Chapter XVII: Part 17

The 25th Division is recruited from the Grand Duchy of Hesse. Men are furnished principally from the rest of the 18th Corps District and the Rhine District (7th and 8th Corps Districts).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 18th Army Corps has been considered one of the best corps in the German Army.

In September, 1917, the morale of the 25th Division appeared good. At this time, as the division had not taken part in any important actions since September, 1916, it was difficult to form a judgment as to the combat value of this organization.

Its local operation on the salient of Moulin de Tous Vents (July 18, 1917) was carried out energetically.

1918.

1. The reports concerning the location of the 25th Division during January and early February are conflicting, mention being made in some of two reliefs; it seems most likely, however, that the division was not relieved until February 10, when the 15th Division took over its sector east of Passchendaele.

MONS.

2. On the 15th it entrained at Iseghem and traveled via Courtrai-Ath- Mons to Givry; from here it marched to Bavai (southwest of Mons), where it underwent a course of intensive training in open warfare; cooperation with tanks was featured.

ST. QUENTIN.

3. The division marched from Pommereuil on the 16th, via Le Cateau and Busigny, to Becquigny, and from there, on the 19th, to Wiancourt, reenforcing the battle front near Le Verguier (northwest of St. Quentin) on the 21st. It was relieved about the 30th, after having suffered heavy losses.

AMIENS.

4. On April 1 it went back into line southeast of Hangard en Santerre (southeast of Amiens); it was withdrawn about the 12th and moved by easy stages to the Lille area, where, on account of its good fighting on the St. Quentin and Amiens fronts, it was inspected by the Kaiser on April 20. The commander of the 115th Regiment received Pour le Mérite at the same time.

BETHUNE.

5. During the night of the 26–27th of April it relieved the 240th Division near Hinges (north of Bethune); relieved by the 36th Reserve Division on the 10th of May, it went to rest in the area north of Douai.

LYS.

6. On July 4 the division moved up into close reserve in the Laventie- Estaires area, and during the night of the 6–7th it relieved the 16th Division near Merville, north of the Lys. On the 20th it was withdrawn, the 16th Division coming back into line, and went to the Lille area.

SOMME.

7. After about a month’s rest it reenforced the front near Montauban (southeast of Albert). The front was being forced back here, and so the division passed successively through Hardecourt, Combles, and the St. Pierre-Vaast wood, where it was withdrawn September 5, after losing about 900 prisoners, and went to rest in the Bohain-Malincourt area.

CAMBRAI.

8. The division reenforced the front near Briastre (east of Cambrai) on October 11, and was withdrawn about the 28th.

VALENCIENNES.

9. On November 1 it came back into line north of Valenciennes, and had not been withdrawn on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 25th is rated as a first-class division. It did very well in the large amount of heavy fighting in which it participated during 1918, and as a result suffered exceedingly heavy losses, especially in officers. It received numerous large drafts, and so the division’s strength was rather larger than the average.

25th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │ │116 Res. │49 Res. │116 Res. │50 Res. │83 Res.
│ │118 Res. │ │118 Res. │ │118 Res.
│ │83 Res. │50 Res. │83 Res. │ │168.
│ │168. │ │168. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │4 Res. Dragoon Rgt.│4 Res. Dragoon Rgt.│4 Res. Dragoon Rgt.
│ (3 Sqns.). │ │ (2 Sqns.).
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │25 Res. F. A. Rgt. │25 Res. F. A. Rgt. │25 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (6 Btries.). │ │ (9 Btries., Nos.
│ │ │ 4–12).
│ │13 F. A. Rgt. │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│1 and 2 Res. Cos., │1 and 2 Res. Cos., │1 and 2 Res. Cos.,
Liaisons. │ 2 Pion. Btn. No. │ 2 Pion. Btn. No. │ 2 Pion. Btn. No.
│ 11. │ 11. │ 11.
│ │25 Res. Pont. Engs.│1 Co. 29 Pions.
│ │ │
│ │25 Res. Tel. Detch.│2 Co. 29 Pions.
│ │ │
│ │ │225 T. M. Co.
│ │ │25 Res. Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │25 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918[17]
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │50 Res. │83 Res. │50 Res. │168.
│ │118 Res. │ │83 Res.
│ │168. │ │118 Res.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 4 Res. │2 Sqn. 4 Res. Drag.
│ Dragoon Rgt. │ Rgt.
│ │4 Sqn. 4 Res. Drag.
│ │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │127 Art. Command: │127 Art. Command:
│ │
│ │
│ 25 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 25 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (9 Btries.). │ (6 4-gun 6 4-how.
│ │ Btries.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(325) Pion. Btn.: │2 Pion. Btn. No.
Liaisons. │ │ 11:
│ │
│ 1 Res. Co. 11 │ 1 Res. Co. 11
│ Pions. │ Pions.
│ 2 Res. Co. 11 │ 2 Res. Co. 11
│ Pions. │ Pions.
│ 225 T. M. Co. │ 286 Pion. Co.
│ 20 Ldw. Field │ 225 T. M. Co.
│ Searchlight │
│ Section. │
│ 425 Tel. Detch. │ 425 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 151 Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │518 Ambulance Co. │518 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│67 Field Hospital. │67 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│68 Field Hospital. │68 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │518 M. T. Col. │M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
Footnote 17:

Composition at time of dissolution, October, 1918.

HISTORY.

(168th and 118th Reserve Regiments: 18th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Hesse. 83d Reserve Regiment: 11th Corps District—Electorate of Hesse.)

1914.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 25th Reserve Division, forming with the 21st Reserve Division the 18th Reserve Corps, belonged to the 4th Army (Duke of Wurttemberg).

BELGIUM-ARGONNE.

