Chapter XXVI: Part 26

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │82 Res. │60. │82 Res. │270 Res.
│ │270 Res. │ │271 Res.
│ │271 Res. │ │272 Res.
│ │272 Res. │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │82 Res. Cav. Detch. │82 Res. Cav. Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │82 Res. Brig.: │82 Res. Brig.:
│ 69 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 69 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ 70 Res. F. A. Rgt. (6 │ 70 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ Btries.). │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│84 Res. Pion. Co. │86 Res. Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│82 Res. Pont. Engs. │82 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │282 T. M. Co.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │1 Ambulance Co. │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │82 Res. Train Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │82 Res. Cyclist Co. │82 Res. Cyclist Co.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │40 Labor Btn.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │82 Res. │270 Res. │82 Res. │270 Res.
│ │271 Res. │ │271 Res.
│ │272 Res. │ │272 Res.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │82 Res. Cav. Detch. │3 Sqn. 1 Drag. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │70 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ 69 Res. F. A. Rgt. (9 │1 Abt. 18 Ft. A. Rgt. (2, 3,
│ Btries.). │ and 13 Btries.).
│ │755 Light Am. Col.
│ │
│ │1224 Light Am. Col.
│ │1225 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(382) Pion. Btn.: │382 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 86 Res. Pion. Co. │ 348 Pion. Co.
│ 246 Pion. Co. │ 86 Res. Pion. Co.
│ 282 T. M. Co. │ 106 Searchlight Section.
│ 287 Searchlight Section. │482 Signal Command:
│ Tel. Detch. │ 482 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 174 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │544 Ambulance Co. │544 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│118 Res. Field Hospital. │115 Res. Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │119 Res. Field Hospital.
│ │221 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │749 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │82 Res. Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │46 Labor Btn. │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(270th Regiment: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg. 271st and 272d
Regiments: 6th Corps District—Silesia.)

1915.

1. Formed during November, 1914-January, 1915, with three field battalions of the 3d Corps District and six of the 6th Corps District (Nos. 25–30) it was trained at the Jueterbog cantonment. The 82d Reserve Division (which with the 81st Reserve Division formed the 41st Reserve Corps) entrained on January 21 for the Somme. It included an additional regiment—the 60th Infantry—which the 21st Corps had left in France before leaving for Russia.

SOMME.

2. It was engaged in February and March, 1915, to the north of Chaulnes.

3. About March 28 it was transferred to the Eastern Front minus the 60th Infantry, which joined the 121st Division.

GALICIA-RUSSIA.

4. In May, 1915, the 82d Reserve Division as well as the 81st Reserve Division took part in the German offensive along the San, which resulted in the breaking up of the Russian front in Galicia. It was identified in region of Jaslo (May 9) to the south of Radymno (May 12–21) and at Medyka (June 4). Its pursuit of the Russians brought it together with the 41st Reserve Corps to the Bug, in the vicinity of Grubeszow (July) and to the northeast of Pinsk (September-October). During that offensive the division suffered heavy losses.

PINSK.

5. The Russian retreat being halted, the 82d Reserve Division took its position in the Pinsk region (Nobel Lake, October-December).

1916.

PINSK-NOBEL LAKE.

1. The division remained the entire year in the Nobel Lake sector and up to November, 1917. A soldier of the 270th Regiment wrote on November 8, 1917: “I have not loaded my gun since the middle of March.”

1917.

RUSSIA-FRANCE.

1. In November, 1917, the 82d Reserve Division was relieved by some Landsturm units and re-formed (elimination of soldiers from Alsace and Lorraine, etc.).

2. At the beginning of December the division was transported to the Western Front.

3. The division entrained at Ivanovo on December 4 (Itinerary: Brest- Litowsk-Varsovie-Kalisz-Glogau-Cottbus-Halle-Frankfort-Mainz-Kreuznach- Sarrebrueck-Metz-Conflans) and detrained at Mars la Tour about December 10.

RECRUITING.

In theory Brandenburg and Silesia. Very mixed personnel, seemingly including men from Pomerania and the eastern Provinces of the Empire.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

In January, 1918, the 82d Reserve Division took part in maneuvers in the vicinity of Thuméréville (northwest of Conflans). After these maneuvers Lieut. Gen. Fuchs is said to have said that the division could be put in class 3 of the combat units (Kampf Truppen, 3) a classification which is just above that of labor troops. (Interrogation of prisoner, Mar. 4, 1918. See Bull. Rens. Second Army (French), No. 744.)

The make-up of the division is heterogeneous and of mediocre quality and includes returned wounded men, Landsturm, former railway guards, dismounted troopers, and few recruits of the 1918 class. (Interrogation, Jan. 22, 1918.)

After a two-year stay in the Pinsk sector the 82d Reserve Division lacked training when it returned on the Western Front (December, 1917).

1918.

CANTIGNY.

1. The division was relieved on April 20 in the Woevre and marched by Conflans-Briey-Mairy to Landres, where it entrained. It moved via Longuyon-Mezieres-Hirson and arrived at Wassigny, where it detrained on May 5. On May 16 the division relieved the 30th Division west of Cantigny. It was thrown out of the city by the American attack at the end of the month. The division was withdrawn about July 22.

THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

2. To reenforce the Somme battle front the division came into line on August 9 between Hangest and Arvillers. It was withdrawn on the 18th northwest of Roye, but a week later returned to its former sector. The division fell back on the Canal du Nord on August 27, and on September 2 took up a position between the Chaulnes-Ham railroad and a point north of Moyencourt. It again retreated on the night of September 4–5 and occupied a position at Etreillers-Roupy before the Siegfried-Stellung.

The division was constantly engaged, resisting strongly, but being gradually forced back. On the 28th it retired to the line of the St. Quentin Canal. On October 8, a surprise attack threw it back to Fontaine Notre Dame. Here it resisted fiercely. It was relieved about October 10 and went to the Guise area.

