Chapter XXIII: Part 23

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │96 Res. │221 Res. │96 Res. │221 Res.
│ │222 Res. │ │222 Res.
│ │223 Res. │ │223 Res.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 1 Drag. Rgt.│5 Sqn. 1 Gd. Drag.
│ │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │48 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ 48 Res. F. A. Rgt.│1 Abt. 23 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt. (1 and 3
│ │ Btries.).
│ │752 Light Am. Col.
│ │954 Light Am. Col.
│ │1382 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(348) Pion. Btn.: │348 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 48 Res. Pion. Co. │ 1 Res. Co. 26
│ │ Pions.
│ 1 Res. Co. 26 │ 48 Res. Pion. Co.
│ Pion. Btn. │
│ 248 T. M. Co. │ 248 T. M. Co.
│ 448 Tel. Detch. │ 214 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │448 Signal Command:
│ │ 448 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 69 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │530 Ambulance Co. │530 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│79 Res. Field │102 Field Hospital.
│ Hospital. │
│Vet. Hospital. │79 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│ │448 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │587 M. T. Col. │735 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(18th Corps District—Hesse—Nassau and the Grand Duchy of Hesse.)

1914.

The 48th Reserve Division (belonging to the 24th Reserve Corps with the 47th Reserve Division) was formed between August and October, 1914, and trained at the Oberhofen Camp.

ARTOIS.

1. Concentrated near Metz in the middle of October, the 48th Reserve Division was transferred on the 25th to the area between Armentières and La Bassée (Fromelles), while the 47th Reserve Division was sent to the Woevre.

2. On November 1 the division held the line at Neuve Chapelle. Some elements were sent farther north, west of Wytschaete, in the middle of November.

RUSSIA.

3. At the end of November the 48th Reserve Division left the Western Front for Russia.

POLAND.

4. On December 3 it was identified in Poland in the vicinity of Kalisch. It then made a part of the X Army and fought west of the Rawka, near Warsaw, at the end of December.

1915.

1. The 48th Reserve Division was engaged in Poland (Rawka) until January 28, 1915.

CARPATHIANS.

2. On February 2 elements of the division fought in the Carpathians, southeast of Beskides. It was then assigned to the German Army of the South (Von Linsingen) and was opposed to the Russians in the vicinity of the Uzsok Ridge (February-May).

GALICIA.

3. Taking part in the spring and summer offensive of 1915, it marched to Halicz in May; crossed the Dniester in the middle of June; advanced to Brzezany-Tarnopol and was on the Zlota-Lipa at the end of July. One of its regiments, the 224th Reserve Infantry Regiment, was renewed several times; the list of losses from August to October show casualties of 70 officers and 4,712 men, 3,100 of whom were reported as missing. The greater part of these were Alsace-Lorrainers who had succeeded in deserting.

4. When the offensive was resumed in October and November the 48th Reserve Division formed a part of the Bothmer Army and progressed from the Zlota-Lipa as far as the Stripa.

1916.

1. The 48th Reserve Division was retained at the Stripa, west of Tarnapol, during the winter and spring of 1916; it was still in this sector at the time of the Russian attack (Broussilow offensive, June to September).

ROUMANIA.

2. In the beginning of October the division went into action with the Falkenheim Army against Roumania, and fought in the vicinity of Hermannstadt, then at Préoéal in November.

GALICIA.

3. It then left the Transylvanian front and went to eastern Galicia, where it was a part of the Bothmer Army. It took up its position between Brzezan, and the Dniester.

1917.

1. At the beginning of 1917 the 224th Reserve Infantry Regiment left the division and was transferred to the 215th Division, in process of reorganization.

FRANCE.

2. The 48th Reserve Division was relieved from its sector in May, 1917, and transferred to the Western Front (Itinerary: Lemberg-Jaroslav- Cracow-Oppeln-Breslau-Leipzig-Erfurt-Gotha-Eisenach-Frankfort-Worms- Sarrebruecken-Thionville-Montmedy-Dun sur Meuse). It rested in the vicinity of Stenay from May 27 to June 28.

VERDUN.

3. It was first behind the Verdun front, on the left bank of the Meuse. Toward the end of June it sustained the artillery preparation for the French offensive of July 17, and sent some of its elements in as reenforcements (Hill 304-Morthomme) on the day of the attack.

4. Sent to rest and reorganized in the Stenay area at the end of July. By an important draft of men of the 1918 class, it went back into the same sector (Hill 304-Corbeaux wood) on August 20, at the time of the new French attack, and lost heavily reenforcing and relieving units of the 6th Reserve Division.

5. Withdrawn from the front on August 24, it was employed on various works until September 3 and then sent into the area of Damvillers.

6. On September 12 it went into line north of Hill 344, which it left at the end of the month to go to rest in the vicinity of Morhange.

LORRAINE-ALSACE.

7. After holding the lines in Lorraine (middle of October to the middle of November) northeast of Arracourt, the 48th Reserve Division was sent to Alsace and went to rest for two months in the vicinity of Enisheim.

RECRUITING.

Mixed upon formation (1 Thuringian Regiment), the division became, in theory, a Hessian Division. The Alsace-Lorrainers were very numerous during its stay on the Russian front, whence the desertions en masse from the 224th Infantry Regiment in the summer of 1915.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

At the end of June, 1917, the 48th Reserve Division, coming from the Russian front, went into line at Hill 304, after a month’s rest near Stenay. But as the men were not accustomed to the activity of the western front and were unable to sustain artillery fire for a long time, they could only be kept in this sector for a few days.

During the French attack of August 20 the 48th Reserve Division played only a passive rôle.

The 48th Reserve Division must be classed among the mediocre divisions (December, 1917).

1918.

