Chapter XX: Part 20

4. It rested near Lille (Aug. 19–24), and on August 25 was railed to Douai. On the 26th the division occupied the Drocourt-Queant line and fought in the area until about September 30, when it was relieved after losing 800 prisoners.

BATTLE OF CAMBRESIS.

5. The division was reengaged on October 1 northwest of Cambrai. It withdrew to Abancourt (9th), Hem-Lenglet (11th), Denain north of Maing, Famars (28th), northwest of Maresches (Nov. 1). It passed to second line about the 1st of the month, returning on November 9 near Harchies. The division was not in line on November 11.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was considered as a good sector-holding division in 1918.

35th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │5 Ldw. │2 Ldw. │5 Ldw. │2 Ldw. │5 Ldw. │2 Ldw.
│ │ │ │ │ (Mixed)│
│ │9 Ldw. │ │9 Ldw. │ │9 Ldw.
│(z) │107 Ldw. │(z) │107 Ldw. │ │107 Ldw.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3d Res. Heavy │3d Res. Heavy │3d Res. Heavy
│ Cavalry. │ Cavalry. │ Cavalry.
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │Ers. Abt. 35, 81 F.│35 Res. F. A. Rgt. │35 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ A. Rgt. │ │ 833d Battery.
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│2 Pion. Btn. No. │2 Pion. Btn. No. │235 T. M. Co.
Liaisons. │ 17. │ 17. │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │5 Ldst. Pion. Co.
│ │ │ 9th Corps.
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │167. │420. │167. │420.
│ │ │ │
│ │421. │ │438.
│ │438. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Sq. 4 Jag. z. Pf.│Staff, 4 Horse Jag.
│ │ Rgt.
│ │2 Sqn. 4 Horse Jag.
│ │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │ (z)
│ │
│ 35 Res. F. A. Rgt.│
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│335 Pion. Btn. │335 Pion. Btn.
Liaisons. │ │
│1 Res. Co. 17 Pion.│1 Res. Co. 17
│ │ Pions.
│235 T. M. Co. │149 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│35 Res. Searchlight│435 Signal Command:
│ Section. │
│Tel. Detch. │ 435 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │238 Ambulance Co. │238 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │291 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │435 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │Light Mun. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │93 Brig. reenforced│
│ by 20 and 24 │
│ Ldst. Btns. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(420th Infantry Regiment: 1st Corps District—East Prussia. 421st
Infantry Regiment: 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 438th Infantry Regiment:
14th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Baden.)

1914.

The 35th Reserve Division is a Landwehr division. It has always occupied the Eastern Front.

POLAND.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 35th Reserve Division fought (Aug. 25–28) on the southern frontier of East Prussia, which it crossed. It took part in the Polish campaign—southwest of Warsaw in October and November, 1914, in the vicinity of Czenstochow in December.

1915.

GALICIA.

1. From January to March, 1915, the division was in line south of the Pilica. From April to June it took part in the operations in the Carpathians, then in the vicinity of Lemberg.

RUSSIA.

2. In the middle of July it was replaced near Sokal (Galicia) by the 39th Austrian Division and went south of Grabowiec. The pursuit of the Russians led it north of Cholm in the beginning of August, east of Brest-Litovsk, near Kobrin in September, then to the Chtchara at the mouth of the Oginski Canal in October.

3. It took up its position along the canal north of Logischin.

1916.

OGINSKI CANAL.

1. The 35th Reserve Division remained in line along the Oginski Canal for more than two years (Oct., 1915 to Feb., 1918).

2. About October, 1916, the 5th Landwehr Brigade (2d and 9th Landwehr Regiments) was assigned to the 226th Division (being formed in the Smorgoni sector). The 35th Reserve Division received two new regiments—the 420th and 421st Infantry Regiments.

1917.

OGINSKI CANAL.

1. The division was in the same sector.

In July, 1917, the 438th Infantry Regiment became a part of the 35th Reserve Division to replace the 107th Saxon Landwehr Regiment, which had been transferred to the 45th Landwehr Division (Saxon).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Composed of Landwehr and Landsturm elements, retained for more than two years in a calm sector of the Russian front, later in the Ukraine, the 35th Reserve Division has only a mediocre military value.

1918.

UKRAINE.

1. In March the division advanced into Ukraine, after having furnished men to the 10th Landwehr Division, which was about to leave for the Western Front. In this advance the division saw some fighting and consequently suffered some losses. In April the division was identified in the Gomel region. The division was identified in Ukraine early in October, and so its reported presence in Flanders on September 20 appears incorrect.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

36th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │69. │129. │69. │129. │71. │5 Gren.
│ │175. │ │175. │ │175.
│71. │5 Gren. │71. │5 Gren. │ │128.
│ │128. │ │128. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │5 Hus. Rgt. │ │4 Sq. 5 Hus. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │36 Brig.: │36 Brig.: │36 Brig.:
│ 36 Rgt. │ 36 Rgt. │ 36 Rgt.
│ 72 Rgt. │ 72 Rgt. │ 72 Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No.
Liaisons. │ │ 17: │ 17:
│ │ Field Co. 17 Pion.│ 2 Co. 17 Pion.
│ │ │
│ │ 36 Tel. Detch. │ 3 and 4 Cos. 35
│ │ │ Pion.
│ │ 36 Pont. Engs. │ 3 Co. 36 Pion.
│ │ │ 36 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 36 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 36 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │71. │5 Gren. │71. │5.
│ │175. │ │128.
│ │128. │ │175.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │4 Sq. 5 Hus. Rgt. │4 Sq. 5 Hus. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │36 Art. Command: │36 Art. Command:
│ 36 Rgt. │ 36 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 1 Abt. 4 Res. Ft.
│ │ A. Rgt.
│ │ 824 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1209 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1229 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│1 Pion. Btn. No. │17 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ 17: │
│ 3 and 5 Cos. 17 │ 3 Co. 17 Pions.
│ Pion. │
│ 36 T. M. Co. │ 5 Co. 17 Pions.
│ │
│ 36 Tel. Detch. │ 36 T. M. Co.
│ │ 209 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │36 Signal Command:
│ │ 36 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 62 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │43 Ambulance Co. │43 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│288, 290 Field │288 Field Hospital.
│ Hospts. │
│36 Vet. Hospital. │290 Field Hospital.
│ │36 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │569 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(17th Corps District—West Prussia.)

