Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918)

Chapter XXVIII: Part 28

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─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918[29]
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │174. │2 Gren. │174. │2 Gren.
│ │26 Res. │ │26 Res.
│ │376. │ │376.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │5 Sqn. 10 Drag. Rgt. │2 Sqn. 10 Drag. Rgt.
│ │5 Sqn. 10 Drag. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │ 109 Art. Command:
│ 227 F. A. Rgt. (9 Btries.). │ 227 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 2 Abt. 290 F. A. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(109) Pion. Btn.: │218 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Ldw. Co. Gd. Pions. │ 338 Pion. Co.
│ 2 Ldw. Co. 15 Pions. │ 2 Ldw. Co. 15 C. Dist.
│ │ Pions.
│ 109 T. M. Co. │ 276 Searchlight Section.
│ 276 Searchlight Section. │ 109 T. M. Co.
│ Tel. Detch. │ 109 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │228 Ambulance Co. │373 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│98 Field Hospital. │98 Field Hospital.
│277 Field Hospital. │27 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │109 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │434 M. T. Col. │595 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
Footnote 29:

Composition at the time of dissolution, September, 1918.

HISTORY.

(2d Grenadiers: 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 26th Reserve Regiment: 4th
Corps District—Prussian Saxony. 376th Regiment: 1st Corps
District—Eastern Prussia.)

1915.

The 109th Division was formed in Courland in May, 1915. It obtained the 2d Grenadiers from the 3d Division, which has since then completely changed its organization. It obtained the 26th Reserve Infantry from the 6th Reserve Division (3d Reserve Corps), and the 2d Ersatz Infantry Regiment (Koenigsberg), which received the number 376.

PONIEVIEJ.

1. It was a part of the Niemen Army from the time that army was organized until its departure for the Roumanian front (November, 1916). In July it was in the vicinity of Ponieviej.

JAKOBSTADT.

2. At the end of October it took a position in front of Jakobstadt.

1916.

COURLAND.

1. In 1916 the 109th Division still occupied the same sector in the vicinity of Jakobstadt to the southwest of Lievenhof (Buschhof). It stayed there until November, 1916.

ROUMANIA.

2. Transferred to Roumania, it took part in the campaign, valley of Jiu (November), southeast of Rimnicu-Sarat (December). In the meanwhile it headed the troops which entered Bucharest on December 6 (2d Grenadiers).

1917.

ROUMANIA-NAMOLOASA.

With the stabilization of the Roumanian front, the division took a position near the junction of the Rimnicu in front of Namoloasa (southeast of Focsani). It held this sector during the entire year 1917.

RECRUITING.

A composite division. The 2d Grenadiers was Pomeranian; the 26th Reserve Regiment was originally from Prussian Saxony, and the 376th got its recruits from depots in Eastern Prussia. It first appeared on the Western Front at the end of March, 1918.

1918.

SOMME.

1. The division came into line on the night of April 27–28 and relieved the 19th Division west of Hangard. It continued to hold this sector until August 10. In the first two days of the British attack the division lost 1,544 prisoners. After its withdrawal the division was taken to the vicinity of Trelon and disbanded.

2. The 26th Reserve Regiment was drafted to the 36th Fusileer Regiment and the 66th Regiment to the 113th Division. The 2d Grenadier Regiment passed intact from the 109th Division to the 3d Reserve Division. The 376th Regiment was divided among the three regiments of the 1st Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. After about four months in line on the Somme the losses in casualties and prisoners led to the dissolution of the division in September.

111th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │221. │73 Fus. │221. │73 Fus.
│ │76. │ │76.
│ │164. │ │164.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │3 and 4 Sqn. 22 Dragoon Rgt. │3 and 4 Sqn. 22 Dragoon Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│221 Pion. Co. │221 Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │262 Pion. Co.
│ │111 T. M. Co.
│ │111 Pont. Engs.
│ │111 Tel. Detch.
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │221 F. A. Rgt. (7 Btries.). │221 F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(73d Fusileers, 164th Regiment: 10th Corps District—Hanover. 76th
Regiment: 9th Corps District—Hanseatic cities.)

1915.

The 111th Division was formed near Brussels on March 26, 1915, by obtaining the 73d Fusileers from the 19th Division, the 164th Infantry from the 20th Division, and the 76th Regiment from the 17th Division.

COTES DE MEUSE.

1. About the middle of April, 1915, the 111th Division was in line along the Cotes de Meuse (Calonne, Hattonchatel trench) after having detrained on April 11 at Mars la Tour.

ARTOIS.

2. In August it was transferred to Artois (Monchy au Bois sector).

1916.

1. The 111th Division stayed on the Artois front until August, 1916.

SOMME.

2. About August 21 it was relieved and sent to the north of the Somme. Engaged near Guillemont and Guinchy, it suffered serious losses (Aug. 25-Sept. 6).

COTES DE MEUSE.

3. After a few days’ rest in the Cambrai region it was put into line near Cotes de Meuse (Bois de Chevaliers, Sept. 15) and stayed there until October 26. It was brought up to strength by the addition of 2,000 replacements.

SOMME.

4. At the end of October it was brought back to the Somme. At first it was at rest in the region of Bohain and then took over a sector between Bouchavesnes and the St. Pierre-Vaast wood.

1917.

1. In January, 1917, it was south of the Somme near Barleux, from which position it was relieved a short time before it fell back on the Hindenberg Line.

HINDENBURG LINE.

2. It occupied the Bellicourt sector (north of St. Quentin) from May 10 to about June 24. On May 7 and 15 it received 600 replacements (classes of 1917 and 1918) to make up the losses sustained on April 27 at Arleux en Gohelle.