In this fighting the division lost 2,000 men. Its combatant strength was estimated to be about 1,200 men on October 7.

3. On October 14 the division reenforced the line east of Bernot and fought for three days. It returned to the Guise area, but intervened again west of Pleine-Selve on October 25. Until the armistice it was engaged south of Guise, east of La Capelle, and at Liessies.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. After August it was almost constantly in line in the St. Quentin area until its effectives were almost completely consumed.

83d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │Doussin (1 │1 Garrison │165. │329.
│ Garrison │ Rgt. (329). │ │
│ Brig., now │ │ │
│ 165). │ │ │
│Rudiger (2 │2 Garrison │ │330.
│ Garrison │ Rgt. (330). │ │
│ Brig., now │ │ │
│ 166). │ │ │
│ │ │166. │331.
│ │3 Garrison │ │332.
│ │ Rgt. (331). │ │
│ │4 Garrison │ │
│ │ Rgt. (332). │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │ │2 Sqn. 92 Ldw. Cav. Rgt.
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │Von Conta F. A. Rgt. (Ers. │249 F. A. Rgt.
│ Abt. 61 F. A. Rgt.). │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│ │83 T. M. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │83 Pont. Engs.
│ │83 Tel. Detch.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │165. │329. │165. │255 Res.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │330. │ │4 Ldw.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │331. │ │346.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │83 Heavy Cav. Rgt. │3 Sqn. 11 Drag. Rgt.
│2 Sqn. 92 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │80 Art. Command:
│ │
│ 249 F. A. Rgt. │ 249 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 3 Abt. 28 Ft. A. Rgt. (7th
│ │ to 9th Btries.).
│ │ 796 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 798 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 951 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│83 Pion. Btn.: │83 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Ldw. Co. 1 Pions. │ 1 Ldw. Co. 1 C. Dist. Pions.
│ 246 Pion. Co. │ 1 Ldw. Co. 5 C. Dist. Pions.
│ 83 T. M. Co. │ 123 Searchlight Section.
│ 316 Searchlight Section. │83 Signal Command:
│ 83 Tel. Detch. │ 83 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 185 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │83 Ambulance Co. │83 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│49 Field Hospital. │49 Field Hospital.
│165 Field Hospital. │165 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │83 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │581 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │26 Bav. Ft. A. Btn. (1, 2,
│ │ and 4 Btries.).
│ │3 Abt. 5 Ft. A. Rgt. (6, 10,
│ │ and 11 Btries.).
│ │1 Art. Observation Section.
│ │121 Sound Ranging Section.
│ │8 Bav. Pion. Co.
│ │4 Co. 10 Labor Btn.
│ │2 Co. 35 Labor Btn.
│ │77 Balloon Sqn.
│ │(Elements attached, Aug. 14,
│ │ 1918. German document.)
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(329th and 331st Regiment: 5th Corps District—Posen and Lower Silesia.
330th Regiment: 7th Corps District—Westphalia.)

1915.

The 83d Division was formed out of the garrison of defense of Posen which went under the name of Posen Corps. It was engaged on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the war.

The Posen Corps composed of depot battalions of active regiments, of reserve, of Landwehr, and even battalions of Landsturm, was divided into four brigades. Its strength was distributed into two divisions, the 83d and 84th, in June, 1915, and the battalions, which were at first formed into regiments bearing the names of the respective commanders of these regiments, were numbered 329 to 336, inclusive.

RUSSIA-POLAND.

1. From March to June, with the Posen Corps, the regiments which were to form the 83d Reserve Division took part in the Poland campaign to the north of Pilica and on the Bzura.

VICHNEV.

2. The 83d Division took part in the summer offensive against the Russians. Leaving the Ostrolenka region (July) it advanced by way of Grodno, Lipnichki (northeast of Lida, September) up to Vichnev (October), where it established its position.

1916.

VICHNEV.

1. The division stayed in the Vichnev sector during the entire year 1916 and until the month of April, 1917.

1917.

1. About the middle of April, 1917, the 83d Division was transferred from Vichnev to Baranovitchi, where it was held some time as a reserve and then to the northeast of Halicz, from which place it was transported by automobiles to the Stanislau region (June 5).

GALICIA.

2. At the beginning of July it was attacked by the Russians to the west of Stanislau (serious losses on July 9, particularly 690 prisoners). It afterwards took part in the German counteroffensive and advanced through the Dniester valley up to the west of Chotin (beginning of August.)

3. Relieved about the middle of September, the 83d Reserve Division was sent to rest in the Czernovitz region and then put back in line to the northeast of Bojan (October-November).

4. At the end of November the division left the Bojan sector and became a reserve for the Bothmer Army in back of the Czernovitz front. Before leaving for the Western Front the 4th Division had sent it men from Alsace and Lorraine (middle of December when the 36th Division had left the former some months before.)

RECRUITING.

Recruiting was mostly from Posen and Silesia with some support from Westphalia and the Rhine Province. Coming from Galicia as late as March, 1918, the 83d Division could not come without the soldiers coming from Alsace and Lorraine which other divisions which had left before had transferred to it.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Mediocre division, formed to the extent of one third by older men. Appears for the first time on the Western Front in April, 1918.

1918.

YPRES.

1. The division held the sector north of Ypres until July 18. After its relief it rested a few days in Roulers and then entrained at Lichterfelde for the Douai area. On August 16 it traveled via Cambrai and detrained near Ruyanlcourt. Here it spent the night, moving up to Flers the next morning. The division came into line on the 19th, when it relieved the 3d Naval Division north of Albert.

SCARPE-SOMME.

2. It was engaged at Thiepval, Bazentin le Grand, Courcelette, and Martinpuich until about April 26, when it was withdrawn.