1914.

The 36th Division (with the 35th Division) was a part of the 17th Army Corps (Danzig).

EAST PRUSSIA-RUSSIA.

1. The 17th Army Corps, which comprises the 35th and 36th Divisions, was sent to East Prussia in August, 1914, where it belonged to the 8th Army, soon placed under the command of Von Hindenburg. With this army it took part in the battle of Tannenberg on August 30, and in the battle of Loetzen on September 9, then with the 9th German Army (Mackensen), in the battle of Radom, on October 6.

2. In the battles which mark the advance upon Warsaw and then the retreat, the regiments of the 36th Division, and especially the 5th Grenadier Regiment, suffered considerable losses (principally at Lodz between Nov. 23 and Dec. 6).

1915.

1. During the winter of 1914–15 the 36th Division, with the 17th Army Corps, took part in the actions along the Bzura until June. In July it was on the Narew, later on the right bank of the Bug, and at the beginning of September on the Chtchara River.

2. At the end of September, 1915, at the time of the pressure exerted by the Franco-British offensive, the 17th Army Corps entrained for the Western Front.

FRANCE.

3. Detraining at Peronne on October 10, it was sent to rest in the vicinity of Ham until October 16. At this date it went into line in the Roye sector. Until the battle of the Somme it was not seriously engaged.

1916.

SOMME.

1. Upon the outbreak of the Franco-British offensive on the Somme in July, 1916, the 36th Division occupied the sector included between the south of Chilly and the north of Andechy. It was not engaged as a whole until October, the time when the battle front extended as far as the Chaulnes-Chilly sector. Until then it had only sent detached units to reenforce certain points south of the river.

2. About the end of September it occupied the front from north of Fouquescourt to the Chaulnes railroad. Relieved between October 15 and 20, and sent to rest between Nesle and Ham, it had to go back into line on October 24–25 to replace, in the sector south of Ablaincourt-Chaulnes wood, the divisions which our attacks north of Chaulnes had exhausted. Its regiments lost heavily during this period. The 128th Infantry Regiment lost more than the others, especially on November 7, 10, and 11.

3. On December 8 the 36th Division left the front north of Chaulnes and was sent north of Roye to the Fouquescourt sector.

1917.

ST. QUENTIN.

1. On March 17, 1917, it was included in the retirement and withdrew to the Hindenburg Line, where it established itself, on March 23, south of St. Quentin.

ARTOIS.

2. After a month’s rest (Apr. 9-May 9) behind the front, the 36th Division went into line southeast of Arras in the Guemappe sector. It had only a few local engagements there and did not suffer any great losses.

3. It then spent a part of June at rest in the Douai area and took up its position on July 4 in the sector of Oppy-Gavrelle (Artois). It did not take part in any serious engagements there.

YPRES.

4. Relieved at the end of August, it entrained at Douai on the 28th for Courtrai and Isegsem. Sent on September 10–11 into the sector of Poelcapelle, it had to be replaced there on the 23d because of the heavy losses which it received from the British attack.

5. The division left Flanders on September 27 to occupy a calm sector west of St. Quentin, where it still was at the beginning of February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 36th Division is recruited from the same region as the 35th Division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 36th Division was an excellent combat division.

In the battles of the Somme and of Arras the 36th Division gave a good account of itself.

On the Ypres front the combat spirit of the division was less energetic than in the preceding battles. The British Artillery, however, had reduced its effectives by one-half.

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division was relieved in the sector north of St. Quentin about February 1 and entered the sector south of St. Quentin within a few days. It was in line when the Somme offensive came off and advanced in the front line by Essigny le Grand, Clastres, Brouchy, Guiscard, Campagne, Candor. From the 23d to the 25th it was in second line. On the 25th it was reengaged in the Lassigny area. The division was relieved on April 8.

2. The division rested in close support southeast of Roye until April 20. A draft of 300 men was received about this time.

