Chapter XIII: Part 13

3. After a rest at Ecordal, on June 4 the division was sent to Flanders. Detraining at Orchies, it marched to Wambrechies; it there remained for 12 days. On June 26 it went into line at Warneton, where the British attack of July 31 did not cause it any serious losses.

4. About the 23d of September the 16th Division was sent to rest in the Bruges area.

YPRES.

At the beginning of October it was sent to the Ypres front.

Some elements were engaged on October 3 and 4 against the British attacks east of Zonnebeke. On October 6 the division went to the southeast of Poelcappelle and supported the local offensives, against the British troops (Oct. 9–12).

The 16th Division remained behind the front from October 12 to November 24.

At this date it took over the sector north of Becelaere and a short time afterwards that of Passchendaele (east), where it was relieved about the middle of January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 16th Division is recruited almost exclusively from the Rhine Provinces.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Before being engaged on the Somme the 16th Division had gained a wonderful reputation. It was known as the “Iron Division.” In the battle of the Somme it did not, however, distinguish itself in any way.

At Warneton and at Ypres (June and October, 1917) it fought stubbornly in spite of its heavy losses.

1918.

YPRES.

1. The division was at rest in Belgium (Meulebeke area) until about March 1, when it was engaged east of Passchendaele until March 23.

2. It entrained at Pitthem and moved to reserve at Tourcoing until April 4. Later it was at Lille until April 10.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

3. The division was engaged on April 4 north of Neuve Chapelle and south of Merville on the 12th. On the 17th the 68th Regiment was to attack but was unable to do so through weakness and lack of food. Two regimental commanders were included in the heavy casualties. It was relieved east of St. Venant on May 1.

MERVILLE.

4. The division rested in Belgium (Braine, south of Brussels) for about two weeks. On the 19th it was in line southwest of Merville. It was relieved by the 25th Division on the night of July 6–7. After 10 days’ rest the division returned to its former sector and continued in line until August 18.

5. After leaving the line on August 18 it rested near Haubourdin until the 26th, when it entrained for Raches (north of Douai). It marched toward the front east of Arras by Douai and Vitry, entering the line near Vis en Artois on August 30.

THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

6. The division fought near Dury and Hendecourt until mid-September, losing more than 1,500 prisoners. It rested at Bruges until its return to line north of Lens on September 26. It was driven back toward Pont a Vendin and Courrieres, northwest of Orchies, Hollain, and Antoing. The division was withdrawn about November 6 from the Antoing area.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a second-class division. During 1918 it fought entirely on the British front, chiefly on the defensive.

16th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │29 Res. │28 Res. │29 Res. │28 Res. │29 Res. │28 Res.
│ │68 Res. │ │68 Res. │ │68 Res.
│31 Res. │29 Res. │31 Res. │29 Res. │31 Res. │29 Res.
│ │65 Res. │ │65 Res. │ │65 Res.
│ │ │ │ │ Feb. to July.
│ │ │ │ │ │28 Res.
│ │ │ │ │ │68 Res.
│ │ │ │ │ │25 Res.
│ │ │ │ │ Aug. to Sept.
│ │ │ │ │ │190.
│ │ │ │ │68 Res. │
│ │ │ │ │ │Hippe
│ │ │ │ │ │ Rgt.
│ │ │ │ │ Sept. to Dec.
│ │ │ │ │ │190.
│ │ │ │ │ │29 Res.
│ │ │ │ │ │390.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Heavy Res. Cav. │2 Heavy Res. Cav. │2 Heavy Res. Cav.
│ Rgt. (3 Sqns.). │ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │16 Res. F. A. Rgt. │16 Res. F. A. Rgt. │16 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (6 Btries.). │ (8 Btries.). │ (9 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. 8.│ Pion. Btn. No. 8.│ Pion. Btn. No. 8.
│ │16 Res. Pont. Engs.│10 Co. 28 Pions.
│ │ │
│ │16 Res. Tel. Detch.│216 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │16 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │16 Res. Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │31 Res. │29 Res. │31 Res. │29 Res.
│ │30 Res. │ │30 Res.
│ │68 Res. │ │68 Res.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 (?) Heavy Res. │4 Sqn. 8 Cuirassier
│ Cav. Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │106 Art. Command: │106 Art. Command:
│ │
│ 16 Res. F. A. │ 16 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Regt. (9 │
│ Btries.). │
│ │ 127 Ft. Art. Btn.
│ │ 724 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 810 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1352 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(316) Pion. Btn.: │316 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Res. Co. 8 │ 1 Res. Co. 8
│ Pions. │ Pions.
│ 2 Res. Co. 8 │ 2 Res. Co. 8
│ Pions. │ Pions.
│ 216 T. M. Co. │ 8 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 416 Tel. Detch. │ 216 T. M. Co.
│ │416 Signal Command:
│ │ 416 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 130 Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │512 Ambulance Co. │512 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │39 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│416 Vet. Hospital. │40 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│ │416 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │715 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │16 and 134 Art.
│ │ Observation
│ │ Section.
│ │16 Balloon Sqn.
│ │213 Reconnaissance
│ │ Flight.
│ │2.208 Pigeon Loft.
│ │(Elements attached
│ │ Sept. 30, 1918;
│ │ from German
│ │ documents.)
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(8th Corps District—Rhine Province.)

1914.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 16th Reserve Division with the 15th Reserve Division was a part of the 8th Reserve Corps and belonged to the 4th Army (Duke of Wurttemberg).

CHAMPAGNE.