3. The division was then put at rest for a month in the vicinity of Cambrai.

YPRES.

4. It entrained on July 25 and 26 and was transported to Flanders, where it was engaged on the 27th and 28th to the north of Ypres(Boesinghe- Steenstraat). It met the artillery preparation and the attack of July 31, which caused it considerable losses. It was relieved the very night of the attack and was temporarily reorganized at Bohain.

LORRAINE.

5. Sent to Lorraine, it took the Regnieville sector (west of Pont à Mousson) about August 20; rested and reorganized.

FLANDERS.

6. It left this sector on October 14 to return to Flanders (Poelcappelle). It detrained on the 16th at Alost and was engaged from the 22d to the 26th and relieved November 4.

ARTOIS.

7. From the end of November to January 8, 1918, it held the Monchy le Preuxen-Vis en Artois sector (southeast of Arras). The division received the remaining necessary replacements; the 73d Fusileers received, on December 24, 400 men between the ages of 20 and 35, taken from the Russian front (especially from the 15th Landwehr Division).

RECRUITING.

The 76th Infantry was a Hanseatic unit while the 73d Fusileers was a Hanoverian organization. As men from the 9th Corps District quite frequently served in regiments from the 10th Corps District and reciprocally, in case of necessity, the regiments of a division drew without distinction from either source, it was to be expected that the 111th Division was termed as “regiments of Lower Saxony.”

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 111th Division, which was considered a good unit, was sorely tried in Flanders by the Franco-British attack of July 31, 1917. Many men left their formations either when going into line or under bombardment. The division stayed but four days in line and had to be relieved without having been able to counterattack. The 111th Division was composed of young men, part of whom had experience in very active sectors.

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division was relieved by the 234th Division at Arleux about the 1st of March. It remained in rear of the front until March 21 when it returned to its former sector to attack east of St. Leger. It had been resting at Auberchicourt, which place it left on the 17th and marched via Palluel to Villers lez Cagnicourt, arriving there on March 20.

The division was in the first wave of the attack and advanced via Ecoust, then south to Vaulx-Vraucourt on the 22d, Mory (24th). It passed into second line about this time and reentered line north of Hamelincourt on April 1 to relieve the 26th Division. After a week it side-slipped south and relieved the 239th Division northeast of Ayette, which sector it held until April 20. It was relieved by the 234th Division.

2. On May 6 the division relieved the 5th Bavarian Division north of Bucquoy. It continued to hold this sector until August 17, when it was relieved by the 4th Bavarian Division.

THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

3. The division taken from the comparatively quiet Bucquoy sector was used to reenforce the battle front at Favreuil on August 25. It was only engaged four days in this sector. Withdrawn on the 29th, it moved northward and on September 2 reenforced the front east of Hendecourt. It fought then for three days before it was withdrawn. In these two brief periods in line the division suffered very heavy casualties besides losing 500 prisoners.

LENS.

4. The division rested in the Tourcoing area until it reentered line south of Acheville on the night of September 24–25 in relief of the 207th Division. It was engaged here until October 11, when the 49th Reserve Division relieved it east of Lens.

5. The division rested in the Douchy-Haspres area in support until October 18, when it moved to Artres and came into line on the night of October 20–21 at Monchaux sur Ecaillon. Until November 7 the division was constantly in line. It was near Vendegies until October 24, and later at Arties (28th), Farmars (29th), Jenlain (Nov. 2), Sebourg (4th), west of Risin (5th), and near St. Amand (5th). It was out of line at the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was used as an assault division on the Somme in March, but thereafter served as an intervention division in the Somme area. The division showed considerable power of resistance.

113th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │225. │36 Fus. │225. │36 Fus.
│ │48. │ │48.
│ │32 Res. │ │32 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │ (?) │3 Sqn. 8 Cuirassier Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │225 F. A. Rgt. (7 Btries.) │225 F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│225 Pion. Co. │225 Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │251 Pion. Co.
│ │252 Pion. Co.
│ │113 T. M. Co.
│ │113 Pont. Engrs.
│ │113 Tel. Detch.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │114 Anti-Aircraft Section.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │225. │36 Fus. │225. │36 Fus.
│ │66. │ │66.
│ │32 Res. │ │27.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 8 Cuirassier Rgt. │3 Sqn. 8 Cuirassier Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │(?) Art Command: │225 F. A. Rgt.
│ 225 F. A. Rgt. │407 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │1089 Light Am. Col.
│ │1172 Light Am. Col.
│ │1200 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│113 Pion. Btn.: │113 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 225 Pion. Co. │ 225 Pion. Co.
│ 251 Pion. Co. │ 251 Pion. Co.
│ 112 T. M. Co. │ 113 T. M. Co.
│ 113 T. M. Co. │ 67 Searchlight Section.
│ (226) Searchlight Section. │113 Signal Command:
│ 113 Pont. Engs. │ 113 Tel. Detch.
│ 113 Tel. Detch. │ 51 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │212 Ambulance Co. │212 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│372 Field Hospital. │372 Field Hospital.
│373 Field Hospital. │373 Field Hospital.
│113 Vet. Hospital. │113 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │597 M. T. Col. │597 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

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

1915.

The 113th division was organized near Sedan on March 26, 1915. Its three infantry regiments were taken from old divisions: the 48th from the 5th Division (3d Corps District-Brandenburg), the 36th from the 8th Division (4th Corps District-Prussian Saxony), and the 32d Reserve from the 22d Reserve Division (11th Corps District-Thuringe).