3. On April 20 the division was engaged southeast of Montdidier (Rollet) until April 28. It was in reserve from the 28th to the beginning of May in the vicinity of Roye. A draft of 1,000 men was received on April 29. On May 9 the division was moved to Wasigny, where it rested until the 22d. It marched toward the Aisne front by night from May 22 to 27 via Rozoy sur Serre, Montcornet, Liesse, Montaigu.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

4. The division had in line on the 27th only one battalion of the 128th Regiment (near Winterberg). The rest of the division followed the advance in reserve, passing through Villers en Prayeres, Fismes, Villers sur Fere. It was engaged from May 29 to the middle of June at Courmont, Fresnes (29th), Jaulgonne (31st), east of Chateau Thierry. The division withdrew from the sector east of Chateau Thierry about June 30.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

5. It rested in the salient (near Fere en Tardenois) until July 14, undergoing reconstitution. On that date it marched to the front and was engaged the next day. It crossed the Marne and penetrated south of Charteves, but was stopped and thrown back on Mezy and Fossoy. From July 20 to 22 it was in second line. Reengaged south of the Ourcq on 22d, the division fought at Rocourt and Villeneuve sur Fere until July 27.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

6. The division rested near Laon in early August. It was brought up to resist the British attack north of Bapaume on August 24. It was still under strength and was unable to check the advance. It was forced to fall back on Vaulx Vraucourt, Ecoust St. Mein (27th–30th), Pronville, and Inchy (Sept. 2–3). The losses in prisoners amounted to 800 in this fighting.

7. On the 16th of September the division was again in line south of La Bassee. Beginning October 1 it retreated on Bauvin, Pont a Vendin, Provin (16th), Attiches (18th), and toward the south of Tournai. It was last identified at Bany on November 10.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was heavily engaged in 1918 as a follow-up division in the attacks and to hold important defensive sectors.

36th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │69 Res. │21 Res. │69 Res. │21 Res. │69 Res. │21 Res.
│ │61 Res. │ │61 Res. │ │61 Res.
│70 Res. │5 Res. │70 Res. │5 Res. │70 Res. │5 Res.
│ │54. │ │54. │ │54.
│ │2 Res. │ │2 Res. │ │
│ Jag. Btn. │ Jag Btn. │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │1 Res. Hus. Rgt. (3│1 Res. Hus. Rgt. │
│ Sqns.). │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │36 Res. Rgt. (6 │36 Res. Rgt. (7 │36 Res. Rgt. (7
│ Btries.). │ Btries.). │ Btries.).
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│1 Res. Co. 2, Pion.│1 Res. Co. 2, Pion.│1 Res. Co. 2, Pion.
Liaisons. │ No. 2. │ No. 2. │ No. 2.
│ │ 2 Co. 32 Res. │ 236 T. M. Co.
│ │ Pion. │
│ │ 36 Res. Pont. │ 36 Res. Pont.
│ │ Engs. │ Engs.
│ │ 36 Res. Tel. │ 36 Res. Tel.
│ │ Detch. │ Detch.
│ │ │ 80 Art. Survey
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ │ 24 Sound Ranging
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │217 Anti-Aircraft
│ │ │ Detch.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │69 Res. │5 Res. │69 Res. │54.
│ │61 Res. │ │5 Res.
│ │54. │ │61 Res.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │5 Sq. 2 Guard │5 Sqn. 2 Gd. Drag.
│ Dragoon. │ Rgt.
│1 and 2 Sqns. 1st │
│ Res. Uhlan Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │72 Art. Command: │72 Art. Command:
│ │
│ 36 Res. Rgt. (9 │ 36 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ │ 3 Abt. 4 Res. Ft.
│ │ A. Rgt.
│ │ 833 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1252 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1306 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│336 Pion. Btn. │2 Pion. Btn.
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Res. Co., 2 │1 Co. 2 Pions.
│ Pion. │
│ 236 T. M. Co. │1 Res. Co. 2 Pions.
│ │
│ 436 Tel. Detch. │236 T. M. Co.
│ │
│ │45 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │436 Signal Command:
│ │
│ │ 436 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 119 Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │515 Ambulance Co. │515 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│398 Field Hospital.│10 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │12 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│ │138 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(17th Corps District—Western Prussia and the eastern part of Pomerania.)

1914.

EAST PRUSSIA.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 36th Reserve Division constituting, with the 1st Reserve Division, the 1st Reserve Corps, was engaged in East Prussia in the vicinity of Gumbinnen-Angerburg.

BZURA.

2. Assigned to the 9th German Army (Mackensen), it fought on November 6 on the left bank of the Vistula and on the Bzura at the beginning of December.

1915.

1. At the beginning of 1915 the 36th Reserve Division took part in the engagements on the line Bzura-Rawka-Bolimov (Jan. 4 and Feb. 5).

PRASNYSZ.

2. On February 13 the division entrained, with the entire 1st Reserve Corps, to reenforce the right wing of the Germany Army, which was pushing back the Russians from East Prussia. Detraining at Ostrolenka, it attacked in the vicinity of Mlawa, then near Prasnysz (April), where the Russian counterattacks caused it to suffer heavy losses.

COURLAND.

3. In May, it took part in the Hindenburg offensive in Courland. First occupying the sector of Jurburg, north of Niemen, it reached Ponieviej in July and from there pushed on to the vicinity of Dvinsk. The division suffered heavily during this period. On October 15, the 61st Reserve Infantry Regiment had an average of only 80 men per company (letter).

FRIEDRICHSTADT.

4. In December, the 36th Reserve Division occupied the sector of Friedrichstadt, southeast of Riga.

1916.

1. The division remained in its Courland sector (Friedrichstadt) until September 24, 1916.

GALICIA.

2. At the end of September and the beginning of October, it entrained at Libau and was transferred to Galicia. The 54th Infantry Regiment was engaged on October 3 east of Brzezany to oppose the advance of the Russians. The rest of the division rejoined the rest of the 54th Infantry Regiment on October 19, and remained in this area.

1917.

1. About the end of May, 1917, the 36th Reserve Division was relieved from the sector south of Brzezany and entrained near Rohatyn (Galicia) for the Western Front. Itinerary: Lemberg-Cracow-Oppeln-Munich- Karlsruhe.