2. On August 14, 1914, it entered Luxemburg; on the 21st, Belgium. It went into action at St. Hubert on the 22d; at Matton on the 24th; crossed the Meuse at Sedan with heavy losses August 26–28. Entering Champagne by way of Vouziers, it took part in the battle of the Marne, along the canal from the Marne to the Rhine (Heiltz le Maurupt- Bignicourt-Le Buisson).

3. On September 9 it began its retreat, and retired by way of Suippes (Sept. 14) to Cernay en Dormois. About September 20 it stopped in the area of Minaucourt-Massiges and took up its position there.

4. The 16th Reserve Division occupied this sector of Champagne (north of Massiges) until the month of October, 1915. (On the 30th of January, 1915, the 29th Reserve Infantry Regiment had had a total of 79 officers and 3,090 men casualties.)

1915.

1. At the time of the French offensive in Champagne the 16th Reserve Division went into battle east of the road from Tahure to Perthes les Hurlus (Sept. 25). It was then a part of a new group under the orders of Gen. Ditfurth.

2. Having suffered heavily from these attacks, the 16th Reserve Division was relieved about October 15 and sent to the rest in the Chesne area. Between October 8 and 14 no less than 223 men came to the 5th Company of the 68th Reserve Infantry Regiment as replacements (in this number, recruits of the 1915 class who had had four months’ instruction).

AISNE.

3. At the end of October the 16th Reserve Division was sent north of the Aisne, where it took over the sector between Soissons and Vailly.

1916.

1. The 16th Reserve Division remained in line east of Soissons until February 16, 1916.

AISNE.

2. In the middle of February it went to the west of Soissons, in the sector of Moulin sous Touvent-Autreches, which it occupied until the month of October.

3. In February the 16th Reserve Division lost two of its regiments, the 65th and 29th Reserve Infantry Regiments, which were replaced by a single regiment, the 35th Reserve Infantry Regiment. It was then composed of the 25th, 28th, and 68th Reserve Infantry Regiments.

4. At the beginning of the battle of the Somme, July 2, the 25th Reserve Infantry Regiment (2 battalions) was sent by itself as a reinforcement in the Barelaux area. The 28th Reserve Infantry Regiment left the 16th Reserve Division at the end of July to be attached to the 185th Division, likewise on the Somme.

5. The 16th Reserve Division, composed of the 68th Reserve Infantry Regiment and of two other regiments, the 190th Infantry Regiment and the Provisional Hippe Regiment, continued to occupy the sector of Moulin sous Touvent (August).

6. The 68th Reserve Infantry Regiment in its turn was sent to the Somme. It went into action near Deniécourt (September-October). One may calculate its losses by the fact that the 5th Company received at least 55 men as replacements between October 2 and 6.

7. The 16th Reserve Division then comprised the 29th Reserve Infantry Regiment, once more attached to the division, the 190th Infantry Regiment, and the 390th Infantry Regiment, which replaced the Hippe Regiment above mentioned. Thus constituted, it was retained in the area Moulin sous Touvent-Autreches until the month of October.

SOMME.

8. Relieved on October 15, it entrained at Tergnier and was transferred to the Somme. It took part in the St. Pierre-Vaast wood in local operations, in the course of which it suffered heavily (Nov. 4 to 28).

9. About December 12 the 16th Reserve Division was sent north of the Aisne. It went into line in the Cerny en Laonnois area.

At this time the division was once more reorganized. It again received the 68th Reserve Infantry Regiment, which came back from the Somme. The 190th Infantry Regiment was transferred to the 47th Division, and the 390th Infantry Regiment, which was assigned to the 211th Division, was replaced by the 30th Reserve Infantry Regiment.

1917.

1. With this composition (29th, 68th, and 30th Reserve Infantry Regiments) the 16th Reserve Division occupied the sector of Cerny en Laonnois from January to April, 1917.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

2. It underwent the French offensive of April 16 between Chivy and the Cerny sugar refinery, where it suffered very heavily (1,100 prisoners).

3. Relieved on the Aisne front about April 20, the division was sent to the Sissonne Camp, where it was reorganized (beginning of May).

LORRAINE.

4. About May 10 it went into line between the Sanon and Gondrexon, in Lorraine.

ALSACE.

5. The division was sent to Alsace about June 20 and remained in the Ferette area, where its training was vigorously carried out.

GALICIA.

6. On July 7, 1917, the 16th Reserve Division entrained for the Eastern Front.

7. Detraining on the 12th in the area of Rohatyn-Bourchtyn (Galicia), it went into action on the 15th near Halucz, along the Dneister, and reached Khotin, where the Russian retreat halted.

8. At the end of August it occupied a new sector north of Bojan, east of Czernowitz (taking of Bojan, Aug. 27).

FRANCE.

9. The 16th Reserve Division was withdrawn from the front about November 15 and entrained for France near Czernowitz (Nov. 20). Itinerary: Kolomea-Stanislau-Lemberg-Przeymsl-Cracow-Oppeln-Breslau-Dresden- Chemnitz-Nuremberg-Karlsruhe-Haguenau-Saareguemines-Thionville-Sedan- Bucy les Pierrepont, where it detrained on November 29.

CAMBRAI.

10. Going into action southwest of Cambrai (Marcoing) on December 6, it was still in this sector at the beginning of March, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 16th Reserve Division is recruited from the Rhine Province and all the Rhine districts. Thus, in October, 1916, it received men from the mining district of Westphalia, and also in March, 1917.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 16th Reserve Division was a good division. It was very much exhausted on April 16 and 17, 1917, in the Cerny sector. During this action the 30th Reserve Infantry Regiment was remarkable for its desperate resistance and had only 50 prisoners taken.

