Chapter XI: Part 11

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to the division, lost at Hartmannswillerkopf 840 killed, wounded, and missing (official list of casualties), and was withdrawn to be reorganized in Belgium.

1916.

ALSACE.

1. Sector Guebwiller-Cernay.

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

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

1917.

ALSACE.

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

GALICIA.

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

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

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

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

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

1918.

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

ALSACE.

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

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

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a third-class division.

12th Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

HISTORY.

(Bavaria.)

1916.

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

ROUMANIA.

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

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

1917.

FOCSANI.

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

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

PANCIU.

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

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

RECRUITING.

The division is recruited from the whole of Bavaria.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

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

1918.

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

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

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

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

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

FLANDERS.

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

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

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

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

13th Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

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

HISTORY.

(7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1914.

BELGIUM.

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

CHAMPAGNE.

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

ARTOIS.

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

1915.

ARTOIS.

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

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

1916.

VERDUN (HILL 304).

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

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

SOMME.

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

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

1917.

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

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

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

ST. GOBAIN.

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

LA MALMAISON.

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

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

MEUSE.

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

RECRUITING.

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

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

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

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

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

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

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

1918.

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

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

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

AVRE.

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

THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

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

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

ALSACE.

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

BATTLE OF THE ARGONNE.

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

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

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

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

13th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

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

HISTORY.

(7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1914.

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

MAUBEUGE-AISNE.

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

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

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

1915.

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

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

1916.

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

VERDUN.

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

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

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

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

1917.

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

CHAMPAGNE.

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

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

VERDUN.

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

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

RECRUITING.

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

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

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

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

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

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

1918.

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

YPRES.

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

MERRIS.

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

YPRES-BELGIUM.

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

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

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

13th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

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

HISTORY.

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

1915.

LORRAINE.

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

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

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

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

1916.

LORRAINE.

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

In August the 9th Jager Battalion entrained for Galicia.

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

1917.

LORRAINE.

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

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

FORÊT DE ST. GOBAIN.

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

OISE LA FÈRE.

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

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

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

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

1918.

PICARDY.

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

LAON.

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

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

BATTLE OF ST. MIHIEL.

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

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

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

14th Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

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

HISTORY.

(7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1914.

FRANCE.

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

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

ARTOIS.

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

1915.

ARTOIS.

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

1916.

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

VERDUN.

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

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

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

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

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

1917.

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

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

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RECRUITING.

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

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

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

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

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

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

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

1918.

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

PICARDY.

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

AISNE.

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

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

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

CHAMPAGNE.

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

SOLESMES.

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

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

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

14th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

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

HISTORY.

(7TH CORPS DISTRICT—WESTPHALIA.)

1914.

BELGIUM.

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

MAUBEUGE.

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

AISNE.

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

1915.

AISNE.

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

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

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

1916.

VERDUN.

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

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