LORRAINE.

2. Detraining in Lorraine on the 1st of June, the division received training until June 24. At this date, it took over a calm sector in Haye for a fortnight.

ARTOIS.

3. Sent to the vicinity of Lens in July, the 36th Reserve Division occupied the sector of Mericourt until the beginning of October.

FLANDERS.

4. About October 20, it went into line east of Ypres (north of Becelaere).

RECRUITING.

The 36th Reserve Division is recruited from West Prussia and the eastern part of Pomerania. It contained a large number of Alsace-Lorrainers during its stay on the Western Front.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In Russia the 36th Reserve Division took part in several major operations.

It did not come to the Western Front until June, 1917.

1918.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

1. The division was relieved in the Foret de Holthust on April 4 by the 1st Landwehr Division, and marched via Amersveld to Cortemarch, where it entrained and arrived at Courtrai on April 5. It left Courtrai on the 8th and marched toward Armentieres. On the 10th the division followed up the German advance in support of an assault division, and on the 11th came into action north of Armentieres. Losses were severe and the division retired about April 13 to rest. It returned in the Ploegsteert area on April 17 and went to rest in the Roulers area. On May 11, the division came back to line for the third time north of Hinges.

2. It was withdrawn about May 25, rested behind the front until June 11, when it relieved the 235th Division northwest of Bethune, which sector it held until about June 22.

LENS.

3. On June 26 the division entered line in Artois area, southeast of Loos. It held this quiet sector until October 2.

BELGIUM.

4. On the night of October 4–5 the division relieved the 16th Bavarian Division southwest of Roulers. From then until about November 4, the division fought first in the Roulers area, and after October 15, at Thielt (17th), Deynze (26th), Ecke (Nov. 2). It was withdrawn from line about November 4 and did not reenter.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was heavily engaged on the Lys in the spring without achieving much success. Thereafter the division was employed on the defensive.

37th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │73. │147. │73. │147. │73. │147.
│ │151. │ │151. │ │151.
│75. │146. │75. │146. │ │150.
│ │150. │ │150. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │11 Drag. Rgt. │ │11 Drag. Rgt. (3
│ │ │ Squadrons).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │37 Brig.: │37 Brig.: │37 Brig.:
│ 73 Rgt. │ 73 Rgt. │ 73 Rgt.
│ 82 Rgt. │ 82 Rgt. │ 82 Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No.
Liaisons. │ │ 26: │ 26:
│ │ Field Co. 26 Pion.│ 1 Co. 26 Pion.
│ │ 37 Tel. Detch. │ 37 T. M. Co.
│ │ 37 Pont. Engs. │ 37 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 37 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │73. │147. │73. │147.
│ │151. │ │150.
│ │150. │ │151.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3 Sq. 10 Jag. z. │3 Sqn. 10 Mounted
│ Pf. │ Jag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │37 Art. Command: │37 Art. Command:
│ 73 Rgt. │ 73 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 2 Abt. 16 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt. (2, 9 and 10
│ │ Btries.).
│ │ 846 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 924 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1184 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│134 Pion. Btn.: │134 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 3 Co. 26 Pion. │ 3 Co. 26 Pions.
│ 250 Pion Co. │ 250 Pion. Co.
│ 37 T. M. Co. │ 37 T. M. Co.
│ 250 Searchlight │ 63 Searchlight
│ Section. │ Section.
│ 37 Tel. Detch. │37 Signal Command:
│ │ 37 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 82 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │40 Ambulance Co. │49 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│317, 318 Field │317 Field Hospital.
│ Hospital. │
│Vet. Hospital. │318 Field Hospital.
│ │194 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(20th Corps District—East Prussia.)

1914.

Upon mobilization, the 37th Division, with the 41st Division, formed the 20th Army Corps (Allenstein).

RUSSIA.

1. At the beginning of the war the 37th Division was engaged on the Eastern Front. It took part in the battle of Tannenberg at the end of August, in the attempt against Warsaw in October, and in the battles on the Rawka during the winter of 1914 and 1915.

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. In April, 1915, the 37th Division was on the Narew. In May it ceded the 146th Infantry Regiment to the 101st Division, a new formation. The battles lasted until the end of July on the Narew, which was crossed on the 31st. The division was at Bielostok at the end of August, and entered Grodno on September 2.

2. In the course of September, it advanced from Niemen to the Berezina, and in October it occupied a sector in the vicinity of Dvinsk (Lake Sventen) on the stabilized front. It remained there until its departure for the Western Front in December, 1916.

1916.

1. One of its regiments, the 150th Infantry Regiment, was temporarily detached at the time of the Russian offensive of 1916 on the Stokhod and then made a part of the 91st Division.

FRANCE.

2. After taking part in the terrible battles on the Stokhod, in the course of which it suffered enormous losses, the 150th Infantry Regiment was transferred to Galicia at the end of September, 1916, and then returned to the 37th Division. The division was sent to the Western Front on December 10, 1916. Itinerary: Cracow-Breslau-Dresden-Leipzig- Nuremburg-Karlsruhe-Rastatt-Strassburg-Colmar-Neu Breisach.

1917.

UPPER ALSACE.

1. Regrouped with its three regiments in Upper Alsace (vicinity of Ferrette) at the end of 1916, the 37th Division spent some time at rest and, in the middle of January, 1917, went into line in the sector which extends from Niederlarg to the Swiss frontier.

The division occupied this sector until the month of May.