In March, 1917, the 48th was replaced by the 66th Regiment (old 7th Division from Prussian Saxony) taken from the 52d Division.

1. Detraining at Conflans on April 8, the division spent a few days in the Woevre.

CÔTES DE MEUSE.

2. It appeared along the Côtes de Meuse (Calonne trench) on April 26, 1915.

3. From that date until January 14, 1916, it stayed around the Côtes de Meuse and in Woevre-Calonne trench, Ailly wood, St. Mihiel, Eparges, and Bois Bouchot.

1916.

1. January and February, 1916, rested at Brainville and Conflans.

VERDUN.

2. On February 24 the 113d Division was transferred to the Verdun front. It participated in the attacks of the 8th and 9th of March against the village of Douaumont and suffered considerable losses. In six weeks spent around Douaumont the losses are said to have been 30 officers and 2,000 men put out of action (letter).

OISE.

3. Relieved at the beginning of April it was put into line in a calm sector—region of Soissons, then in the region of the Oise (Tracy le Val, Puisaleine).

SOMME.

4. In July, at the beginning of the Franco-British offensive, it detached some of its elements in the Somme (Peronne, July 1, then at Frise, Assevillers, and Belloy). The three rest battalions of the division formed in an emergency an assembled regiment (notebook).

5. After a new stay in the Soissons region (August and September) the whole division was again engaged in the Somme between Rancourt and the St. Pierre-Vaast wood. It suffered very heavy losses near Bouchavesnes (Oct. 1–10).

6. At rest from October 14 to 21 in Woevre.

CÔTES DE MEUSE.

7. At the end of October, the 113th Division took over the Bonzee- Ronvaux sector (Côtes de Meuse).

1917.

1. The 113th Division stayed around the Côtes de Meuse until the end of January, 1917.

ALSACE.

2. At the beginning of February it went into Alsace and occupied a sector between the Thur and the Rhone-Rhine canal (March).

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

3. On April 21 it was hastily entrained at Mulhouse and transferred to the Aisne. It went into line on the 26th at Chemin des Dames and met the second French offensive in the Courtecon-Malval farm region (May 5).

ST. GOBAIN FOREST.

4. Relieved in the middle of May, it stayed at rest for six days in the vicinity of Assis sur Serre and thereafter in a sector in the St. Gobain forest (Deuillet-Fresnes).

5. On August 10 it was put at rest behind Laon.

CRAONNE.

6. It went back into line at the end of September in the Craonne sector. As a result of the French offensive it fell back to the east of Hurtebise where it was relieved about November 10.

7. It rested in the Laon region from the middle of November to January 20.

RECRUITING.

In 1917 the division took on a distinctly provincial aspect, its regiments receiving replacements from Prussian Saxony (the 36th Fusileers and the 66th Infantry) and in Thuringe (the 32d Reserve Regiment).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 113th Division was a good unit. It put up an energetic resistance on the Chemin des Dames on May 5, 1917. From that time up to the offensive of March, 1918, it had not been seriously engaged.

1918.

1. Having finished its training in the Sissonne region, the 113th Division relieved the 235th Division about the middle of January in the Juvincourt sector (east of Craonne), and was itself relieved by the 5th Reserve Division on the 21st of February. It trained for a week at Vervins, and then moved to Wassigny, where it underwent more training until the 16th of March, when it marched via Bohain and Fonsommes to Bellicourt.

ST. QUENTIN.

2. On the 21st it attacked in the first line near Maissemy (northwest of St. Quentin). Although suffering very heavy losses, the division had succeeded in pushing on as far as St. Christ-Briost and Pargny (on the Somme) on the 24th. It was withdrawn shortly after (probably on the 26th).

AISNE.

3. On the 27th of May the division reenforced the Aisne front near Craonne and attacked in the first line. It was withdrawn about the 14th of June and went to rest near Conde sur Aisne (east of Soissons).

4. The division reenforced the front near Troissy (east of Dormans) on the 15th of July. It was caught in the confusion caused by the Allied counteroffensive, and was forced to retire. It was not identified after the 22d, and so it seems as though it was not in line after that date until prisoners were again taken on the 29th near Villers-Agron (southeast of Fere en Tardenois), which is in a line almost due north of where it had previously been engaged. Here it took over the part of the line previously held by the 2d Guard Division. It was withdrawn early in August and went to rest in the region southeast of Maubeuge.

CAMBRAI.

5. On the 10th of September the division reenforced the front near Metz en Couture (southwest of Cambrai). It was withdrawn from line near Villers-Plouich (southwest of Cambrai) after having lost over 1,600 prisoners about the 2d of October, and went to rest east of Denain.

6. On the 22d it came back into line near Douchy (south of Denain). Two days later it side-slipped toward the south. It was identified in line to the north of Le Quesnoy in November, but was withdrawn a day or two later. It did not return to line.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 113th was rated as a second-class division. Although the division commander received Pour le Merite and the commander of the 36th Regiment was also decorated after the battle of the Somme, the division does not appear to have particularly distinguished itself there. On the whole, however, its conduct though not brilliant was dependable.

115th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │229. │136. │229. │136.
│ │171. │ │171.
│ │40 Res. │ │40 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │1 and 2 Sqn. 22 Dragoon Rgt. │1 and 2 Sqn. 22 Dragoon Rgt.
│ (one-half picked troops). │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │229 F. A. Rgt. (7 Btries.). │229 F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│229 Pion. Co. │229 Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │115 T. M. Co.
│ │115 Pont. Engs.
│ │115 Tel. Detch.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(136th and 171st Regiments: 15th Corps District—Alsace. 40th Reserve
Regiment: 14th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Baden.)