1. About March 1 the division was relieved by the 22d Reserve Division and went into reserve in Alsace. It left that sector about April 1 and came into line on the 14th southwest of Vieux Berquin. It was engaged in that locality until its relief on the night of May 26–27 by the 32d Division.

VIEUX BERQUIN.

2. The division rested in the Lille area until June 28, when it returned to its former sector at Vieux Berquin. Its stay here was short. On July 3 it was relieved by the 39th Division and entrained at Laventie the next day for Douai.

SCARPE.

3. On the night of July 6–7 the division relieved the 187th Division southwest of Gavrelle. Throughout August and September the division held this sector. It was relieved north of the Scarpe on the night of October 5–6 and moved south.

4. The division was used to reenforce the Cambrai-St. Quentin front near Cambrai on October 7. Thereafter almost until the day of the armistice the division was engaged in opposing the British advance. The direction of its retreat was through Awoingt (10th), Saulzoir (13th), Montrecourt (14th), north of Haussy (17th), Vendegies (24th), Maresches (Nov. 1), Jenlain (4th). The division received drafts from the dissolved 118th Reserve Regiment (25th Reserve Division) in late October. It was withdrawn from line about November 5.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. In 1918 it was engaged entirely in defensive sectors and performed with credit.

48th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │ │38 │1 Landst.│38 │1 Landst.│38
│ │ Landst.│ │ Landst.│ │ Landst.
│ │39 │ │40 │ │40
│ │ Landst.│ │ Landst.│ │ Landst.
│ │47 │ │47 │ │47
│ │ Landst.│ │ Landst.│ │ Landst.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │ │3 Sqn. 14 Uhlan
│ │ │ Rgt.
│ │ │1 Sqn. Gd. Res.
│ │ │ Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │ (?) │Art. Command: │264 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 264 F. A. Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1/28 Pion. Btn.: │224 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ 1 Landst. Co. 3 C.│ 1 Ldw. Co. Gd. C.
│ │ Dist. Pions. │ Dist. Pions.
│ │ 455 T. M. Co. │ 1 Landst. Co. 3 C.
│ │ │ Dist. Pions.
│ │ 590 Tel. Detch. │ 210 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ │548 Signal Command:
│ │ │ 548 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 67 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │Ambulance Co. │602 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │80 Res. Field │51 Field Hospital.
│ │ Hospital. │
│ │Vet. Hospital. │80 Res. Field
│ │ │ Hospital.
│ │ │570 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │800 M. T. Col. │800 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │2 Ratisbonne │
│ │ Landst. Inf. Btn.│
│ │ (3 Bav. C. Dist. │
│ │ Btn. No. 14). │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(38th Landsturm: Brandenburg and Alsace. 40th Landsturm: Prussian
Saxony, Westphalia and the Rhine Province. 47th Landsturm: Hesse and
Thuringia.)

1917.

LORRAINE.

1. The 48th Landwehr Division appears to have been formed on the Lorraine front in September, 1917, by the grouping of three new regiments—the 38th Landsturm, the 39th Landsturm (Wurttemberg), and the 47th Landsturm—the elements of which had previously been employed behind the front or in calm sectors.

2. In September, 1917, the 48th Landwehr Division occupied the sector of Avricourt (Leintrey-Gondrexon, Embermenil).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 48th Landwehr Division is composed of troops of mediocre value.

The average age of the men is 40 years. A certain number of young soldiers of the 1918 class are to be found in most of the units. Sent into these Landsturm divisions because of their reduced physical fitness, they left them for active or reserve units as soon as they became hardened.

There is a divisional assault company which has never shown any offensive activity (July, 1918).

1918.

1. The division continued to hold the Delme sector until the armistice. Nothing occurred to disturb the tranquility of that part of the front.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. The average age of its effectives was near 40 years. At no time did the division take part in any fighting.

49th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │97 Res. │225 Res. │97 Res. │225 Res. │97 Res. │225 Res.
│ │226 Res. │ │226 Res. │ │226 Res.
│98 Res. │227 Res. │98 Res. │227 Res. │ │228 Res.
│ │228 Res. │ │228 Res. │ │
│ 21 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 21 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 21 Res. Jag. Btn.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Cavalry. │49 Res. Cav. Detch.│49 Res. Cav. Detch.│49 Res. Cav. Detch.
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │49 Res. F. A. Rgt. │49 Res. F. A. Rgt. │49 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (9 Btries.) │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│49 Res. Pion. Co. │49 Res. Pion. Co. │49 Res. Pion. Co.
Liaison. │ │ │
│ │49 Res. Pont. Engs.│249 T. M. Co.
│ │ │49 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │49 Res. Ambulance │
Veterinary.│ │ Co. │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd units. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │97 Res. │225 Res. │97 Res. │225 Res.
│ │226 Res. │ │226 Res.
│ │228 Res. │ │228 Res.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │49 Res. Cav. Detch.│2 Sqn. (?) Drag.
│ (?) │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │(?) 49 Art. │49 Art. Command:
│ Command: │
│ 49 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 49 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 1 Abt. 25 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt. (1, 2, and 4
│ │ Btries.).
│ │ 788 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 972 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1,318 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(349) Pion. Btn.: │349 Pion. Btn.:
Liaison. │ │
│ 49 Res. Pion. Co. │ 43 Res. Pion. Co.
│ 2 Ldw. Co. 4 │ 49 Res. Pion. Co.
│ Pions. │
│ 249 T. M. Co. │ 249 T. M. Co.
│ 449 Tel. Detch. │ 188 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │449 Signal Command:
│ │ 449 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 110 Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │531 Ambulance Co. │531 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│85 Res. Field │83 Res. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│155 Vet. Hospital. │85 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│ │155 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd units. │49 Res. Cyclist Co.│
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony and part of Thuringia.)