2. About May 1 it was relieved, entrained south of Mulhouse and sent to Charleville by way of Strassburg, Sarrebruecken, and Sedan, from which place it went to the vicinity of Gizy (6 kilometers from Sissonne).

AISNE.

3. After a week’s rest, it went into line on the Aisne at the Chemins des Dames, in the sector of Courtecon, which it occupied until the end of July.

4. During these two months (May 25 to the end of July), the 37th Division did not play an important rôle. However, units of the division carried out several local operations in the course of this period. On July 14, units from the three regiments aided by the assault troops of the 5th Assault Battalion, succeeded, at the expense of very heavy losses, in reducing a salient near the Cerny sugar refinery.

ST. GOBAIN.

5. On July 31 the 37th Division was relieved, and about August 3 went into line in the St. Gobain sector (in front of Coucy le Chateau) which it occupied until the end of November. On October 23 it suffered losses (Mont des Singes) from our bombardments. On the 24th the division withdrew its units across the canal and occupied the sector included between the Brancourt-Quincy road and Anizy.

RECRUITING.

The 37th Division is recruited from East and West Prussia. During its stay on the Eastern Front it contained a large number of Alsace- Lorrainers. Because of its circumscribed territorial extent, the 37th Division contains an admixture of elements coming from other districts (5th and 6th Corps Districts among others). Nevertheless, and in spite of their official designations (from Moravia, from Ermeland), its regiments are called “East Prussian” in the German communique of July 15, 1917.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

On July 14 and 15, 1917, the 37th Division attacked with great energy. At that time, it seemed to be of good quality and of high morale. However, according to statements of prisoners of the 151st Infantry Regiment made in September, October, and November, the morale appears to have weakened (Jan. 18, 1918).

1918.

LAON.

1. During January and early February the 37th Division and the 14th Reserve Division relieved each other in the St. Gobain sector (north of Soissons). It seems probable (though the fact has never been proved) that during one of its periods out of line, the 37th Division was given a course of training in open warfare. On February 20, the 37th relieved the 14th Reserve in the same sector, and it was in turn relieved by the 14th Reserve about the 9th of March.

PICARDY.

2. On March 21 the division reinforced the front near Benay (south of St. Quentin) attacking with such dash that it received special mention by Prof. Wegener in the Koelnische Zeitung. It was withdrawn on the 30th.

3. The division rested for a few days between Champs and Folembray (north of Soissons), and then entered line north of Thiescourt (west of Noyon) on the 9th of April. It was withdrawn about the 20th, and went to rest and refit in the area southeast of Avesnes.

AISNE.

4. On May 27, the first day of the battle of the Aisne, the division attacked near Presles (south of Laon), and advanced via Braine (the 28th) as far as the Troesnes-Longpont sector (east of Villers Cotterets). It was relieved by the 115th Division on the 4th of June, and went to the area northeast of Braine to rest and to be thoroughly trained.

MARNE.

5. It set out the evening of the 12th of July, and in two night marches, reached its point of assembly in the woods north of Verneuil (northeast of Dormans). It was planned that the 37th with three other divisions, forming the v. Conta Group, should “leap-frog” the divisions in line, and to sweep up the valley of the Marne, beginning with the line Vincelles-Antheney and ending at a line passing north of Avenay and north of Moslins. It was thought that this movement, combined with the push of the units to the east of Rheims, would result in the fall of that city and also of the Montagne de Rheims to the south. The division attacked on the 15th, crossed the Marne, reached the Bois du Chataignier (south of Mareuil-east of Dormans); and was stopped there. It delivered its last counterattack on the 19th, and the order having been given, crossed the Marne, and continued its retreat toward the north. It was identified by prisoners for the last time on the 28th in the vicinity of Champvoisy (north of Dormans). It then went to the Charleville area to rest and refit; the 10th Landwehr Division having been disbanded, the 372d Regiment was drafted to the regiments of the 37th Division.

VERDUN.

6. During the night of the 12th–13th of August, it relieved the 231st Division to the north of Avocourt (north of Verdun). It was relieved by the 117th Division about the 20th of September, and moved to the vicinity of Billy (south of Longuyon,) where it rested for about a week.

ARGONNE.

7. On September 26, it reinforced the 117th Division near Montfaucon, where they counterattacked the same day. It was heavily engaged until withdrawn October 1.

8. It moved some kilometres to the west, in the vicinity of Exermont, in anticipation of the American attack of October 4, and came into line in that region on the 5th. It was engaged in a number of minor actions, that proved quite costly; its losses in prisoners alone was 962. It was withdrawn on the 18th, and went to rest near Verpel (northeast of Grandpre).

9. On November 9, the division came back into line near Abaucourt (northeast of Verdun); it had not been withdrawn on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 37th has always been considered a first-class shock division. It did very well in the offensives in which it took part (Somme, Aisne, Marne), and one of its regiments, the 147th, “The Marshal von Hindenburg Regiment” was particularly mentioned in the German Communique for its work on October 10. It suffered such heavy losses throughout the year that, despite numerous large drafts of replacements, the regiments were reduced to four companies of 80 men each at the end of the war.

