Chapter XXXI: Part 31

2. The division, thus composed, held the Soissons sector until about March 20. On this date it retired through Terny, Margival, to Vauxaillon, where it established its lines and opposed the French attack of April 16.

LAFFAUX.

3. Temporarily withdrawn from the front on April 20, the division went to the north of Laffaux, south of Vauxaillon, from May 10 to 25. During these two periods on the Aisne front the division suffered heavy losses (especially the 27th, which had already received men from the 1918 class, among other reenforcements, at the end of April). It was reorganized partly from the dissolution of the 625th Infantry (Hessian).

FOREST OF ST. GOBAIN.

4. June 25 the division held the forest of St. Gobain (sector of Bassoles-Aulers). At the end of July it took over the sector of Cerny- Malval Farm.

5. At the end of December it went to rest and train at Gizy (west of Liesse) and vicinity for four weeks.

RECRUITING.

The three infantry regiments came from three different Prussian Provinces-Prussian Saxony (27th Infantry), Schleswig-Holstein and Hanse towns (75th Reserve), Hesse-Nassau, 390th Infantry. The reenforcements from the Russian front in 1917 also gave a certain number of Hanoverians from the 411th Infantry.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division had many losses on the Aisne in April to May, 1917, and was completed by reenforcements containing a strong proportion of the 1918 class. These young soldiers, according to prisoners’ statements, showed only mediocre military qualities (counterattacks at Laffaux).

During the four weeks which it spent in the vicinity of Liesse the division took part in several training exercises (breaking through maneuvers on an 8-kilometer front with simulated enemy tanks). (Interrogation of prisoners, Mar. 7, 1918.)

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division was relieved the 8th of March in the Chamouille area and went to rest and train near Laon until the 19th. It marched toward the jumping off point east of La Fere by Crepy en Laonnois, arriving there on the 20th. It followed up the attack at La Fere, crossing the Oise near Travecy, until the 22d, when it was engaged west of Travecy. It advanced through Farguiers-Quessy-Liez-Chauny-Quierzy-Varesnes, suffering heavy losses, until the line stabilized near the Aisne Canal at Manicamp and Champs. It held this sector until May 27.

OISE.

2. When the French retired on the front, following the German advance to the Marne, the division advanced as far as Moulin sous Touvent-Nampcel (May 27–31). It held that sector until the beginning of July. It withstood a French attack on July 3, lost 666 prisoners, and was at once relieved by the 15th Division.

SOISSONS.

3. The division rested until mid-July southeast of Soissons. It was brought back on the 20th at Mercin-Vauxbuin to oppose the Allied counterthrust and was in line until August 3.

4. After its withdrawal the division was taken to the neighborhood of Charleville and dissolved. The 390th Regiment and 75th Reserve Regiment were broken up and sent as drafts to the 42d Division and the 87th Division. The 27th Regiment replaced the dissolved 32d Reserve Regiment in the 113th Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was in line almost without interruption from February to August, 1918. When the effective strength had reached a minimum the division was dissolved.

212th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │57. │20. │212. │415. │ │182.
│ │114. │ │416. │ │
│ │98 Res. │ │182. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │2 Sqn. 18 Uhlan │5 Sqn. 18 Hussars.
│ │ Rgt. │
│ │ │Staff, 2 Bav. Uhlan
│ │ │ Rgt.
│ │ │1 to 4 Sqns. 2 Bav.
│ │ │ Uhlan Rgt.
│ │ │M. G. Sqn. 2 Bav.
│ │ │ Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │279 F. A. Rgt. │67 Art. Command: │67 Artillery
│ (Saxon). │ │ Command:
│ │ 279 F. A. Rgt. │ 279 Field Art.
│ │ │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│2 Ldw. Pion. Co. │(212) Pion. Btn.: │212 Div. Signal
Liaisons. │ (14 C. Dist.). │ │ Command:
│ │ 3 Res. Co. 22 │ 212 Tel. Detch.
│ │ Pions. │
│ │ 422 T. M. Co. │
│ │ 212 Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │225 Ambulance Co. │177 Field Hospital.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │177 Field Hospital.│312 Vet. Hospital.
│ │Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │757 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(12th and 19th Districts—Saxony.)

1916.

