Chapter XXV: Part 25

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │75 Res. │249 Res. │75 Res. │249 Res.
│ │250 Res. │ │250 Res.
│ │251 Res. │ │251 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │75 Res. Cav. Detch. │75 Res. Cav. Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │75 Res. Brig.: │75 Res. Brig.:
│ 55 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 55 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ 57 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 57 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│75 Res. Pion. Co. │75 Res. Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│75 Res. Pont. Engs. │275 T. M. Co.
│ │75 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │75 Res. Train Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │75 Res. Cyclist Co. │75 Res. Cyclist Co.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │Ers. Field Btn. of the 75th
│ │ Res. Div.
│ │Balloon Sqn. of the 75th Res.
│ │ Div.
│ │90 Labor Btn.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │75 Res. │249 Res. │75 Res. │249 Res.
│ │250 Res. │ │250 Res.
│ │251 Res. │ │251 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 2 Uhlan Rgt. │3 Sqn. 2 Drag. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │55 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ 55 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │82 Ft. A. Btn.
│ Btries.). │
│ │826 Light Am. Col.
│ │
│ │1189 Light Am. Col.
│ │1190 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(375) Pion. Btn.: │375 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 75 Res. Pion. Co. │ 384 Pion. Co.
│ 384 Pion. Co. │ 75 Res. Pion. Co.
│ 275 T. M. Co. │ 275 T. M. Co.
│ 333 Searchlight Section. │ 65 Searchlight Section.
│ Tel. Detch. │475 Signal Command:
│ │ 475 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 145 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │537 Ambulance Co. │537 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│95 Res. Field Hospital. │98 Res. Field Hospital.
│99 Res. Field Hospital. │99 Res. Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │169 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │586 M. T. Col. │742 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │75 Res. Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(249th and 250th Reserve Infantry Regiments, 14th Corps District—Grand
Duchy of Baden. 251st Reserve Infantry Regiment; 11th Corps
District—Electorate of Hesse.)

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. The 75th Reserve Division, trained at the Heuberg Camp in Baden, included two regiments of the 14th Corps District and one from the 11th Corps District. The first two were formed from the six field battalions from Baden, Nos. 61 to 66; the third, from three Thuringian field battalions, Nos. 58 to 60.

2. Forming a part of the 38th Reserve Corps with the 76th Reserve Division, it was sent to the Eastern Front at the end of January, 1915.

3. On February 17 it was in the vicinity of Augustowo, after taking part in the battle of Mazurian Lakes, where it lost heavily (250th Reserve Infantry Regiment).

4. At the end of February and the beginning of March it occupied the front near Chtabin.

5. On March 9 it attacked north of Ostrolenka and marched to Ossowiec. It remained in the region north of Ostrolenka until the end of April.

6. In the summer, it took part in the march upon Vilna and advanced beyond this by way of Wileisk (Sept. 24), south of Lake Drisviaty (Oct. 6).

7. At the end of October, the 75th Reserve Division went somewhat to the south and took over the sector of Spiagla, south of Lake Narotch.

1916.

LAKE NAROTCH.

1. The division remained in line in the vicinity of Lake Narotch until the end of July, 1916. In the spring of 1916, it received the Russian offensive in this area.

2. At the beginning of August, it was transferred to the Stokhod. We find it southwest of Sviniouki on October 1; south of Kisselin on November 9 (except the 251st Reserve Infantry Regiment sent to Galicia on Oct. 30).

GALICIA.

3. At the end of November, the entire division was in Galicia, where it occupied the sector of the Narajowka (north of Halicz, Rohatyn).

1917.

GALICIA.

1. The 75th Reserve Division was retained in the vicinity of Halicz, and of Brzezany until July, 1917 (in reserve from the end of March to the end of May).

COURLAND.

2. On July 25 the division left Galicia to go to Smorgoni, from which place it was transferred to the Riga sector (Uxkull) at the end of August. After the taking of Riga, it advanced beyond the Dvina and took up its position on the Meloupe.

FRANCE.

3. On December 1 the division entrained for France. (Itinerary: Riga- Mitau-Kovno-Marienburg-Berlin-Hanover-Cassel-Cologne-Coblentz-Trèves- Thionville-Metz-Charleville-Hirson-Vervins.) It detrained at St. Gobert and Vervins about December 7.

AISNE.

4. Sent to rest near Vervins, about December 26, the division took over the sector of Chavignon-Urcel on the 27th.

RECRUITING.

The divisions formed in 1915 were not homogeneous. The 75th Reserve Division consists of two regiments from Baden and one from the Electorate of Hesse.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Since the 75th Reserve Division comes from Russia and has only been on the French front since the end of December 1917, it is difficult to form a judgment as to the combat value of this organization.

At the end of December elements of the division took part in maneuvers supported by tanks (at Voulpaix, west of Verdun). (Interrogation of prisoner, Feb. 20, 1918.)

At the beginning of February the 251st Reserve Infantry Regiment took part in a division maneuver in which the infantry had to fight simulated tanks. (Interrogation of prisoner, Mar. 11, 1918.)

DISCIPLINE.

It is to be noted that during the trip from Russia to France 40 men belonging to the Minenwerfer and pioneer companies, were reported missing. (Interrogation of prisoner, Jan. 31, 1918.)

1918.

PICARDY.

1. The division was relieved south of Laon on March 26 and went to Laon. By way of Champignon (west of Crepy), Charmes, it marched to Chauny, where it went into line on March 30. It was engaged until about April 14, and then went to rest north of St. Gobain.

BATTLE OF THE MATZ.

2. It returned to line southeast of Canny sur Matz on the night of May 16–17 and took part in the battle of Noyon in June. It was relieved about June 20 and rested until July 2. It was in line at Courcelles from that date until August 18. Prior to the French attack on August 18, the division counted about 3,000 combatants. It suffered important losses between the 8th and 18th.