38th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │76. │71. │76. │71. │83. │94.
│ │95. │ │95. │ │95.
│83. │94. │83. │94. │ │96.
│ │96. │ │96. │ │
│ 11 Jag. Btn. │ │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │6 Cuir. Rgt. (3 │6 Cuir. Rgt. (3 │2 Sqn. 6 Cuir. Rgt.
│ Sqns.). │ Sqns.). │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │38 Brig.: │38 Brig.: │38 Brig.:
│ 19 Rgt. │19 Rgt. │ 19 Rgt.
│ │ │
│ 55 Rgt. │55 Rgt. │ 55 Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│3 Field Co., 1 │3 Field Co., 1 │3 Field Co., 1
Liaisons. │ Pion. No. 11. │ Pion. No. 11. │ Pion. No. 11.
│ │ 38 Pont. Engs. │ 38 T. M. Co.
│ │ 38 Tel. Detch. │ 38 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │ 38 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │25 Labor Btn.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │83. │94. │83. │94.
│ │95. │ │95.
│ │96. │ │96.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 6 Cuir. Rgt.│3 Sqn. 6 Cuir. Rgt.
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │38 Art. Command: │38 Art. Command:
│ 19 Rgt. (9 │ 19 F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ │ 61 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ (Staff, 1, 2, and
│ │ 3 Btries.).
│ │ 704 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 726 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1258 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│128 Pion. Btn. │125 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 3 Co. 11 Pion. │ 3 Co. 11 Pions.
│ 285 Pion. Co. │ 285 Pion. Co.
│ 38 T. M. Co. │ 46 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ Tel. Detch. │38 Signal Command:
│ │ 38 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 118 Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │Ambulance Co. │27 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│108 Field Hospital.│104 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │108 Field Hospital.
│ │38 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │571 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(11th Corps District—Thuringian States.)

1914.

BELGIUM.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 38th Division, forming the 11th Army Corps with the 22d Division, belonged to the 3d Army (Von Hausen), which went through the Belgian Ardennes. It halted in front of Namur until the surrender of this place.

EAST PRUSSIA-POLAND.

2. In consequence of the invasion of East Prussia, the 38th Division as well as the 22d Division, left Belgium about August 27. Going by way of Aix la Chapelle, it detrained in East Prussia, where it fought from September 9 to 11. From that place it was taken to the southern part of Poland (Pinczow, Sept. 28; Opatow, Oct. 4). The enveloping movement of the Russians obliged it to retire from the Lodz front with the army group to which it was attached. It was assigned to the 9th Army (Mackensen) in November and to the 10th Army in December.

3. During the winter of 1914 and 1915 it took part in several important engagements on the Bzura and the Rawka, as well as on the Pilica.

1915.

POLAND.

1. Returning to the 9th Army (Von Fabeck), at the beginning of 1915, the 38th Division fought in the vicinity of Rava, on March 6 and 7. It was then separated from the 22d Division and rejoined the army detachment of Von Gallitz, north of Warsaw. In May it transferred the 71st Infantry Regiment to the 103d Division, a new formation.

2. During the summer offensive it took part in numerous battles from July 13 to September 19, advanced to the southeast of Bielostok, reached the Svislotch on September 1 and marched beyond this until September 19.

FRANCE.

3. At the end of September the 38th Division was concentrated in the vicinity of Grodno and entrained for France on September 25. (Itinerary: Lyck-Graudenz-Berlin-Hanover-Minden-Cologne-Aix la Chapelle-Liege-Namur- Douai.) Detraining on October 1, it completed its reorganization. Between August 30 and October 8 the 5th Company of the 94th Infantry Regiment had received not less than 161 men as replacements.

OISE.

4. Sent to the south of the Oise, the 38th Division went into line in the sector of Tracy le Val., which it held until the beginning of May, 1916, without any serious engagements.

1916.

VERDUN.

1. On May 11, 1916, the division entrained at Tergnier and was transferred to the Verdun front.

2. On May 13 it took over the sector of Hill 304, which it did not leave until October 10, seriously weakened by the battles which it had sustained for five months (losses, 52 per cent of the infantry).

SOMME.

3. Sent to the Somme on October 12, it went into action on October 12; it went into action on October 22 at Thiepval-Grandcourt, and remained there only three weeks, because of the severe losses which it suffered.

FLANDERS.

4. It left the front on November 13 to go to rest and to be reorganized on the coast of Flanders, between Ostend and the Dutch frontier.

5. On December 19 it was brought back to the Somme.

1917.

SOMME.

1. In January, 1917, elements of the division were sent as reenforcements north of Courcelette and southwest of Serre.

2. On January 17 the entire 38th Division went into line in the vicinity of Puisieux-Hébuterne, where it was relieved about March 8 without any serious losses.

3. On March 17 the division replaced the 4th Guard Division near Beugny Bertincourt, which had lost heavily at the beginning of its retirement to the Hindenburg Line, and the 38th Division itself continued to withdraw by way of Beaumetz and Doignies. It took up its position between Demicourt and Boursies, west of Cambrai, and remained there until the end of April.

ARTOIS.

4. After a period of rest in the Cambrai-Douai area during the first half of May, the 38th Division took over the sector east of Arras (north of the Scarpe), on May 16. It left this front on May 31, after having been greatly weakened on the 16th, during the counterattacks on the village of Rouex (800 men were sent to make up these losses from the dissolved 624th Infantry Regiment).

FLANDERS.

5. The division remained at rest at Douai, until June 8; at this time, it was transferred to the vicinity of Gheluwe and sent into reserve to reenforce finally the Messines front.

6. On July 27, before the British attack, the 38th Division went into line east of Ypres (Hooge). It suffered heavy losses on July 31, the day of the attack, and also the three days preceding.

7. Relieved on August 1, it was sent to Antwerp for rest and reorganization (August).

ARTOIS.

8. On September 2, it took over the sector of Monchy le Preux, south of the Scarpe, where it again lost heavily from artillery fire.