3. On September 10, the division came into line in Lorraine with an entirely new composition. It then included the 255th Reserve Regiment, the 346th Regiment, and the 4th Landwehr Regiment grouped under the brigade and divisional staff of the 83d Division. The 329th Regiment, one of the former regiments of the division, was sent to Esthonia on September 5. It had lost 700 casualties in the August fighting. The reconstructed division held the Embermenil sector until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. After its transfer to the Western Front, the division held a quiet sector except for a short time on the Scarpe in August.

84th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │Hoffmann, │5 Garrison │168. │334.
│ afterward │ Rgt. (333). │ │
│ Schutze (3 │ │ │
│ Garrison │ │ │
│ Brig.) │ │ │
│ (167). │ │ │
│Reisswitz (4 │  │ │335.
│ Garrison │ │ │
│ Brig.) │ │ │
│ (168). │ │ │
│ │6 Garrison │ │336.
│ │ Rgt. (334). │ │
│ │7 Garrison │ │
│ │ Rgt. (335). │ │
│ │Schutze, │ │
│ │ afterwards │ │
│ │ Kroebel, │ │
│ │ Rgt. (8 │ │
│ │ Garrison │ │
│ │ Rgt. “336”).│ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │84 Cav. Rgt. (Ers. Sqns. 8 │84 Cav. Rgt.
│ Drag., 3 Uhlan Rgts., and 2│
│ and 4 Landst. Sqn. 5 C. │
│ Dist.). │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │ │248 F. A. Rgt.
│ │847 F. A. Btry.
│ │854 F. A. Btry.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│ │272 Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │1 Ldw. Pion. Co. (12 C.
│ │ Dist.).
│ │3 Landst. Pion. Co. (13 C.
│ │ Dist.).
│ │84 T. M. Co.
│ │84 Pont. Engs.
│ │84 Tel. Detch.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │1 Haguenau Landst. Inf. Btn.
│ │ (21 C. Dist. Btn. No. 12).
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │168. │335. │163. │335.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │336. │ │336.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │423. │ │423.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 84 Cav. (Heavy) Rgt. │3 Sqn. 16 Drag. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │54 Art. Command:
│ 248 F. A. Rgt. │ 248 F. A. Rgt.
│ 903 F. A. Btry. │ 3 Abt. 25 Ft. A. Rgt. (8 to
│ │ 10th Btries.).
│ │ 1007 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1008 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1009 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(?) Pion. Btn.: │84 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 272 Pion. Co. │ 2 Res. Co. 1 Pions.
│ │
│ 1 Ldw. Co. 12 Pions. │ 272 Pion. Co.
│ │
│ 84 T. M. Co. │ 84 T. M. Co.
│ 347 Searchlight Section. │ 52 Searchlight Section.
│ 84 Tel. Detch. │84 Signal Command:
│ │ 84 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 166 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │84 (?) Ambulance Co. │84 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│21 Ldw. Field Hospital. │77 Field Hospital.
│156 Field Hospital. │21 Ldw. Field Hospital.
│ │156 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │1008 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │1 Anklam, Landst. Inf. Btn. │
│ (2 C. Dist. Btn. No. 1). │
│7 Posen Landst. Btn. (5 C. │
│ Dist. Btn. No. 7). │
│1 Glogau Landst. Btn. (5 C. │
│ Dist. Btn. No. 15). │
│1 Cottbus Landst. Ers. Btn. │
│ (3 C. Dist. Btn. No. 23). │
│2 Dresden Landst. Inf. Btn. │
│ (12 C. Dist. Btn. No. 2). │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(335th and 336th Regiments: 5th Corps District—Posen. 423d Regiment: 5th
Corps District—Lower Silesia.)

1915.

The 84th Division with the 83d Division formed the Posen Corps and was engaged on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the war. (See 83d Division.) It was organized in June, 1915.

RUSSIA.

1. After having fought in Poland to the north of Pilica (February to June, 1915) the elements of the 84th Division operated in the region of Bleudow.

2. The 84th Division took part in the offensive against the Russians. It advanced through the region of Bug (Aug. 17), through the southeast of Bielsk (end of August) north of Slonim (September, battle from the 13th to the 18th), up to the south of Novogrodek (Sept. 22). The front having become stationary, the division took a position in the vicinity of Deliatitchi (north of the Niemen). In December it gave up the 333d Regiment of Infantry to the 89th Division, then recently organized.

1916.

RUSSIA.

1. The 84th Division stayed in the sector in the vicinity of the Niemen (Liubtcha, Deliatitchi) during the entire year 1916.

2. From July to October the 334th and 335th Regiments were detached as reenforcements between Goroditche and Baranovitchi to meet the Russian offensive.

1917.

1. In 1917 the division still occupied the same sectors along the Niemen (Deliatitchi, Negnevitchi) until its departure for the Western Front (December).

2. About the month of June the 334th Infantry was transferred to the 94th Division and replaced by the 423d Infantry, to which the former transferred some of its men.

In December the division absorbed another lot of men from the 334th Infantry and some from the Landsturm Battalion V. 15. Its strength had since November included some young men of the class of 1919.

3. At the end of December the division was transported to France. The 3d Battalion of the 423d Regiment entrained at Novogrodek on December 31. (Itinerary: Varsovie-Leipzig-Frankfort on the Main-Thionville) and detrained at Arrancy (south of Longuyon) on January 7. The 2d Battalion of the 336th Regiment entrained on December 28 and detrained at Landres on January 3.

RECRUITING.

The division was for the most part recruited from the 5th and the 7th Corps Districts. This was but slightly changed by the incorporation of the men of the Landsturm Battalion V. 15 which consisted mostly of soldiers from Brandenburg and of the addition of those belonging to the class of 1919 which came from the 4th Corps District.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 84th Division had been on the Eastern front since 1914. Its offensive value was mediocre.

