into the line between Thiescourt and the Oise and the 38th Brigade went to the forest of the Argonne.

2. Regrouped in Alsace in the vicinity of Schlestadt toward the end of April, the 2d Reserve Guard Division was transported about May 20 to the district of La Bassee. It was engaged in the Cuinchy-Givenchy sector (June-July).

3. About the 1st of August the division was sent to rest east of Cambrai.

4. In September it occupied the sector of Vingles-Hulluch to the south of the La Bassee Canal. September 25–26 it took part in the third battle of the Artois and suffered great losses. Portions of the 2d Reserve Guard Division participated in the attack near Loos October 8.

5. The division remained in the district of La Bassee up to April, 1916.

1916.

Somme.

1. The 2d Reserve Guard Division was relieved about April 7 of the Cuinchy-Canal sector of La Bassee. After a rest in Belgium in the vicinity of Tournai, the division was placed in the Gommecourt sector (Somme), end of May.

2. The Franco-British offensive found it in this sector July 1. It was severely engaged from July to November, 1916, sometimes in the vicinity of Pozieres, Thiepval, Bazentin-le-Petit (from July to September), sometimes farther north, and suffered serious losses (51 per cent of its personnel).

3. The 2d Reserve Guard Division was maintained in the Gommecourt-Hebuterne sector during the entire winter of 1916–17. At the end of 1916 it ceded the 55th Reserve Infantry to the 220th Division (organization).

1917.

Hindenburg Line.

1. The middle of March, 1917, the 2d Reserve Guard Division participated in the retreat of the German Army; it went back through Bucquoy, Lagnicourt, Beaumetz-les-Cambrai toward the Hindenburg line. It established itself on this line between Queant and Boursies until the end of May.

Flanders.

2. At the beginning of June the division remained at rest several days in the vicinity of Cambrai, and was then transported to the Thielt, (Pitthem-Eeghem) district (end of June). At the beginning of July it approached the front toward Staden.

3. On July 31, certain elements of the division, being surprised and later reassembled on the western border of the Houthulst forest, counter attacked in the direction of Bixschoote and suffered rather heavy losses.

4. The 2d Reserve Guard Division remained in this sector eight days. It was relieved August 8–9 and sent to rest in the district of Gand (Lakeren-Ostnieuwekerke) till the beginning of September.

5. About the 10th of September it was sent into the line on the front west of Passchendaele (southeast of St. Julien). It was withdrawn from this position toward the end of the month in order to go in again, almost immediately, to the southeast of Armentieres.

6. It remained there until the end of November, after which it reappeared on the front west and north of Passchendaele in December.

7. It was relieved February 1, 1918, and went into the district of Roulers.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 2d Reserve Guard Division was always considered as being an excellent division because it had always fought well, though it showed only mediocre fighting qualities to the north of Ypres in 1917.

The 31st of July it counterattacked without energy and without success in the direction of Bixschoote. During the approach, a great number of men remained in the rear.

Following this, its attitude was passive.

1918.

Flanders.

1. The division remained in the Passchendaele sector until withdrawn about January 9.

2. It came back into line, relieving the 199th Division, during the night of January 23–24, north of Passchendaele. It was relieved by the 239th Division February 1.

3. February 7 it relieved the 239th Division; relieved by 41st Division March 3. It then was trained for a fortnight.

Cambrai.

4. March 21 the division reinforced the Cambrai front near St. Leger, fighting, with heavy losses, until the 26th.

Arras.

5. It came back into line west of Neuville-Vitasse about April 3, relieving the 236th Division. April 29 the division was relieved by the extension of the fronts of the neighboring divisions.

6. It went to the Douai area and rested there until coming into line in the Gavrelle sector during the night of June 7–8; it relieved the 187th Division. It was relieved by the 187th Division June 20 and went to be reconstituted in the Tournai area, receiving a draft from the 427th Infantry Regiment and another of over 500 men from Germany.

7. The division relieved the 5th Bavarian Reserve Division, near Bucquoy, August 7. During the heavy fighting that followed it lost 2,400 in prisoners alone. It was withdrawn August 25.

8. September 2 it reinforced the front near the Arras-Cambrai road, whence it was withdrawn about the middle of the month.

La Bassée.

9. It then relieved the 9th Reserve Division near Neuve-Chapelle September 26.

Flanders.