FLANDERS.

9. Withdrawn from the front on November 2, the 38th Division after a week’s rest in the vicinity of Douai, again took over the lines north of Ypres (Staden) from November 19 to November 25, then north of Passchendaele where on December 3, a British attack inflicted heavy losses upon it.

10. The division was relieved on November 19 and sent to rest in the vicinity of Bruges.

RECRUITING.

The 38th Division is recruited from the small Thuringian States. At the beginning of 1917, it included a rather large number of men from Baden, almost all of whom have been withdrawn.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 38th Division is a good division.

As a rule it gave a good account of itself in the numerous battles in which it took part. On June 13, 1916, however, at the Mort Homme, the 94th Infantry Regiment is said to have refused to go over the top (letter).

The heavy losses which it suffered at the end of 1917 in the course of the attack upon Ypres, were made up by the replacements composed, for the most part, of the 1918 class.

This element did not have a good effect upon the morale of the division.

1918.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

1. The division remained in Passchendaele area until its relief by the 58th Division about April 5. It rested in the Lille area until the night of April 15–16 when it entered the line at Meteren to reenforce the battle line. It was withdrawn about May 8.

2. The division rested at Provin after May 12. It entered line north of Givenchy on May 21 and held that sector until July 5, when it was relieved by the 1st Guard Reserve Division. It rested at Lille until August 6, when it was alerted and railed to Cambrai, remaining there until August 9. The division moved from Cambrai by motor trucks on August 10 and came into line on the battle front near Lihons on the same day.

SOMME.

3. Until September 22, the division was engaged in resisting the allied advance. It held a sector south of Chaulnes until August 20, when it retired to the St. Christ area (22d). After the 8th of September the division was falling back in a northeasterly direction by Péronne toward Le Catelet. It was withdrawn from line near Hargicourt on September 22.

CAMBRAI.

4. After a rest of only one week, the division was brought back to reenforce the Cambrai battle front at Rumilly (Oct. 1). It was heavily engaged until October 16 when it went to reserve in the Cambrai area. Since August 11 the division had lost more than 2,000 prisoners.

BELGIUM.

5. On October 29, the division returned to line northeast of Roubaix. It remained in line until the armistice. The last identification was at Renaix on November 8.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. Its worth as a defensive division was proved by the extent to which it was used in the last three months of the war.

38th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │38 Ldw. │77 Ldw. │38 Ldw. │77 Ldw. │38 Ldw. │77 Ldw.
│(Mixed). │78 Ldw. │(Mixed). │78 Ldw. │(mixed). │78 Ldw.
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │ │ │1st Mobile Ers.
│ │ │Abt. 59 F. A. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │ │
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │38 Ldw. │79 Res. │38 Ldw. │425.
│ │85 Ldw. │ │79 Res.
│ │77 Ldw. │ │77 Ldw.
│ │78 Ldw. │ │78 Ldw.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │2 Sqn. 17 Hus. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │145 Art. Command: │255 Ldw. F. A. Rgt.
│255 Ldw. Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│438 Pion. Btn. │438 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│5 Ldst. Btn., 9 │ 2 Landst. Co., 2
│ Army Corps. │ C. Dist. Pions.
│338 T. M. Co. │ 5 Landst. Co., 9
│ │ C. Dist. Pions.
│538 Tel. Detch. │ 338 T. M. Co.
│ │ 243 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │538 Signal Command:
│ │ 538 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 9 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │557 Ambulance Co. │557 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│109 Res. Field │109 Res. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│12 Ldw. Field │12 Ldw. Field
│ Hospt. │ Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │538 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(38th Landwehr Division: 10th Corps District—Hanover.)

1914.

The grouping of the 38th Landwehr Brigade (77th and 78th Landwehr Regiments) and of a mixed regiment, 79th Reserve Infantry Regiment, formed the 38th Landwehr Division in April, 1917.

1. The 38th Landwehr Brigade remained independent until it was assigned to the 38th Landwehr Division.

FLANDERS.

2. Arriving at Liége on October 21, 1914, the 38th Brigade remained there about two months. Transferred to Flanders on October 27, it held the sector north of the Passchendaele Canal (Nieuport) until the beginning of November.

3. After occupying the front of Ypres near Becelaere, the brigade came into line before Passchendaele at the end of December.

1915.

FLANDERS.

1. In April, 1915, the 38th Landwehr Brigade took part in the second battle of Ypres near Zonnebeke.

2. On May 18 it was transferred from Roulers to La Bassée (Festubert) to reenforce the 7th Army Corps.

3. After a rest at Lille it went into line south of the Lys (Frelinghien-Houplines) at the end of August.

1916.

ARTOIS.

1. Relieved from the north of Armentieres in March, 1916, the 38th Landwehr Brigade was sent south of Arras (sector Wailly-Blaireville).

FLANDERS.

2. In the middle of September it returned to the Armentieres front (from the Armentières-Lille railroad to Aubers). It occupied this sector for a year and a half.

1917.

1. In 1917 sector south of Armentières.

In April, 1917, the 38th Landwehr Brigade was transformed into the 38th Landwehr Division by the addition of a third regiment, the 79th Reserve- 85th Landwehr, a composite regiment (1st and 2d Battalions of the 85th Landwehr Regiment, four companies of the 79th Reserve Regiment, the eight others having entered into the composition of the 440th Reserve Regiment of the 183d Division).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 38th Landwehr Division, formed of fairly old men, constitutes an organization of the third class. It held an honorable position in the battles of Ypres in 1914 and 1915, but, as a rule, its rôle was limited to occupying calm sectors. (Belgian Summary of Information, February, 1918.)