1914.

EAST PRUSSIA.

1. The 49th Reserve Division, forming the 25th Reserve Corps with the 50th Reserve Division, was formed between August and October, 1914, trained at the Warthe Camp, and sent to East Prussia on October 14, 1914, as a part of the 8th Army (Von Hindenburg).

POLAND.

2. It took part in the offensive in Poland between the Vistula and the Warta at the end of October, escaped from the enveloping movement attempted by the Russians before Lodz (Nov. 25), and fought on the front of the Bzura, Rawka, Bolimow, where it was repulsed in December.

1915.

POLAND.

1. At the beginning of January, 1915, the 49th Reserve Division was again engaged on the Bzura and remained in this area until the summer of the same year. In June it transferred the 227th Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 107th Division, a new formation.

2. Advancing in August with the Hindenburg offensive, it entered Warsaw on August 7, took part in the pursuit of the Russians in the sector of Skierniewicz, and stopped near Baranovitchi (Tsirin).

1916.

1. The 49th Reserve Division was still occupying the sector north of Baranovitchi when the Russian offensive broke out in this region in July, 1916. At this time elements of the division were sent to reenforce the 35th Austrian Division between Baranovitchi and the north of Pripet. This latter division was relieved a short time afterwards by the 49th Reserve Division.

GALICIA.

2. Sent into Galicia, the division held the lines southwest of Brody at the beginning of October. At this time the 225th Reserve Infantry Regiment was sent to Roumania.

CARPATHIANS.

3. Made up only of the 226th and 228th Reserve Infantry Regiments, the 49th Reserve Division opposed the Russians on the Narajowka, then, at the beginning of December and until January, 1917, fought in the Carpathians in the vicinity of Worochta.

1917.

ROUMANIA.

1. In January, 1917, the 49th Reserve Division rejoined the 225th Reserve Infantry Regiment (Roumania) in the valley of Uz.

2. In the middle of January it was transferred to the Western Front. (Itinerary: Szekely-Udvarhely-Goborin-Budapest-Oderberg-Oppeln-Breslau- Goerlitz-Dresden-Leipzig-Halle-Liege-Mons-St. Ghislain, detraining on Jan. 22.)

FRANCE.

3. After a rest of two months in the vicinity of Mons, then in the vicinity of Lille, the 49th Reserve Division went into line east of Armentières, south of Frelinghien on March 20.

ARTOIS.

4. Relieved at the end of April, it was engaged almost at once in the sector of Fontaine les Croisilles, Bullecourt (southeast of Arras), where it suffered very heavily from May 1 to May 21. On June 16, after reorganization, the ranks of the 228th Reserve Infantry Regiment contained more than two-fifths new recruits; more than one-fifth of the men belonged to the 1918 class.

FLANDERS.

5. Sent to rest and to be reorganized during the month of June in the vicinity of Tournai-Audenarde, it went into line at the end of June in the sector of Steenstraat-Bixschoote (north of Ypres), and suffered heavy losses during the artillery preparation which preceded the Franco- British attack of July 21. On July 28 it was withdrawn from the front before the attack.

ARTOIS.

6. The 49th Reserve Division rested and was reorganized in the month of August between Lille and Tournai, and in September took over its old Artois sector (Croisilles-Bullecourt), from which place it was relieved at the end of October.

7. After occupying the sector south of the Ypres-Menin road until November 21, it went into action about November 26 in the same sector of Croisilles-Bullecourt (Cambrai attack).

8. At the end of December, the 49th Reserve Division was resting in the Tourcoing area.

RECRUITING.

Formed at the beginning by contingents from the 5th and 6th Corps Districts (Posen and Silesia) the Division, beginning with the summer of 1915, received most of its reenforcements from the 4th Corps District. At the present time it is entirely Saxo-Thuringian.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 49th Reserve Division is considered a good division.

It fought well in Artois in May 1917. North of Ypres it suffered heavily by the Franco-British bombardment at the end of July, 1917. It is to be noted that under artillery fire units in the first line scattered and fled. The remnants of the advanced elements deserted (30 men).

On July 25, 1917, the 226th Reserve Infantry Regiment received replacements of 500 to 700 men, principally of the 1918 class.

1918.

MESSINES.

1. About April 6 the division temporarily withdrew to reserve. It returned on the 11th and carried out a divisional attack on Messines. It was engaged until about April 25.

YPRES.

2. Two days later the division relieved the 13th Reserve Division south of Ypres, which in turn relieved it about May 2. It remained in rear of the front while resting and was engaged east of Bixschoote on May 10. Here the division remained until June 14, when the 29th Division relieved it. The division rested in the Bruges area until July 10, when it returned to its former sector northeast of Ypres. It held this sector until about August 27, when the 11th Bavarian Division relieved it.

3. The division entrained at Hooglede August 27 and traveled to Courtrai, where it halted one day. On August 28 it moved to Iwuy, from where it marched to Lallaing (near Douai) two days later. On September 1 the division came into line near Fremicourt. It was engaged until about September 16.

SCARPE-SOMME.

4. The division rested in the Cambrai area until September 27, where it was identified in line west of Gaincourt. It again retired from the front about October 1 and rested in the Eswars area. On the Scarpe-Somme front in September the division lost 1,100 prisoners.

5. On the night of October 11–12 the division was again in line at Courcelles les Lens. After holding this rather quiet sector for a week the division moved north and on October 29 appeared on the Ypres front at Anseghem in relief of the 7th Cavalry Division. It continued in line until the armistice. The last identification was west of Audenarde on November 2.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was used as a holding division in important sectors on the British front during 1918.