During its stay in Lorraine (May and June, 1917) the 16th Reserve Division maintained a purely defensive attitude. The losses suffered on the Aisne and the nature of the replacements received appear to have sensibly diminished the combat value of the 30th Reserve Infantry Regiment.

In October, 1917, on the Galician front, the 16th Reserve Division was considered incapable of participating in active operations because of the large proportion of older men and the weakness of its effectives (according to prisoners’ statements).

1918.

PICARDY.

1. The division attacked on March 21 south of Marcoing. It was taken out on the 3d day of the offensive and sent to rest in the Ancre area. About April 10 the division relieved the 107th Division on the Ancre and held a sector until the 107th Division returned and relieved on April 27.

BATTLE OF THE SCARPE-SOMME.

2. The division rested near Puisieux until May 15, when it entered the line northwest of Beaumont Hamel and remained until about June 15. It rested in the neighborhood of Haplincourt until about July 4, when it returned to the Beaumont-Hamel sector. The British attack in August forced the division to retire through Muraumont (23d), Grandcourt (24th), Le Barque (25th), and Flers (27th). It was withdrawn on August 28, after suffering heavy losses.

3. The division again came into line on September 5 north of Equancourt. In five days’ fighting it lost 600 prisoners. On September 10 it went to rest in the Bruges area, where it was until October 1.

BELGIUM.

4. On October 1 the division relieved the 16th Bavarian Division on the Ypres battle front, southeast of Staden. Throughout October it was engaged at Hooglede, Staden, and near Wynghene. It was withdrawn on October 28 and remained out of line in the Ghent area until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was engaged as a sector- holding unit in active fronts during 1918.

16th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │2 Ldw. │3 Ldw. │2 Ldw. │3 Ldw.
│ │374 (Jacobi │ │374.
│ │ Rgt.). │ │
│ │379 Ldw. │ │379 Ldw.
│ │ (Tietz │ │
│ │ Rgt.). │ │
│ │378 (3 C. │ │
│ │ Dist.). │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │ │94 Cav. Rgt.
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │ │101 F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│ │2 Ers. Co. 18 Pions.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │ │157 Cyclist Co.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │2 Ldw. │3 Ldw. │2 Ldw. │3 Ldw.
│ │374. │ │374.
│ │ │ │
│ │379 Ldw. │ │379 Ldw.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 8 Cuirassier Rgt. │1 Sqn. 6 Cuirassier Rgt.
│5 Sqn. 94 Cav. Rgt. (?) │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │101 F. A. Rgt.
│ 101 F. A. Rgt. │791 Light Am. Col.
│ │794 Light Am. Col.
│ │1046 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(416) Pion Btn.: │3 Ers. Co. 18 Pions.
Liaisons. │ │
│ 2 Co. 34 Res. Pions. │1 Landst. Co. 8 C. Dist.
│ │ Pions.
│ 3 Ers. Co. 18 Pions. │83 Searchlight Section.
│ 316 T. M. Co. │516 Signal Command:
│ 2 Light Fort Searchlight │ 516 Tel. Detch.
│ Section. │
│ Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │71 Ambulance Co. │71 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│21 Field Hospital. │21 Field Hospital.
│142 Field Hospital. │216 Vet. Hospital.
│151 Field Hospital. │
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │996 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │1 C. Dist. Landst. Inf. Btn. │
│ No. 22. │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(374th Infantry Regiment and 3d Landwehr Regiment: 1st Corps
District—East Prussia. 379th Landwehr Regiment: 3d Corps
District—Brandenburg.)

1915.

POLAND.

1. The 16th Landwehr Division (Landwehr Division of Koenigsberg, Sommer Division), providing the war garrison of Koenigsberg, took part in the battles on the East Prussian frontier in October, 1914, with a few of its future elements (1st Ersatz Battalion of the 12th Landwehr Regiment).

It was in the region of Mariampol from April until the end of August, 1915. It was identified in the Lipsk sector on August 30.

RUSSIA.

2. After the summer offensive it was sent to the sector between Krevo and Smorgoni (September).

1916.

1. The division was in the Krevo-Smorgoni sector during 1916.

1917.

1. Krevo-Smorgoni sector.

On July 22 and 23, 1917, the 16th Landwehr Division suffered very heavy losses withstanding Russian attacks in this area.

During the months which followed it gave its best elements to troops on the Western Front or to those assigned to the Western Front. At the end of November 70 per cent of the men of the 379th Landwehr Regiment were between the ages of 40 and 47 years (Russian interrogatory).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 16th Landwehr Division has always been on the Russian front. Its combat value appears mediocre.

1918.

1. The 16th Landwehr Division was still in line near Krevno in January. Moving then toward the east, it was near Orcha in April, and near Kharkov early in May. The 346th Infantry Regiment, which had remained in Russia after the departure for France of the two other regiments of the 14th Landwehr Division seems to have been attached to the 16th Landwehr Division.

SEA OF AZOV.

2. Early in September the division was identified in the Taganrog region.

ROUMANIA.