The 212th Division was organized between the 5th and 15th of September, 1916, in the region of St. Quentin. At that time it comprised the following three infantry regiments, taken from already existing divisions: The 20th from the 6th Division, the 114th from the 29th Division, and the 98th Reserve from the 10th Reserve Division. Later its infantry composition was completely changed until the division from being Prussian became entirely Saxon.

SOMME.

1. From September 15 to October 3–5 the division was engaged north of the Somme (sector of Cléry to Béthune-Péronne road).

2. Withdrawn from the front October 5 and sent to rest in the region of St. Quentin. Went back into line about the 25th, south of the Somme, between Genermont and Ablaincourt. Suffered heavy losses (the 3d Battalion of the 98th Reserves lost 297 prisoners).

CHAMPAGNE.

3. The division left the Somme November 23–25 and went to rest (end of November to beginning of December). Then went to the Champagne front (sector of Prosnes—south of Ste. Marie a Py).

1917.

1. In January, 1917, the division was reorganized. The 98th Reserve and the 20th went to the 207th Division and the 5th Guard Division, respectively, and were replaced by the 9th Jäger Regiment (from the 199th Division) and the 415th (from the 204th Division). These were Saxon regiments and they were joined a short time after by the 416th (also from the 204th Division and Saxon), in place of the 114th, assigned to the 199th Division.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Thus composed the division continued to hold the Prosnes sector until the end of March, 1917.

ROUMANIA.

3. Relieved about March 25, before the attacks began and sent to Roumania.

At this time the 9th Regiment of Jägers left the division and went to the 101st Division, in Macedonia. The 415th and 416th were sent to the Russian-Roumanian front (region of Braila in July, then Focsani- Tecuciu). The division was brought up to three regiments by the assignment of the 182d (from the 216th Division), a Saxon regiment. The division suffered heavy losses, especially the 182d Infantry, on September 9.

4. In December the division was relieved from the sector west of Tecuciu. The 415th and 416th were identified southeast of Panciu December 14; the 182d, northwest of Namoloasa, on the 20th.

RECRUITING.

The division at the end of 1917 was entirely Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Remained on the Roumanian front during a part of 1917 and the beginning of 1918. Moderate fighting value.

1918.

1. The division was still in Rumania on the 15th of April.

UKRAINE.

2. Toward the end of May the division was identified north of Kherson. All the younger men were sent to the Western Front, but the remainder of the division did not leave this region.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

213th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │37 Res. │149. │37 Res. │149. │37 Res. │149.
│ │368. │ │368. │ │368.
│ │74 Res. │ │74 Res. │ │74 Res.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 5 Res. Hus. │2 Sqn. 5 Res. Hus. │2 Sqn. 5 Res. Hus.
│ Rgt. │ Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │272 F. A. Rgt. │213 Art. Command: │213 Art. Command:
│ │ 272 F. A. Rgt. │ 272 Field Art.
│ │ │ Rgt.
│ │ │ 79 Foot Art. Btn.
│ │ │733, 1104, and 1127
│ │ │ Light Mun. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│284 Pion. Co. │(213) Pion. Btn.: │213 Pion Btn.
Liaisons. │ │ │
│423 T. M. Co. │ 2 Res. Co. 28 │ 2 Res. Co. Pion.
│ │ Pions. │ Btn. No. 18.
│ │ 284 Pion Co. │ 284 Pion Co.
│ │ 378 T. M. Co. │ 423 T. M. Co.
│ │ 423 T. M. Co. │ 118 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ Tel. Detch. │ 234 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ │313 Div. Signal
│ │ │ Command.
│ │ │ 213 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 26 Div. Wireless
│ │ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │220 Ambulance Co. │220 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │68 (*) Field │168 and 169 Field
│ │ Hospital. │ Hospitals.
│ │168 Field │313 Vet. Hospital.
│ │ Hospital. │
│ │169 Field │
│ │ Hospital. │
│ │Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │179 M. T. Col. │623 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(149th: 2d District—Pomerania. 368th and 74th Reserves: 10th
District—Hanover.)

1916.

The 213th Division was formed near Spincourt, northeast of Verdun, at the beginning of September, 1916. Its three infantry regiments came from already existing divisions, the 149th from the 4th Division, the 74th Reserves from the 19th Reserve Division, and the 368th (former Brigade Ersatz Battalions 37 (Osnabrueck), 38 (Hanover), 39 (Hildesheim), from the 10th Ersatz Division.)

SOMME.