10. October 5 prisoners belonging to the division were identified near Ledeghem. It remained there, being identified by prisoners November 11.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The general commanding the 2d Guard Reserve Division was decorated in February and again in May. The last decoration was Pour le Mérite, and was accompanied by promotion. August 15 Gen. Petersdorff reprimanded the division because, as he said, “within 14 days, 1 noncommissioned officer and 10 other ranks have been missing from the division * * *.” It is considered as a second-class division.

2d Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

(First District—Oriental Prussia.)

1914.

The first and second divisions formed the 1st Army Corps.

Russia.

1. At the beginning of the war the 2d Division was sent to the Russian front. Up to the month of November it participated in the operations in Oriental Prussia (Tannenberg, Aug. 27–29).

2. In November, 1914, the 2d Division, minus one brigade, which continued to hold its old sector, was withdrawn and included in the group which attacked in the direction of Lodz and operated between the Vistula and the Warta; continuing its activities, it attempted to cross the Bzura-Rawka opposite Warsaw in the district of Lowicz.

1915.

1. At the beginning of February, 1915, it reappeared in Oriental Prussia and participated in the offensive which ejected the Russians from this Province. It was engaged in its entirety in the district of Lyck and marched upon Augustowo and Grodno.

2. The Russian counter attack launched in the vicinity of Prasnysz toward the end of March drew the 2d Division to this sector.

3. In July during the development of the Hindenburg offensive, it emerged from the Ostrolenka-Pultusk line and proceeded in a northerly direction.

4. Upon the stabilization of the front the 2d Division held a sector between Illukst and Lake Drisviaty (Dwinsk District).

1916.

1. At the end of July, 1916, portions of the 2d Division were assigned to duty in Galicia to oppose the Russian advance.

1917.

1. The reconstituted 2d Division was engaged in the Mitau sector up to the end of January, 1917; all its units were identified in the vicinity of Kalnzen.

2. On February 8 it entrained at Mitau for the western front. (Itinerary: Chavli, Kovno, Insterburg, Konigsberg, Stettin, Hamburg, Munster, Aix-la-Chapelle, Liège, Louvain, Bruxelles, Audenarde.)

Belgium.

3. Detrained February 13 and remained at rest up to the end of March. It received reinforcements of various classes of men (wounded, convalescents, class 1917 reservists).

4. The division occupied the Wytschaete sector from the 25th of March to the beginning of June. (On April 15 and May 10 and 15 it received the first reinforcements from the class of 1918, the last having had only three months’ instruction; in all, 4,460 men between January 1 and June 1.) On June 7 it left 2,825 men in the hands of British troops.

5. On June 10 the 2d Division retired from the Belgian front. It was placed at rest in the district of Audenarde in June and then entrained for the eastern front (end of June).

Russia.

6. It arrived in Russia at the beginning of July and was put at rest in the district of Vilna. On July 14 it was identified in the Illukst District.

France.

7. It returned to France on the 25th of November. It entrained on this date at Kovno and was transported over the following itinerary: Insterburg, Thorn, Posen, Frankfort-sur-Oder, Berlin, Paderborn, Crefeld, Aix-la-Chapelle, Liège, Namur, Vouziers (Nov. 30).

8. On December 27 it relieved the 1st Bavarian Division in the Souain-Somme-Py sector.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Except during the period March-June, 1917, when the 2d Division was fighting in Belgium, it continuously occupied the Russian front from the beginning of the war till December, 1917.

1918.

Champagne.

1. The 2d Division remained in line in the Souaine-Somme-Py region until relieved by the 87th Division about April 2. It went back to the Army depot at Semide, where it stayed about a week drilling and maneuvering. April 10 it entrained at Machault, and went via Rethel, Liart, Marle, and detrained at La Ferté-Chevresis, encamping in the vicinity. It traveled by St. Simon (Apr. 11), Ham, Solente (5 km. east of Roye), and Laboissiére, where it stayed until April 30.

Montdidier.

2. May 1 the division relieved the 51st Reserve Division at Monchel, south of Montdidier; relieved August 31.

St. Quentin.

3. The division was identified in line near Essigny-le-Grand, south of St. Quentin, September 5; it was relieved about the 15th by the extension of the fronts of the neighboring divisions.

4. During the night of September 20–21 it went back into line north of St. Quentin, in the Bellenglise sector. It was withdrawn about the 10th.