3. The division left the Don region and went to Constantinople. It did not remain here however, but left immediately for Roumania, being identified at Constanza on October 28.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

16th Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │9 Bav. │11 Bav. │9 Bav. │8 Bav.
│ │14 Bav. │ │11 Bav.
│ │21 Bav. │ │14 Bav.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light Cav. │4 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light Cav.
│ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │8 Bav. F. A. Rgt.
│ 3 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │1 Abt. 5 Bav. Ft. A. Rgt.
│ │709 Light Am. Col.
│ │130 Bav. Light Am. Col.
│ │144 Bav. Light Am. Col.
│ │161 Bav. Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│(16 Bav.) Pion. Btn.: │16 Bav. Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 14 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 14 Bav. Res. Pion. Co.
│ 15 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 15 Bav. Res. Pion. Co.
│ 16 Bav. T. M. Co. │16 Bav. Signal Command:
│ 16 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ 16 Bav. Tel. Detch.
│ │ 104 Bav. Wireless Detch.
│ │ 16 Bav. T. M. Co.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │8 Bav. Ambulance Co. │8 Bav. Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│29 Bav. Field Hospital. │29 Bav. Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │52 Bav. Field Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transports. │Mt. Col. │697 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(3d Bavarian Corps District.)

1917.

The 16th Bavarian Division was formed at the end of January, 1917, by taking three infantry regiments from existing Bavarian divisions—the 6th Bavarian Division furnished the 11th Bavarian Infantry Regiment; the 5th Bavarian Division the 14th Bavarian Infantry Regiment; the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division the 21st Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment. The 3d Field Artillery Regiment came from the 6th Bavarian Division.

ARTOIS.

1. On February 12, 1917, the 16th Bavarian Division replaced the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division south of Lens, opposite Souchez. It suffered serious losses there in February and March (raids by Canadian troops). After a period of rest, in March, in the Douai area, the division returned opposite Souchez and suffered in the British attack of April 9, which forced it back beyond Vimy Ridge. It was relieved on April 11, very much exhausted.

FLANDERS-MESSINES.

2. Toward the end of April the 16th Bavarian Division took over the calm sector of Armentieres (East), south of the Lys (Deulemont-Frelinghien). At the beginning of June, on account of the menace of the British attack on the Messines front, the division was transferred north of the Lys. During the battle which started on June 9 it was not engaged as a whole; it sent some of its elements southeast of Messines to reenforce the 4th Bavarian Division.

3. The 16th Bavarian Division left the Lys sector, beginning of September, to go into reserve near Dadizeele, east of Ypres.

4. On September 20 it came up to replace the Bavarian Ersatz Division, which was very much exhausted by the British attack. It counterattacked north of the Lys. Its losses were such that it was relieved the next day.

5. After a period of rest at Bruges, the 16th Bavarian Division occupied the coast sector (Lombartzyde) from October 25 to November 22.

CAMBRESIS.

6. Transferred to the Cambrai front, it went into line on December 3 (Bullecourt-Queant) and launched a local attack on the 12th.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 16th Bavarian Division appears to be of good combat value. It may be compared with the best Bavarian Divisions. It was very much exhausted at Ypres in 1917, but in general its morale remained high.

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division did not participate in the initial attack of March 21, but remained in reserve of the front at Rumancourt. On the 23d it marched toward the front through Vaulx Vraucourt. The division was engaged at Sapignies on March 25, and on the 27th advanced on Gomiecourt, Courcelles, and Moyenneville. The division was relieved on April 7 and rested until the 26th.

YPRES.

2. It was reengaged south of the Scarpe, south of Feuchy, until May 19, when it moved north and took over a sector at Dranoutre. The route followed was through Cambrai-Tourcoing-Bousbecque. On June 20 it went out to rest in the Lille area until the beginning of July. It returned to its former sector on July 4 and remained there until the end of July.

BATTLE OF THE SCARPE-SOMME.

3. It rested in the Lille area until August 20, when it moved south and was engaged west of Bapaume (Grevillers) in a German counterattack. It was thrown back on Avesnes les Bapaume (26th), Bancourt (30th), Villers au Flos (1st), until its relief on September 5. Losses of the division were heavy in this fighting.

4. The division went into reserve in Belgium at Iseghem until the 28th. At this time the 8th Bavarian Regiment, coming from the 14th Bavarian Division, replaced the 21st Bavarian Reserve, which was disbanded.

BATTLE OF DIXMUDE.

5. It was engaged north of Ypres and west of Roulers (Westroosebeke) from September 28 to October 5, with very heavy losses. The division was out of line for 10 days and then came back on the 15th southwest of Thourout. The Belgium advance forced it back southeast of Bruges (Oct. 18–19). On the 28th the division was relieved, but was obliged to return to line on November 3 and fought until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was engaged largely in holding defensive but active sectors on the British front in 1918.

17th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │33. │75. │33. │75. │34. │75.
│ │76. │ │76. │ │89 Gren.
│34. │89 Gren. │34. │89 Gren. │ │90 Fus.
│ │90 Fus. │ │90 Fus. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │16 Dragoon Rgt. (3 │ │16 Dragoon Rgt. (3
│ Sqns.). │ │ Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │17 Brig.: │17 Brig.: │17 Brig.:
│ 24 F. A. Rgt. │ 24 F. A. Rgt. │ 24 F. A. Rgt.
│ 60 F. A. Rgt. │ 60 F. A. Rgt. │ 60 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 9:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 9:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ Field Co. 9 Pions.│ 1 Co. 9 Pions.
│ │ 17 Tel. Detch. │ 17 T. M. Co.
│ │ 17 Pont. Engs. │ 17 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │ 17 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │13 Anti-Aircraft
│ │ │ Sections.
│ │ │33 Balloon Sqn.
│ │ │
│ │ │39 Labor Btn.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │34. │75. │34. │75.
│ │89 Gren. │ │89.
│ │90 Fus. │ │90.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 16 Dragoon │4 Sqn. 16 Drag.
│ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │17 Art. Command: │17 Art. Command:
│ 60 F. A. Rgt. │ 60 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 1 Abt. 24 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt. (2, 3, and 4
│ │ Btries.).
│ │ 940 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1329 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1270 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│126 Pion. Btn.: │126 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Co. 9 Pions. │ 1 Co. 9 Pions.
│ 5 Co. 9 Pions. │ 5 Co. 9 Pions.
│ 17 T. M. Co. │ 17 T. M. Co.
│ 17 Tel. Detch. │ 62 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │17 Signal Command:
│ │ 17 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 138 Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │22 Ambulance Co. │22 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│84 Field Hospital. │84 Field Hospital.
│89 Field Hospital. │89 Field Hospital.
│17 Vet. Hospital. │17 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │550 M. T. Col. │550 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │52 M. G. S. S. │
│ Detch. │
│13 Anti-Aircraft │
│ Section. │
│ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(9th Corps District—Hanseatic cities and Mecklenburg.)