1. Although apparently destined for the Roumanian front, the division was sent in all haste to the Somme on September 14. It fought beginning the 18th east of Combles and suffered heavily.

AISNE.

2. Withdrawn from the front at the end of September and moved to Bohain by stages and from there was transported on October 1 to Coucy le Chateau. On the same day it took over the Nouvron-Vingre sector north of Vic sur Aisne. It remained there until the end of October, and after a short rest went back into line in the same region (Moulin sous Touvent- Autreches) at the beginning of November.

1917.

1. About January 4, 1917, the division was relieved from the Aisne front and sent for a rest and training to the camp at Sissonne (region of Lappion). Maneuvers with a view to open warfare.

OISE.

2. After three weeks training it entrained at St. Erme on January 22; detrained the same day at Apilly, near Chauny, and went into line between the Oise and Quennevieres (Bailly-Pracy le Val).

3. On March 17 it retired north of the Ailette in the direction of Chauny and went in reserve in the region of Laon.

AISNE.

4. An emergency call was sent for it at Sissonne April 16 and it was brought to St. Erme and engaged beginning April 16–17 east of Craonne (north of Ville aux Bois). Counterattacked violently in the region of Juvincourt, but suffered considerable losses, which necessitated its retreat, on April 21–22.

5. Sent to rest near Amifontaine and reorganized (replacements especially from the 617th Regiment (Stettin and vicinity), which was dissolved) April 26 it was reengaged south of Corbeny and again suffered heavily from the French attack of May 8 and from its counteroffensive of the 10th.

6. Left the Craonne front May 29 and went to rest by the Meuse (Spincourt).

HILL 304.

7. At the end of July, after two months’ rest, went into line east of Hill 304. Only the 149th was engaged during the French attack of August 20, and it suffered heavy losses.

CHAMPAGNE.

8. Relieved August 25 and sent to Champagne (5 weeks’ rest near Asfeld), then went into line before Brimont on October 5.

RECRUITING.

Two of the regiments, the 74th Reserves and the 368th were from Hanover. The 149th which as a rule was recruited in the second district (Pomerania), was as a matter of fact very mixed, like the other regiments of this district.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

A good division. However, the 149th, in line east of Hill 304, offered no resistance to the French attack of August 20, 1917. The two other regiments gave no assistance.

Relatively small proportion of 1918 class men in August, 1917.

During its stay in the rear (January, 1918) the division was trained for open warfare. (Examination of prisoners, March, 1918.)

1918.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

1. The division continued to hold the quiet Brimont Courcy sector until May 10, when it was relieved by the 242d Division. It rested near Asfeld until the 24th, when it returned to the Brimont sector on the night of the 24th–25th, and attacked on the 27th. It advanced through Loivre, Merfy, and Guex until the line stabilized west of Reims (Vrigny-Ormes- Champigny). It held that sector until September 27.

2. It was moved in motor trucks on the 27th to south of Arnes, and the next day was engaged near Ste. Marie a Py. The division was engaged without pause until the armistice. In the first week of October it was pushed back to Ste. Etienne a Arnes, losing 560 prisoners. From then it retreated to east of Machault, between Vouziers and Attigny and later to the region northeast of Attigny (Le Chesne-Louvergny). It was last identified at Louvergny on November 6.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its morale remained fairly high, and the division did well in the Ardennes in September-October.

214th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │ │50. │214. │50. │214. │50.
│ │358. │ │358. │ │358.
│ │363. │ │363. │ │363.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │ (z) │1 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │ │(z) Art. Command: │214 Art. Command.
│ │ 44 F. A. Rgt. │44 Field Art. Rgt.
│ │ │1 Abt. 15 Foot Art.
│ │ │ Rgt. (Btries. 1
│ │ │ to 3).
│ │ │922, 1246, and 1300
│ │ │ Light Mun. Cols.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │(214) Pion. Btn.: │214 Pion. Btn.
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ 2 Res. Co. 23 │2 Res. Co. Pion.
│ │ Pions. │ Btn. No. 23.
│ │ 341 Pion. Co. │341 Pion. Co.
│ │ 424 T. M. Co. │47 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ 214 Tel. Detch. │214 Div. Signal
│ │ │ Command.
│ │ │214 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │112 Div. Wireless
│ │ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │224 Ambulance Co. │224 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │25 Field Hospital. │25 and 274 Field
│ │ │ Hospitals.
│ │274 Field Hospital.│314 Vet. Hospital.
│ │Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │624 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │22, 59, and 20 M.
│ │ │ G. Sec. Abt.
│ │ │4 Btry. 18 Foot
│ │ │ Art. Regt.
│ │ │150 Saxon Balloon
│ │ │ Detch.
│ │ │268 Aviation Detch.
│ │ │ (Oct. 29, 1918.)
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(50th: 5th District—Posen. 358th: 2d District—Pomerania. 363d: 8th
District—Rhine Province.)