50th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │100. │39 Fus. │100. │39 Fus.
│ │53. │ │53.
│ │158. │ │158.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. mounted Jag. Rgt. │1 Sqn. 16 Uhlan Rgt.
│3 Sqn. mounted Jag. Rgt. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │50 Brig.: │50 Brig.:
│ 99 F. A. Rgt. (6 Batteries).│ 99 F. A. Rgt.
│ 100 F. A. Rgt. (6 Batteries,│ 100 F. A. Rgt.
│ 3 are Hows.). │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│99 Pion. Co. │99 Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│100 Pion. Co. │100 Pion. Co.
│ │4 Co. 23 Pions.
│ │1 T. M. Co.
│ │50 T. M. Co.
│ │50 Pont. Engs.
│ │50 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │ │50 Cyclist Co.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │1 Ldw. 7 C. Dist. Pion Co. │80 Antiaircraft Section.
│ │2 Res. Co. 2 Pion. Btn. No.
│ │ 27.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │100. │39 Fus. │100. │39 Fus.
│ │53. │ │53.
│ │158. │ │158.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 16 Uhlan Rgt. │1 Sqn. 16 Uhlan Rgt.
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │50 Art. Command: │50 Art. Command:
│ 99 F. A. Rgt. (9 Batteries).│ 99 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 95 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │
│ │ 1178 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1179 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1204 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│50 Pion Btn.: │50 Pion Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 99 Pion. Co. │ 99 Pion. Co.
│ 100 Pion. Co. │ 100 Pion. Co.
│ 50 T. M. Co. │ 50 T. M. Co.
│ 99 Searchlight Section. │50 Signal Command:
│ 50 Tel. Detch. │ 50 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 13 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │50 Ambulance Co. │50 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│337 Field Hospital. │337 Field Hospital.
│338 Field Hospital. │338 Field Hospital.
│340 Field Hospital. │132 Vet. Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1915.

The 50th Division (one of the new divisions in the 50 to 58 series) was formed in March, 1915, by taking three regiments from the three divisions of the 7th Corps and 7th Reserve Corps (the 13th Division giving the 158th Infantry, the 14th Division the 53d, and the 14th Reserve Division the 39th Fusileer Division), all Westphalian Regiments.

1. At the end of March, 1915, the 158th and 53d Infantry Regiments were identified at Hirson (Aisne), while the 39th Fusileer Regiment was still between Perthes and Tahure. In April the division was concentrated and was identified in Champagne, May 14 (area south of Somme-Py).

CHAMPAGNE.

2. From June to October it occupied the sector of Tahure (north of Perthes and Mesnil les Hurlus). It there underwent the French offensive of the end of September, which caused it very heavy losses—infantry, 130 officers and 7,849 men casualties; the 100th Company of Pioneers lost 5 officers and 135 men.

3. Sent to rest and reorganized in the vicinity of Vouziers and of Juniville (end of October to the end of November), it reappeared on November 7 north of Prosnes (east of Reims).

1916.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. In April, 1916, the division left the sector of Prosnes-Prunay, for the front northeast of Verdun (Ornes).

VERDUN-VAUX.

2. Going into action, at the beginning of May, north of Vaux, it took part in the attacks launched upon the line Caillette wood-Damloup (June 1 to June 3), which ended in the capture of the fort of Vaux by the 158th Infantry Regiment on June 4.

3. Very much exhausted by these battles, the division was sent to rest and reorganized in the vicinity of Étain in June and July.

4. In July elements of the division occupied the calm sectors of the Woëvre.

5. At the end of July the 50th Division went back into line at Verdun, south of the fort of Vaux. It launched an attack on August 1 (La Laufée), underwent the French offensives of August 8 and October 24, suffering heavy losses, and held this sector until November.

ARGONNE.

6. Sent to the Argonne, it took over the sector of Vauquois.

1917.

1. Withdrawn from the Argonne on February 15, 1917, the division remained at rest in the area of Saulces-Champenoise until the end of March, then in the camp at Sissonne, then at Thenailles, near Vervins (beginning of April).

AISNE.

2. Concentrated on April 8, it went into action on the 15th at Juvincourt and there underwent the French attack of April 15. After heavy losses it was relieved between April 29-April 27 and went for reorganization to Nizy le Comte, near the Sissonne Camp.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

3. About May 10, the division went back into line east of Allment on the Chemin des Dames.

4. It was sent to rest in July in the vicinity of Mons en Laonnois, Coucy les Eppes, Parfondru.

5. At the beginning of August, it came back to the Chemin des Dames (vicinity of Ailles), where, on October 15, the 9th Company of the 158th Infantry Regiment was reduced to 50 men, including officers (letter). Following the French offensive upon La Malmaison, the 50th Division retired on November 1, to the north of the Ailette toward Neuville (outside of Chamouille) and was still occupying this sector in December.

RECRUITING.

Upon its formation the division was composed of Westphalian troops. The recruiting is still almost exclusively Westphalian.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Since the battle of Vaux in June, 1916, the division likes to consider itself a shock division.

Its prolonged stay on the Ailette front (August to December) seems to mean that it had to be put at rest for a fairly long time before being engaged in an active sector.

It must be regarded as a good division, capable of putting up a vigorous defense (December).

1918.

1. The 50th Division was withdrawn from line near Ailles (west of Craonne) on January 9, the neighboring divisions extending their fronts, and moved by easy stages to the Chimay area, where it arrived on the 14th. It remained here for a month during which time it was thoroughly trained in open warfare and brought up to strength. It then moved to the La Capelle-Fontenelle area for rest and further training.

ST. QUENTIN.

2. The middle of March the division moved up to the front, and on the 21st attacked in the front line southwest of St. Quentin; it captured Holnon during the day, Etreillers on the 22d, Hangest en Santerre on the 29th, and reached Moreuil on the 30th. It was withdrawn about April 1, after having suffered severely heavy losses, and went to rest, refit, and train in the Lassigny region.