2. It detrained August 9–11 at Hermeskeil (southeast of Treves); entered Luxemburg the 16th (by way of Remich); crossed Luxemburg on the 19th; entered Belgium on the 20th. On the 22d it fought at Neufchateau; on the 22d, at Tremblois; crossed the Meuse on the 28th. To the west of the Argonne the 25th Reserve Division advanced to the area of Revigny. At the battle of the Marne it fought on the Saulx, in the neighborhood of Brabant le Roy (Sept. 7–10). It retired by way of Ste. Menehould, Moinemout, to the south of Cernay en Dormois (Sept. 14).

FLANDERS.

3. In October the 25th Reserve Division was sent to Flanders, south of the Lys. Toward the end of November it occupied a sector north of Wytschaete.

RUSSIA.

4. In December the division was transferred to the Eastern Front. It took part, with the Fabeck Corps, in the operations on the Bzura (December, 1914, to February, 1915).

1915.

GALICIA.

1. At the end of February, 1915, it was engaged in the Carpathians north of the Dniester (Von der Marwitz Detachment); in June at Przemysl, then at Lemberg.

BREST-LITOWSK.

2. In July, the 25th Reserve Division took part in the offensive on Brest-Litowsk. Its successes occasioned it heavy losses; the 5th Company of the 168th Infantry Regiment received not less than 199 men as replacements from June 19 to August 17.

SERBIA.

3. The division took part in the Serbian campaign (October-November).

FRANCE.

4. It was transferred to the Western Front at the beginning of December, 1917. It entrained at Weisskirchen (Hungary). Itinerary: Temesvar- Budapest-Vienna-Ulm-Stuttgart-Spire-Deux Ponts-Saarbrucken-Sedan (detrained on Dec. 11).

ARGONNE.

5. On December 18, the 25th Reserve Division went into line on the Argonne (La Harazee).

1916.

1. The division remained in the Argonne until the end of July, 1916.

VERDUN.

2. At the beginning of July it was transferred to the Verdun area. It was engaged in the sector of Thiaumont (July-August); in the Nawe wood (August) and suffered heavy losses. It was again very much exhausted resisting the French attack of October 24.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. Relieved after this attack, the 25th Reserve Division was sent to rest in vicinity of Jametz and was reorganized. On November 16 it went into line east of Auberive. In the course of November it received important replacements, including a large proportion of the 1917 class. Its reconstitution was not completed until February; 1917.

1917.

1. The division was retained on the Champagne front (Auberive) until the end of January, 1917.

MEUSE.

2. On February 27 it went into line on the right bank of the Meuse (sector of Louvemont-Chambrettes-Caurieres wood) and remained there, without any important losses, until June 20.

3. After resting until July 6 in the vicinity of Juvigny, Jametz, Marville, the 25th Reserve Division again occupied the front near Verdun (north of Vacherauville). North of Louvemont it withstood the French attack of August 20, which caused it to suffer very heavy losses (47 officers and 1,150 men prisoners, of whom 1,012 belonged to 168th Infantry Regiment).

VOSGES.

4. The 25th Reserve Division, already weakened by an epidemic of dysentery, was almost completely exhausted, when it was relieved on August 25 on the Verdun front. Sent to rest in the vicinity of Sarreburg, it took over a sector of the Vosges (Blamont), about September 4.

CHAMPAGNE.

5. Relieved on September 25 and entraining on the 27th at Rechicourt, the division was transferred to Champagne, where it occupied the sector Nogent-l’Abbesse (Nov. 11 to beginning of February, 1918).

RECRUITING.

The 25th Reserve Division is recruited from the Grand Duchy of Hesse, the Electorate of Hesse, and Hesse-Nassau. At times replacements were furnished from the Rhine districts, including the Grand Duchy of Baden (especially in 1916).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 25th Reserve Division put up a splendid defense against the French at the time of the attack on August 20, 1917.

It was an excellent organization at the outbreak of the campaign, but it seems (in spite of recent assertions of prisoners that it is still unfit to attack and was put in the fourth class, Arbeits Division) that the 25th Reserve Division, although it is exhausted by too long stays in line, is capable of rendering services even on an active front. Therefore it must be considered as a good division of the second class until more detailed information is received (Mar. 30, 1918).

1918.

1. The 25th Reserve Division was relieved by the 21st Division in the Nogent-l’Abbesse sector on February 6, and went to the Vouziers area, where it was put through a course of training, but not in open warfare.

AISNE.

2. On the 20th it relieved the 10th Reserve Division near Juvincourt (northwest of Rheims); it was withdrawn on April 11.

MONTDIDIER.

3. The division moved north by easy stages, and relieved the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division, west of Montdidier, on the 21st. Here it lost near Cantigny (north) heavily while trying to prevent Cantigny from falling to the Americans. It also lost even more heavily during the offensive of August 9, and was pushed back to Dancourt (southwest of Roye). It was withdrawn about the 18th.

ST. QUENTIN.

4. On September 1 it reenforced the front near Voyennes (west of St. Quentin). In the fighting that followed the division was forced back to the Holnon wood (west of St. Quentin); it was withdrawn here about the 20th.

5. On the 30th, it again reenforced the front in the Lehaucourt sector (north of St. Quentin). It was withdrawn on October 11, and dissolved. 168th Regiment was transferred to the 21st Reserve Division. 83d Reserve Regiment was disbanded and drafted to the 22d Division. 87th Reserve Regiment was disbanded and drafted to the 48th Reserve Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

Until 1918 the 25th Reserve had been considered a second-class division. It is to be noted, however, that although it was trained in February, the training it received was not in open warfare—not to fit it to become an attack division. Prisoners captured soon after stated that the Germans considered it as little better than “a labor division.” It was not used in any of the offensives made by the Germans, and was not very tenacious on the defense in any sector that was at all active. Moreover, two of the divisions that received replacements from the division when it was disbanded were second class and the other was rated as a fourth- class division. It was probably a third-class division.