3. The division rested in the Bois de Champien and Bois de Glandon until August 23 and then in the Bois du Tunnel. On the 27th it went to Ham. On the night of August 31-September 1 it relieved the 1st Reserve Division in the sector Libermont-Bois du Tunnel. It fell back across the Canal du Nord on September 3 and continued its retreat through Sommette, Dury, Bray St. Christophe until it reached a position at Happencourt on September 7. It was relieved on the 13th by the 22d Reserve Division. The attack of August and September had completely disorganized the division and greatly reduced its morale.

LE CATEAU.

4. The division returned to line west of Bellenglise on September 20 and was heavily engaged for 10 days.

WOEVRE.

5. On November 10 the division came into line near Jametz on the American front.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Throughout 1918 its morale appears to have been low, and after the battle of Matz its effectives were greatly reduced.

76th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │76 Res. │252 Res. │76 Res. │252 Res.
│ │253 Res. │ │253 Res.
│ │254 Res. │ │254 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │76 Res. Cav. Detch. │76 Res. Cav. Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │76 Res. Brig.: │76 Res. Brig.:
│ 56 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 56 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ 58 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 58 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│76 Res. Pion. Co. │76 Res. Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│76 Res. Pont. Engs. │276 T. M. Co.
│ │76 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │76 Res. Train Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd Units. │76 Res. Cyclist Co. │76 Res. Cyclist Co.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │76 Res. │252 Res. │76 Res. │252 Res.
│ │253 Res. │ │253 Res.
│ │254 Res. │ │254 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 1 Res. Uhlan Rgt. │3 Sqn. 13 Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │76 Art. Command:
│ 56 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 56 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ 58 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 2 Abt. 24 Ft. A. Rgt. (5th
│ │ and 7th Btries.).
│ │ 763 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1081 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1082 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(376) Pion. Btn.: │376 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 76 Res. Pion. Co. │ 77 Res. Pion. Co.
│ 77 Res. Pion. Co. │ 76 Res. Pion. Co.
│ 276 T. M. Co. │ 76 Searchlight Section.
│ 344 Searchlight Section. │476 Signal Command:
│ Tel. Detch. │ 476 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 188 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │538 Ambulance Co. │538 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│100 Field Hospital (Res.). │100 Res. Field Hospital.
│101 Field Hospital (Res.). │101 Res. Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │146 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │743 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd Units. │76 Res. Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(11th and 18th Corps District—Hesse Electoral, Hesse—Nassau, and Grand
Duchy of Hesse.)

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. The 76th Reserve Division (included in the 38th Reserve Corps with the 75th Reserve Division), formed in January, 1915, grows out of three field battalions (Feld bataillone), Nos. 55–57 of the 11th Corps District, and out of six field battalions, Nos. 67–72 of the 18th Corps District. It was sent toward Russia at the beginning of February, 1915.

2. On February 13 it was identified in the region of Gumbinnen. It was really part of the group which operated in the region of Wylkowyszki- Mariampol.

3. On March 2 it was on the Sopotzkyn-Chtabin front.

4. In March it was northeast of Prasnysz.

5. In April it was in the region of Suwalki-Augustowo.

6. In May it was north of Suwalki.

7. On June 23 the 76th Reserve Division went to the Dubissa area.

8. On June 30, region of Eydtkuhnen.

9. The summer offensive of 1915 brought it, through the region of Vilna, to Kovno (Aug. 16) and then to the south of Smorgoni (Oct. 6–10).

It was withdrawn from the front about October 15 and was at Vilna on November 1 and in the region of Mitau on December 5.

1916.

COURLAND.

1. Then moved toward the north, the 76th Reserve Division took up a sector on the Dvina, opposite Uxkull (Jan.-Aug., 1916).

ROUMANIA.

2. From the 10th to the 20th of September the division was moved to the Roumanian front.

3. In October it took part in the battles in the regions of Hermannstadt and Brasso (Kronstadt).

4. At the end of October or beginning of November it occupied the vicinity of Campolung. At the end of December, to the south of Rimnicu- Sarat.

1917.

ROUMANIA (FOCSANI).

1. With the stabilization of the Roumanian front, it was in line to the north and east to Focsani, where it remained from January to April, 1917.

2. In May it was in reserve. At about this time it seems to have been brought to the rear of the French front.

3. The division reappeared in Roumania, in the vicinity of Focsani, from August 6 to 14. It attacked on the 15th and suffered heavy losses.

4. Put in reserve, near Focsani, it went back into line at the beginning of October to the north of Iresti. It was still in that region at the beginning of January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 252d Regiment in Thuringe, 253d Regiment in Hesse-Nassau, and 254th Regiment in the Grand Duchy of Hesse. These last two regiments may be termed Rhenish regiments.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 76th Reserve Division was at all times used on the eastern front.

1918.

1. The division was moved to the Western Front in the spring after exchanging its older men for younger men from the divisions remaining in Roumania. It entrained at Focsani on March 7 and traveled by way of Hermannstadt, Budapest, Breslau, Erfurt, Fulda, to Metz, where it detrained on March 15. The 254th Reserve Regiment was in cantonments a few days at Fort Luitpold and then went to Norroy le Veneur where it remained about 12 days. It entrained on March 31 and proceeded by way of Sedan and Charleville to Hirson (Apr. 1). From there it marched via Remigny-Golancourt-Roye-Narvillers-Hangest-Plessier-Rozainvillers, where it went into cantonments for three days.

MONTDIDIER.