AISNE.

3. On May 27, the division attacked near Craonne, reached Pontavert toward noon and crossed the Aisne. The following day it crossed the Vesle west of Breuil sur Vesle and continued to the south, where a French counterattack was repelled. On the 30th it reached Goussancourt, and then the Marne east of Dormans. After having suffered severe losses, it was relieved by the 28th Reserve Division during the night of June 12–13, and went to rest in the Laon region.

RHEIMS.

4. On the 19th of July the division was thrown into line just southwest of Rheims to meet the Allies’ tightening at the bases of the Chateau- Thierry salient. It was withdrawn early in August.

5. About the 30th of September it came back into line northwest of Rheims, near Prouilly and Cormicy. It remained here, and was driven back—fighting stubbornly—passing near Brimont, Guignicourt, and Banogne, where it was withdrawn on the 7th of November.

MEUSE.

6. After a day’s rest, the division was put back into line on the 8th near Mezieres; it had not been withdrawn when the armistice was signed.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 50th is rated as a first-class division. It distinguished itself in the fighting during 1918. After the Somme offensive, it was praised by Prof. Wegener in the Koelnische Zeitung. Immediately after the battle of the Aisne Maj. Fritsch, in command of the 158th Regiment, was awarded Pour le Mérite. After the Allied counteroffensive, Lieut. Gen. V. Engelhuhten, the division commander, was decorated and made governor of Riga, and the commander of the 53d Regiment was also decorated. The 58th Regiment was mentioned as having particularly distinguished itself in the fighting near Banogne in the German communique of October 30. Losses suffered throughout the year were enormous, but the High Command did all in its power to make these good. There are no desertions of record since July 1, 1917. The morale was very good, everything being taken into consideration.

50th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │99 Res. │229 Res. │99 Res. │229 Res. │99 Res. │229 Res.
│ │230 Res. │ │230 Res. │ │230 Res.
│100 Res. │231 Res. │100 Res. │231 Res. │ │231 Res.
│ │232 Res. │ │232 Res. │ │
│ 22 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 22 Res. Jag. Btn. │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │50 Res. Cav. Detch.│50 Res. Cav. Detch.│50 Res. Cav. Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │50 Res. F. A. Rgt. │50 Res. F. A. Rgt. │50 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (9 Btries.). │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│50 Res. Pion. Co. │50 Res. Pion. Co. │50 Res. Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │50 Res. Pont. Engs.│250 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │50 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │50 Res. Ambulance │
Veterinary.│ │ Co. │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │99 Res. │229 Res. │99 Res. │229 Res.
│ │230 Res. │ │230 Res.
│ │231 Res. │ │231 Res.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │50 Res. Cav. Detch.│50 Res. Cav. Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │(z) Art. Command: │68 Art. Command:
│ │
│ 50 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 50 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 81 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ (Staff, 1, 2, and
│ │ 3 Btries.).
│ │ 705 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 902 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 923 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(350) Pion. Btn.: │350 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 50 Res. Pion. Co. │ 2 Res. Co. 19
│ │ Pions.
│ 2 Res. Co. 19 │ 50 Res. Pion. Co.
│ Pion. Btn. │
│ 250 T. M. Co. │ 250 T. M. Co.
│ 325 Searchlight │ 30 Searchlight
│ Section. │ Section.
│ 450 Tel. Detch. │450 Signal Command:
│ │ 450 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 60 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │532 Ambulance Co. │532 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │21 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │84 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│ │450 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │737 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(10th Corps District—Hanover and Brunswick.)

1914.

1. The 50th Reserve Division (belonging to the 1st series of divisions created between August and October, 1914), formed a part of the 25th Reserve Corps with the 49th Reserve Division. It received its training, at the time of its formation, in the Alten-Grabow Camp in the 4th Corps District.

POLAND.

2. In the middle of October the 50th Reserve Division and the 49th Reserve Division belonged to the 8th Army (Von Hindenburg) and took part in the second German offensive in Poland (battles between the Vistula and the Warta in October, Lodz in November, on the Bzura-Rawka front in December).

Since November the 25th Reserve Corps has belonged to the 9th Army.

1915.

1. Engaged in the operations along the Bzura (region of Bolimow) during the winter and spring of 1915, the 50th Reserve Division took part in the summer offensive of Von Hindenburg and pursued the Russians to the vicinity of Baranovitchi. In June it transferred the 232d Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 107th Division, a new formation.

2. In September the 25th Reserve Corps was dissolved—the 49th Reserve Division remained in Russia, the 50th Reserved Division was transferred to the Western Front. The division entrained at Kovno on October 7. (Itinerary: Koenigsberg-Marienburg-Stettin-Hamburg-Bremen-Osnabrueck- Muenster-Aix la Chapelle-Namur-Givet.) It detrained at Rethel October 13–14.

FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE.

3. On October 16 the 50th Reserve Division was sent to Champagne. It cooperated in the gas attack of October 27 in the vicinity of Rheims and remained in line until December 19.

ARTOIS.

4. Entraining at Witry les Rheims for Douai on December 21, it took over the sector Roclincourt, east of Neuville-St. Vaast.

1916.

1. Having lost heavily at Neuville-St. Vaast, the 50th Reserve Division was withdrawn from this sector in March, 1916, and south of Armentières (Grenier wood), from April to September. It rested in this calm sector.

SOMME.

2. About December 16 the division was relieved and went into action on the Somme (Martinpuich-Flers), from September 20 to 28. It suffered very heavily there.

3. From October 6 to November 11 it occupied the sector south of the canal of La Bassée (northeast of Vermelles).

4. The division returned to the Somme, on both banks of the Ancre (near Miraumont, Grandcourt), about November 20, and remained in this active sector until December 22.