25th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │25 Mixed │13 Ldw. │32 Res. │13 Ldw. │32 Res. │13 Ldw.
│ Ldw. │ │ │ │ │
│ │16 Ldw. │ │16 Ldw. │ │16 Ldw.
│ │ │ │328 Ldw. │ │328 Ldw.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 6 Res. Drag.│2 Sqn. 6 Res. Drag.│2 Sqn. 6 Res. Drag.
│ Rgt. │ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │254 F. A. Rgt. │244 Art. Command: │244 Art. Command:
│ │ 254 F. A. Rgt. │ 254 Ldw. F. A.
│ │ │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│407 T. M. Co. │425 Pion. Btn.: │425 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│525 Tel. Detch. │ 1 Res. Co. 21 │ 4 Co. 27 Pions.
│ │ Pions. │
│ │ 4 Co. 27 Pions. │ 3 Landst. Co. 6 C.
│ │ │ Dist. Pions.
│ │ 407 T. M. Co. │ 12 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │525 Tel. Detch. │525 Signal Command:
│ │ │ 525 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 81 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │554 Ambulance Co. │554 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │414 Field Hospital.│414 Field Hospital.
│ │6 Ldw. Field │6 Ldw. Field
│ │ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│ │525 Vet. Hospital. │525 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │M. T. Col. │790 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1916.

AISNE.

1. The 25th Landwehr Division was organized in part from the former 25th Mixed Landwehr Brigade, independent (13th and 16th Landwehr Regiments), which entered Belgium on August 20, 1914, and went immediately after the battle of the Marne to the Laon area, where it occupied the Craonne-La Ville aux Bois sector from the end of September, 1914, until almost the end of 1916.

2. In October, 1916, the 25th Landwehr Brigade was transformed into the 25th Landwehr Division by the addition of a third regiment, the Schuster Regiment, which had existed for only a short time.

3. The division was then sent to the west and sent into line between Vailly and Chavonne (October).

1917.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

1. At the beginning of February, 1917, the 186th Infantry Regiment was added as a third regiment to the 25th Landwehr Division. The division was still occupying the sector east of Vailly when the French offensive was launched on April 16. The division suffered heavy losses, retiring to the Chemin des Dames by way of Ostel, Aizy, Jouy (Apr. 16–22).

UPPER ALSACE.

2. Relieved north of the Aisne about April 25, the 25th Landwehr Division was transferred to Upper Alsace. At the beginning of May it went into line near the Swiss frontier (Hirtzbach, Largitzen, Bisel). It did not leave this sector since that time.

3. In May the 186th Infantry Regiment was replaced by a new regiment, the 328th Landwehr Regiment, formed by taking one battalion of each of the three regiments of the 13th Landwehr Division.

RECRUITING.

The division has a marked sectional quality; the infantry and field artillery come entirely from Westphalia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

This is purely a sector division. The 25th Landwehr Division has been in line near the Swiss frontier for more than a year.

Since its arrival in Upper Alsace (May, 1917) the division has possessed an assault detachment supposed to carry out raids (June, 1918).

1918.

ALSACE.

1. The division remained in the Hirzbach-Swiss frontier sector all through the year until the signing of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 25th Landwehr Division is rated as a fourth-class division, as being fit to hold only a quiet sector. On the 11th of November, soon after the hour fixed for the suspension of hostilities, a number of men came over to the French lines to fraternize; they were taken prisoners. It seems that there had been a great deal of revolutionary agitation in the division. On October 8 a doctor had had his epaulettes cut to pieces; on the 9th the Soldiers’ Council had come together and had elected representatives; on the 10th the company commander (of at least one company) had read the program for the organization of the Soldiers’ Council. Prisoners state that the causes of this state of mind were the recent defeats suffered by the German forces, the weariness caused by four years of war, and the Kiel disturbances. From the 10th of November on none of the advanced posts had been occupied, and the men refused to do any work, the war having come to an end, to their mind.

26th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │51. │119 Gren.│51. │119 Gren.│51. │119 Gren.
│ │125. │ │125. │ │121.
│52. │121. │52. │121. │ │125.
│ │122 Fus. │ │122 Fus. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │20 Uhlan Rgt. │20 Uhlan Rgt. │20 Uhlan Rgt. (3
│ │ │ Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │26 Brig.: │26 Brig.: │26 Brig.:
│ 29 F. A. Rgt. │ 29 F. A. Rgt. │ 29 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ 65 F. A. Rgt. │ 65 F. A. Rgt. │ 65 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│1 Field Co. 1 Pion.│1 Field Co. 1 Pion.│1 and 5 Field Cos.
Liaisons. │ Btn. No. 13 │ Btn. No. 13: │ 1 Pion. Btn. No.
│ │ │ 13:
│ │ 26 Pont. Engs. │ 26 T. M. Co.
│ │ 26 Tel. Detch. │ 26 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │ 26 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │51. │119 Gren.│51. │119.
│ │121. │ │121.
│ │125. │ │125.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │20 Sqn. 20 Uhlan │2 Sqn. 19 Uhlan
│ Rgt. (?). │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │26 Art. Command: │26 Art. Command:
│ 29 F. A. Rgt. (9 │ 29 F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ │ 2 Abt. 5 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt. (5, 6, and
│ │ 13 Btries.).
│ │ 1376 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1377 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1378 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(1/13 or 129) Pion.│143 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ Btn.: │
│ │
│ 1 Co. 13 Pions. │ 1 Co. 13 Pions.
│ 5 Co. 13 Pions. │ 5 Co. 13 Pions.
│ 26 T. M. Co. │ 26 T. M. Co.
│ 311 Searchlight │ 140 Searchlight
│ Section. │ Section.
│ Tel. Detch. │26 Signal Command:
│ │ 26 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 70 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │3 Ambulance Co. │33 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│33 Ambulance Co. │250 Field Hospital.
│250 Field Hospital.│259 Field Hospital.
│259 Field Hospital.│26 Vet. Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │599 (?) M. T. Col. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(13th Corps District—Wurttemberg.)