1914.

Upon mobilization, the 17th Division with the 18th Division formed the 9th Army Corps (Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklemburg). It gave its 81st Brigade to the 17th Reserve Division (9th Reserve Corps) (new organization).

BELGIUM.

1. August, 1914, the 17th Division formed a part of the 1st German Army (Von Kluck). On the 3d of August it sent one of its brigades, the 34th (Mecklenburg), to Liege, where it was rejoined by its reservists and by the other brigade, the 33d (Hanseatic), (Aug. 9–13). On August 20 the division was with the 9th Corps of Louvain. It went into action against the British troops on the 24th. It went around Maubeuge on the 25th and passed through Nesle, Roye, Vezaponin (north bank of the Aisne) September 1.

MARNE.

2. The division took part in the battle of the Marne at Chatillon sur Morin (Sept. 6), Esternay-Courgivaux (Sept. 7 and 8). It withdrew by way of Betz, Crépy en Valois Pierrefonds, crossed the Aisne at Rethondes (Sept. 11), and stopped in the area Carlepont, Nampcel, Audignicourt (Sept. 13). It went into action on the front Tracy le Mont east of Moulin sous Touvent (Sept. 16–21).

OISE.

3. In October it took up the position near Bailly (from the Oise to east of St. Mard) and remained there until the middle of November, 1915. Some of its elements occupied the right bank of the Oise near Connectancourt (Oct. 5 to Dec. 25).

4. November 17 it attacked Tracy le Val.

1915.

From January to October, 1915, it held the sector on the left bank of the Oise, east edge of the St. Mard wood. At the end of March the 76th Infantry Regiment was withdrawn and transferred to the 111th Division.

1. June 14 to 16 certain elements of the division counterattacked at Quennevieres.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Withdrawn from the sector of the Oise (about Oct. 15), the division was transferred to Champagne. It occupied the front between the road Souain, Somme Py, and St. Hilaire, St. Souplet. It launched an attack on December 7.

1916.

1. The division was retained on the Champagne front northwest of Souain until June, 1916.

2. Relieved in the middle of June, it was sent to rest in the area southwest of Charleville (second half of June).

SOMME.

It entrained for the Somme between July 2 and 4. Certain elements of the 17th Division appeared in the sector of Biaches la Maisonnette, on July 9 and 10. The entire division was in line between Barleux and Belloy (July 10 to 25) and suffered heavy losses.

3. The division was withdrawn from the front and reorganized (end of July to Aug. 15).

4. From August 16 to August 20 to the middle of September it again occupied the sector of Barleux-Belloy.

ARTOIS.

5. At the beginning of October the division was sent to Artois. It held the line opposite Arras, between Roclincourt and Bailly, until December 24.

1917.

SOMME.

1. About January 9, 1917, the 17th Division occupied the sector of Py, south of the Ancre. Local combats in the neighborhood of Grandcourt and Miraumont (in January and February) caused it serious losses.

2. The division was withdrawn from the Somme front about March 20, at the time of the German retirement. It rested southwest of Douai (end of March and beginning of April).

ARTOIS.

3. On April 10 it was sent as a reenforcement to Arras to oppose the British offensive. It held the sector of Oppy-Gavrelle and suffered a great deal in the course of counterattacks. It was relieved on April 25. From March 27 to April 24 the 7th Company of 90th Fusiliers lost 115 men. (British Summary of Information.)

4. After a rest in the Tournai area until May 9 the 17th Division went into line in the sector of Boursies, Demicourt (west of Cambrai).

5. Relieved from this calm sector on May 28, it was sent to rest in the Cambrai area until June 9.

FLANDERS.

6. On this date it was transferred to Roulers by way of Valenciennes- Mons and put on the Ypres front north of Hooge. It was withdrawn three days before the British attack, on July 27, but suffered heavy losses from the bombardment.

7. For five weeks, until September 23, the division occupied the calm sector of Havrincourt (south of the road Bapaume-Cambrai).

8. On September 23 it again entrained for Flanders. Sent by way of Cambrai to Ledeghem, it went into action in the Polygon wood sector (northeast of Ypres). On September 26 it counterattacked without success and with great losses. It only remained in line for two days. In these engagements the 75th Infantry Regiment lost 30 officers and 1,000 men (British Summary of Information.)

9. Relieved on September 28 from the Flanders front, the 17th Division was sent south of Lens on October 17. It was still there on February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 17th Division is recruited from the Hanseatic towns and the Duchies of Mecklenburg. The sectional character was accentuated in June 1917, when the 89th Grenadiers took from the regiments of the 18th Division all the inhabitants of Mecklenburg who were in them. (Summary of Information, June 28.)