5. At the end of December it went to rest in the vicinity of Valenciennes.

1917.

1. In January, 1917, the elements of the 50th Reserve Division were in reserve at Achiet le Petit.

SOMME.

2. At the end of January the 50th Reserve Division came back into line north of the Ancre (Beaumont-Hamel); it lost heavily there (200 prisoners) on February 11.

3. Withdrawn from the Somme front at the beginning of March, it went into line east of Transloy (south of Bapaume) on March 13. It withdrew to the Hindenburg Line, near Metz en Couture (southwest of Cambrai), and remained there from the end of March to April 18.

ARTOIS.

4. After a rest in the vicinity of Douai until the middle of May, the division took over the sector of Oppy-Gavrelle, northeast of Arras, where it did not take part in any important action (May 18 to June 10).

FLANDERS.

5. Transferred to the Ypres front about June 11, in anticipation of the British attack, it was kept in reserve in the vicinity of Roulers until July 24.

6. On July 31 the 50th Reserve Division went into action in St. Julien and suffered heavy losses while fighting for the possession of the village (Aug. 1–2).

7. Relieved on August 10 it was sent to rest in the vicinity of Mons and went back into line on September 20, was engaged on the 26th in the vicinity of Gheluvelt, and left the Ypres front on October 3, after serious losses—the 1st Company of the 231st Reserve Infantry Regiment was reduced to 15 men after September 21, the 6th Company to 28. (British Summary of Information, Oct. 24.)

LILLE.

8. At the end of October it took over a sector in the vicinity of Lille (Fromelles) (until the middle of December).

CAMBRAI.

9. It then occupied the lines before Cambrai south of Marcoing and Masnières (Dec. 21-Jan. 31, 1918).

RECRUITING.

At the beginning the 50th Reserve Division was composed of drafts from Silesia and Prussian Saxony, but after the end of 1915 it received most of its replacements from the 10th Corps District. The 229th Reserve Infantry Regiment is from Brunswick; the two others from Hanover. In certain documents we find the division designated as “troops from lower Saxony.”

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 50th Reserve Division took part in a great number of battles.

Its morale was shaken by the heavy losses which it suffered; it has improved very much.

The division fought comparatively well at Ypres.

1918.

1. The 50th Reserve Division was withdrawn from line south of Marcoing on the 31st of January, the neighboring divisions extending their fronts, and went to the area east of Cambrai, where it received training in open warfare.

PICARDY.

2. On the 13th of March the division marched from Cagnoncles via Carnières and Cattenières to Esnes, and on the 17th proceeded to Villers Outreaux. On the 20th it came into line southwest of Cambrai and took part in the attack of the 21st. The division suffered very heavy losses and was relieved by the 9th Reserve Division on the 22d, going to rest at Liéramont (northeast of Peronne).

3. On the 23d the division followed up the advance behind the 9th Reserve Division via St. Pierre-Vaast wood (24th), Rancourt-Combles (25th), Montauban (26th), Fricourt (27th), and on the following day went into line southwest of Albert, carrying out an unsuccessful attack. In another attack against the ridge west of Dernancourt on April 5 the division was beaten back with heavy losses. It was relieved on the 9th and went to rest at Maricourt.

4. During the night of April 17–18 it relieved the 18th Division near Morlancourt (south of Albert). It was relieved by the 199th Division early in May and went to rest and refit in the Solesmes area.

5. On the 24th of May it traveled by rail to Montauban (south of Albert), marched via Maricourt to Carnoy the following day, and came into line during the night of May 27th–28th south of Albert. It was relieved by the 54th Reserve Division on June 28 and went to rest near Cambrai.

SOISSONS.

6. On the 19th of July the division entrained at Le Cateau and traveled via St. Quentin to Chauny, where it was loaded on trucks and sent to the Forêt de Pinon. On the 28th it relieved the 20th Division near Buzancy (south of Soissons). Here it was gradually forced to retire toward the northeast, was finally withdrawn to the north of Braine about the 20th of August, and went to the region between Laval and Laon.

7. The presence of elements of the 231st Reserve Regiment was reported the 4th of September west of Vauxaillon, and on the 6th to the south of Neuville sous Margival, the rest of the regiment being in the Urcel- Laval region.

8. On September 14 the whole division went back into line east of Soissons near the Mennejean Farm. This was surrounded by the French on the 15th. The following day Sancy fell to them, too. The same day the plateau to the east and northeast of the Mennejean Farm was captured. On the 18th the division lost still more ground and prisoners; it was withdrawn on the 21st and went to rest near St. Pierre a Arnes (south of Machault).

RHEIMS.

9. On the 2d of October the division came back into line northeast of Rheims, near Bétheny, and went through very heavy fighting. It was still in line on November 11.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

On October 11 the following was written: “The division did fairly well in its recent encounters, the men, though lacking in enthusiasm, seeming possessed by a dogged determination to do what they conceived to be their duty. The morale, which was good, has been very much lowered by recent losses.” That this statement is erroneous seems to be proved by the fact that the German communiqués of October 22, November 1 and 2, say that the division “had shown particular merit in the recent fighting, retook their position in counterattack and repulsed hostile attacks,” “bore the brunt of the fighting * * * without showing signs of weariness,” and “again maintained their positions against heavy attacks.” Therefore, although the division suffered heavy losses, especially in the spring, it is still to be considered as second class.