On the Russian front it began to fraternize at the end of December. The Germans were only allowed to do so in the presence of their officers. In November and about December 20 the men in the division who were over 40 years of age were transferred into Landsturm battalions or into regiments staying in Russia, and replaced by young men nearly all belonging to the class of 1919 (250 to the 84th Division in November).

1918.

MONTDIDIER-NOYON.

1. The division was relieved by the 53d Reserve Division about May 1. It moved west and on May 25 relieved the 3d Bavarian Division in the Lassigny sector. It was taken out in early June and rested until the 9th, when it returned to attack at Courcelles. It again retired on June 20 and rested until July 2.

LASSIGNY.

2. On that date it was in line southeast of Belloy, where it was engaged until mid-July. It rested near Antheuil until August 12, when it reenforced the battle front south of Thiescourt. Then it was engaged until about August 22.

OISE.

3. One regiment—the 423d—entered line on the Oise on August 22 and by September 4 all the division was in line near Quierzy. It was withdrawn on September 15.

4. On September 30 the division entered line at Trouquoy and south of Sequehart. In the fighting in the first week of October the elements of the division were badly mixed with other divisions. They were taken out about October 9 and re-formed.

5. It was reengaged on October 27 in the vicinity of Sissonne and fought until the armistice. The last identification was east of Bucy les Pierrepont on November 6.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. It was a very mediocre unit, composed largely of Landsturm elements and of young recruits. It was decimated by the fighting in the fall and its morale became very bad. A contributing factor was a draft of 300 prisoners returned from Russia.

85th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │69 Ldw. │17 Ldw. │169 Ldw. │61 Ldw.
│ │21 Ldw. │ │99 Ldw.
│ │61 Ldw. │170 Ldw. │17 Ldw.
│ │99 Ldw. │ │21 Ldw.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │85 Cav. Rgt. (4 Sqns.). │85 Cav. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │Ers. Ants. of the 36, 71, and│85 F. A. Rgt.
│ 73 F. A. Rgts. │
│ │93 F. A. Rgt.
│ │844 F. A. Btry.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│ │
Liaisons. │ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │Zittau Landst. Inf. Btn. (12
│ │ C. Dist. No. 7).
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │170 Ldw. │17 Ldw. │169 Ldw. │17 Ldw.
│ │21 Ldw. │ │21 Ldw.
│ │99 Ldw. │ │99 Ldw.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 6 Cuirassier Rgt. │5 Sqn. 6 Cuir. Rgt.
│(?) Sqn. 85 Cav. Rgt. │
│Ers. Sqn. 12 Dragoon Rgt. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │(?) │275 Field Artillery Rgt.
│ │
│844 F. A. Btry. │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(485) Pion. Btn.: │1 Ldst. Pion. 4 Army Corps.
Liaisons. │ │
│ 2 Ers. Co. 26 Pions. │585 Tel. Detch.
│ 385 T. M. Co. │
│ 22 Heavy Field Searchlight │
│ Section. │
│ Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │85 Ambulance Co. │320 Field Hospital.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │181 Vet. Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │85 Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │Zittau Landst. Inf. Btn. (12 │
│ C. Dist. Btn. No. 7). │
│Osterode Landst. Inf. Btn. │
│ (20 C. Dist. Inf. Btn. No. │
│ 8). │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(17th Landwehr: 21st Corps District—Lorraine. 21st Landwehr: 17th Corps
District—Western Prussia. 99th Landwehr: 15th Corps District—Alsace.)

1915.

The 85th Landwehr Division is the old Breugel Division, which at the beginning of the war, together with the Woernitz Division (86th Division), formed the Graudenz Corps (also known as the Zastrow Corps and in 1915 the 17th Reserve Corps), and operated on the Eastern Front.

RUSSIA.

1. Two of the regiments, the 17th Landwehr and the 99th Landwehr, went to the Eastern Front, the former at the beginning of the war and the latter in the spring of 1915.

POLAND.

1. Until July, 1915, the Breugel Division was engaged in Poland (Prasnysz, region of Mlawa).

2. In July it took part in the offensive against the Russians, advancing to the west of Pultusk (middle of July); besieged Novo-Georgievsk; was on the Bug (beginning of August) and near Bielsk (end of August). The 61st Landwehr entered Warsaw on August 22 and remained there during the month of September.

3. With the stabilization of the front the former Breugel, now the 85th Landwehr Division occupied the Vichnev sector (to the south of Krevo) on the Little Berezina.

1916.

VICHNEV.

1. The 85th Landwehr Division remained on the Vichnev-Deliatitchi front for more than two years (September, 1915—October, 1917). In September, 1917, it gave up the 61st Landwehr Regiment to the 217th Division, then newly organized.

1917.

VICHNEV.

1. About the 15th of October, 1917, the 85th Landwehr Division moved to the north. It left the Niemen region to go to the south of Dvinsk, near the lake of Drisviaty. In December it extended its sector toward the south (Vidzy).

RECRUITING.

The 21st Landwehr was recruited in the 17th Corps District, or more generally in western Prussia. There were numerous soldiers from Alsace and Lorraine in the division. Frequent desertions on the part of the men from Lorraine and men from the mining region of the Sarre in 1914 on the French front led to the decision which sent the 17th Landwehr to Russia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Remained a long while in quiet sectors on the Russian front. The 85th Landwehr Division had but a very mediocre combat value.

1918.

COURLAND.

1. Toward the end of January the men of the 85th Landwehr Division were still fraternizing in the Vidzy region. The 17th Landwehr Regiment was in the vicinity of Jakobstadt in April and the 99th Landwehr Regiment participated at this time in the operations in Finland.

UKRAINE.