However, one must take into account a certain proportion of Poles from the 6th Corps District, received in the replacements of 1917.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

On July 11, 1916, the following appreciation was written of the 9th Army Corps:

“The 9th Army Corps gives the impression of a very good corps which would be a formidable adversary. The intellectual level of officers and men is appreciably higher than that ordinarily encountered in the German Army. This fact is due to the recruiting which, in most cases, is done in Hamburg, Bremen, and Luebeck.”

After the last combats of Flanders (July and September, 1917), the 17th Division was considered as having its combative force perceptibly diminished on account of its losses.

In a general manner, the division has given a good account of itself in the course of its battles.

The Danes, who are numerous in its ranks, fight well and do not appear to occasion any weakness. (October, 1917.)

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division was relieved on the Acheville sector on February 17–18 by the 12th Reserve Division and went to rest near Douai until mid- March. On March 21 it was engaged near Lagnicourt and Moreuil (southeast of Arras), north of Vaulx-Vraucourt (22d), at Beliagnies and Lapigines (24th). The division was relieved on the 25th, after losing 50 per cent of its effectives. It rested until April 1, when it was reengaged near Bucquoy until the 10th.

2. The division was relieved by the 5th Bavarian Division, retired to the Favreuil-Sapignies-Beugnatre area on the 10th, and the next day went into billets near Cambrai. Later it moved to the Valenciennes area. On May 24 it left Bouchain and traveled via Marquion to Bapaume, where it came into line on that evening. While resting the division had undergone no special training. It is known to have received 1,300 men as a draft during this period.

3. It was reengaged in the Bucquoy sector from May 24 to June 23, when it returned to rest near Bouchain until July 17. The division was moved to Laon on July 24–25 and from there marched to the Vesle front by stage.

VESLE.

4. About August 1 the division went into line between Bazoches and Mont Notre Dame. It fell back on the Aisne toward Bourg et Comin from September 3–4, where it was relieved on September 15–16. The German communique of August 28 mentioned the 89th Grenadier Regiment for its conduct against the Americans at Bazoches.

AISNE-AILETTE.

5. The division was again in line on September 18 at Jouy-Aizy sector (north of Vailly). It retired to the Ailette on the 30th and shifted by rail to Semide.

CHAMPAGNE.

6. On October 4 it was engaged southeast of Machault (Somme Py road). The French attack forced it back to east of Attigny, where it was relieved on the 19th.

7. The division rested five days near Mouzon. It entrained on October 26 and moved to Rozoy, reaching there on the 27–28th.

ARDENNES.

8. It was put into line northwest of Chateau Porcien on the St. Fergeux- Recouvrance Road on October 28–29th. For its fighting east of Banonge on the 29th, the 90th Regiment was complimented by the German communique of the 30th. (558 prisoners were lost by the division on the 29th.) In November the division was driven back through Seraincourt, Remaucourt, Chaumont Porcien, Rocquigny, St. Jean aux Bois.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as first class. It was one of the best German divisions. Its conduct in the March offensive won the Kaiser’s praise. Until August it was relatively fresh, but after that was engaged almost constantly in efforts to check the Allied offensive in Champagne. At the end the division was so reduced in numbers that it could muster but one or two battalions.

Its morale was excellent until late in the fall, when it was lowered noticeably. A mutiny and other acts of indiscipline were reported.

17th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │81. │162. │81. │162. │81. │162.
│ │163. │ │163. │ │163.
│33 Res. │75 Res. │33 Res. │75 Res. │33 Res. │75 Res.
│ │76 Res. │ │76 Res. │ │76 Res.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │6 Res. Hus. Rgt. (3│6 Res. Hus. Rgt. │6 Res. Hus. Rgt.
│ Sqns.). │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │17 Res. F. A. Rgt. │17 Res. F. A. Rgt. │17 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (6 Btries.). │ (8 Btries.). │ (10 Btries.).
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.
Liaisons. │ Btn. No. 9. │ Btn. No. 9. │ Btn. No. 9.
│ │17 Res. Pont. Engs.│340 Pion. Co.
│ │17 Res. Tel. Detch.│217 T. M. Co.
│ │ │17 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │17 Res. Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │81. │16. │81. │162.
│ │162. │ │163.
│ │76 Res. │ │76 Res.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 6 Res. Hus. │1 Sqn. 16 Res. Hus.
│ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │110 Art. Command: │110 Art. Command:
│ │
│ 17 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 17 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (10 Btries.) │
│ (Nov. 4). │
│ │ 3 Abt. 26 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt. (7 and 9
│ │ Btries.).
│ │ 703 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1245 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1299 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(317) Pion. Btn.: │317 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 4 Co. 9 Pions. │4 Co. 9 Pions.
│ 340 Pion. Co. │340 Pion. Co.
│ 217 T. M. Co. │42 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 255 Searchlight │417 Signal Command:
│ Section. │
│ 417 Tel. Detch. │417 Tel. Detch.
│ │111 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │509 Ambulance Co. │509 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │501 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │41 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│ │417 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │716 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(9th Corps District.—Schleswig—Holstein and the Hanseatic cities.)

1914.

1. The 17th Reserve Division formed with the 18th Reserve Division, the 9th Reserve Corps. One of its brigades is a surplus brigade of the 9th Army Corps (the 81st).

2. During the first part of the month of August, 1914, the 17th Reserve Division was used to guard the coast of Schleswig-Holstein.

BELGIUM.

3. Entraining on August 23 for Belgium, it was at Louvain on the 25th, at Brussels on the 30th (until Sept. 3). It reached Termonde on September 4, and remained outside of Antwerp.

OISE.