1914.

LORRAINE-ARGONNE.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 26th Division formed the 13th Army Corps, with the 27th Division, and was a part of the 5th Army (German Crown Prince), and went into action on August 22 at Baranzy, northwest of Longwy, and on August 24 near Longuyon. On August 31 it crossed the Meuse in the vicinity of Sassey, proceeded between the Meuse and the Argonne by way of Epinonville, Cheppy, Clermont, and Thiaucourt, fought on September 6, 7, 8, and 9 near Pretz and Beauzée, and retired toward Evre, Wally, and the Argonne (Apremont-Grurie wood). (On Sept. 11 the 8th Company of the 119th Grenadier Regiment had already had 3 officers and 168 men as casualties; the 10th Company was reduced to 2 officers and 59 men.)

FLANDERS.

2. Separated then from the 27th Division, which remained in the Argonne, the 26th Division was transferred west of Lille on October 8, and fought at Fromelles, Aubert, and Maisnil from October 20 to 28.

3. At the end of the month it went north and took part in the attacks upon Messines on October 31.

RUSSIA.

4. At the end of November the division entrained for Russia with the 25th Reserve Division, these two divisions forming the reorganized 13th Army Corps.

POLAND.

5. In December and January, 1915, it was a part of the Fabeck Corps, and fought in Poland on the Bzura and the Rawka where it suffered heavily.

1915.

1. In March, 1915, the 26th Division was sent to the front north of Prasnysz. It then composed the 13th Army Corps, with the 4th Guard Division and the 3d Division. In May it gave the 122d Fusilier Regiment to the 105th Division, a new formation. In June and July it took part in the offensive upon the Narew.

SERBIA.

2. Assigned to the army of Gen. von Koevess, it took part in the campaign against Serbia (October) and advanced along the Morava to Kragujevatz.

BELGIUM.

3. Sent to rest at Belgrade, at the end of November, before its departure for the Western Front, it entrained at Semlin on November 26 and was transferred to Belgium. (Itinerary: Budapest-Vienna-Munich-Ulm- Deux Ponts-Saarbrücken; detraining at Bertrix on Nov. 20.)

4. In December it was concentrated in the vicinity of Courtrai, where the 27th Division was and again formed the 13th Army Corps with this division as it had done originally.

1916.

1. In January, 1916, the 26th Division went into line southeast of Ypres (between Hooge and the south of Sanctuary wood). It held this sector until the month of July and suffered heavy losses July 2 (Zillebeke).

SOMME.

2. At the end of July the division was sent to the Somme and opposed the British troops on the Longueval front. It lost very heavily while resting at Guillemont. (Aug. 18–19).

FLANDERS.

3. Relieved on August 25, it took over the sector of Wytschaete (September to November 11).

SOMME.

4. About November 11 the division left Flanders and returned to the Somme. It occupied the Transloy sector from December 7 to the beginning of March, 1917.

1917.

ARTOIS.

1. The division was in reserve during the month of March behind the Artois front; went into action south of the Scarpe at the time of the British offensive. On April 25 it launched a counterattack at Monchy le Preux.

2. Relieved in a fortnight and sent to rest, it went back to the same sector (south of the Scarpe); remained there from May 31 to the end of July without any important losses and went to rest near Cambrai during the first half of August.

FLANDERS.

3. From August 16 to September 4 it occupied the sector north of Langemerck, where the artillery caused it heavy losses.

LORRAINE.

4. Sent to rest in Lorraine, it was trained and was outfitted for mountain warfare and then sent to the Italian front at the end of September.

ITALY.

5. It formed a part of the Berrer Corps (14th German Army) on October 20, fought northwest of Tolmino on October 24, entered Udine on the 28th, and reached the Tagliamento on the 29th.

RECRUITING.

The 26th Division is recruited entirely in Wurttemberg.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 26th Division conducted itself well in the numerous battles in which it took part. It is to be especially noted that at Poelcappelle, in August, 1917, some units mutinied and left the first line vacant, when the relief did not arrive quickly enough. This weakening of the morale of the 26th Division was probably only temporary and will disappear, no doubt, after a period of rest. (British Summary of Information, October, 1917.)

1918.

FRANCE.

1. The 26th Division, after having done very well in Italy, was transported to the Western Front, detraining in the Freiburg region (southeast of Dieuze), and remaining here until March 10.

CAMBRAI.

2. The division entrained at Strassburg on the 11th and 12th, and detrained near Peruwelz on the 13th and 14th, remaining in the neighborhood of Valenciennes until the 17th; from here it proceeded by night marches via Denain and Aniche to the Estrées-Ecourt-St. Quentin region (south of Douai), where it arrived on the 20th. On the 26th it went into close reserve near Fontaine les Croisilles, and the next day it entered line near Hamelincourt (south of Arras). It attacked the next day, but made no headway. It was relieved by the 111th Division on the 31st, and rested near Croisilles until April 3.

3. Then it marched via Bapaume and Miraumont and entered line south of Hébuterne (south of Arras), taking part in the unsuccessful attack of the 5th. It was relieved about the 12th of May by the 16th Reserve Division, and went to the Denain region to rest and refit. On June 15 it was in army reserve in the Roye-Carrépuis area.

RHEIMS.