1915.

Formed in April, 1915, near Tournai, the 115th Division received the 136th and 171st from the 30th and 39th Divisions (15th Corps), respectively, and the 40th Reserve Regiment from the 28th Reserve Division (14th Reserve Corps).

1. In April, 1915, the 115th Division was in reserve in the Tournai- Courtrai region.

ARTOIS.

2. In May it was sent as a reenforcement to the north of Arras and fought at Notre Dame de Lorette and Neuville St. Vaast and was sorely tried. The infantry losses amounted to 128 officers and 5,208 men out of action (Casualty List), of which 47 officers and 2,258 men belonged to the 171st Regiment.

AISNE.

3. Relieved about June 15, the 115th Division took over the Missy sur Aisne sector (east of Soissons), which it occupied until the last days of July.

RUSSIA.

4. At the end of July it was transferred to the Eastern Front, and for a time in August operated on the Narew.

5. It took part in the summer offensive. It was before Kovno on August 19, in the region of Vileiki at the end of September, and near Narotch Lake at the beginning of October.

1916.

POSTAVY-NAROTCH LAKE.

1. The 115th Division occupied the Postavy-Narotch Lake sector until the beginning of August, 1916.

GALICIA.

2. About August 2 the division was transferred to Galicia. It was engaged to the west of Zalosce (south of Brody), August to September.

VOLHYNIA.

3. In October it was in line in Volhynia to the west of Loutsk (Sviniouki). The 171st was kept to the southwest of Brody with the Melior detachment.

ROUMANIA.

4. In the middle of December the 115th Division was transferred from Volhynia to Roumania, where, together with the 109th Division, it made up the 54th Corps, which operated between Buzeu and the Danube.

1917.

ROUMANIA.

1. In January, 1917, the 115th Division took a position on the Roumanian front to the south of Namoloasa and stayed in this sector until the middle of August.

2. It was then in line to the north of Focsani, in the Panciu-Marasesti region (August-December).

RECRUITING.

The Grand Duchy of Baden and the Rhenish countries supplied the greater part of the recruits.

1918.

1. The division was relieved on the Roumanian front on February 1 by an Austrian division and rested in the Braila area during February and March. On April 8 it entrained and traveled via Budapest-Vienna-Prague- Dresden-Coblenz-Cologne-Aachen-Liege-Brussels to Lille, when it detrained about April 18. About the 21st the division reentrained and was railed to Antwerp, where it went through a course of intensive training.

BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

The division left Antwerp on May 21 and traveled via Brussels-Mons- Maubeuge-Le Cateau-Bohain, detraining north of St. Quentin on May 22. Four days later it continued its journey by rail to Versigny, southeast of La Fere, and was billeted in the Crepy area until May 29. On the following day it left and marched via Chaillevoois-Vailly (May 31)- Ambrief (June 1)-Villers-Helon (2d) and relieved the 37th Division near Longpont on the Aisne battle front on the night of June 2–3. It withstood the Allied counterthrust at Corcy in July, suffering heavy losses. It was relieved on the night of July 19–20.

VERDUN.

2. The division was moved to Brieulles and in the first days of August relieved the 22d Reserve Division in the sector Malancourt-Forges. In this vicinity it remained until September 19, when it was relieved by the 7th Reserve Division.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

3. On the second day of the American attack the division returned to bolster up the line in the Gesnes area. The division now included the 173d Regiment, which came from the 223d Division (dissolved) to supplant the 40th Reserve Regiment (disbanded). The division took part in the several captures and recaptures of Gesnes. It fought hard and suffered heavy losses before its relief on October 12 by the 3d Guard Division. Two days later it came back to support the 3d Guard Division and was engaged in the fighting around Romagne until October 18. On November 1 the division again came into line near Remonville and fought until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was badly hit on July 18 by the French attack and later in the Argonne. It showed good qualities in the Meuse fighting and was mentioned in the official German communiqué.

117th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │233. │157. │233. │157.
│ │11 Res. │ │11 Res.
│ │22 Res. │ │22 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │ (?) │1 and 2 Sqn. 8 Cuirassier
│ │ Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │233 F. A. Rgt. (7 Btries.). │233 F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│233 Pion. Co. │233 Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │117 T. M. Co.
│ │117 Pont. Engs.
│ │117 Tel. Detch.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │233. │157. │233. │11.
│ │11 Res. │ │157.
│ │22 Res. │ │450.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 8 Cuirassier Rgt. │1 Sqn. 8 Cuirassier Rgt.
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │233 F. A. Rgt.
│ 233 F. A. Rgt. │88 Foot Art. Btn.
│ │1068, 1069, and 1070 Light
│ │ Mun. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(117) Pion. Btn.: │117 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 233 Pion. Co. │ 233 Pion. Co.
│ 263 Pion. Co. │ 263 Pion. Co.
│ 117 T. M. Co. │ 117 T. M. Co.
│ 233 Searchlight Section. │ 147 Searchlight Section.
│ 117 Tel. Detch. │117 Div. Signal Command:
│ │ 117 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 187 Div. Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │117 Ambulance Co. │117 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│379 Field Hospital. │378 and 379 Field Hospitals.
│380 Field Hospital. │117 Vet. Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │6 Mountain Art. Btry. │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(6th Corps District—Silesia.)

1915.

The 117th Division was created by the 7th Army near Liart about April 7, 1915. Its three regiments were obtained from the 6th Corps and the 6th Reserve Corps—the 157th Infantry from the 12th Division, the 11th Reserve Regiment from the 11th Reserve Division, and the 22d Reserve Regiment from the 12th Reserve Division.