1918.

FLANDERS.

1. The 38th Landwehr Division was relieved on January 16 in the sector south of Armentieres by the 187th Division and went to rest in the region east of Bruges.

2. After a week’s rest it relieved the 8th Bavarian Reserve Division north of Dixmude on January 22. It was relieved by the 214th Division on February 20.

3. On March 3 it relieved the 2d Naval Division east of Ramscappelle (north of Bruges) in the sector just north of the one it previously occupied.

4. About the 10th of May the division side slipped toward the south, and in so doing relieved the 19th Reserve Division.

5. About the middle of October it side slipped southward. It was still in line on the 11th of November, although it was forced with the rest of the German line in Flanders, to withdraw considerably.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 38th Landwehr is rated as a fourth-class division. It could be and was used only to hold a quiet sector. Most of the men were nearly 40 years of age, and so it was found necessary to have a divisional “Stosstrupp” for purposes of patrolling.

On November 1 the Franco-American forces in Belgium started an offensive in conjunction with the British 2d Army farther to the south. On the same day, according to the Belgium communique, “The Belgian Army carried out successful minor operations along the drainage canal,” and the German communique said, “The 57th (13th Reserve Division) and the 79th Reserve (38th Landwehr Division) Infantry Regiments distinguished themselves in the course of this fighting.”

39th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │61. │126. │61. │126. │61. │126.
│ │132. │ │132. │ │132.
│82. │171. │82. │171. │ │172.
│ │172. │ │172. │ │
│ 8 Jag. Btn. │ │ │ │
│ 14 Jag. Btn. │ │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │14 Drag. Rgt. │ │H. Res. Hus. Rgt.
│ │ │ (2 Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │39 Brig.: │39 Brig.: │39 Brig.:
│ │ │
│ 66 Rgt. │ 66 Rgt. │ 66 Rgt.
│ 80 Rgt. │ 80 Rgt. │ 80 Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│2 and 3 Field Cos. │2 and 3 Field Cos. │2 and 3 Cos. 1
Liaisons. │ 1 Pion. Btn. No. │ 1 Pion. Btn. No. │ Pion. Btn. No.
│ 15. │ 15. │ 15. Btn. No. 15.
│ │39 Pont. Engs. │39 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │39 Tel. Detch. │39 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │39 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │61. │126. │61. │126.
│ │132. │ │132.
│ │172. │ │172.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │1 and 2 Sqns. 8 │5 Sqn. 9 Drag. Rgt.
│ Res. Hus. Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │39 Artillery │39 Art. Command:
│ Command: │
│ 80 Rgt. │80 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 406 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ 869 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1324 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1325 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│131 Pion. Btn. │136 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ │
│2 and 3 Cos. 15 │ 2 Co. 15 Pions.
│ Pions. │
│39 T. M. Co. │ 3 Co. 15 Pions.
│Tel. Detch. │ 39 T. M. Co.
│ │ 58 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │39 Signal Command:
│ │ 39 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 84 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │38 Ambulance Co. │38 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│270, 271, 272 Field│270 Field Hospital.
│ Hospitals. │
│Vet. Hospital. │272 Field Hospital.
│ │39 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │Light Mun. Col. │572 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(15th Corps District—Alsace.)

1914.

ALSACE AND THE VOSGES.

1. Upon mobilization, the 39th Division and the 30th Division formed the 5th Army Corps (Strassburg).

At the beginning of the campaign the 39th Division was a part of the 7th Army (Von Herringen). In the first days of August it fought in the pass of the Bonhomme. On the 9th it went into Cernay and Mulhouse and was transferred to Dabo (Vosges) on August 19. On August 20 it took part in the battle of Albreschwiller and crossed the frontier on the 31st. It advanced to a point between the Meurthe and the Mortagne and then retreated fighting.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Entraining on September 9, it was transferred to the northwest of Rheims, where it fought between Craonne and Ailles until October.

FLANDERS.

3. At the end of October it became a part of the 6th Army (Crown Prince of Bavaria), of which the 15th Army Corps formed the right wing (north of Lille) until the summer of 1915.

1915.

FLANDERS.

1. Before our attacks of 1915 it was attached to the 4th Army (Duke of Wurttemberg), south of Ypres. At this time the 15th Army Corps became the left wing of the 4th Army. In April the 39th Division gave the 171st Infantry Regiment to the 115th Division, a new formation.

2. The 39th Division was retained in the vicinity of Ypres until the month of February, 1916. One of its regiments, the 172d Infantry Regiment, suffered heavy losses there on September 25 (its 8th Company received at least 111 men as replacements between September 28 and October 16).

1916.

VERDUN.

1. At the beginning of 1916 various elements of the 15th Army Corps were transferred to the vicinity of Verdun and concentrated on the right bank of the Meuse, in the area Piennes-Etain-Ornel-Senon.

2. At the beginning of the German offensive on February 24, the 39th Division suffered relatively few losses, the battle being less intense in the Woevre. But little by little all its units were engaged. On March 8, the 132d Infantry Regiment took part in the attacks upon Douaumont, and on the 18th upon the Caillette wood. Its losses were enormous. On July 11 the 126th Infantry Regiment was in action with two regiments of the 30th Division. Almost all its battalions went successively to the active sectors in the vicinity of Vaux (Aug. 18). At Verdun the division lost 69 per cent of its infantry.

SOMME.