4. About July 3 it went to the vicinity of Neuflize (northeast of Rheims); the 15th it entered line north of Prosnes (southeast of Rheims), and was withdrawn on the 17th.

5. By traveling in trucks, the division reached Bazoches on the 21st; it remained in reserve the 23d and 24th, and relieved the 45th Reserve Division east of Saponay (northwest of Fere-en-Tardenois) during the night of July 25–26. The Allied push forced the front back here, and the division was identified north of Saponay on August 2, northeast of Fismes on the 18th, east of Braine on the 20th. It was relieved about the 10th of September and went to rest north of Pont Arcy (northwest of Fismes).

6. On the 3d of October it came back into line north of Soupir (east of Vailly), and was still in line on November 11.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 26th is rated as a first-class division. While it was in Alsace (January, February, and the first part of March) it was thoroughly trained in open warfare, and so it was used as a shock division, but it did not succeed in making much headway in its first two engagements. It did fight tenaciously, however, then and in subsequent fighting, and was mentioned in the German communiques of October 27 and November 2 as having particularly distinguished itself. It suffered heavy losses, so that despite the large numbers of reenforcements sent it from time to time, its battalions were reduced to three companies.

26th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │51 Res. │121 Res. │51 Res. │121 Res. │51 Res. │119 Res.
│ │180. │ │180. │ │180.
│ │99 Res. │ │99 Res. │52 Res. │121 Res.
│52 Res. │119 Res. │52 Res. │119 Res. │ │99 Res.
│ │120 Res. │ │120 Res. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │Wurtt. Res. Drag. │Wurtt. Res. Drag. │Wurtt. Res. Drag.
│ Rgt. (3 Sqns.). │ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │26 Res. F. A. Rgt. │26 Res. F. A. Rgt. │26 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (9 Btries.). │ │ (6 Btries.).
│ │ │27 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │ (6 Btries.).
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 13
Liaisons. │ Btn. No. 13. │ Btn. No. 13. │ Pions.
│ │26 Res. Pont. Engs.│6 Field Co. 13
│ │ │ Pions.
│ │26 Res. Tel. Detch.│226 T. M. Co.
│ │ │26 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │26 Res. Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd Units. │ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │51 Res. │119 Res. │51 Res. │180.
│ │121 Res. │ │119 Res.
│ │180. │ │121 Res.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 20 Uhlan │2 Sqn. 20 Uhlan
│ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │122 (Wurtt.) Art. │122 Art. Command:
│ Command: │
│ 26 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 26 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (9 Btries.). │
│ │ 59 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ 1261 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1262 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1316 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│326 Pion. Btn.: │326 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 4 Co. 13 Pions. │ 4 Co. 13 Pions.
│ │
│ 6 Co. 13 Pions. │ 6 Co. 13 Pions.
│ 226 T. M. Co. │ 226 T. M. Co.
│ 426 Tel. Detch. │ 36 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │426 Signal Command:
│ │ 426 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 139 Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │522 Ambulance Co. │522 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│502 Field Hospital.│502 Field Hospital.
│505 Field Hospital.│245 Vet. Hospital.
│146 Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd Units. │2 (Wurtt.) Cyclist │
│ Co. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(13th Corps District—Wurttemberg.)

1914.

VOSGES.

1. At the beginning of the war the 26th Reserve Division, forming the 14th Reserve Corps with the 28th Reserve Division, was a part of the 7th German Army. While the 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment formed in Alsace and at once went to the valley of the Bruche, the 180th Infantry Regiment went to Ste. Marie aux Mines on August 8. The three reserve regiments (119th, 120th, 121st) detrained between Freiburg and Neu- Breisach on August 8–11 and fought at the Donon and in the valley of the Bruche from August 17 to 24. Going then to the western slope of the Vosges, the division reached St. Die on August 28, then advanced as far as Rougiville, from which place it was sent to Ste. Marie aux Mines.

SOMME.

2. On September 11 the 26th Reserve Division was sent to the Somme and assigned to the 2d Army. It went into action on both banks of the Ancre, near Thiepval, near Miraumont and Beaumont Hamel, beginning on the 27th.

3. It occupied this sector of the front (south of Hebuterne, north of Ovillers) until July, 1916. During this period it did not take part in any important action.

1915.

ARTOIS.

1. In March, 1915, the 120th Reserve Infantry Regiment was given to the 58th Division, a new formation.

2. In May, 1915, elements of the 26th Reserve Division were sent to Artois on detached service and fought at Neuville-St. Vaast. In June some units of the 99th Reserve Regiment (3d and 4th Battalions) and the 180th Infantry Regiment took part in the battles around Arras (Le Labyrinthe).

SOMME.

3. At the beginning of July these elements rejoined the division, which continued to hold the Somme sector before Bapaume.

1916.

SOMME.

1. On July 1, 1916, the 26th Reserve Division withstood the Franco- British offensive north and south of the Ancre (Beaumont Hamel, Ovillers, Thiepval). (The total of the losses on the Somme amounted to 10,042 men.) The 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment lost 48 officers and 2,070 men. (Official List of Casualties.)

ARTOIS.

2. Relieved along the Somme about October 6, the division was sent south of Arras (Monchy aux Bois) on October 10. Some elements of the division were still engaged on both banks of the Ancre in November.

1917.

HINDENBURG LINE.

1. After having occupied the calm sector of Artois for the winter of 1916–17, the 26th Reserve Division took part in the withdrawal of the German troops about March 20. It left the front of Monchy aux Bois and retired southeast of Croisilles (Lagnicourt-Ecoust-St. Main). It fought along this line until April 7–13 and suffered some losses (Noreuil, Apr. 2).

2. After a rest of a month in the vicinity of Valenciennes, in the course of which it sent some elements south of St. Quentin (Itancourt, May 4–11), the 26th Reserve Division went back into line between Arras and St. Quentin (Bullecourt-Queant) about May 17.