2. On the night of April 12–13 the division relieved elements of the 23d Division between Malpart and La Chappelle-St. Aignan. About May 2 the division extended its front to the north and relieved a part of the 240th Division. This was a defensive sector at this time. On May 9 the French made an attack on Grivesnes Park while the 76th Reserve Division was holding it. The attack was a complete surprise and caused many casualties. Between April 10 and May 8 the losses averaged 30 to 35 men per company and the number of combatants on May 9 was about 75 per company. It was relieved in the middle of May.

VERDUN.

3. The division entered line in the Verdun region to the south of Bezonvaux on June 21. It was withdrawn from the quiet sector in mid- July, and on the 29th relieved the 46th Reserve Division southwest of Soissons. Until August 2 it was not involved in the attack. It defended the flanks of the German retreat energetically until its withdrawal on September 8. A week later its regiments were used singly to support the units in line in delaying the French advance on the line Coucy le Chateau-Ferny-Sorny. The losses in the fighting were considerable, including 575 prisoners. It showed itself a good defensive division.

4. On September 25 the division came in line on the extreme left of the American line in the Argonne. On October 10 all three regiments were opposite the United States troops in Grandpre. It remained in line until November 8 before it was finally withdrawn.

The excessive use of the division gave rise to serious internal discontent. The rifle strength of the regiments was down to less than 300 by October 24, and the troops were demanding a rest. Some companies refused to enter the line in mid-October. The divisional commander was obliged to issue an appeal to the division on October 21 to hold out. The entire rifle strength of the 2d Battalion, 254th Reserve Regiment, was but 3 officers and 75 men on October 28.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. As a defensive sector holding unit the division showed a power of sustained resistance that warranted a higher classification. By the end the division had been completely used up.

77th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │77 Res. │255 Res. │77 Res. │255 Res.
│ │256 Res. │ │256 Res.
│ │257 Res. │ │257 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │77 Res. Cav. Detch. │77 Res. Cav. Detch.
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │77 Res. Brig.: │77 Res. Brig.:
│ 59 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 59 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ 60 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 60 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│77 Res. Pion. Co. │77 Res. Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│77 Res. Pont. Engs. │277 T. M. Co.
│ │77 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │77 Res. Train Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │77 Res. Cyclist Co. │77 Res. Cyclist Co.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[25] ─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬────────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼────────────── Infantry. │77 Res. │255 Res. │77 Res. │332. │ │256 Res. │ │257 Res. │ │257 Res. │ │419. ─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴────────────── Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 2 Horse Jag. Rgt. (?) │4 Sqn. 2 Horse Jag. Rgt. │77 Res. Cav. Detch. (?) │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │(?) Art. Command: │ 59 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │ 59 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ Btries.). │ │ │ │ │ ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Engineers and│(377) Pion. Btn.: │1 Co. 1 Pions. Liaisons. │ │ │ 78 Res. Pion. Co. │1 Ldw. Co. 7 C. Dist. Pions. │ 277 T. M. Co. │39 Res. Searchlight Section. │ 39 Res. Searchlight Section.│277 T. M. Co. │ 477 Tel. Detch. │477 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Medical and │539 Ambulance Co. │539 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │103 Field Hospital (Res.). │103 Res. Field Hospital. │104 Field Hospital (Res.). │104 Res. Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │105 Res. Field Hospital. │ │Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Transport. │M. T. Col. │744 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Odd units. │77 Res. Cyclist Co. │77 Res. Cyclist Co. ─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────── Attached. │ │403 Pion. Btn. (?) ─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────── Footnote 25:

Composition at the time of dissolution.

HISTORY.

(255th Regiment: 7th Corps District—Westphalia. 257th Regiment, 332d
Regiment: 8th Corps District—Rhenish Province.)

1915.

The 77th Reserve Division was formed at the Senne Cantonment (7th Corps Region) in January, 1915, with six field battalions (Nos. 31–36) of the 7th Corps Region and three of the 8th, (Nos. 37–39.) With the 78th Reserve Division, it composed the 39th Reserve Corps.

RUSSIA.

1. Brought to the Eastern Front at the beginning of February, detraining at Insterburg, it was a part of the army operating in Eastern Prussia after February 12.

2. At the beginning of March it was engaged on the Sopotzkyn-Chtabin front in the region of Simno; on March 9 it covered the retreat of the 21st Corps and fell back to Seiny, Suwalki and Augustowo (Mar. 10 to 31).

3. During May and June the 77th Reserve Division took part in the Courland raid. On May 5 it was identified as being on the Rossieny- Beisagola front (to the South of Chavli).

GRODNO.

4. Taking part in the summer offensive, it advanced through the regions of Grodno, Olita (Aug 30) and Vileiki (Sept 27).

5. At the beginning of November it established itself in the vicinity of Kchtchava, east of Novo-Alexandrovsk.

1916.

COURLAND.

1. The 77th Reserve Division stayed in the region north of Kchtchava—and south of Dvinsk during all of 1916 and until August 1917. In August of 1916 it gave one of its regiments—the 256th—to the Mitau group and later to the 218th Division.

1917.

COURLAND.

1. At the end of August, 1917, the 77th Reserve Division was transferred from the region of the Dvinsk to the Riga front, being brought up to strength by the addition of the 332d Regiment, the latter having originally come from the 83d Division after having successively been part of the 11th Landwehr Division and the 8th Cavalry Division.

2. In October the 77th Reserve Division appeared in the vicinity of Friedrichstadt; near Jakobstadt, at the end of October. The 255th Regiment may have participated about this date in the occupation of the island of Oesel.

3. On November 5 the division is identified in the region of Libau; on January 20, the 257th Regiment at Mitau; and to the northwest of the Novo-Alexandrovsk-Dvinsk railway, the 255th Regiment on February 10. On March 1 the 332d Regiment of Infantry was to leave “in order to advance in the East” (letter).

RECRUITING.