4. On September 9, it was transferred in haste to the Valenciennes area and then sent to the Oise. It detrained on the 13th at Chauny and went into action on the right bank of the Oise, south of Noyon (Sept. 15 to 20).

5. About October 7 the 17th Reserve Division was sent to the vicinity of Roye, where it lost heavily.

6. About the middle of November the division occupied the front between the Avre and Roye. On December 20 it was in line between Ribecourt and Thiescourt.

1915.

On January 4, 1915, the 75th Reserve Infantry Regiment entrained at Noyon for Upper Alsace (Hartmannswillerkopf), and did not return to the division until May.

ROYE (SOMME).

1. On February 6 the division left the banks of the Oise to go back to the area south of the Avre, between Lassigny and Roye. It remained in this sector until the month of October.

2. Toward the end of September elements of the division formed a part of the Hartz Division in Artois (Sick and Balthasar Regiments).

ARTOIS.

3. In October the 17th Reserve Division was withdrawn from the front south of Roye and sent to Artois, near Lens (Liévin-Givenchy).

1916.

1. The 17th Reserve Division remained in Artois until the battle of the Somme. In February it launched several attacks.

SOMME.

2. About the beginning of July the 163d Infantry Regiment was sent, temporarily, to reinforce the 185th Division, engaged along the Somme near Cantalmaison.

3. The 17th Reserve Division was in line as a whole north of the Somme about July 25 (Bazentin-Pozières). It remained there until August 9–14.

4. It was sent to rest and to be reorganized near Valenciennes.

5. At the end of August it occupied the sector of Loos-Hulluch (north of Lens). In September the 75th Reserve Infantry Regiment was sent to the 211th Division.

6. About September 21 the division returned to the Somme (Le Transloy- Combles), where it lost heavily (losses, 51 per cent).

7. Relieved about October 10 it was transferred to Belgium.

8. From October 23–25 to the end of January, 1917, it was in line between Het Sas and the Ypres-Roulers railroad.

1917.

1. At the end of January, 1917, the 17th Reserve Division was sent for a month’s rest near Bruges, and again took over its sector.

ARTOIS.

2. It left the Ypres salient at the end of March and went into line southeast of Arras. On April 9 it suffered very heavy losses from the British offensives (2,100 prisoners).

3. On April 12–13 the division was relieved and sent to rest and to be reorganized.

CAMBRESIS.

4. On April 27 it took over the sector of Havrincourt (southwest of Cambrai) and occupied it until June 1.

ARTOIS.

5. Transferred to the Arras front, the 17th Reserve Division went back into line in the sector Guémappe-Monchy le Preux, where it launched several violent battles during the month of June. At the end of July it extended its sector toward the north (south of the Scarpe).

6. Relieved at the end of August it went back into line at the beginning of September southeast of Arras (Vis en Artois). It lost especially heavy during the gas attacks. (It received, on Oct. 23, 40 men per company, coming from Hamburg and Beverloo, slightly trained, and on Nov. 10 men taken from the Russian front.) (Summary of Information, Dec. 2.)

7. The 17th Reserve Division left Artois in the middle of November.

FLANDERS.

8. Sent to Flanders the division took over the sector at Becelaere about November 18. The division was engaged against the British attack of December 3 and suffered heavy losses. It underwent violent attacks and left the front in the beginning of January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The division is recruited in Schleswig-Holstein, the Hanseatic cities, and adjacent parts of Hanover. Some replacement troops were from Westphalia, and in September, 1916, men from Brandenburg of the 1917 class.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

During the year 1917 the 17th Reserve Division launched a great number of terrible attacks on the Arras front and in Flanders.

At Becelaere (Dec., 1917) it gave proof of great stubbornness. The 162d Infantry Regiment carried out a successful attack in this sector on December 14. However, a few months before, on June 18, the 163d Infantry Regiment is said to have refused to advance. (Summary of Information, June 19.)

Although this division is not one of the best in the German Army and its morale is mediocre it is capable of offering serious resistance.

1918.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

1. The northern sector was a fairly quiet front in the winter months and the division remained in line here until just before the German offensive on the Lys of April 9. Prior to this attack all of the division but one battalion of the 76th Reserve Regiment was withdrawn and sent hurriedly to the vicinity of Messines. It attacked there with other German divisions on the morning of April 9 under orders to take Messines by the evening of the 10th and to push ahead as far as possible. It gained considerable ground at heavy cost. Elements of the 7th Division relieved part of the 17th Reserve Division a few days later, but the bulk of the division remained in line until about April 22, when it was relieved by the 13th Reserve Division and the 19th Reserve Division.

2. On April 24 the division arrived in the Maldeghem area for a long rest. While there the divisional and the brigade commanders were decorated for their part in the Lys offensive. Death notices published in the German newspapers disclosed the death of two battalion and many company commanders on the Lys. While at rest the division went through courses of training. On June 4 it entrained at Eecloo and moved via Mons and Marle to Tergnier. At this time the Noyon offensive (June 9) was being organized. The division marched at night to Boulogne la Grasse (10th) and went into line on the evening of the 11th near Mery, relieving the 227th Division.

OISE.

3. The division was in heavy fighting immediately and suffered severely in the successful French counteroffensive of June 16.

BATTLE OF THE MATZ.

4. The French attack in August threw the division back on Canny sur Matz and later north of Fresnieres. It passed to second line about August 31, but was reengaged on September 5 at Esmery-Hallon. It suffered heavy losses and was taken out on September 9.