51st Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │101 Res. │233 Res. │101 Res. │233 Res. │101 Res. │233 Res.
│ │234 Res. │ │234 Res. │ │235 Res.
│102 Res. │235 Res. │102 Res. │235 Res. │102 Res. │234 Res.
│ │236 Res. │ │236 Res. │ │236 Res.
│ 23 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 23 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 23 Res. Jag. Btn.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Cavalry. │51 Res. Cav. Detch.│51 Res. Cav. Detch.│51 Res. Cav. Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │51 Res. F. A. Rgt. │51 Res. F. A. Rgt. │51 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (9 Btries.). │ │
│ │Mobile Ers. Detch. │
│ │ of 26 F. A. Rgt. │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│51 Res. Pion. Co. │51 Res. Pion. Co. │51 Res. Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │51 Res. Pont. Engs.│251 T. M. Co.
│ │ │51 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │51 Res. Ambulance │
Veterinary.│ │ Co. │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd units. │ │ │Cylist Co.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │102 Res. │234 Res. │102 Res. │234 Res.
│ │235 Res. │ │235 Res.
│ │236 Res. │ │236 Res.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │51 Res. Cav. Detch.│51 Res. Cav. Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │51 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ 51 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 1 Abt. 11 Res. Ft.
│ │ A. Rgt.
│ │ 896 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 897 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1395 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(351) Pion. Btn.: │351 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 7 Co. 28 Pions. │ 7 Co. 28 Pions.
│ 51 Res. Pion. Co. │ 51 Res. Pion. Co.
│ 251 T. M. Co. │ 33 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 258 Searchlight │451 Signal Command:
│ Section. │
│ 451 Tel. Detch. │ 451 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 85 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │263 Vet. Hospital. │533 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│533 Ambulance Co. │87 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│87 Res. Field │88 Res. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│90 Res. Field │263 Vet. Hospital.
│ Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │738 M. T. Col. │738 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd units. │Cylist Co. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(11th Corps District—Electorate of Hesse and Thuringia.)

1914.

FLANDERS.

1. The 51st Reserve Division (of the series of divisions created between August and October, 1914), forming the 26th Reserve Corps with the 52d Reserve Division, went into action northeast of Ypres in the middle of October. It fought on the line Cortemarck-Moorslede on the 22d, reached Langemarck on the 24th, and finally took up its position near Poelcappelle.

1915.

YPRES.

1. The division remained in the area northeast of Ypres (Poelcappelle, Langemarck, St. Julien) during the entire year of 1915, and until September, 1916. In September, 1916, it transferred the 233d Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 195th Division, a new formation, in consequence of the Russian advance in Galicia.

1916.

SOMME.

1. On September 16, 1916, the 51st Reserve Division was relieved from the sector of Wieltje (north of the Ypres-Zonnebeke road) and transferred to the Somme. It went into action between Combles and Morval about December 18 and suffered very heavy losses from the British attack of the 26th.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. After occupying the Lille front (Neuve Chapelle) for a few days, the division was sent to Champagne at the beginning of October.

It took over the sector of Tahure-Rouvroy (south of Ripont) in the middle of October.

1917.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 51st Reserve Division remained on the Massiges front until the middle of May, 1917, with a short rest at the end of February.

2. It was engaged in the attacks on Maisons de Champagne in March, and suffered quite heavily.

3. In the middle of May it went into line near Nauroy and Moronvilliers (Casque-Mont Haut), where it lost heavily.

4. Withdrawn from the front about June 8, it returned, after a short rest in the vicinity of Marvaux, to the sector east of Tahure (June 22- Aug. 10).

MEUSE.

5. Brought back to the right bank of the Meuse, after a rest in the vicinity of Sedan-Montmédy, the division occupied the sector of Samogneux-Hill 344, about August 22, and lost heavily (French attack of Aug. 25, German attack of Sept. 9).

CHAMPAGNE.

6. It was relieved about September 12 and sent to rest behind the Champagne front.

RECRUITING.

Mixed at the time of its formation, the division is actually recruited in the 11th Corps District (Electorate of Hesse and Thuringia), and is so designated in various documents. Beginning with March 13, 1917, it has received young men of the 1918 class who have less than four months’ training (236th Reserve Infantry Regiment).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 51st Reserve Division was good at the beginning of the war, but now appears mediocre.

Health conditions seem to be poor (August, 1917).

1918.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 51st Reserve Division remained in the Vouziers being trained until about the 20th of January, when it relieved the 52d Division near the Butte du Mesnil. It was relieved early in March and went to the Vouziers-Rethel area, where it received some more training in open warfare.

PICARDY.

2. On the 20th it entrained, and arrived at Etreux (north of Guise) the following day. From there it marched via St. Quentin-Ham-Roye-Faverolles to Montdidier, where it arrived on the 30th. The following day it reenforced the front near Ayencourt (south of Montdidier), relieving the 9th Division. It was relieved by the 2d Division during the night of the 1st-2d of May and went to rest in the Chimay area.

AISNE.

3. On the 30th of May the division, thoroughly rested and brought up to strength, reenforced the battle front near Vauxbuin (southwest of Soissons). Here it became heavily engaged and suffered severe losses, especially the first two days. It was relieved near Cutry (southwest of Soissons) on June 16, and went to rest near Oulchy le Chateau.

4. During the night of July 19–20, the division reenforced the front near Blanzy (south of Soissons). Here it became heavily engaged. It was forced back by the Allied counteroffensive, and was withdrawn from line south of Braine early in August. It went to rest near Marle.

CHAMPAGNE.

5. On September 28 the division entered line near Somme-Py (north of Suippes). Here it was badly handled and had to be withdrawn on the 4th of October, when it had been driven back to St. Etienne à Py. It then rested for a day or two near Vouziers.

OISE.

6. On the 6th it entrained at Vouziers and Vrizy and arrived at La Ferté-Chevresis two days later. It was then put on trucks and moved up to the front, taking over the Bernot-Origny sector (east of St. Quentin) on the 8th. It was withdrawn about the 15th.