FLANDERS.

3. On August 10 the division was withdrawn from the front and entrained at Aubigny au Bac (south of Douai) for Belgium. It went into action north of Langemarck (Aug. 19-Sept. 16). It was then sent to rest (vicinity of Bohain, northeast of St. Quentin) until October 14.

4. About October 17 the 26th Reserve Division went back into line north of Ypres (The Ypres-Staden railroad—Houthulst wood) until October 23.

5. Sent to rest south of Cortemarck, it was transferred at the end of October to Eerneghem, where it was first in reserve.

6. In the middle of November the 26th Reserve Division took over the calm sector of Merckem, which it occupied until February, 1918, after a short rest in the middle of December.

RECRUITING.

Since the departure of the 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment, the 26th Reserve Division is made up entirely of Wurttembergers.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 26th Reserve Division is a very good division, of a combative value equal to that of the majority of the active divisions. In the battle of the Somme, in 1916, it opposed a stubborn resistance to the British advance and launched vigorous counterattacks.

The division has not been seriously engaged since 1916; it was thoroughly rested on the Flanders front. Not having been exposed to violent battles and not having any great losses, its morale has not been shaken. (British Summary of Information, February, 1918.)

1918.

BELGIUM.

1. The 26th Reserve Division was withdrawn from the Merckem sector on the 20th of February, and went to the area west of Antwerp. Here, it was very probably trained in open warfare, but the fact has not been definitely established.

ARRAS.

2. It left about March 11 and entered line near Hénin (southeast of Arras) on the 24th. Its mission was to protect the troops engaged in the main attack farther to the south against a flanking movement by the British troops massed around Arras. In so doing, it became heavily engaged, and is reported to have lost 60 per cent of its strength. It was relieved on May 14, and went to rest in the Arleux area (south of Douai).

3. On June 9 it relieved the 41st Division east of Hebuterne. A week or so later it extended its sector toward the south so as to relieve the 16th Reserve Division. It was relieved about July 23 by the 183d Division, and went to rest in the Bapaume area, after having suffered severe losses.

SOMME.

4. On August 10 the division reenforced the front astride the Braye- Corbie road (north of the Somme). It did not become heavily engaged this time; withdrawn about the 18th, and went to rest in the Douai area. Battalions were reduced to three companies.

ARRAS.

5. It reenforced the front near Vis en Artois (on Arras-Cambrai road) on August 27. After suffering heavy losses it was withdrawn on the 31st to region north of Cambrai.

CAMBRAI.

6. It came back into line on the 29th of September, after having rested and thoroughly refitted, reenforcing the front near Tilloy (northwest of Cambrai). It was heavily engaged, and fought very well. A few days later Gen. von Beulow (commanding the 17th Army) sent a telegram to the King of Saxony saying that the division had fought in an exemplary manner at Cambrai, where it had several times reestablished the situation by its counterattacks on the 29th, inflicting enormous losses on the enemy, and thus preventing the town from falling into their hands. It was withdrawn about the 9th of October.

VALENCIENNES.

7. On the 13th it relieved the 22d Division near Herin (west of Valenciennes). It had not been withdrawn on the 11th of November.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 26th Reserve is rated as a first-class division. It did not distinguish itself in the fighting during 1918 (except on the Cambrai front, as already noted), still it could be depended upon and on the whole fought well. In this connection it is to be noted that the 26th Division had been held in reserve to relieve the 26th Reserve in the March offensive, but the relief was considered unnecessary.

26th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │51 Ldw. │119 Ldw. │51 Ldw. │119 Ldw.
│ │123 Ldw. │ │123 Ldw.
│ │124 Ldw. │ │124 Ldw.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 20 Uhlan Rgt. │3 Sqn. 20 Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │
│ 116 F. A. Rgt. │116 F. A. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│(426) Pion. Btn.: │(426) Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 4 Ldw. Co. 13 Pions. │ 4 Ldw. Co. 13 C. Dist.
│ │ Pions.
│ 6 Ldw. Co. 13 Pions. │ 3 Searchlight Section.
│ 326 T. M. Co. │526 Signal Command:
│ 526 Tel. Detch. │ 526 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 180 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │569 Ambulance Co. │569 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │251 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │256 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(13th Corps District—Wurttemberg.)

1917.

1. The 26th Landwehr Division was formed on the Alsatian front at the beginning of the year 1917. Two of its regiments, the 119th and 123d Landwehr, forming the 51st Landwehr Brigade, had belonged to the 7th Landwehr Division until that time. Its 3d Regiment, the 124th Landwehr, came from the 2d Landwehr Division.

UPPER ALSACE.

2. Since its formation the 26th Landwehr Division has continually occupied the Upper Alsace front (north of Cernay, Hartmannswillerskopf).

RECRUITING.

The division is entirely recruited from Wurttemberg.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 26th Landwehr Division is purely a sector division. Each regiment has an assault troop composed of young men.

1918.

ALSACE.

1. The 26th Landwehr Division remained in the sector north of Cernay (southwest of Colmar,) throughout 1918.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

In view of the division having been kept so long in what was probably the most quiet sector on the whole front (only 1 prisoner was taken after Dec. 15, 1917), when the need for troops was so great that fourth- class divisions were frequently used on very active fronts, it would seem that the 26th Landwehr was one of the poorest divisions in the German Army.