2. Early in May the whole division, with the exception of some elements (14th Jaeger Battalion, 1st Guard Uhlan Regiment, 229th Mounted Machine Gun Co.), moved to the Polotsk region. Regiments of the division were identified in this area early in September. There was a rumor that the division had been transferred to the Western Front early in October, but this seems unlikely.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

86th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │Grossman │Reinhard │171. │341.
│ (171). │ (341). │ │
│ │Krause (342). │ │342.
│Windhetm │Hoebel (343). │172. │343.
│ (172). │ │ │
│ │Gropp (344). │ │344.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │86 Cav. Regt. (Ers. Sqns. 11 │
│ Drag., 4 Horse Jag. Rgts., │
│ 1 Ldw. Sqn. 17 C. Dist. │
│ Cav., and Res. Ers. Sqn. 17│
│ C. Dist. Cav.) │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │86 F. A. Rgt. │86 F. A. Rgt.
│ │220 F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│ │86 T. M. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │86 Pont. Engs.
│ │86 Tel. Detch.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │110 Labor Btn. Briesen
│ │ Landst. Inf. Btn. (17 C.
│ │ Dist. No. 1).
│ │Neufahrwasser Landst. Inf.
│ │ Btn. (17 C. Dist. No. 8).
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │172. │341. │172. │341.
│ │ │ │
│ │343. │ │343.
│ │344. │ │344.
│ │ │ │
│ 4 Jag. Btn. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 7 Uhlan Rgt. │3 Sqn., 7 Uhlan Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │86 F. A. Rgt.
│ 86 (?) F. A. Rgt. │404 F. Art. Btn.
│ │971 Light Mun. Col.
│ │973 Light Mun. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│Pion. Btn.: │86 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 3 Ers. Co. 26 Pions. │ 3 Ers. 26th Pion.
│ 2 Co. 34 Res. Pions. │ 3 Pion. Btn. No. 34.
│ 86 T. M. Co. │ 19th Searchlight Section.
│ 328 Searchlight Section. │86 Div. Signal Command:
│ Tel. Detch. │ 86 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 157 Div. Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │86 Ambulance Co. │86 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│81 Field Hospital. │81 and 129 Field Hospitals.
│129 Field Hospital. │182 Vet. Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │797 M. T. Col. │583 M. T. Col.
│971 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │86 Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │2 Cologne Landst. Inf. Btn. │
│ (8 C. Dist. Btn. No. 15). │
│ │
│7 Munst. Landst. Inf. Btn. (7│
│ C. Dist. Btn. No. 69). │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(341st Regiment: 20th Corps District—Eastern part of Western Prussia.
343d and 344th Regiments: 17th Corps District—Western Prussia.)

1914.

The 86th Division was organized during the summer of 1915 with the elements of the Woernitz Division. The latter with the 85th Landwehr Division, constituted the Suren Corps coming from the garrisons of Graudenz, Kulm, and Marienburg, which was used on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the war. There were 11 battalions of mobile depots (active, reserve, and Landwehr) and two companies of depots of chasseurs (jaeger).

POLAND.

1. After having participated in the operations on the Polish front from September to December, 1914, the troops which were to be formed into the 86th Division were then used in the region of Mlawa (trench warfare) from the end of December, 1914, to the middle of May, 1915. Some of the units were sorely tried. At Koslau (Nov. 12 to Dec. 25), then at Prasnysz, the 4th Company of the mobile Ersatz battalion of the 18th Infantry lost 2 officers and 266 men. (Casualty Report.)

1915.

RUSSIA.

1. From July, 1915, on the Woernitz Division, now the 86th Division, took part in the German offensive and helped to break up the Russian front near Prasnysz (July 13–17). Following up its advance, it fought on the Narew after the taking of Pultusk. It took part in the battles of Ostrowo (Aug. 8–10), of Bielsk (Aug. 19–25) and on the Niemen (September).

2. When the Russian front became stationary it found itself on the Little Berezina and took a position to the east of Deliatitchi.

1916.

RUSSIA.

1. The 86th Division remained in the sector near the Little Berezina until March.

2. From the 18th of March to the 30th of April it took part in the battle of Narotch, and until the month of July, occupied the Krevo- Smorgoni sector. It then went on the Chtchara (July 9–26), opposed the Russian offensive near Kovel from July 28 to November 4 and finally established itself on the upper Styr and on the Stokhod, reduced in strength by the transfer of the 342d Regiment to the 93d Division, then just formed.

1917.

VOLHYNIA.

1. After having occupied the Stokhod front in front of Kovel until April, 1917, the 86th Division put into line on April 22, to the south of Kisselin. It remained there until January, 1918.

RECRUITING.

Division sufficiently homogeneous (Prussian Provinces) with relatively no other numerous elements from other Provinces. Having left the Russian front at a late date, the division could not leave the soldiers coming from Alsace and Lorraine behind.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 86th Division seemed to be a good division, composed of young and vigorous men (March, 1918).

On the Eastern Front it was rated as a first-class division.

1918.

VOLHYNIA.

1. The 86th Division left its sector in the Kiselin area toward the end of January. It entrained at Rogozwo on the 29th and traveled via Brest- Litowsk-Kalisch-Cottbus-Eisenach-Frankfort-Sarrebruecken-Metz-Sedan- Rethel, and detrained at Le Chatelet on the 4th of February.

RHEIMS.

2. It then marched via Neuflize-Isles-Boult-Fresnes, and entered line near Betheny (northeast of Rheims) on the 27th, when it relieved the 242d Division. It was withdrawn about the 21st of May, and went to rest near Asfeld.