Principally Westphalia for the 255th Regiment; Rhenish provinces for the 257th and 332d Regiments. Numerous recruits from Lorraine and Alsace. Poles in the 332d Regiment, which received the Ersatz Battalion of the 19th Infantry at the time it was formed.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 77th Reserve Division did not leave the Russian front. One of its present regiments, the 332d, is a former regiment of the Posen garrison, of which two of the three battalions were Rhenish Landsturm battalions. Successive replacements gave this regiment the appearance of an ordinary regiment. In January, 1918, the older and sickly men were released.

1918.

1. The division left Russia about April 1 and traveled via Magdebourg- Hildesheim-Cologne-Gerolstein-Gouvy-Bastogne-Lebramont-Sedan-Liart- Rozay-Montcornet, detraining in the vicinity of Laon on April 4. It marched by stages toward Villers-Carbonnel-Athies, where it rested and trained from April 11 to 19. On April 20 it entered the line north of Hangard and was engaged until the end of the month.

SOMME.

2. It returned to line east of Villers-Bretonneux on May 18 and held that sector until July 4.

WOEVRE.

3. The division was moved to the Woevre by Hirson and Montmedy and on July 14 relieved the 183d Division in the Flirey sector. It held that sector until the American attack on St. Mihiel on September 12. The division suffered very heavy losses in prisoners, but had few other casualties, the prisoners stating that they were completely cut off by the American barrage. It was withdrawn on September 16 and did not thereafter return to line.

4. What remained of the 77th Reserve Division was reassembled at Pagny and was occupied in organizing the ground between Pagny and Prenay. A report of October 11 stated that the division passed through Berlin on its way to the Balkan front on October 2. The division was then considered as withdrawn from the Western Front.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was not seriously engaged except in the St. Mihiel attack, which practically destroyed the division. Its morale was only mediocre. Deserters from the Alsace- Lorraine element in the division were numerous.

78th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │78 Res. │258 Res. │78 Res. │258 Res.
│ │259 Res. │ │259 Res.
│ │260 Res. │ │260 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │78 Res. Cav. Detch. │78 Res. Cav. Detch.
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │78 Res. Brig.: │78 Res. Brig.:
│ 61 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 61 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ 62 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 62 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│78 Res. Pion. Co. │78 Res. Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│78 Res. Pont. Engs. │2 Landst. Pion. Co. (2 C.
│ │ Dist.).
│ │278 T. M. Co.
│ │78 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │78 Res. Train Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │78 Res. Cyclist Co. │78 Res. Cyclist Co.
│ │83 Labor Btn.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918[26]
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │78 Res. │258 Res. │78 Res. │258 Res.
│ │259 Res. │ │259 Res.
│ │260 Res. │ │260 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt. │78 Res. Cav. Detch.
│ │2 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │78 Art. Command: │(?) Art. Command:
│ 62 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │ 62 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│378 Pion. Btn.: │79 Res. Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│ 79 Res. Pion. Co. │80 Res. Pion. Co.
│ │
│ 80 Res. Pion. Co. │299 Searchlight Section.
│ 278 T. M. Co. (299 │278 T. M. Co.
│ Searchlight Section). │
│ 478 Tel. Detch. │478 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │540 Ambulance Co. │540 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│107 Res. Field Hospital. │106 Res. Field Hospital.
│108 Res. Field Hospital. │107 Res. Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │108 Res. Field Hospital.
│ │Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │745 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │78 Res. Cyclist Co. │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
Footnote 26:

Composition at the time of dissolution.

HISTORY.

(258th Regiment: 8th Corps District—Rhenish Province. 259th Regiment:
10th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Oldenberg. 260th Regiment: 10th Corps
District—Hanover.)

1915.

The 78th Reserve Division which, with the 77th Reserve Division, constituted the 39th Reserve Corps as one of the reserve divisions created during the winter of 1914–15. One of its regiments—the 258th—grew out of three field battalions of the 8th Corps Region (Nos. 40–42) and the 259th and the 260th out of six field battalions (Nos. 49–54) of the 10th Corps District. All three regiments were trained at the Alten-Grabow cantonment (4th Corps District).

RUSSIA.

1. In action on the Russian front to the north of Grodno, near Simno, Kalvariia and Suwalki in March, 1915, it took part in the Courland raid (region of Chavli) in May. It was engaged in the operations on the Dubissa to the northeast of Rossieny from the end of May to the middle of July.

2. In July, with the Army of Niemen (Beulow) it took part in the offensive against Russia, occupied the region of Poneviej, to the west of Kupichki (August) arrived before Dvinsk in September and held a position near the Illukst (September-December).

1916.

COURLAND.

1. The 78th Reserve Division remained in the Illukst (region of Dvinsk) during the whole year 1916 and until the month of April, 1917.

1917.

COURLAND.

1. Relieved from the Illukst region on April 14, 1917, the division was transferred to the Western Front. It entrained on April 15 (itinerary: Kovno-Wirballen-Allenstein-Posen-Leipzig-Nuremberg-Karlsruhe-Friberg- Muelheim) and detrained near Mulhausen on the 19th.

FRANCE (ALSACE).

2. On April 25 it went into line in the Burnhaupt sector to the north of the Rhône-Rhine Canal.

AISNE-AILETTE.

3. Relieved on May 11, it was sent into the Aisne. For 10 weeks it occupied (May 23-Aug. 5) the sector south of the Ailette, where it did not participate in any action of importance. Beginning with June 19 it made a series of local attacks in which the 258th Regiment suffered some fairly big losses (especially on June 20, to the east of Vauxaillon).

VERDUN.

4. Sent toward the Verdun front as a reserve at the time of the French offensive of August 20, it was engaged to the north of Caurières (southwest of the Ornes) on September 10. On September 13 it executed a counterattack and continued to occupy this difficult sector until the middle of October.