1. In April, 1915, the 117th Division was in Champagne (region of Châtelet).

ARTOIS-NOTRE DAME DE LORETTE.

2. Transferred to Artois, it was engaged to the north of Souchez and at Notre Dame de Lorette (May and June). In this fighting it was hard hit, 107 officers and 5,255 men out of action, of whom 44 officers and 2,161 men belong to the 11th Infantry. (Casualty List.)

3. The division was re-formed at the end of June in the region of Lille.

LENS.

4. Toward the middle of July it went back into line to the northwest of Lens (from Vermelles to the Grenay-Lens railway). It suffered very heavy losses in the attacks occurring at the end of September and the beginning of October (Loos)—109 officers and 6,463 men out of action. (Casualty List.)

5. Taken away from the Artois front in the middle of October, it was put at rest in the vicinity of Roubaix-Tourcoing.

FLANDERS.

6. At the end of October it took over the Messines sector.

1916.

1. The 117th Division occupied the Messines front until the beginning of March, 1916.

2. Rest at Courtrai; instruction and training at the Beverloo Camp (March-April and May).

YPRES.

3. At the beginning of June the division went into line to the east of Ypres (near the road from Ypres to Menin, and until July 20).

SOMME.

4. On July 23 it went to the Somme (Pozieres); it was engaged from the end of July to the middle of August.

5. On August 17 the division entrained for the Eastern Front.

BUKOVINA.

6. It was identified in the Carpathian Mountains as part of the 3d Austro-Hungarian Army (region of Jablonica, October).

1917.

CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS.

1. The 117th Division remained here (Jablonica, Worochta, Koeroesmezoe, Jacobeni sectors) until the middle of May, 1917.

ROUMANIA.

2. At the end of May it was transferred via Maramaros-Sziget to the Roumanian front (Putna valley, region of Ocna, June-September). At rest in Transylvania in September and was there reequipped for mountain warfare.

ITALY.

3. Sent to Italy at the beginning of October, it was on the 24th behind Tolmino as an army reserve. In December it was on the left bank of the Piave.

RECRUITING.

Silesian division, with recruits coming especially from Upper Silesia (mining district and mountainous districts), it was used on several occasions as mountain troops (Carpathians, Italy).

On the Carpathian, Roumanian, and Italian fronts (August, 1916-March, 1918).

1918.

LORRAINE.

1. The division rested in the vicinity of Vahl-Ebersing until April 6, when it entrained at St. Avold and moved to Lille. It went into billets near there on the 7th and came into line near Neuve Eglise on April 13.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

2. It was engaged in the Bailleul, Kemmel, and La Clyette area until the 1st of May. After a few days in support, the division reentered west of Dranoutre on May 4 and held that sector until mid-May.

3. The division rested near La Madeleine. Its units were very much weakened. The 11th Reserve Regiment was disbanded about May 16 and transferred its effectives to the other two regiments of the division. It was replaced by the 11th Grenadier Regiment, which was brought from the Macedonian front about May 21. The division remained at rest until about June 3, when it was again reported in line near Voormezeele.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

4. The division held that sector without event until June 25, when it was withdrawn and sent to rest near Ghent. On August 4 it was moved by rail to Peronne, where it went into the Vrely-Hangest wood sector until August 18. In the British attack south of the Somme on August 8 the division lost about 2,700 prisoners.

On August 27 it reenforced the battle front at Maricourt for a couple of days. It was withdrawn about September 1.

ARGONNE.

5. The division rested and was reconstituted in rear of the Argonne front in early September. The 22d Reserve Regiment suffered so heavily on the Somme that it was dissolved and its men divided between the other two regiments. The 450th Regiment from the dissolved 233d Division replaced the 22d Reserve Regiment in the division.

6. About September 12, the division relieved the 37th Division in line near Avocourt. It was swamped in the first drive of the American Army on September 26. Elements kept up the fight until September 29, when they were withdrawn after having been pressed back to about Cierges. Its defense was not particularly vigorous, but was better than that of the divisions on either side. Its total losses were estimated at 3,200, including 1,861 prisoners.

MEUSE.

7. On November 2 the division returned to line just west of the Meuse. While resting at Juvigny the division received replacements. In the retreat it crossed to the east bank of the Meuse and was in line on the day of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second-class. Up to the middle of June the division seems to have been a holding rather than an attacking one. After the Somme battle in August its effectives were feeble and morale low. It had many older men, returned wounded, and convalescents, and a large number of Poles and Alsatians.