5. The division rested for a fortnight in the Avesnes area, then came into line October 24, relieving the 19th Reserve Division east of Ribemont (southeast of St. Quentin). It was withdrawn from line early in November and did not return.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 2d is rated as a third-class division. It was used in a great deal of heavy fighting and suffered severe losses (July 23 it lost 54 officers and 1,800 men in prisoners alone west of the Avre; the 9th and 10th of August it lost 443 prisoners; in its engagements between August 8 and October 1 it lost over 1,500 prisoners). Nevertheless, it was never used as an attacking division, but confined itself to holding the sectors allotted it; on account of its weakened condition and lowered morale (there are several cases of insubordination on record), it did not acquit itself any too well.

2d Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

(Thirteenth District—Wurttemberg.)

1914.

Argonne.

1. The 2d Landsturm Division (Franke Division) forms a part of the Argonne group and has continuously occupied sectors of this district since September, 1914. At the beginning of the campaign it comprised a Wurttemberg and a Bavarian brigade. Engaged at Etain August 24, 1914, it crossed the Meuse at Stenay on the 31st.

2. Beginning with September it occupied the line in the woods of Cheppy and Malancourt.

1915.

Argonne.

1. Vauquois-bois de Malancourt sector.

2. At the end of September, 1915, portions of the division (one battalion of the 6th and one of the 7th Bavarian Landsturm) were assigned to service in the district of Massiges; they rejoined the Vauquois sector at the end of October.

1916.

Argonne.

1. Vauquois-bois d’Avocourt and Malancourt sector.

2. At the beginning of 1916 the 2d Landsturm Division was reconstituted with exclusively Wurttemberg elements, including the 120th Landsturm, withdrawn from the Bavarian Ersatz Division, and the 122d Landsturm, proceeding from the 1st Bavarian Landsturm Division. The 9th Bavarian brigade went over to the 1st Bavarian Landsturm Division.

1917.

Argonne.

1. In the Cheppy-bois d’Avocourt wood sector.

2. At the end of August, 1917, the 2d Landsturm Division changed places with the 2d Bavarian Division and took the Nord Four sector of Paris-Bolante-Courte-Chausse.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Sector division. Did not leave Argonne from the beginning of the war. On several occasions it furnished young men to active and reserve Wurttemberg regiments, replacing them by older Landsturm men.

1918.

Argonne.

The division remained in line in the Apremont sector, engaging in but little activity until the American attack of September 26. From that time on until it was withdrawn, October 25, it fought a great deal.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

Most of the young men of the division were taken from it to be sent to other organizations early in the year. October 12 the corps commander telegraphed the King of Wurttemberg (the 2d Landwehr Division comes from Wurttemberg): “The 2d Landwehr Division * * * has particularly distinguished itself by its bravery and intrepidity during the last combats in the Argonne and has thus contributed toward the failure of the enemy’s attempt to break through.” It was badly used on the opening day of the American attack, but it fought hard. It loaned companies to various other divisions, including the 1st and 5th Guard Divisions, and for days at a time these Landwehr troops were making the greatest resistance in the Aire Valley. While the division lost only 795 prisoners during the offensive, its total losses undoubtedly are above 5,000, there being evidence to show that many companies did not have more than 25 men, there being only three companies per battalion, and—in at least one case—only two battalions in the regiment. It is rated as a fourth-class division.

2d Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

(First Bavarian District—Southwest of Bavaria, Bavarian Swabia.)

1914.

Lorraine.

1. At the beginning of August the 2d Bavarian Division which, with the 1st Bavarian Division, formed the 1st Bavarian Corps, was a part of the army of the Crown Prince of Bavaria (6th Army). The 3d Brigade, covering troops, detrained at Reding near Saarburg, the 3d of August. On the 9th the division was at its full strength. It proceeded to the frontier, reached Badonviller, and retired as far as Gosselming (west of Saarburg) the 17th of August, gave battle there on the 20th, and recrossed the frontier. It advanced as far as Xaffévillers (Sept. 7), whence it retired to Morhange (Sept. 10). On September 15 the division entrained at Metz. It detrained near Namur, gained Peronne by stages, and was engaged at Foucaucourt the 24th.

Somme.

2. Together with the 1st Bavarian Corps it was attached to the 2d Army (Von Bülow), operating on the Somme in the district of Peronne. It took part in the fiercely contested battles which took place there but a short time after the stabilization of the front and suffered serious losses. At the beginning of the campaign, October 30, the 12th Infantry had 50 officers and 1,910 men who were unable to take part in action (lists of losses).