27th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │53. │123 Gren.│53. │123 Gren.│53. │123 Gren.
│ │124. │ │124. │ │124.
│54. │120. │54. │120. │54. │120.
│ │127. │ │127. │ │127.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │19 Uhlan Rgt. │19 Uhlan Rgt. │19 Uhlan Rgt. (3
│ │ │ Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │27 Brig. │27 Brig. │27 Brig.
│ │ │
│ 13 F. A. Rgt. │ 13 F. A. Rgt. │ 13 F. A. Rgt.
│ 49 F. A. Rgt. │ 49 F. A. Rgt. │ 49 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No.
Liaisons. │ │ 13. │ 13.
│ │ │
│ │Field Co. 13 Pions.│2 Co. 13 Pions.
│ │27 Tel. Detch. │1 Res. Co. 24
│ │ │ Pions.
│ │27 Pont. Engs. │Co. 29 Pions.
│ │ │27 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │27 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │23 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │68 Anti-Aircraft.
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │53. │123 Gren.│53. │120.
│ │120. │ │123.
│ │124. │ │124.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 19 Uhlan │5 Sqn. 19 Uhlan
│ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │27 Artillery │27 Art. Command:
│ Command. │
│ 49 F. A. Rgt. │ 13 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 4 Abt. 13 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt. (11, 12, and
│ │ 13 Btries.).
│ │ 1289 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1290 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1291 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│129 Pion. Btn. │12 (Saxon) Pion.
Liaisons. │ (former 1 Pion. │ Btn.:
│ No. 13). │
│2 Co. 13 Pions. │ 2 Co. 13 Pions.
│3 Co. 13 Pions. │ 3 Co. 13 Pions.
│ │
│27 T. M. Co. │ 27 T. M. Co.
│52 Searchlight Co. │ 137 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│27 Tel. Detch. │27 Signal Command:
│ │ 27 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 154 Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │31 Ambulance Co. │31 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│253 Field Hospital.│253 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │255 Field Hospital.
│ │27 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │560 M. T. Col. │560 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │3, 34, and 99 Anti-│
│ Aircraft. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(13th Corps District—Wurttemberg.)

1914.

The 27th Division belongs to the 13th Army Corps (Royal Wurttemberg), with the 26th Division.

LORRAINE.

1. At the beginning of the war it formed a part of the 5th Army (German Crown Prince). It was engaged in the battle of Longwy, August 22, 1914 (between Longwy and Virton); on the 23d, north of Longuyon. On August 30, at Dun and Sassey, it crossed the Meuse and went south with the 5th Army between the Meuse and the Argonne. It fought at Pretz and Vaubécourt on September 6 and 7. Following the retirement to the north, it took up its positions in the Argonne.

2. At the beginning of October the 13th Army Corps was broken up and the two divisions were separated for more than a year.

ARGONNE.

3. The 27th Division remained in the Argonne until the end of 1915.

1915.

ARGONNE.

1. In the Argonne (Binarville-Grurie wood) the 27th Division was engaged in mine warfare. In August, 1915, it took part in the local offensive of the Army of the Crown Prince.

2. In September, at the time of the French offensive, elements of the 53d Brigade were sent to Champagne (northwest of Massiges), where they remained in reserve.

3. In December the 27th Division entrained at Grandpré for the Courtrai area, where the 13th Army Corps was re-formed as in the beginning, the 26th Division having returned from Serbia.

1916.

YPRES.

1. From January to July, 1916, the 13th Army Corps was in line southeast of the Ypres salient. The 27th Division was on the left of the 26th, between Sanctuary wood and the Ypres-Comines Canal. On February 24 units of the 27th Division gained possession of the British trenches of Bluff (north of the canal), but lost them on March 2. In this action the 123d Grenadier Regiment lost very heavily.

On June 2 the two divisions of the corps made a violent attack upon the Canadians in the Cillebeke sector. They gained possession of Observation Ridge, but were forced to abandon it by a counterattack. In these battles the regiments lost heavily.

SOMME.

2. At the end of July the 13th Army Corps was withdrawn from the Ypres salient and transferred to the Somme front. On August 1 the 27th Division went into line in the Guillemont sector. It put up a successful resistance to the attacks upon the village, but had serious losses.

3. It was relieved on August 25 and put in the Wytchaete sector, where it remained for about two and one-half months (until Nov. 11).

4. In the middle of November the 27th Division returned to the Somme a second time, north of Sailly Saillisel.

1917.

1. The 27th Division was retained on the Somme until the beginning of 1917. On this date it was sent east of Cambrai. During the month of March it was in line in the Roisel area.

ARTOIS.

2. After a short rest in the vicinity of Valenciennes it went into action in the Bullecourt sector (southeast of Arras), where it had very heavy losses (Apr. 7 to May 11). The dissolution of the 627th Infantry Regiment, formed in Wurttemberg, served to make up a part of its losses, and 600 men from this regiment came to the 27th Division.

3. Withdrawn about May 11 from the Arras front, the 27th Division occupied a sector in the vicinity of Le Catelet (between Gonnelieu and Honnecourt) at the beginning of June.

4. At the beginning of August it was relieved; entrained on August 12 at Caudry, and was transferred to Flanders by way of Lille-Tourcoing-Menin- Ledeghem-Roulers.

5. On August 26 it went into action northeast of Ypres (southeast of St. Julien). In this sector it did not take part in any important attack but suffered heavily from artillery fire.

The division was sent to the rear on September 12–13 and rested for a month northeast of Ghent.

On October 11 it went back into line northeast of Ypres (near the Ypres- Thourout railroad) and remained there until November 11. It was sent almost immediately to Alsace, where it arrived between November 16 and 18.

RECRUITING.

The 27th Division is recruited entirely from Wurttemberg.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 27th Division has fought well ever since the beginning of the war. It seems that the heavy losses which it has suffered have weakened its morale to a slight extent. Nevertheless, it may be considered as a very good division (Dec. 9, 1917).

1918.

CAMBRAI.