119th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │237. │46. │237. │46.
│ │58. │ │58.
│ │46 Res. │ │46 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │ │Wedel. Rgt. (1 and 3 Sqn. 1
│ │ Uhlan Rgt. and 4 Sqn. 1
│ │ Mounted Jag. Rgt.).
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │237 F. A. Rgt. (7 Btries.). │237 F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│237 Pion. Co. │237 Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │119 T. M. Co.
│ │119 Pont. Engs.
│ │119 Tel. Detch.
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │237. │46. │237. │46.
│ │58. │ │58.
│ │46 Res. │ │46 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 1 Mounted Jag. Rgt. │4 Sqn. 1 Jag. z. Pf.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │119 Art. Command: │119 Artillery Command:
│ 237 F. A. Rgt. (9 Btries.). │ 237 Field Art. Rgt.
│ │ 2 Abt. 27 Foot Art. Rgt.
│ │ (Btries. 5 to 7).
│ │ 1274, 1275, and 1338 Light
│ │ Mun. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│119 Pion. Btn.: │119 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 237 Pion. Co. │273 Pion. Co.
│ 273 Pion. Co. │91 Searchlight Section.
│ 3 Res. Co. 32 Pion. Btn. │119 Div. Signal Command.
│ 119 T. M. Co. │119 Tel. Detch.
│ 237 Searchlight Section. │65 Div. Wireless Detch.
│ 119 Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │119 Ambulance Co. │119 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│605 Ambulance Co. │382 and 383 Field Hospitals.
│381 Field Hospital. │168 Vet. Hospital.
│382 Field Hospital. │
│383 Field Hospital. │
│168 Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │600 M. T. Col. │600 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │16, 17, 60, and 61 (?) Light │
│ Machine Gun Sections. │
│79 M. G. S. S. Detch. │
│1 Co. 3 T. M. Btn. │
│352 Pion. Mining Co. │
│Kortemarck Pion. Park. │
│Strovendorp Pion. Park. │
│57 Ft. Art. Btn. │
│157 Ft. Art. Btn. │
│5 Btry. 7 Res. Ft. A. Rgt. │
│404 Ft. Art. Btn. │
│5 Btry. 39 Ldw. Ft. A. Rgt. │
│6 Btry. 29 Ldw. Ft. A. Rgt. │
│8 Quick-firing Mortar Co. │
│182 Ft. A. Btry. │
│187 Ft. A. Btry. │
│428 Ft. A. Btry. │
│478 and 642 Mountain Ft. Art.│
│ Btries. │
│2 and 4 Mountain Ft. Art. │
│ Btries. (18 C. Dist.) │
│1,000 Ft. Art. Btry. │
│9 Art. Survey Section. │
│819 Tel. Detch. │
│62 Div. Wireless Detch. │
│21 Pigeon Loft. │
│218 Messenger-dog Detch. │
│48 Reconnaissance Sqns. │
│26 Combat Sqn. │
│30 Balloon Sqn. │
│4 Co. 44 Labor Btn. │
│3 Co. 53 Labor Btn. │
│4 Co. 122 Labor Btn. │
│61 Supply Train. │
│19, 108, 121 Bav. and 835 M. │
│ T. Col. │
│491 Ammunition Train. │
│682, 711, and 758 Truck │
│ Trains. │
│587 Supply Train. │
│571 Depot Supply Col. │
│119 Supply Depot. │
│ (According to a captured │
│ document dated Sept. 29, │
│ 1917.) │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(5th Corps District—Posen and Lower Silesia.)

1915.

GALICIA-POLAND.

1. Formed in April, 1915. Its three regiments were obtained from divisions belonging to the 5th Army—the 46th from the 10th Division, the 58th from the 9th Division, and the 46th Reserve from the 10th Reserve Division. Assembled in annexed Lorraine, it was sent to Galicia for the April German offensive. The division took part in the battle of Gorlice at the end of the month.

2. In July it was in Poland, west of the Wieprz, and at the end of October in the region of Baranovitchi.

1916.

BARANOVITCHI.

1. In January, 1916, the division held a sector to the east of Baranovitchi (Russia).

NAROTCH LAKE.

2. About March 28 it went to Narotch Lake and opposed the Russian offensive.

3. Sorely tried on March 30, it was relieved on April 7.

SMORGONI.

4. In May it was found at the west of Smorgoni.

GALICIA.

5. It was transferred to Galicia at the end of June at the time of the Russian offensive. Engaged on July 27, it suffered heavy losses. The 1st Battalion of the 58th was almost entirely captured and the division retired 15 km. (letter). On August 7 new losses at Tlumacz. The division was placed in reserve behind Stanislau until the beginning of September. On September 6 it reappeared on the front in the region of Halicz.

1917.

GALICIA.

1. The division stayed near Halicz until March 9, 1917. It was then sent to the vicinity of Brzezany, where it was almost immediately put in reserve.

2. At the beginning of May it was sent to the Western Front. (Itinerary: Brzezany (May 3)-Lemberg-Breslau-Liegnitz-Dresden-Leipzig-Cassel- Frankfort-Aix la Chapelle-Liége-Brussels-Roulers (May 8).)

FLANDERS.

3. Ypres sector; went into line at the beginning of June and was relieved on July 18.

4. Bixschoote sector; went into line at the beginning of August. The division met the attack in Flanders, in which it suffered serious losses on August 16. The 9th Company of the 58th Infantry was reduced to 38 men (notebook). On the 9th and 10th of October there were new engagements.

5. Relieved from the front on October 15 the division rested in the vicinity of Gand.

CAMBRAI.

6. After a month’s rest the 119th Division went into line on the Cambrai front to participate in the counterattacks which followed the surprise attack of November 20. It fought here from the 23d to the 27th, not without some losses.

7. Relieved after December 6, the division was reorganized in the vicinity of Solesmes.

RECRUITING.

This division recruited from the 5th Corps District. A document dated November 23, 1917, described the division as composed of “regiments of Lower Silesia and Posen.” In order to overcome the majority of Poles, the division received recruits from the 3d and 6th Corps Districts (Brandenburg and Silesia), which were fruitful sources of recruiting.

Twenty-one per cent of the prisoners taken from the 119th Division in August, 1917, belonged to the 1917 class. The 1918 class was meagerly represented. The 46th Reserve Regiment had a large proportion of Poles. The soldiers from Alsace-Lorraine remained on the Eastern Front when the division left Galicia (May, 1917).

1918.