3. The division was maintained in this district up to the month of October, 1915, first to the south of the Somme, later, at the beginning of November, 1914, between Dompierre and Maricourt.

1915.

Artois.

1. In April, 1915, the division was reduced to three regiments through the cession of the 3d Infantry to the 11th Bavarian Division. Between the 10th and 15th of October, 1915, the 2d Bavarian Division was placed on the Artois front in the Neuville-Souchez sector.

2. About the 20th of December it was in the line at Bailleul-Sire-Berthoult between the western part of the Lille road and the Arras road.

3. It remained there until the beginning of May, 1916.

1916.

Verdun.

1. At this date it was relieved and transported to Verdun. It participated in the violent battles which took place there in May and June in the vicinity of Douaumont and suffered serious losses (50 per cent of its personnel). It was reconstituted in June in the district of Merke-Romagne-sur-les-Cotes (reinforcement of from 50 to 100 men per company), and went back to the line near Thiaumont. It suffered serious losses in the attack of June 23 (the companies of the 12th Bavarian Regiment were reduced to about 40 men).

Lorraine.

2. The 2d Bavarian Division was withdrawn from this zone of combat about the 15th of July and was sent to the Apremont-St. Mihiel sector, where it was reconstituted. It received numerous reinforcements (convalescents and class 16 men). During this period, which extends up to October 15, it did not take part in any serious operation.

Somme.

3. At the end of October it was transported to the Somme (Sailly-Saillisel sector), where it was again put to a severe test.

4. After staying a month in the Somme district it reoccupied the lines in the St. Mihiel sector at the beginning of December.

1917.

Californie Plateau.

1. The 2d Bavarian Division was withdrawn from the St. Mihiel sector between the 2d and 5th of May, 1917, and entrained at Mars-la-Tour on the 6th, whence it was transported via Conflans to Montcornet, where, during the night of the 8th, it gained the sector situated to the east of Hurtebise.

2. From the 9th on the 2d Bavarian Division engaged some of its elements on the salient northeast of Californie Plateau (May 9 and 10).

3. The division occupied this sector up to the end of May and participated in serious engagements notably those of the 13th and 22d of May to the northwest of the plateau. It was put to a very severe test. (The 9th Company of the 20th Battalion was reduced to 45 men.)

Argonne.

4. The 2d Bavarian Division was relieved at the beginning of June and sent to rest for 15 days at Camp Sissonne; later it was transported to the Argonne, where it occupied the Grande Courte-Chausse sector. During this rest it received two reinforcements—700 to 800 men June 28 and 300 men in July.

5. At the end of August it changed sectors and went into the line toward Bois d’Avocourt (Bois de Cheppy).

Meuse.

6. The division was withdrawn from this sector at the end of October and remained in repose in the vicinity of Stenay up to the middle of November, whence it was directed to the sector west of the Bois-le-Chaume. The 12th Bavarian Regiment, which had been sent in reserve to the southeast of Altkirch about the 10th of November to ward off an expected French attack in Alsace, rejoined the division December 6.

7. The 2d Bavarian Division remained in this sector (southeast of Beaumont) up to January, 1918, and then went to rest in the district of Longwy.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 2d Bavarian Division participated on the 9th and 10th of May, 1917, in violent but unsuccessful counterattacks on the salient northeast of the Californie Plateau. It appears that the Bavarians were always placed in the most dangerous positions and that they were sacrificed by the Prussians.

In spite of this condition the 2d Bavarian Division still showed itself as a good division (July, 1917).

1918.

Meuse.

1. The division remained in line north of the Bois des Fosses until relieved by the 19th Reserve Division, January 14. It went then to the Longwy region, where it was put through a stiff course of training in open warfare.

Amiens.

2. March 23 it entrained at Audun-le-Roman, and traveled via Longwy-Sedan-Charleville-Hirson-Anor-Avesnes-Le Cateau-Bertry-Caudry to Cambrai, where it detrained March 24–25. At first the division marched in the direction of Bapaumes, but was diverted in a southerly direction on the way and passed through Le Transloy-Sailly-Saillisel-Péronne-Villers-Carbonnel-Estrees-Foucaucourt and billeted at Beaucourt-en-Santerre on the night of March 30–31. April 2 it attacked at Morisel, and two days later to the southwest of Morisel. It fought then until the 15th, when it side-slipped to the north, relieving the 54th Division, its place being taken by the 15th Division. It was relieved about May 4 by the 21st Division.