LORRAINE.

5. Withdrawn from Verdun, the division immediately went into line along the banks of the Seille (between Cheminot and Abaucourt) on October 14. Its stay in Lorraine was devoid of any particular event.

HAYE.

6. Toward the middle of December it was withdrawn from the Abaucourt sector and put at rest for instruction in the region of Chambley-Mars la Tour (Dec. 18 to Jan. 11, 1918), then sent to Seicheprey toward the middle of January. It was identified as still there on March 29.

RECRUITING.

One of the three regiments, the 258th, was Rhenish; the 259th was an “Oldenberger” Regiment, while the 260th was a Hanoverian and Brunswickian organization, terms found in documents, as well as the designation Lower Saxony, a more general term.

The neighboring corps districts (7th, Westphalia, and 9th, Schleswig- Holstein) were occasionally called upon for replacements.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 78th Reserve Division showed up well on the Eastern Front and on the French front.

After a hard stay opposite Verdun, the division seems to have gone through a moral crisis; relatively high number of desertions took place in the 258th, and especially in the 259th Regiment. The intention of the High Command in sending the division into Lorraine (October-December, 1917) is said to have been done with an idea of giving its chiefs an opportunity of getting their units well in hand again.

Nevertheless, the vigorous command and the fairly high number of effectives, taken for the greater part from the younger classes, make the 78th Reserve Division a combat division worthy of consideration. At Jonville at the end of December, 1917, the division took part in assault practice.

It is to be noted that a certain number of recruits were from Alsace and Lorraine.

1918.

CHATEAU THIERRY.

1. The division was relieved in the Woevre about May 11 by the 8th Bavarian Reserve Division. It came into line on June 4 west of Dammard (Ourcq region). It was engaged until about July 20 and then withdrawn.

2. The division was disbanded at Montcornet on August 12. The 259th Reserve Regiment was broken up and one battalion of it sent to each regiment of the 2d Guard Division. The 260th Reserve Regiment was turned as a draft to the 20th Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. After about two weeks of heavy fighting on the Marne salient, the division was dissolved.

79th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │79 Res. │261 Res. │79 Res. │261 Res.
│ │262 Res. │ │262 Res.
│ │263 Res. │ │263 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │79 Res. Cav. Detch. │79 Res. Cav. Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │79 Res. Brig.: │79 Res. Brig.:
│ 63 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 63 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ 64 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 64 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│79 Res. Pion. Co. │79 Res. Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│79 Res. Pont. Engs. │83 Res. Pion. Co.
│ │279 T. M. Co.
│ │79 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │79 Res. Train Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd Units. │79 Res. Cyclist Co. │79 Res. Cyclist Co.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │79 Res. │261 Res. │79 Res. │261 Res.
│ │262 Res. │ │262 Res.
│ │263 Res. │ │263 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt. │3 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │79 Art. Command: │79 Art. Command:
│ 63 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │ 63 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ │ 2 Abt. 20 Ft. A. Rgt. (6 and
│ │ 8 Btries.).
│ │ 718 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 719 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1354 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│379 Pion. Btn.: │379 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 81 Res. Pion. Co. │ 81 Res. Pion. Co.
│ 1 Ers. Co. 24 Pions. │ 1 Ers. Co. 24 Pions.
│ 279 T. M. Co. │ 25 Searchlight Section.
│ 40 Res. Searchlight Section.│479 Signal Command:
│ 50 Searchlight Sections. │ 479 Tel. Detch.
│ 51 Searchlight Section. │ 64 Wireless Detch.
│ 79 Searchlight Sections. │
│ 79 Res. Pont. Engs. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │541 Ambulance Co. │541 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│110 Field Hospital. │110 Res. Field Hospital.
│111 Field Hospital. │111 Res. Field Hospital.
│112 Field Hospital. │164 Vet. Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │746 M. T. Col. │746 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd Units. │ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(261st and 262d Reserve Regiments: Entire Prussian territory by
selection, in the same manner as the Guard. 263d Reserve Regiment: 4th
Corps District—Prussian Saxony.)

1915.

EASTERN PRUSSIA.

1. The 79th Reserve Division was one of the divisions formed in the winter of 1914–15, and, with the 80th Reserve Division, formed the 40th Reserve Corps. It grew out of six field battalions of the Guard and three field battalions. (Nos. 19–21) of the 4th Corps District. It was trained at the Doeberitz cantonment and sent to Eastern Prussia at the beginning of February, 1915, where it took part in the battle of the Masure Lakes from the 7th to the 17th.

RUSSIA.

2. It was identified in the vicinity of Lyck on February 13, as marching toward Augustowo on the 14th and to the south of the Forest of Augustowo on the 24th.

POLAND.

3. From the end of February until the end of March it was engaged on the Bobr, to the north of the Fortess of Ossoviec. At the end of March, having come back in the northeast, it held the passes in the lakes to the east of Suwalki-Augustowo.

4. At the beginning of May the 40th Reserve Corps advanced toward Kalwaria-Mariampol.

KOVNO.

5. On June 9 the 79th Reserve Division appeared before Kovno; it took part in the siege and the taking of this town (July-Aug. 18).

SMORGONI.

6. The offensive against the Russians took it through Ochmiana (?) to the south of Smorgoni (Aug. 27). The division took a position in this region.

SMORGONI-KREVO.

7. The division occupied the Krevo-Smorgoni (south of Vilna) sector from the end of August, 1915, until some time in November, 1916.

1916.

RUSSIA-FRANCE.