1. About the end of January the division was relieved near Pronville by the 20th Division. It replaced the 3d Guard Division astride the Bapaume-Cambrai road about February 12. The date of its relief in this sector is not known. A captured diary shows that the division was training in the Helesmes area (north of Denain) until the middle of March. On the 16th it marched to Noyelles sur Selle, and on the following day reached Cambrai, where it remained until March 20.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. The division came into line near Inchy on the 21st and took part in the initial attack. It was withdrawn on the 23d and rested two days. It reappeared in line on the 25th and fought southeast of Hebuterne until relieved by the 5th Bavarian Reserve Division on April 7–8. The division lost heavily in this fighting.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

3. Withdrawn from the Somme, the division reentered the Lys battle line on April 26 near Locon. It was engaged there until early in May (6th), when it was withdrawn near Hinges and rested in the area Lille-Tournai until June 11. On that date it marched to Orchies, was railed to Le Forest, and from there came into line via Noyelles, relieving the 12th Reserve Division on the night of June 13–14. While at rest the division received a number of drafts, mostly of the 1919 class.

4. The division held the Mericourt sector until the night of July 12–13, when it was relieved by the 52d Division and took over the billets of the 52d Division in the Orchies area.

5. The division rested until August 1, when it moved to Ham via Douai- Cambrai-Caudry-Bohain-St. Quentin. Then it rested until August 8, when it was alarmed and rushed up in busses to the Le Quesnel sector.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

6. On August 9 the division was engaged south of the Somme. In the fighting it lost about 900 prisoners before its relief on August 17. On August 27–28 it returned to line in the Misery-Licourt sector and remained in line until September 24, when it was withdrawn from west of Bellenglise. After a week’s rest the division reentered line at Estrees; was engaged for 17 days in the Beaurevoir-Le Cateau area. Since August 8 it has lost nearly 3,000 prisoners.

YPRES.

7. The division rested at Ghent until October 27, when it relieved the 3d Landwehr Division south of Machelen. It retreated via Olsene to Nazareth, in which area it was withdrawn about November 9.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was used as an attack division in the March and April offensives. While on the defensive in August and September on the Somme it was decimated.

121st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │241. │60. │241. │60.
│ │7 Res. │ │7 Res.
│ │56 Res. │ │56 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │2 and 3 Sqns. 12 Horse Jag. │12 Horse Jag. Rgt. (? 2
│ Rgt. │ Sqns.).
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │241 F.A. Rgt. │241 F.A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│241 Pion. Co. │241 Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │260 Pion. Co.
│ │4 Co. 27 Pions.
│ │121 T. M. Co.
│ │121 Pont. Engs.
│ │121 Tel. Detch.
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │Labor Btn. of the 121 Div.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │241. │60. │241. │60.
│ │7 Res. │ │7 Res.
│ │56 Res. │ │56 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 12 Horse Jag. Rgt. │2 Sqn. 12 Jag. z. Pf.
│ (?). │
│2 Sqn. 12 Horse Jag. Schutz. │
│ Rgt. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │121 Art. Command:
│ 241 F. A. Rgt. │ 241 F.A. Rgt.
│ │85 Foot Art. Btn.
│ │1217, 1219, and 1223 Light
│ │ Mun. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(121 Pion. Btn.): │121 Pion. Btn.
Liaisons. │ │
│ 241 Pion. Co. │241 Pion. Co.
│ 260 Pion. Co. │260 Pion. Co.
│ 121 T. M. Co. │104 Searchlight Section.
│ 241 Searchlight Section. │121 Div. Signal Command.
│ 121 Tel. Detch. │121 Tel. Detch.
│ │59 Div. Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │229 Ambulance Co. │229 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│384 Field Hospital. │384 and 385 Field Hospitals.
│385 Field Hospital. │206 Vet. Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │601 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(60th Regiment: 21st Corps District—Lower Alsace. 7th Reserve Regiment;
5th Corps District—Posen. 56 Reserve Regiment; 7th Corps
District—Westphalia.)

1915.

The 121st Division was formed in the Falkenhausen Army in Lorraine in April, 1915. Its three regiments came from divisions which had been in existence for some time. The 60th came from the 31st Division (21st Corps), the 7th Reserve from the 9th Reserve Division (5th Reserve Corps), and the 56th Reserve from the 13th Reserve Division (7th Reserve Corps). These regiments were brought together in the region of St. Avold-Faulquemont at the beginning of April and on the 9th reached Thiaucourt, Euvezin, and the Mort Mare wood (notebooks).

HAYE.

1. The 121st Division next appeared in the Bois de Prêtre sector at the beginning of May, 1915.

2. It stayed there until the end of February, 1916.

1916.

1. The division left the Bois de Prêtre on March 1, 1916, and rested in the vicinity of Metz.

VERDUN.

2. On March 15 it came to the Verdun front (north of Vaux). On April 1 it attacked and took the village of Vaux; it again attacked on April 11 and made progress between Vaux and Douaumont, paying dearly for the advance.

3. Relieved from the Verdun front on April 20, it was put at rest near St. Avold until May 15. It had lost 58 per cent of its infantry strength in front of Verdun. From March 18 to May 30 the 6th Company of the 7th Reserve Regiment received no less than 192 replacements.

SOMME.

4. Transferred to Péronne by way of Sedan, Charleville, Hirson, and Bohain, the 121st Division went into line on the left bank of the Somme on May 18.

5. On July 1, while in this sector, it was surprised by the French offensive and suffered heavy losses (numerous prisoners).

6. Relieved on July 4, it was put at rest and reorganized.

RUSSIA.

7. On July 18 it entrained for the Eastern Front. (Itinerary: Aix la Chapelle-Cologne-Thorn, Warsaw, and Brest-Litowsk.)

KOVEL.

8. Taking over the Kovel sector on July 26, it launched counterattacks, in which it was sorely tried.

1917.