1916.

The 214th Division was formed in Lorraine in September, 1916. Two of its regiments came from the Ersatz Divisions—the 358th, former Brigade Ersatz Battalions Nos. 1, 2, 5, and 50; from the Ersatz Guard Division; the 363d, former Brigade Ersatz Battalions Nos. 29 (Aix la Chapelle), 30 (Coblentz), and 31 (Trèves), from the 8th Ersatz Division. These two regiments were for two years in the Haye. The 50th Infantry was taken from the 10th Division (Verdun front).

SOMME.

1. Started for the Eastern Front September 10, 1916, but was stopped at Frankfort on Main and brought back to France to oppose the offensive on the Somme. Hastily engaged at Rancourt September 19–20, but lost that village. Lost heavily (600 prisoners) and was relieved October 2.

BOIS LE PRÊTRE.

2. From October 15 to November 25 the division held the Bois le Pretre sector.

SOMME.

3. At the beginning of December it again went to the Somme in the region of Bapaume (Gueudecourt).

1917.

1. The division was withdrawn from the Somme about February 6, 1917, and went to rest; obtained replacements from the 609th Infantry (Rhineland).

CHAMPAGNE.

2. About February 20 the division was north of Nouroy-Moronvilliers. Its regiments were successively put in line beginning with the first part of March, then were placed all together in line April 15. April 17 and 18 the division opposed the French attacks on the Nauroy-Auberive front. Its losses were considerable (19 officers and 1046 unwounded prisoners). Losses of the 12th Company of the 50th Infantry, 129 men (document).

3. On the night of the 18th–19th the division was relieved and sent to rest southwest of Monthois and reorganized. The 5th Company of the 363d Infantry received at least 134 replacements, mostly from the 1918 class, some of them with only three months’ training.

ARGONNE.

4. About May 4–5 the division went back into line south of Rouvroy (Cernay en Dormois) and stayed there until July 22 or 23. No important action during this period.

FLANDERS.

5. During the first days of August the division was sent to Flanders via Charleville, Namur, Brussels, and Ghent. It went to the Bixschoote- Langemarck sector, where it fought until August 17 (battle of Flanders, French attack of August 16).

CAMBRAI.

6. After a rest on the coast it went to Douai August 23 and took over the Oppy-Gavrelle sector (September to November). November 22 it went in all haste to oppose the advance of the British army southwest of Cambrai, and fought until December 4. At that date it was sent to rest near Valenciennes.

RECRUITING.

A composite division. The 50th (5th District) and the 358th (2d District) had a pretty large proportion of Poles, and some Brandenburgers to counterbalance them. The 363d was a Rhenish regiment, as well as the field artillery of the division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 214th Division must be considered as a good division. However, it should be noted that in Champagne during the attack of April 17, it was more or less demoralized by the losses suffered. A large number of men are said to have fled during the preparatory artillery fire.

At Ypres in August, 1917, the 358th and 363d opposed great resistance, particularly where there were enough officers to hold the men under the artillery fire.

Of the three regiments of the division, the 50th was the worst; many Poles.

1918.

BELGIUM.

1. The division held the Dixmude sector until April 5, when it was relieved by the 6th Bavarian Division. It was withdrawn to Couckelaere and Ichteghem, when it entrained on the 6th and 7th and traveled via Thourout-Lichtervelde-Roulers-Coutrai to Lauwe, from where they marched to Halluin.

LYS.

2. It was engaged north of Armentieres from April 10 to 13 (Ploegsteert- Neuve Eglise). It was relieved on the 13th–14th and went to rest near Lille until May 19. On May 6 some elements of the division reenforced the Alpine Corps at Locre for a short time.

ARRAS.

3. On May 19–20 the division came in line east of Arras (Feuchy-Monchy le Preux) and held that quiet sector until the British attacked them on August 27. The division lost 1,171 prisoners and was relieved on the 28th.