3. On the evening of the 26th it left and marched toward the front; the 27th it was in reserve; on the 28th it attacked near Trigny (west of Rheims) and succeeded in advancing about 5 kilometers. On the 6th of June the 86th and 232d Divisions, supported by the 33d Reserve Division, captured the town of Bligny (southwest of Rheims), but lost it the same afternoon when the French counterattacked. The 86th Division had quite heavy losses. It was relieved on July 21 by the 50th Division and went to rest in the region northwest of Rheims.

4. On the 10th of August the division reenforced the front near Muizon (west of Rheims). It was relieved by the 10th Reserve Division on the 28th.

LAON.

5. During the night of September 18–19 it relieved the 50th Reserve Division near the Colombe farm (south of Laon). It was relieved about the 23d of October.

6. The division came back into line on November 5 in the vicinity of Marle; on the 7th it was identified northeast of Vervins; and on the 9th at Hirson.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 86th was rated as a fourth-class division. It did not participate in any of the great offensives during 1918, but it did attack vigorously on two occasions and on the whole acquitted itself better than other divisions similarly rated.

87th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │Griepenkeri. │Leimbach │173. │345.
│ │ (345). │ │
│ │Runge (346). │ │346.
│Normann. │Schwarz (347).│179. │347.
│ │8 Landst. │ │8 Landst.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │87 Cav. Rgt. │87 Cav. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │87 F. A. Abt. │87 F. A. Rgt.
│ │841 F. A. Btry.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│ │4 Co. 26 Pions.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │2 Ldw. Pion. Co. (Gd. C.
│ │ Dist.).
│ │87 T. M. Co.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │ │156 Cyclist Co.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │10 Labor Btn.
│ │75 Labor Btn.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │173. │345. │179. │345.
│ │ │ │
│ │347. │ │347.
│ │8 Landst. │ │3d Res. Ers.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 3 Horse. Gren. Rgt. │1 Sqn. 3 Jag. z. Pf.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command. │3 Artillery Command:
│ 87 F. A. Regt. │ 38 Field Art. Rgt.
│ │ 34 Ft. Art. Btn.
│ │ 878 Light Mun. Col.
│ │ 975 Light Mun. Col.
│ │ 949 Light Mun. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│Pion. Btn.: │87 Pion. Btn.
Liaisons. │ │
│ 4 Co. 26 Pions. │ 242 Pion. Co.
│ │
│ 3 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │ 2 Ers. Pion. Btn. No. 26.
│ 87 T. M. Co. │ 113 Searchlight Section.
│ 264 Searchlight Section. │87 Div. Signal Command.
│ 87 Tel. Detch. │ 87 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 163 Div. Wireless. Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │69 Ambulance Co. │69 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│131 Field Hospital. │131 and 132 Field Hospitals.
│132 Field Hospital. │191 Vet. Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │157 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │156 Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(345th Regiment; 5th Corps District—Posen. 347th Regiment; 2d Corps
District—Pomerania. 3d Reserve Ersatz Regiment; 9th Corps
District—Schleswig—Holstein.)

1915.

The 87th Division as well as the 89th Division came from the Thorn Corps, which was engaged on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the war.

RUSSIA-POLAND.

1. Its battalions were made into a division at the beginning of June, 1915. Before that time the Ersatz battalions, from which it was formed, belonged to the Griepenkerl and Plantier detachments (Thorn Corps), and fought near the Polish frontier between the Vistula and Prasnysz. These were the Leimbach-Zerener regiments which became the 345th, the Runge which became the 346th and the Schwarz which became the 347th, and to which latter unit the 8th Landsturm Regiment organized in June, 1915, at the Elsenborn cantonment was joined.

2. Beginning in July the elements of the 87th Division took part in the offensive against the Russians: Battles between Drobin and the Vistula, then to the west of Pultusk; pursuit fighting up to lower Narew (July 18–22); siege of Novo-Georgievsk (Aug. 13–19); battles of Niemen (Aug. 31-Sept. 8) and of Vilna (Sept. 9–26).

3. After having fought between the Bogin and Drisviaty Lakes (Oct. 5–19), the division took up a position in that region.

1916.

DRISVIATY LAKE.

1. The 87th Division occupied the Drisviaty-Vidzy line the entire year 1916 and until the month of October, 1917.

1917.

COURLAND.

1. In October, 1917, the 87th Division relieved the 2d Division in the Illukst sector. While there it received its first reenforcements from the 1919 class.

2. Relieved from that front at the end of December, the division was brought together in the Kovno region. It got a great many men from the 23d Landwehr Division, especially from the 26th and 66th Landwehr Regiments.

RECRUITING.

This division was one of the most heterogeneous of the Prussian Army. Not only were its regiments recruited in three different Provinces, but the considerable amount of replacements received since November, 1917, were from various different regions—men from the class of 1919 from the 9th and 11th Corps Districts in November, 1917, later from the 14th Corps District; Landwehr from the 4th and 6th Corps Districts at the end of December; men from the 8th, 14th, and 18th Corps Districts (a small number) during its stay in Champagne.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 87th Division coming from Russia at the end of March seemed to have but a mediocre combat value (April, 1918).

1918.

1. The division held the quiet sector at St. Marie a Py until June 18, when it was relieved by the extension of the flanking divisions. The division up to that time had had slight losses and was available for active service.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

2. It entered line on June 22 on the Aisne front near Bouresches. During this period the division was engaged in harder fighting. In the American attack south of Torcy the division lost heavily in killed and wounded on June 25–26. Three hundred prisoners were taken on those days. It took part in the German retreat until July 26, when it was withdrawn near Charmel.

SCARPE-SOMME.

3. The division rested at Charleville until August 25. It entrained and moved to the Bapaume-Peronne area, where it was engaged on August 26–27, south of Longueval. It was pushed back by Flers (29th), les Boeufs (Aug. 31), north of Morval (Sept. 1), Le Transloy (3d), east of Manancourt and northeast of Etricourt (4th), northeast of Fins (7th), northwest of Gonzencourt (9th). It was relieved on the night of September 11–12. During this period in line the losses of the division were severe. More than 1,000 prisoners were taken from this division.