NAROTCH LAKE.

1. At the beginning of January, 1917, the 121st Division left the Kovel sector to go into the region of Narotch Lake and stayed in the latter place until May 17.

FRANCE.

2. On May 20 it entrained for France. (Itinerary: Vilna-Insterberg- Allenstein-Bromberg-Landsberg-Berlin-Stendal-Minden-Duesseldorf-Aix la Chapelle-Verviere-Liége-Brussels-Audenarde.) It detrained at Elsegem on May 25.

CAMBRÉSIS.

3. Transferred to Cambrai on June 10, it took over the Moruvres- Avrincourt sector, which it occupied from June 12 to the beginning of August.

FLANDERS.

4. It was thereafter brought to the Ypres front to the south of the railway running from Ypres to Roulers (Aug. 19). Artillery fire caused it to lose heavily; the British attack of September 20, of which it bore the brunt, increased its losses. Before the battle of the 20th the 12th Company of the 56th Reserve Regiment was reduced to 65 men, of whom 40 were men of the class of 1918. The 9th Company was entirely destroyed or captured.

5. Relieved in the night of the 21st of September the division was sent to rest (region of Mars la Tour) and reorganized (more than 2,000 men coming from the 605th and 614th Landstrum, Batallion X 12, and the 109th Landwehr). These replacements were very heterogeneous—soldiers from Westphalia, Hanover, Baden, Magdeberg (men previously wounded and convalescents).

COTES DE MEUSE.

6. At the beginning of October the 121st Division took over a sector near Cotes de Meuse (les Éparges, Ravin de Malochis). It stayed there until about April 10, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The name “7th Brandenberger” for the 60th Infantry was only of historic interest. The regiment recruited almost entirely in Westphalia. The 56th Reserve Regiment was also recruited in Westphalia, and there were numerous soldiers from there in the 7th Reserve Regiment to counterbalance the numerous Poles in the 5th Corps District; hence the make-up of the division was for the most part Westphalian.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 121st Division fought very well in its last battle in Flanders (September, 1917) and was put to a good test.

In March, 1918, the number of men in the ranks who had taken part in these attacks was about 35 or 40 per cent, and the replacements used after the battle of Flanders were generally of inferior military value.

1918.

1. The division was relieved on the Woevre about April 11. It entrained on April 24 at Conflans and traveled via Sedan-Charleville-Hirson- Valenciennes to Pont a Marcq, where it detrained on April 26, after a journey of about 20 hours. It came into line in the Dranoutre sector on May 2 in relief of the 10th Erzsatz Division.

LOCRE.

2. It held the Locre sector until May 21, when it was relieved by the 16th Bavarian Division. On June 19 it returned to its former sector at Dranoutre and held it until July 7.

3. The division rested in the Tourcoing area until July 31, when it entrained and traveled via Courtrai-Valenciennes-St. Quentin to Laon, where it detrained on the following day. Here it rested until 5 p. m. on August 8, when it was alarmed and marched to the La Fere area (19 miles), arriving on the next day about 11 a. m. On the same day at 8 p. m. the division was again alarmed and was moved in motor busses via Chauny-Noyon-Roye to the Damery area, where it arrived on the 10th of August about 10 a. m. and was immediately engaged.

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

4. The division fell back by Parvillers-Damery-Fresnoy-Cremery-Sept Fours-Nesle to the east bank of the Somme Canal. It was relieved on the night of September 1–2 by the 25th Reserve Division. The division lost 800 prisoners in this fighting.

5. It rested in early September in the Maretz area (southeast of Cambrai). On September 18 it was hurried to the line and counterattacked at Bonyon that evening. Until October 1 it was engaged at Hargicourt, Villeret, and Le Catelet. After only four days of rest the division again came into line on October 5 in the Gouy area. It was withdrawn to be reorganized on October 9.

6. After resting near Maubeuge the division returned to line west of Catillon on the night of October 18–19. It fought for about seven days between that place and Ors. On November 6 it was engaged at Maroilles and was in line near Limont-Fontaine on the day of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. It was an average division. In the final campaign it showed no particular power of resistance and lost abnormally in prisoners.

123d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │245. │178. │245. │178.
│ │182. │ │182.
│ │106 Res. │ │106 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │ │5 Sqn. 20 Hus. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │245 F. A. Rgt. │245 F. A. Rgt.
│246 F. A. Rgt. │246 F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│245 Pion. Co. │245 Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │264 Pion. Co.
│ │1 Co. 2 Bav. Pions.
│ │123 T. M. Co.
│ │123 Pont. Engs.
│ │123 Tel. Detch.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │96 Antiaircraft Section.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │245. │178. │245. │178.
│ │106 Res. │ │106 Res.
│ │351. │ │351.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │4 and 5 Sqn. 20 Hus. Rgt. │5 Sqn. 20 Hus. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │123 Art. Command: │123 Art. Command:
│ 245 F. A. Rgt. │ 245 Field Hospital.
│ │ 137 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ 816 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1148 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1149 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(123) Pion. Btn.: │123 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 245 Pion. Co. │ 245 (Saxon) Pion. Co.
│ 264 Pion. Co. │ 264 (Saxon) Pion. Co.
│ 123 T. M. Co. │ 123 T. M. Co.
│ 245 Searchlight Section. │ 128 Searchlight Section.
│ 124 Tel. Detch. │123 Signal Command:
│ │ 123 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 168 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │123 Ambulance Co. │123 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│387 Field Hospital. │386 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │387 Field Hospital.
│ │236 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

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Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918)Chapter XXVIII: Part 28

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