PICARDY.

4. The division rested until September 24, when it entered line southwest of Douai (Sailly Ostrevent Biache, St. Vaast) and held there until October 8. It retreated between Douai and Valenciennes as far as east of St. Awand. It withdrew from line near Conde on the 24th. A day later it was reengaged south of Valenciennes (Famars) and in line until November 5. On the first 10 days of November the division lost 750 prisoners.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. In 1918 it played a rather colorless rôle. Its hardest fighting was in October in the Cambrai battle.

215th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │61 Res. │60 Res. │61 Res. │71 Ldw. │61 Res. │224 Res.
│ │2 Res. │ │224 Res. │ │2 Res.
│ │ Ers. │ │ │ │ Ers.
│ │40 Ers. │ │2 Res. │ │
│ │ (Saxon).│ │ Ers. │ │
│61 Res. │71 Ldw. │ │ │ │
│ │2 Res. │ │ │ │
│ │ Ers. │ │ │ │
│ │40 Ers. │ │ │ │
│ │ (Saxon).│ │ │ │
│ │244 Res. │ │ │ │
│ │ (Saxon).│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┬┴─────────┴────────┬┴─────────┴────────
Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 8 Res. Hus. │3 Sqn. 8 Res. Hus. │
│ Rgt. │ Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │274 F. A. Rgt. │274 F. A. Rgt. │274 Field Art. Rgt.
│ │ │1413 Light Mun.
│ │ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │(215) Pion. Btn.: │6 Co. Pion. Btn.
Liaisons. │ │ │ No. 29.
│ │ 249 Pion. Co. │115 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ 6 Co. 29 Pions. │215 Div. Signal
│ │ │ Command.
│ │ 425 T. M. Co. │215 Tel. Detch.
│ │ Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │221 Ambulance Co. │221 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │166 Field Hospital.│315 Vet. Hospital.
│ │174 Field Hospital.│
│ │Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │625 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │21 Res. Jag. Btn. │
│ │ (Until fall of │
│ │ 1917.) │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(224th Reserve Infantry Regiment: 18th Corps District—Hesse—Nassau. 2d
Reserve Ersatz and 71st Landwehr Regiments: 11th Corps
District—Thuringia and Prussian Saxony.)

1916.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. The 215th Division, formed about September, 1916, and comprising at this time the 40th Ersatz Regiment, taken from the 19th Ersatz Division; the 2d Reserve Ersatz, from the 1st Reserve Ersatz Brigade; the 60th Reserve, from the 13th Landwehr Division, was identified for the first time on September 29, 1916, on the Champagne front, east of Auberive. It occupied the sector of Prosnes, south of Ste. Marie a Py, until the end of November.

2. Relieved in Champagne, the 215th Division was transferred to the Eastern Front, leaving the 60th Reserve Regiment in France as a part of the 221st Division and taking with it the 71st Landwehr Regiment from the 13th Landwehr Division.

RUSSIA.

3. Arriving in Russia at the beginning of December, the 215th Division formed a part of the 22d Reserve Corps (Army of the Bug) and was reenforced by the addition of the 244th Reserve Infantry Regiment from the 53d Reserve Division.

1917.

VOLHYNIA.

1. At the beginning of 1917 the composition of the 215th Division was again changed—the 244th Reserve Infantry Regiment went over to the 119th Division and was replaced by the 224th Reserve Infantry Regiment from the 48th Reserve Division.

2. During the year 1917 the 215th Division occupied, in Volhynia, the sector situated east of Gorokhov (northwest of Berestiecko).

3. Its composition was once more modified—the 40th Ersatz Regiment was transferred to a newly formed Saxon division, the 96th.

RECRUITING.

The 215th Division was fairly homogeneous. It was mostly recruited from the 11th and to some extent from the 18th Corps Districts (Thuringia, the Electorate of Hesse, and Hesse-Nassau).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division had been in Russia since December, 1916, and was only mediocre.

1918.

UKRAINE.