4. In spite of heavy losses it was given only a short rest at Vaucelles (south of Cambrai), and again placed in line east of Villers Guislain on September 18 for the purpose of delivering a counterattack. It was held in line at this point until about September 28, when it retired to rest at Walincourt.

LORRAINE.

5. On October 12 the division came into line southwest of Chateau Saline. It rested on that quiet front until about November 1, when it was sent north, and on November 8 came in line at Haut Bugny. The last identification was northeast of Rocquigny on November 10.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. As a sector holding unit it saw heavy service on the Marne and in Picardy.

88th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │21 Ldw. │10 Ldw. │175 Ldw. │(349) Ldw.
│ │38 Ldw. │ │(350) Ldw.
│1 Ldw. Ers. │4 Ldw. Ers. │176. │351.
│ │5 Ldw. Ers. │ │352.
│ │6 Ers. │177. │353.
│ │8 Ers. │ │(354).
│ │7 Ers. │ │
│ │9 Ers. │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │6 C. Dist. Field Cav. Rgt. (2│88 Cav. Rgt.(4 Sqns. ex-Field
│ Sqns. of 6 Hus. Rgt. and 2 │ Cav. Rgt. 6 C. Dist.).
│ Sqn. of 2 Uhlan Rgt.). │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │1 Ers. Abt. 42 F. A. Rgt. │88 F. A. Rgt.
│ │223 F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│1 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │6 Ldw. Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│2 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │ 88 T. M. Co.
│3 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │ 88 Pont. Engs.
│ │
│ │ 88 Tel. Detch.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │31 Landst. Inf. Rgt.
│ │111 Labor Btn.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │176. │352. │176. │352.
│ │353. │ │353.
│ │425. │ │426.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │(?) Sqn. Horse Jag. Rgt. │1 Sq. 10 Jag. z. Pf.
│ │
│ │
│2 Sqn. 88 Cav. Rgt. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │223 F. A. Rgt. │88th Field Art. Rgt.
│ │123 Foot Art. Btn.
│ │980, 982, and 1028 Light Mun.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│6 Ldw. Pion. Btn.: │88 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │ 349 Pion. Co.
│ 2 Ldw. Co. 6 Pions. │ 3 Co. Res. Pion. Btn. No.
│ │ 33.
│ 88 T. M. Co. │ 88 T. M. Co.
│ 249 Searchlight Section. │ 92 Searchlight Section.
│ Tel. Detch. │88 Div. Signal Command:
│ │ 88 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 102 B. Div. Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │277 Ambulance Co. │277 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│141 Field Hospital. │54 and 141 Field Hospitals.
│26 Ldw. Field Hospital. │193 Vet. Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │111 Labor Btn. │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(352d and 353d Regiments; 6th Corps District—Silesia. 426th Regiments;
9th Corps District—Hanseatic cities.)

1915.

1. The 88th Division grew out of the war garrison of Breslau, which was made up of the 21st Brigade of Landwehr (10th and 38th Landwehr) and by Silesian and Saxon Ersatz battalions. This originally was the Breslau Corps, which after the brigade of Landwehr was taken from it, became the Menges Division. The Ersatz battalions being formed into regiments, the division then comprised three brigades—1st Landwehr Ersatz Brigade (later the Schmiedecker Brigade), Paczensky (later Buddenbrock) Brigade, and the Zenger Brigade. Its regiments bore the names 4th and 5th Landwehr Ersatz and 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th Ersatz.

RUSSIA-POLAND.

2. In April-May, 1915, the Menges Division fought on the Pilica.

3. In July it was between the Vistula and Pilica taking part in the offensive against Russia.

4. It advanced in August through the region of Narew (to the south of Pultusk, Aug. 4; to the north of Bielsk, Aug. 19). At the end of August it reached the region of Vilna; to the west of Dvinsk in September.

DRISVIATY LAKE.

5. When the front became stationary it took a position near the Drisviaty Lake (September).

6. The Menges Division became the 88th Division. The Ersatz Battalion Brigades were regrouped and distributed between six regiments, numbered 349th and 350th Landwehr, 351st, 352d, 353d, 354th Regiments of Infantry, forming in turn the 175th, 176th, and 177th Brigades.

1916.

DRISVIATY LAKE.

1. The 88th Division occupied the Drisviaty Lake sector from September, 1915, until September, 1917.

2. In July, 1916, the division was reconstituted. The 354th Regiment went to the 216th Division. In August the 349th Landwehr and the 350th Landwehr Regiments were engaged on the Stokhod with the 150th Regiment of the 37th Division.

The 88th Division was now made up of the 351st, 352d, and 353d Regiments.

1917.

DRISVIATY LAKE.

1. In May, 1917, the 123d Division gave the 88th Division the 425th Regiment in exchange for the 351st Regiment of Infantry (Saxon). At this time all the Saxon elements were out of this division and it became entirely made up of Prussian personnel.

2. Thus constituted (352d, 353d, and 425th) the 88th Division was relieved from its position near Drisviaty Lake about September. It remained in the Dvinsk region.

3 The 425th Regiment was replaced by the 426th Regiment, the latter coming from the 3d Division.

RECRUITING.

The oldest regiments of the division, the 352d and the 353d, were primarily recruited in Silesia, and the 426th in the 9th Corps District.

Members of the 1919 class were identified with the division in April, 1918.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Average.

1918.

ST. QUENTIN.

1. Early in January the division left Russia and, traveling via Kovno- Wirballen-Koenigsberg-Posen-Berlin-Trèves-Thionville, detrained at Sedan. After resting and training in the Cambrai region, it entered line in the Fresnoy sector (northwest of St. Quentin). It remained in line here, although it had two 10-day rest periods during which it was occupied only in field service training and in the usual practice marches, excepting two manœuvres with artillery. It attacked on the 21st, and although held up a day in front of Holnon wood it did very well, especially when it is considered that the division was considered unfit for combat upon its arrival from Russia.