1. Relieved from the Smorgoni sector at the end of November, 1916, the 79th Division was transferred to the Western Front. It entrained at Mitau (Itinerary: Chavli-Grodno-Bielostok-Varsovie-Lodz-Kalisz-Glogau- Cottbus-Halle-Paderborn-Duesseldorf-Aix la Chapelle-Herbesthal-Liege- Louvain-Brussels) and detrained at Ascq (east of Lille) on December 10.

LILLE.

2. Remained there at rest.

1917.

LA BASSEE.

1. About January 10, 1917, it took over the La Bassee-Vermelles sector (up to Jan. 28).

LENS-VIMY.

2. At the end of February it appeared in the Lens sector and on March 3 on the Vimy front. On April 9 it was sorely tried by the British attack on the heights of Vimy, where it lost 1,660 prisoners.

3. It was relieved about April 14 and put at rest.

LILLE.

4. On May 3 the division entered the line again in the quiet sector to the southwest of Lille (between Boutillerie and Fauquissart). It stayed there until July 8.

FLANDERS.

5. After a few days rest at Templeuve it was transferred to Flanders, where it was again at rest (east of Bruges) (July).

LANGEMARCK.

6. At the beginning of the British offensive at Ypres (July 31) it was brought to Langemarck as a “counterattack” division. Engaged on August 6 it suffered very heavy losses and abandoned Langemarck during the attack of the 16th. It was relieved on the 16th, having lost 75 per cent of its strength. It was put at rest east of Cambrai and reorganized.

ST. QUENTIN.

7. On September 1 it took over the sector northwest of St. Quentin (Pontruet-Gricourt), which it occupied until November 28.

CAMBRAI.

8. On November 21, by reason of the British offensive, it hastily put two battalions in action at Masnières.

9. At the beginning of December the 79th Reserve Division went into line to the east of Gouzeaucourt. It was relieved in January, 1918, reappeared on the front at the beginning of February near Gonnelieu, and went back to rest at the end of the month.

RECRUITING.

The 261st and 262d Regiments were taken from depots of the Guard and were recruited like the latter, from all sections of Prussia. The 263d Regiment was a “Magdeberg” unit (Prussian Saxony).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 79th Division, already sorely tried at Vimy in April, was much used at Ypres in August, 1917.

The 261st and 262d Regiments were completely demoralized during the British attack and fled to the rear. According to an officer this panic was due to the lack of combat spirit displayed by the 1918 class, which made up an important part of the strength of the soldiers engaged.

It arrived in a very worn out condition in the St. Quentin sector and left it on November 28 with nearly full strength and replacement of material. It should (December, 1917) be capable of putting forth an appreciable effort.

The soldiers from Alsace and Lorraine, formerly numerous in this division, were withdrawn from this unit when it was sent to the French front. Ninety-three of them remained in the 252d Regiment, who were mostly sent to the Eastern Front on July 3, 1917 (German order).

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division reenforced the Somme battle front on March 21 near Ronssoy. It advanced west of Epehy on March 22 and was withdrawn to second line a day later. It followed up the advance and took part in the attack near Meaulte on April 5, after which it was withdrawn.

BAILLEUL.

2. It rested in Belgium for five weeks, and on May 26 entered the line northwest of Bailleul. It was relieved on the night of June 19–20.

3. The division rested in Roubaix area until July 20, when it was transferred by rail to Tergnier (west of La Fere) and then marched to Guny, west of Coucy le Chateau, where it remained in army reserve. On August 8 the division was alarmed, and at mid-day was transferred in motor busses via Chauny-Ham-Nesle to Rethonvillers, arriving before dawn on the 9th. It came into action on the following day at 4 kilometers northeast of Andechy.

SCARPE-SOMME.

4. At once the division was heavily engaged with all nine battalions in line. On the 13th its place was taken by the 121st Division, and it rested for three or four days in the area southwest of Nesle. On the 16th the division relieved the 204th Division on the line east of Goyencourt-Hill 81, west of Roye-Avre. It was heavily engaged in opposing the French attacks until August 31, when it was withdrawn east of Roye.

5. On September 5 the division relieved the Alpine Corps at Epenancourt. It fell back in a northeasterly direction by Atilly, southeast of Vermand, southeast of Maissemy, Pontruet, and Gricourt. It was relieved about October 8 after losing 2,200 prisoners in August and September.

SCARPE.

6. When relieved, the division went to the Fres-Sancourt area (north of St. Gobain), where it was in reserve. About the 14th it was taken to La Ferte-Chevresis to construct rear positions. It was moved in trucks on the 18th by Sains-Richaumont-Wiege-Villers les Guise-Iron near Etreux. It went into line on the evening of the 18th, relieving elements of the 81st Division. It was engaged until the armistice. The line of retreat was through Boue, Boulogne, Avesnes, Sobre le Chateau. In the last place it was identified on November 10.

At the end the effective strength of the division was greatly diminished, although it had received drafts from the dissolved 201st and 202d Regiments.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Throughout 1918 the division was extensively used in important defensive sectors, in which it did fairly well.