5. The division was moved to Lorraine, where it rested a month and returned to Le Cateau on October 10.

6. The division was engaged at Le Cateau on October 11 and resisted the British attack until November 3. It fought near Le Cateau (Oct. 18), Bazuel (21st), Forest (23d), Landrecies (24th), and Bois L’Eveque (Oct. 27). The division received the men of the 265th Reserve Regiment (108th Division) as a draft in October.

7. The division was out of line from November 3 to the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as first class. Its effectives were generally young; 31 per cent belong to the 1919 class and 18 per cent to the 1918 class on October 1. It took a prominent part in the Lys and Noyon offensives, winning a reputation for its vigorous attacks. Its defensive work in October around Le Cateau was of a high order.

17th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │182 Ldw. │380 │182 Ldw. │380.
│ │ (Kurhatowski│ │
│ │ Rgt.). │ │
│ │381 (Nussbaum │ │381.
│ │ Rgt.). │ │
│ │23 Landst. │ │23 Landst.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │ │1 Landst. Sqn. (1 C. Dist.).
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │ │235 F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│ │
Liaisons. │ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │2d Cyclist Co. 1 Jag. Btn. │2 Cyclist Co. 1 Jag. Btn.
│ │16 Cav. Brig. (7 and 8 Horse
│ │ Jag. and 5 Res. Drag.
│ │ Rgts.).
│ │9 C. Dist. Landst. Inf. Btn.
│ │ No. 13.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918[13]
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │182 Ldw. │380. │182 Ldw. │330.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │381. │ │380.
│ │ │ │
│ │23 Landst. │ │23 Landst.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │1 Landst. Sqn. (1 C. Dist.). │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │
│ 235 F. A. Rgt. │
│ 828 F. A. Btry. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(417) Pion. Btn.: │87 Searchlight Section.
Liaisons. │ │
│ 2 Ers. Co. 23 Pion. │517 Signal Command:
│ 317 T. M. Co. │517 Tel. Detch.
│ 182 Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │206 Ambulance Co. │206 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│152 Field Hospital. │171 Field Hospital.
│206 Field Hospital. │
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │2 Cyclist Co. 1 Jag. Btn. │
│158 Cyclist Co. 91 Cav. Rgt. │
│ │
│ │
│7 C. Dist. Landst. Inf. Btn. │
│ No. 50. │
│9 C. Dist. Landst. Inf. Btn. │
│ No. 13. │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
Footnote 13:

The elements below are those listed under the 700th Postal Sector.
Other elements belonging to the 17th Landwehr Division, but in other
sectors, are listed as attached to whatever divisions may hold those
sectors.

HISTORY.

(380th Infantry Regiment: 1st and 17th Corps Districts. 381st Infantry
Regiment: 12th and 5th Corps Districts.)

1915.

1. The 17th Landwehr Division, formed on the Eastern Front in the Niémen Army, with the elements of the former Esebeck Brigade, appeared about the month of December, 1915.

RUSSIA.

2. Before forming a part of the 17th Landwehr Division the Esebeck Brigade took part in the offensive against the Russians north of Kovno (July-August, 1915), was east of Vilna about the end of September, and took up its position west of Kosiany (northwest of Postavy) in October.

POSTAVY.

3. The 17th Landwehr Division, being formed in this sector by the addition of the 23d Landsturm Regiment to the Esebeck Brigade, remained in line in the area of Vidzy-Postavy (Tveretch), from the end of 1915 to the beginning of 1918.

1916.

1. The Division remained in the Tveretch sector.

1917.

1. The Division remained in the Tveretch sector.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division is of mediocre value.

1918.

1. The 17th Landwehr Division was identified in the Tveretch region toward the end of January.

2. About the middle of March it advanced into Russia and was identified in the Polotsk-Vitebsk region in March, April, and June.

3. The division was identified on the Don on September 26.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

18th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │35. │84. │35. │84. │36. │31.
│ │86 Fus. │ │86 Fus. │ │85.
│36. │31. │36. │31. │ │86 Fus.
│ │85. │ │85. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │16 Dragoon Rgt. (3 │ │16 Dragoon Rgt. (3
│ Sqns.). │ │ Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │18 Brig.: │18 Brig.: │18 Brig.:
│ 9 F. A. Rgt. │ 9 F. A. Rgt. │ 9 F. A. Rgt.
│ 45 F. A. Rgt. │ 45 F. A. Rgt. │ 45 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 9:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 9:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ Field Co. 9 Pions.│ 2 Co. 9 Pions.
│ │ 18 Pont. Engs. │ 18 T. M. Co.
│ │ 18 Tel. Detch. │ 18 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 18 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │57 Anti-Aircraft
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │36. │31. │36 │31.
│ │85. │ │85.
│ │86 Fus. │ │86.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 16 Drag. │2 Sqn. 16 Drag.
│ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │18 Art. Command: │18 Art. Command:
│ 45 F. A. Rgt. │ 45 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 2 Abt. 28 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt. (4 and 5
│ │ Btries.).
│ │ 749 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 753 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1,362 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│1 Pion. Btn. No. 9:│9 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 2 Co. 9 Pions. │ 2 Co. 9 Pions.
│ 3 Co. 9 Pions. │ 3 Co. 9 Pions.
│ 18 T. M. Co. │ 18 T. M. Co.
│ 18 Tel. Detch. │ 101 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │18 Signal Command:
│ │ 18 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 54 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │23 Ambulance Co. │23 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│90 Field Hospital. │90 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │92 Field Hospital.
│ │18 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │551 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │47 Anti-Aircraft │
│ Section. │
│505 Anti-Aircraft │
│ Btry. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(9th Corps District—Schleswig—Holstein.)

1914.

BELGIUM-MARNE.