3. It moved to the area southeast of Ghent, and there was reconstituted and trained. June 2, it relieved the 14th Bavarian Division in the Morisel sector. It was relieved the middle of the month by the extension of fronts of the neighboring divisions.

Champagne.

4. It rested in rear of the front in Champagne for about a month and then entered line in the Navarin sector (north of Souain), being identified by prisoners, July 15. It was withdrawn on the 20th.

Vesle.

5. August 4 the division relieved the 22d Division at Jonchery (on the Vesle, east of Fismes). It remained in line, taking part in the general retirement, until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 2d Bavarian is one of the very best German shock divisions. It was called upon to do a great deal of heavy fighting, and always acquitted itself well. It suffered severe losses in consequence, but these were made good as long as the German High Command had replacements at its disposal.

2d Bavarian Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

(Bavaria.)

1917.

The 2d Bavarian Landwehr Division was formed in Lorraine at the end of December, 1916, and the beginning of January, 1917. Two of its regiments, the 5th Bavarian Landwehr and the 10th Bavarian Landwehr, were assigned respectively to the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division and the 33d Reserve Division, at that time on the Lorraine front. The 2d Bavarian Landwehr was ceded by the 6th Bavarian Landwehr Division, which held a Vosges sector.

Russia.

1. As soon as it was constituted the 2d Bavarian Landwehr Division was transported to the Eastern front via Frankfort and Leipzig.

Courland.

2. Directed to Courlande and attached to the 8th Army it entered the line in the vicinity of Friedrichstadt (middle of January, 1917) and remained in this district up till February, 1918. In September it participated in the operations against Riga. In December a number of men were detached in order to reinforce the 10th Bavarian Division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

It remained on the Russian front from the time of its formation (January, 1917). It held the calm sector of Courlande in 1917; it occupied Livonia in 1918 (May). Men under 35 years of age were withdrawn from the 5th Bavarian Landwehr in December, 1917 (letter). It is rated as a 4th class division.

2d Cavalry Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1918.

1. The division was in the Stochod sector until February 28, when it advanced through Kiev and Kharhov to Rostov, where it was on August 4. At this date the division occupied the area between Kharkov and Rostov. The troops were frequently attacked by armed bands or by mobs. In this way they suffered some heavy losses. The German cruiser Goeben, which had been supporting them, was damaged by fire and had to put into Constantinople.

Nothing was known of the division’s movements after August, 1918.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was considered as 4th class.

2d Naval Division.

COMPOSITION.

HISTORY.

1915.

Belgium.

1. The 2d Naval Division, formed November 24, 1914, was a part of the Naval Corps at this time.

Since its formation the 6th Naval Fusileer Regiments of the Corps alternate in Flanders between the coast sector (2d Naval Division) and the sea front (1st Naval Division).

1916.

2. In September, 1916, the 3d Naval Infantry Regiment was transferred to the Naval Division, which later became the 3d Naval Division, engaged on the Somme.

1917.

Flanders.

Sector of the coast and sea front. The staff of the 2d Naval Division remained in charge of the coast sector.

1918.

1. In early March the division was relieved in its sector southeast of Nieuport and took over the coast sector from the 3d Naval Division. Elements of the division reinforced the German attacking forces north of Bixschoote on April 17.

2. After October 15, the division retreated toward Ostend and Maldeghem. It was last identified at Wachtebeke on November 2. On the day of the armistice it was considered to be in reserve of the 4th Army.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

3d Guard Division.[^[2]]

COMPOSITION.

[2]. Organized in August, 1914; elements taken from 1st and 2d Guard Divisions.

HISTORY.

1914.

France.

1. In August, 1914, the 3d Guard Division was first directed to the Western Front. It fought below Namur.

Russia.

2. The 27th of August the division was transported to Silesia via Oriental Prussia. It took part in the invasion of southern Poland.

3. The group of armies of which it formed a part was turned back and was obliged to retire to Lodz.

4. During the winter of 1914–15 it took part in the severe engagements on the Bzura.

1915.

1. At the beginning of 1915 the 3d Guard Division was dismembered; the 5th Brigade was sent to Oriental Prussia; the 6th Brigade, to the south of the Carpathians, was engaged in the Uzsok defile distinct.