80th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │80 Res. │264 Res. │80 Res. │264 Res.
│ │265 Res. │ │266 Res.
│ │266 Res. │ │34 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │80 Res. Cav. Detch. │80 Res. Cav. Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │80 Res. Brig.: │80 Res. Brig.:
│ 65 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 65 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ 66 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 66 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│80 Res. Pion. Co. │80 Res. Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│80 Res. Pont. Engs. │281 T. M. Co.
│ │80 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │80 Res. Train Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd Units. │80 Res. Cyclist Co. │80 Res. Cyclist Co.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │80 Res. │264 Res. │80 Res. │34 Res.
│ │266 Res. │ │264 Res.
│ │34 Res. │ │266 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt. │4 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │74 Art. Command: │74 Art. Command:
│ 66 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │ 66 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.) │
│ │ 3 Abt. 27 Ft. A. Rgt. (8 and
│ │ 10 Btries.)
│ │ 899 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 900 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1370 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(380) Pion. Btn.: │380 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 82 Res. Pion. Co. │ 82 Res. Pion. Co.
│ 83 Res. Pion. Co. │ 83 Res. Pion. Co.
│ 280 T. M. Co. │ 280 T. M. Co.
│ 308 Searchlight Section. │ 96 Searchlight Section.
│ 480 Tel. Detch. │ 240 Searchlight Section.
│ │480 Signal Command:
│ │ 480 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 24 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │542 Ambulance Co. │542 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│59 Res. Field Hospital. │113 Res. Field Hospital.
│114 Res. Field Hospital. │114 Res. Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │165 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │T. M. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd Units. │ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(264th Regiment; 4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony and part of
Thuringia. 266th Regiment, 9th Corps District—Grand Duchies of
Mecklenberg. 34th Regiment, 2d Corps District—Pomerania.)

1915.

EASTERN PRUSSIA.

1. Organized during the winter of 1914–15, this division and the 79th Reserve Division formed the 40th Reserve Corps. The 80th Reserve Division was formed out of three field battalions of the 4th Corps District (Nos. 22–24) and six field battalions (Nos. 43–48) of the 9th Corps District. After training at the Lockstedt cantonment it was sent to Eastern Prussia at the beginning of February, 1915. There it took part in the battle of the Lakes of Masura from the 7th to the 17th.

POLAND.

2. From the end of February to the beginning of March it was actively engaged in the region of the fortress of Ossoviec and took part in combats along the Polish frontier before the Russian retreat in Eastern Prussia. In March it was brought back to the frontier of Eastern Prussia and fought in the zone of the Suvalki government until July. It exchanged the 265th Regiment for the 34th Regiment.

SMORGONI.

3. At the time of the Summer offensive the division participated in the taking of Kovno (Aug. 18), fought on the Niémen (Aug. 19, Sept. 8th) and entered Vilna. It occupied the new front in the region of Smorgoni and held this sector until March, 1916.

1916.

NAROTCH LAKE.

1. In March, 1916, the division opposed the Russian offensive on the Narotch Lake front and occupied this sector until the month of December.

FRANCE.

2. On December 23 it entrained for the Western Front. (Itinerary: Lyntuny (northeast of Vilna)-Vilna-Kovno-Koenigsberg-Danzig-Stettin- Hamberg-Hanover-Cologne-Aix la Chapelle-Liège-Mons.) It detrained at Douai on the 29th and 30th of December and was put at rest at Waziers (northeast of Douai) until the middle of January, 1917.

1917.

ARTOIS.

1. January 18, 1917, it went into line before Neuve Chapelle (north of the canal of la Bassée).

2. Relieved at about the beginning of March, it took over a sector to the south of Lens (Mar. 14). Obliged to fall back to the Méricourt-Avion line after the capture of the heights of Vimy by the British troops (Apr. 9), it suffered serious losses in the course of that operation.

FLANDERS.

3. On May 16 it was relieved from the Lens front and sent to rest in the region of Trent until May 29.

4. From May 29 to June 22 it held the Boesinghe-Wieltje sector, where it took part in no engagements.

MEUSE.

5. After resting, in July, in the region of Sedan-Montmédy, the 80th Reserve Division was brought (July 20) as a reserve to the left bank of the Meuse, and at the beginning of August to the right bank (region of Juvigny-Jametz-Etraye).

VERDUN.

6. On August 14 it drew near the front and on August 20 reenforced, near Hill 344, the units strained by the French attack. On the 23d it sustained very heavy losses and gave up the counter attack.

CHAMPAGNE.

7. At the beginning of September the division entrained for Champagne. It occupied the Tahure sector the first half of September.

ARGONNE.

8. At the beginning of October it took over the Boureuilles-Vauquois sector, which it left on January 23, 1918, going to the Semide cantonment for training.

RECRUITING.

The 264th Regiment was recruited in the 4th Corps District and is sometimes called an Altenberg regiment. The 266th Regiment is a Mecklenberg unit. The 34th Regiment is Pomeranian in theory with a fairly heterogeneous make-up like the greater number of the units from Pomerania.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 80th Reserve Division, which seems to have had a high morale while opposite the English front, did not come up to expectations on August 20, 1917, while opposite Verdun. It proved incapable of counter attacking. It is reported that there were desertions and mutiny among the men which resulted in the relieving of the general commanding the brigade and of the commanding officer of the 264th Regiment.

The 34th Regiment was completely exhausted during the attacks of August 20.

In Argonne the losses of this division were very slight. At the Semide cantonment (Jan. 23 to Feb. 20, 1918) the division went through various maneuvers connected with open warfare.

1918.

1. The division was relieved in the Vauquois sector by the 237th Division from Russia about March 18. It rested and trained until March 27, when it traveled by St. Quentin-Ham-Roye to the vicinity of Moreuil.

PICARDY.

2. It reenforced the battle front north of Sauvillers on April 3, but was withdrawn on the 7th and rested at Ribemont. Losses were heavy during the brief engagement of the division.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. The division relieved the 14th Bavarian Division on April 21–22 in the sector Cornillet-Mont Blond. It remained there until the July 15 offensive, but did not take part in that action. On July 27 it returned to line near Moronvilliers and held that sector until August 22.

AILETTE-AISNE.

4. It marched to Paris and went into line there. Two days later it was hastily relieved and marched to Chavignon. It entered line on the night of September 2–3 northwest of Crouy. It was withdrawn on September 21.

CHAMPAGNE.

