Chapter XII: Part 12

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

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

1917.

CHAMPAGNE.

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

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

FORET DE COUCY.

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

RECRUITING.

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

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

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

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

1918.

LAON.

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 The division was withdrawn from line in the St. Gobain region and went to rest in the neighborhood of Laon.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

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 It was withdrawn on May 29.

AISNE.

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 It was withdrawn about the 10th of June and rested for a month in the region of Fere en Tardenois.

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

NESLE.

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

CHAMPAGNE.

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

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

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

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

14th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

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

HISTORY.

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

1915.

RUSSIA-POLAND.

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

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

SMORGONI.

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

1916.

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

1917.

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

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

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division is of mediocre value.

1918.

MINSK.

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

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

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

VALUE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

14th Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

Footnote 11:

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

HISTORY.

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

1916.

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

VERDUN.

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

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

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

SOMME-ANCRE.

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

1917.

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

ARTOIS.

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

RUSSIA-RIGA.

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

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

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

FRANCE.

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

RECRUITING.

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

VALUE.

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

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

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

1918.

CHAMPAGNE.

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

PICARDY.

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

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

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

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

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

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

15th Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

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

HISTORY.

(8th Corps District—Rhine Province.)

1914.

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

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

CHAMPAGNE.

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

1915.

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

ARTOIS.

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

AISNE.

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

1916.

SOMME.

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

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

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

AISNE.

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

RUSSIA.

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

1917.

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

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

FRANCE.

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

CALIFORNIE PLATEAU.

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

LORRAINE.

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

FLANDERS.

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

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

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

RECRUITING.

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

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

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

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

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

1918.

BELGIUM.

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

PICARDY.

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

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

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

BATTLE OF THE OISE-AISNE.

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

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

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

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

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

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

15th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

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

HISTORY.

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

1914.

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

CHAMPAGNE.

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

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

1915.

CHAMPAGNE.

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

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

AISNE.

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

1916.

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

SOMME.

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

AISNE.

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

SOMME.

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

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

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

1917.

SOMME.

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

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

ARTOIS.

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

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

GALICIA.

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

FRANCE.

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

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

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

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

RECRUITING.

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

1918.

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

HINGE.

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

ARRAS.

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

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

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

VALUE.

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

15th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

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

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

HISTORY.

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

1915.

OISE.

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

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

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

1916.

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

1917.

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

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

GALICIA.

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

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

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

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

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division is purely a sector division.

1918.

UKRAINE.

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

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

CAUCASUS.

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

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

15th Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

HISTORY.

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

1917.

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

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

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

LORRAINE.

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

AISNE.

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

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

MEUSE (HILL 304).

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

MEUSE (RIGHT BANK).

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

RECRUITING.

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

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

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

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

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

1918.

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

BATTLE OF RHEIMS.

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

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

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

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

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

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

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

16th Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

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

HISTORY.

(8th Corps District—Rhine Province.)

1914.

ARDENNES-MARNE.

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

CHAMPAGNE.

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

BELGIUM.

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

ALSACE.

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

1915.

ARTOIS.

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

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

AISNE.

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

NOUVRON.

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

1916.

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

SOMME.

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

BERRY AU BAC.

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

SOMME.

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

RUSSIA.

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

1916.

GALICIA.

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

FRANCE.

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

FLANDERS.