2. Just before reaching Vermand on the 24th it stopped advancing, and the line continuing to go forward it remained in reserve. On the 27th it proceeded to the Moreuil area (southeast of Amiens), where it arrived when the German advance was already checked. It was withdrawn about the 2d of April, after having suffered very heavy losses.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. About the 12th of April it relieved the 11th Division south of Rouvroy in eastern Champagne. It was relieved about the 25th of June by the 33d Reserve Division and went to rest near Monthois, where it was trained.

4. About the 13th of July it came back into line in the Tahure sector just west of where it had previously been. The next day it attacked in the first line; it could make no progress (it will be remembered that thus the whole offensive was a failure) and suffered heavy losses, especially on account of gas. It was relieved early in September and was reported at rest south of Rethel on the 4th.

WOEVRE.

5. On September 12 the division moved up behind the front near Dampvitoux (north of Thiaucourt), but since it was soon seen that the American offensive had only a limited objective it did not enter line until the 23d. It was relieved by the 224th Division during the night of October 16–17.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

6. The division arrived at Stenay during the night of the 19th–20th of October and on the 21st entered line near Cunel (north of Montfaucon). It remained in line until the armistice was signed.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

In March the British wrote: “From the bearing of prisoners of the 88th Division, recently captured, it appears that this formation, which from its composition might be expected to be indifferent is of a very fair quality and well-disciplined. Men and officers are mostly young and keen; many of the latter are active.

“As a fighting formation, the 88th Division thus appears to have been brought up to the standard of the majority of the German divisions in the western theater and in addition has a leader well acquainted with the conditions of warfare on this front.”

Although its subsequent conduct was not such as to justify completely the above estimate, it did at least prove that its rating as a fourth- class unit was too low.

89th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │21 Ldw. │10 Ldw. │178. │333.
│ │38 Ldw. │ │375.
│(In November the above passed│ │8 Ldw.
│ to the 14 Ldw Div.) │ │
│Jonas (178). │333. │ │
│ │375. │ │
│ │8 Ldw. │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │89 Cav. Rgt. │89 Cav. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │89 F. A. Abt. │89 F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │911 F. A. Btry.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│ │5 Co. 6 Pions.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │2 Res. Co. 17 Pions.
│ │89 T. M. Co.
│ │89 Pont. Engs.
│ │89 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd Units. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │11 Labor Btn.
│ │45 Labor Btn.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │178. │333. │178. │333.
│ │375. │ │375.
│ │8 Ldw. │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 11 Drag. Rgt. │4 Sqn. 11th Drag. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │89 Field Art. Rgt. (Rgt.
│ │ Staff, 1 Abt. Staff Btries.
│ │ 1 to 3).
│ 89 F. A. Rgt. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│Pion. Btn.: │5 Co. 26th Pion. Btn.
Liaisons. │ │
│ 5 Co. 26 Pions. │89 Div. Signal Command.
│ 2 Res. Co. 17 Pions. │89 Tel. Detch.
│ 89 T. M. Co. │
│ Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │68 Ambulance Co. │68 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │264 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │183 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │721 M. T. Col. │586 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd Units. │ │36 Bav. Mun. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(333d Regiment: 5th and 6th Corps District—Silesia. 375th Regiment: 17th
Corps District—Western Prussia. 8th Landwehr: 3d Corps
District—Brandenburg.)

1915.

The 89th Division reached its present form of organization about October, 1915. With the 87th Division, it was used to form, while named Westernhagen Division, the Thorn Corps, and was engaged on the Eastern Front from the beginning of the war. It at first was comprised of the 21st Landwehr Brigade, taken from the Breslau Corps and the Jonas Brigade (Keller Regiment and the 8th Landwehr) which became the 178th Brigade. In November, 1915, this division having given up the 21st Landwehr Brigade to form the 14th Landwehr Division, it brought up its strength to three regiments by taking the 333d Regiment from the 84th Division.

RUSSIA.

1. During the middle of October, 1915, the 89th Division was identified in the Krevo sector, which it occupied until the end of August, 1916.

1916.

ROUMANIA.

1. About the 24th of August, 1916, the 89th Division was transported to the Transylvanian front (detraining near Maros-Ludas on Aug. 30).

2. It fought in the vicinity of St. Georges de Brasso (middle of October); near the Roumanian frontier in the valley of Buzeu (October- November); on the Buzeu-Rimnicu-Sarat highway (end of December); and near Plaginesci (Dec. 31).

1917.

ROUMANIA.

1. In the middle of January, 1917, the 89th Division was in line to the north of Rimnicu.

2. From the end of January to the middle of August it occupied a sector north of Focsani, east of Odobesci. It took part in the attacks made, in August, north of Focsani and suffered very heavy losses. After a few days’ rest it took over the sector between Panciu and Marasesci.

RECRUITING.

The 89th Division took part in the entire campaign against Roumania.

It was kept on the Roumanian front until May, 1918.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Its offensive value seemed mediocre.

1918.

ROUMANIA.

1. In January, 1918, the division furnished a great many replacements to the 76th Reserve Division which was destined to leave for the Western Front; men were also sent to the 115th Division.

2. Relieved southeast of Panciu early in January, the division remained for some time in reserve in the Focsani region, then came back into line northeast of that town. It was identified there in March and April. In June the 375th Regiment was identified by contact near Drenoud in Macedonia, but left soon after for the Panciu region where it was identified on the 28th of July. The division was identified near Bucharest late in October.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The Division was rated as fourth class.

91st Division.

COMPOSITION.