5. The division returned to Champagne and relieved the 213th Division on September 27 at Loivre. It was engaged near Orainville, Aumenancourt, Pont Givart until October 11. It was again in line on October 17 at Nanteuil sur Aisne. It continued in line until the end of hostilities. The last identification was near Wasigny on November 7.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. In general, it was used to hold less important defensive sectors.

81st Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │81 Res. │267 Res. │81 Res. │267 Res.
│ │268 Res. │ │268 Res.
│ │269 Res. │ │269 Res.
│ │ │ │39 Ldw.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │81 Res. Cav. Detch. │81 Res. Cav. Detch.
│4 Sqn. 7 Drag. Rgt. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │81 Res. Brig.: │81 Res. Brig.:
│ 67 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 67 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ 68 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 68 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│81 Res. Pion. Co. │81 Res. Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│81 Res. Pont. Engs. │84 Res. Pion. Co.
│ │281 T. M. Co.
│ │81 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │81 Res. Train Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd Units. │81 Res. Cyclist Co. │81 Res. Cyclist Co.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │47 Labor Btn.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │81 Res. │267 Res. │81 Res. │267 Res.
│ │268 Res. │ │268 Res.
│ │269 Res. │ │269 Res.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │81 Res. (?) Cav. Detch. │2 Sqn. 1 Drag. Rgt.
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │(?) F. A. Rgt.
│ 67 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │2 Abt. 26 Ft. A. Rgt. (4 and
│ Btries.). │ 6 Btries.).
│ │980 Light Am. Col.
│ │
│ │1019 Light Am. Col.
│ │1034 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(381) Pion. Btn.: │41 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 84 Res. Pion. Co. │ 84 Res. Pion. Co.
│ 85 Res. Pion. Co. │ 85 Res. Pion. Co.
│ 95 T. M. Co. │ 281 T. M. Co.
│ 281 T. M. Co. │ 56 Searchlight Section.
│ 14 Res. Searchlight Section.│481 Signal Command:
│ 360 Searchlight Section. │ 481 Tel. Detch.
│ 481 Tel. Detch. │ 137 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │543 Ambulance Co. │543 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │120 Res. Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │302 Field Hospital.
│ │220 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd Units. │81 Res. Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(267th Regiment: 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 268th Regiment: 6th Corps
District—Silesia. 269th Regiment: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg.)

1915.

The 81st Reserve Division was formed out of six field battalions of the 2d Corps District (Nos. 7–12) and three field battalions (Nos. 13–15) of the 3d Corps District. The first six were used to form the 267th and the 268th and the last named three were used to form the 269th Regiment. The division was instructed at the Warthe cantonment (5th Corps District) before being sent to the Western Front.

1. The 81st Reserve Division (with the 82d Reserve Division it constituted the 41st Reserve Corps), was transported to Belgium and detrained at Courtrai January 21, 1915.

SOMME.

2. Sent to the Somme district, it was engaged to the north of Chaulnes (Jan. 27-Mar. 28).

3. At the end of March the division was sent toward the Eastern Front.

GALICIA-RUSSIA.

The division was found on the Galician front in May (Jaslo, May 9); took part in operations on the San, near Jaroslav (between San and the Jaroslav-Przeworsk railway on May 15) then on the Bug (region of Krylov in July). Going down the Bug by Vladova (August) it advanced up to the west of Logitchin and the Oginsky Canal (north of Pinsk) in September. The front becoming fixed, the division established itself in that region.

1916.

PINSK.

1. The 81st Reserve Division stayed for more than two years in the Oginski-Iasälda Canal sector (Sept., 1915-Dec., 1917).

2. At the beginning of July, 1916, the 269th Regiment was identified between the Styr and the Stokhod, doubtlessly as a reserve for the units engaged against the Russian offensive.

1917.

RUSSIA-FRANCE.

1. In December, 1917, the division was relieved from its sector to the north of Pinsk and transported to the Western Front. It entrained on December 20 at Ivanovo (Itinerary: Soldau-Bromberg-Schneide-Muehl- Berlin-Sarrebruck-Sedan-Cambrai), and detrained at Lille on December 26. After resting in the vicinity of Lille it went into line to the south of Fleurbaix (Jan. 24–25, 1918). It again occupied the same sector at the beginning of April.

RECRUITING.

The 267th and the 268th Regiments were originally Pomeranian and became quite heterogeneous like all regiments from this province. The 268th Regiment was in theory recruited in Silesia which contributes to a maintenance of the mixed character of its personnel. The 269th is a Brandenburg unit.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

On the Eastern Front from May, 1915, to the end of December, 1917.

1918.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

1. The division was relieved on the night of April 8–9 by the 35th Division at Neuve Chapelle. It moved northward and on the 12th reenforced the battle front south of Meteren. In the attacks in this area the 268th and 269th Reserve Regiments suffered heavy losses. It was relieved by the 11th Reserve Division on April 28.

METEREN.

2. On May 18 the division returned to its former sector at Meteren. It held this sector until May 28, and again from June 6 to 12 and from June 18 to July 19.

LORRAINE.

3. It entrained on the 22d at Roubaix and detrained at Haboudange on the 24th. The itinerary was Courtrai-Ghent-Louvain-Liege-Herbestal- Gerolstein-Treves-Sarreguemines. After several days of rest near Chateau Salins it relieved the 19th Division on the night of July 28–29. It held this quiet sector until October 5, when it was relieved by the 87th Division.

4. It entrained on the 6th and detrained at Guise about October 8. On the night of the 10th–11th it came into line near Seboncourt and was heavily engaged until October 20, when it was withdrawn east of Bohain. The division suffered heavy losses in this engagement.

5. On October 26 the division reenforced the line south of Guise and fought until the armistice. The last identification was south of Guise on November 3.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its services in Flanders was of a mediocre character. In the St. Quentin area in October it put up a good resistance.

82d Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.