1. The 27th Division remained in the region of Schlettstadt (north of Colmar) until February 2. While here it received some 1919-class recruits. It then went to Cambrai, where it arrived on the 4th. On the 6th it relieved the 24th Reserve Division west of Graincourt (southwest of Cambrai). It was relieved by the 53d Reserve Division early in March and went to the neighborhood of Avesnes le Sec (southwest of Valenciennes), where it was trained in open warfare.

2. Subsequently it was transferred to the Cambrai region. Between the evening of March 20 and 5 a. m. on the 21st, it marched nearly 20 miles, when it came into line near Villers-Guislain (south of Cambrai). It was immediately heavily engaged and suffered severe losses. The 6th Company of the 124th Regiment had lost 84 men by the time it had reached Fins. A draft of 30 men was received at Guinchy. Withdrawn the 23d.

3. On April 4 it relieved the 54th Reserve Division near Aveluy (north of Albert). Fighting on the 5th, the 6th Company of the 124th Regiment lost 50 per cent of its effectives. All three regiments suffered heavy losses. One battalion of the 120th Regiment was practically annihilated. It was relieved by the 3d Naval Division on the 24th and went to rest south of Tournai.

4. The division left on July 24 and marched via Landas-Marchiennes- Neuville sur l’Escaut (south of Denain, rest)-St. Vaast (east of Cambrai, rest)-Fins-Nurlu (rest)-Peronne, into line in the Morlancourt sector (south of Albert), where it relieved the 107th Division about the 3d of August. In the heavy fighting that ensued it was forced back through Bray and Suzanne. It was withdrawn the 28th after leaving more than 1,400 prisoners in the hands of the British. It went to rest in the vicinity of Briastre (south of Solesmes), and while here received as a draft the dissolved 248th Reserve Regiment (54th Division disbanded).

MEUSE.

5. The division now became army and corps reserve. On September 6 it entrained and traveled to Spincourt, arriving on the 10th. It then marched to Camp Priester (near Loison), where it remained 14 days as army reserve. About the 26th it entered line near Flabas (north of Verdun). Five days later it was withdrawn and went back to the camp and remained eight days.

6. Then it went to the Jaeger Lager near Billy (south of Longuyon). About the 11th of October it entered line near Douaumont (north of Verdun). On the 29th it was relieved and marched to the Jaeger Lager, and then by truck via Stenay to a farm about 10 kilometers away.

7. On November 1 it reenforced the front near Tailly (southwest of Stenay); it was still in line on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 27th has always been considered one of the very best German divisions, and its conduct in the fighting during 1918 confirms its rating as a first-class shock unit. It suffered severely, especially in the spring, but not a great deal later on. Its moves toward the end of the war seem to indicate that it was to form part of the reserve with which the Germans hoped to regain the initiative.

28th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │55. │109. │55. │109. │55. │109.
│ │Body │ │Body │ │Body
│ │ Gren. │ │ Gren. │ │ Gren.
│ │110 Gren.│ │110 Gren.│ │110 Gren.
│56. │40 Fus. │56. │40 Fus. │56. │40 Fus.
│ │111. │ │111. │ │111.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │5 Jag. z. Pf. │ │5 Jag. z. Pf.
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │28 Brig. │28 Brig. │28 Brig.
│14 F. A. Regt. │14 F. A. Regt. │14 F. A. Regt.
│50 F. A. Regt. │50 F. A. Regt. │50 F. A. Regt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Bn. No. 14:│1 Pion. Bn. No. 14:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ Field Co. 14 │ 1 Co. 14 Pions.
│ │ Pions. │
│ │ 28 Tel. Detch. │ 3 Co. 36 Pions.
│ │ 28 Pont. Engs. │ 28 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 28 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 28 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │29 Antiaircraft 1st
│ │ │ Bav. Labor Bn.
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │56. │109. │55. │40.
│ │Body │ │109.
│ │ Gren. │ │
│ │40 Fus. │ │110.
│ │110 Gren.│ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2d Sq. 5 Jag. z. │2 Sqn. 5 Horse Jag.
│ Pf. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │28 Art. Command: │28 Art Command:
│ 14 F. A. Regt. │ 14 F. A. Regt.
│ │ 55 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ 801 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 991 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1129 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│130 Pion. Bn. │14 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ (former 1 Pion. │
│ No. 14): │
│ 2 Co. 14 Pions. │ 2 Co. 14 Pions.
│ │
│ 3 Co. 14 Pions. │ 3 Co. 14 Pions.
│ 28 T. M. Co. │ 94 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 28 Tel. Detch. │28 Signal Command:
│ │ 28 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 55 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │35 Ambulance Co. │35 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│262, 292 Field │261 Field Hospital.
│ Hospitals. │
│Vet. Hospital. │262 Field Hospital.
│ │28 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │67 Truck Train. │561 M. T. Col.
│Light Mun. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │40 M. G. │
│ Sharpshooters │
│ Detch. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(14th Corps District—Northern part Grand Duchy of Baden.)

1914.

ALSACE-LORRAINE.

1. The 28th Division formed a part of the 14th Army Corps with the 29th Division, also from Baden. At the beginning of the campaign went to Upper Alsace to reenforce the 29th Division; fought at Mulhousen on August 9, and on the 13th west of Altkirch. Returning to Mulhousen on the 14th, it entrained at Muelheim on the 16th for Petite Pierre. The 14th Army Corps was placed on the left flank of the 6th Army and took part with it in the battle of the 20th. The 28th Division then crossed the frontier and advanced to Mortagne at the beginning of September. On September 11 it recrossed the frontier and went to the west of Pont à Mousson, where it went into action between September 20 and 29.

ARTOIS.

2. Withdrawn from La Haye at the end of the month, it entrained on October 4 at Metz, detrained at Mons, and from there marched to the front—La Bassée, Ablain, St. Nazaire.

1915.

ARTOIS.