CHAMPAGNE.

7. After having rested a fortnight between the Oise and the Aisne, the division entered line east of Rethel on the 31st, remaining in line until the signing of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 51st Reserve is to be considered a good second-class division. It did not distinguish itself by any brilliant fighting, but it did acquit itself in the battles of the Somme and the Aisne and during the Allied counteroffensive. It suffered exceedingly heavy losses, but these were in large measure made good by drafts of 1919 class recruits.

52d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │104. │66. │104. │66.
│ │169. │ │169.
│ │170. │ │170.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │(2) Sqn. 16 Uhlan Rgt. │2 Sqn. 16 Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │52 Brig.: │52 Brig.:
│ 103 F. A. Rgt. (6 Btries.). │ 103 F. A. Rgt.
│ 104 F. A. Rgt. (6 Btries., 3│ 104 F. A. Rgt.
│ of which are Hows.). │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│103 Pion. Co. │103 Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│104 Pion. Co. │104 Pion. Co.
│ │52 T. M. Co.
│ │52 Tel. Detch.
│ │52 Pont. Engs.
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │ │52 Cyclist Co.
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │1 & 2 Potsdam Landst. Inf. │
│ Btn. (3 C. Dist.). │
│2 Co. 24 Pions. │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │56. │111. │56. │111.
│ │169. │ │169.
│ │170. │ │170.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 16 Uhlan Rgt. │4 Sqn. 16 Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │52 Art. Command: │52 Art. Command:
│ 104 F. A. Rgt. (9 Btries.). │ 104 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 84 Ft. A. Btn. (Staff, 1, 2,
│ │ and 3 Btries.).
│ │
│ │ 892 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 917 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1371 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│137 Pion. Btn.: │137 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 103 Pion. Co. │ 103 Pion. Co.
│ 104 Pion. Co. │ 104 Pion. Co.
│ 52 T. M. Co. │ 52 T. M. Co.
│ 103 Searchlight Section. │ 32 Searchlight Section.
│ 52 Tel. Detch. │52 Signal Command:
│ │ 52 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 46 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │52 Ambulance Co. │52 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│341 Field Hospital. │341 Field Hospital.
│342 Field Hospital. │342 Field Hospital.
│343 Field Hospital. │205 Vet. Hospital.
│205 Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │577 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │52 Cyclist Co. │
│577 Divisional Supply Co. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │147 Giant Periscope Sect. │
│ │
│209 Field Sig. Section. │
│210 Field Sig. Section. │
│Pigeon Loft. │
│107 Wireless Detch. │
│57 Wireless Compass Station. │
│52 Trench Wireless Detch. │
│Power Buzzer Section. │
│16 M. G. S. S. Detch. │
│Staff of 203 Ft. A. Rgt. │
│Staff of 3 Abtl. 27 Ft. A. │
│ Rgt. │
│1 Btry. 94 Ft. A. Btn. │
│1 Btry. 14 Ft. A. Rgt. │
│1 Btry. 4 Ft. A. Rgt. │
│4 Naval Gun Btry. │
│237 Close-range Btry. (3 7- │
│ cm. guns). │
│44 Art. Survey Section. │
│ │
│The following is according to│
│ a captured German document │
│ dated June 4, 1917: │
│ │
│87 Supply Train. │
│103 M. T. Col. │
│274 M. T. Col. │
│725 M. T. Col. │
│944 M. T. Col. │
│2 Ammunition Train. │
│4 Ammunition Train. │
│136 Ammunition Train (new │
│ pattern). │
│65 Supply Train. │
│663 Supply Depot. │
│665 Supply Depot. │
│107 Balloon Sqn. │
│8 Air Sqns. (Protective │
│ Flight). │
│205 Air Sqn. (Reconnaissance │
│ Flight). │
│1 Co. 14 Labor Btn. │
│2 Co. 14 Labor Btn. │
│3 Co. 14 Labor Btn. │
│1 Co. 56 Road Const. Btn. │
│6 Co. 56 Road Const. Btn. │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

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

1915.

The 52d Division (of the even 50 to 58 series) was formed in March, 1915, by taking the 169th and 170th Infantry Regiments from the 29th Division (14th Army Corps, Baden), and the 66th Landwehr Regiment from the 7th Division (4th Army Corps). On April 6, 1917, the last-named regiment was replaced by the 111th Infantry Regiment (the 4th Regiment of the 28th Division, also from Baden).

ARTOIS.

1. In April, 1915, the 52d Division was in line south of Arras (Monchy aux Bois, Hebuterne). It occupied this sector until September, 1916.

1916.

SOMME.

1. During the Franco-English offensive on the Somme the 52d Division bore to the south and held the sector Hebuterne, Beaumont-Hamel, north of Thiepval (September-November, 1916).

2. On November 26 the division was withdrawn from the front and sent to rest in the vicinity of Bouchain (December).

1917.

ALSACE.

1. On January 13, 1917, the 52d Division was sent to Alsace (northwest of Bale).

2. About the middle of January it took over the sector of Altkirch (Carspach-Hirtzbach), which it held until the end of March.

3. After a few days at rest (at the beginning of April) in the Grand Duchy of Baden south of Muellheim, it entrained on April 16 north of Bale and was transferred to the Aisne, already including men of the 1918 class in its ranks.

AISNE.

4. On April 21 it went into line south of Juvincourt. It occupied this sector until July 10, with a period of rest from June 1 to 15.

CALIFORNIE PLATEAU.

5. About July 24 it went back into line on the Californie Plateau, where it launched an attack on September 14.

6. Sent into rest in the vicinity of Sissonne about the end of September, it appeared in the vicinity of Pinon about the middle of October, where it went into action and lost heavily on the 23d.

CHAMPAGNE.