2. In March, 1915, the 6th Brigade alone formed the 3d Guard Division, with the addition of the 9th Grenadier Regiment to its own two regiments. Thus formed, the 3d Guard Division took part in the campaign of the summer of 1915. (Carpathians Oriental Galicia. Linsingen’s army.)

3. The division took up its position before Tarnopol and passed the winter of 1915–16 there. (Bothmer’s army.)

1916.

France.

1. In April, 1916, the 3d Guard Division was transported to the Western Front. It occupied a sector in Champagne and took part in no serious engagements.

2. It was sent to rest at Valenciennes the 1st of June.

Somme.

3. The 1st of July (beginning of the Franco-British offensive) the 3d Guard Division went into the line on the Somme. It was put to a severe test there, particularly in the Thiepval district (57.5 per cent loss).

4. After the Somme it was sent to the Dixmude front.

Galicia.

5. It was transported to Galicia (beginning of September) by the following itinerary: Liège, Cologne, Leipzig, Dresden, Cracow, Przemysl.

6. At Halicz the 3d Guard Division took part in the German counteroffensive, and again suffered great losses.

France.

7. It was sent back to the Western Front on the 24th of November by the following itinerary: Lemberg, Jaroslaw, Gorlitz, Dresden, Chemnitz, Nurnberg, Heilbronn, Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Rheinweiler, and having arrived there the 20th of November, was sent to rest for a month.

1917.

Lorraine.

1. Beginning with January and up to April 6, 1917, the division occupied the sector of the forest of Parroy.

2. The 8th of April it entrained at Metz, and arrived at Cambrai via Montmedy, Sedan, and Charleville.

Artois.

3. Engaged in action before Arras in order to repulse the English offensive from April 15 on, it participated in severe battles (May).

4. On the 18th of May the division was relieved and sent into the Cambrai district. After a short period of repose it occupied the Pronville-Inchy-en-Artois sector (June 1–22).

5. It was sent in reserve to the Bruges sector (June 22).

6. It was transported to Thourout the 9th of July and remained there at rest until July 29.

Ypres.

7. On the 31st of July, the date of the great British attack, the 3d Guard Division suffered very heavy losses (1,000 prisoners) in relieving the 23d Reserve Division in the Pilken sector.

Alsace.

8. It was relieved the 5th and 6th of August and transported to Alsace, where it was placed at rest. At the beginning of September it occupied the Altkirch sector.

Flanders.

9. About the 7th of October the division was again sent to Flanders to the northeast of Zonnebecke.

10. The 3d Guard Division left the Ypres front (Zonnebecke) at the beginning of November, 1917.

Cambrai.

11. After remaining in the vicinity of Ghent it went into action before Cambrai near the Bourlon wood (Nov. 22).

12. It was relieved the 10th of December and went to rest in the Vendegies District (south of Valenciennes—division maneuvers).

1918.

Cambrai.

1. The division returned to the line in the sector, southwest of Cambrai on January 10, relieving the 21st Reserve Division. It remained in line until the 119th Division relieved it on February 12.

2. The division retired to Hem-Lenglet (north of Cambrai) where it rested and underwent instruction.

Battle of Picardy.

3. The division entered the line on March 19, between Inchy-en-Artois and Pronville. Engaged in the advance between the 21st and 24th. It suffered heavy losses on the 22d in the fighting north of Beaumetz, passing to the second line on the 24th. The division came back and participated in the fighting about Bucquoy and Hebuterne, March 26-April 3.

4. Returning from the Somme front about April 4, the division was at rest until April 18.

Battle of the Lys.

5. The division was engaged on the Lys, northeast of Estaires, after April 18, then north of Kemmel from April 30 to May 5. Heavy losses featured the fighting.

6. After resting at Halluin for seven days the division was moved by rail to Lorraine by the route Namur, Treves, Saarbruck, Sarreguemines.

Lorraine.

7. On May 18 the division relieved the 202d Division in the Chateau Salins sector. While in this quiet sector the division received reinforcements. When it left the line on June 24, the division was comparatively fresh and an available reinforcement for a battle front.

Champagne.

8. On leaving Lorraine the division moved to Rozay-sur-Lene, July 1, and later southward to Hannogne.

9. In the offensive of July 15, the division fought east of Rheims in the region of des Monts. Between the 15th and 31st heavy losses were suffered. It is known to have received a draft of 300 men in July.

10. While at rest behind the Champagne front further drafts of men from Russia and Rumania were received.