1. Early in the year the division was still in Russia. It was identified near Kiev on the 12th of March and in the Kharkov region in April. Early in May the division had advanced to the Sea of Azov. Early in September, all unmarried men less than 35 years of age (Alsace-Lorrainers included) were sent to the Western Front, which probably explains the many reports of the division having been sent to France. In all probability the division never left the Ukraine.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

216th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │ │182. │177. │42. │(?) │42.
│ │354. │ │354. │ │354.
│ │21 Res. │ │59. │ │59.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │ │205 Cav. Sqn.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │54 F. A. Rgt. │54 F. A. Rgt. │216 Art. Command:
│ │ │ 54 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │ 3 Abt. 10 Ft. A.
│ │ │ Rgt. (Staff, and
│ │ │ 9 and 11 Btries.)
│ │ │ 762 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│2 Gd. Ldw. Pions. │(216) Pion. Btn.: │217 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ 2 Ldw. Co. Gd. │ 247 Pion. Co.
│ │ Pions. │
│ │ 216 Tel. Detch. │ 2 Ldw. Co. Gd. C.
│ │ │ Dist. Pions.
│ │ │ 78 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ │216 Signal Command:
│ │ │ 216 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 167 Wireless
│ │ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │260 Ambulance Co. │260 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │53 Field Hospital. │324 Field Hospital.
│ │324 Field Hospital.│332 Field Hospital.
│ │Vet. Hospital. │257 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(42d Infantry Regiment; 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 59th Infantry
Regiment; 20th Corps District—Eastern part of West Prussia. 354th
Infantry Regiment; 6th Corps District—Silesia.)

1916.

The 216th Division was formed in Galicia in July, 1916, by drafts upon regiments of other divisions. At the time of formation it comprised the 182d Infantry Regiment, from the 123d Division (Saxon), the 354th Infantry Regiment from the 38th Division and the 21st Reserve Infantry Regiment from the 217th Division.

GALICIA-TRANSYLVANIA.

1. In Galicia (Brzezany) beginning of October, the 216th Division was transferred to the Transylvanian front (valley of the Olt) on November 8.

ROUMANIA.

2. It took part in the Roumanian campaign.

3. At the end of December it was south of Rimnicu-Sarat.

1917.

ROUMANIA.

1. In January, 1917, the 216th Division was in line east of Focsani, where it remained until August.

2. It took part in the attacks north of Focsani in August, where the 182d Infantry Regiment lost especially heavily.

3. At this time the 42d and 59th Infantry Regiments, filled up in June by men borrowed from the 76th Reserve Division, then in the rear of the Roumanian front replaced the 182d Infantry Regiment, transferred to the 212th Division and the 21st Infantry Regiment, sent to the Macedonian front.

4. With this composition the 216th Division occupied the line north of the mouth of the Buzeu. It was still there at the end of December. The 354th Infantry Regiment was identified on December 28 by fraternizing.

RECRUITING.

The 42d Infantry Regiment, Pomeranian, and the 59th Infantry Regiment, from Posen, also contained contingents from the 2d, 5th and 20th Corps Districts, and since 1915 have contained a large number of Alsace- Lorrainers. The 354 Infantry Regiment, formed from mobile depot battalions of the former Breslau Garrison, replaced its 3d Battalion (Saxon) by Prussians, and consisted almost entirely of drafts from Silesia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 216th Division fought and held sectors almost entirely on the Roumanian front.

1918.

1. On the 1st of April the division started for the Western Front. It traveled via Bucharest-Budapest-Prague-Dresden-Leipsig-Erfurt-Frankfort- Thionville-Luxemburg-Namur-Mons-Valenciennes, and detrained at Orchies and Somain from April 12 to 20.

KEMME.

2. It entered line at Kemme on May 9 and with the exception of the first week in June held that sector until June 18.

3. The division rested and underwent training north of Courtrai (Oostroosebeke-Marialoop) until July 23. It was then railed to Laon and marched toward the front south of Fismes through Urcel, Brenelle, Bozoches, Mont St. Martin. It was in reserve northeast of Cierges on July 28–29.

VESLE-AISNE.

4. It was engaged near Cierges and west of the Bois Meuniere on July 29 and 30. The next day it returned north of Cierges and later to the Vesle east of Fismes (Magneux). The division lost heavily in their retreat. It held the sector on the Vesle until September 5, when it fell back through Merval toward the line of the Aisne. It held on the line west of Revillon, south of Villers en Prayeres until October 10. Again it gave way before the Allied pressure and retired through Bouconville, north of Aubigny (11th–12th), Montaigu (13th) toward Liesse-Sissonne. In this area the division was withdrawn from line on October 23.

CHAMPAGNE.

5. Without having had an opportunity to rest, the division was returned to line northwest of Chateau Porcien on October 25 and fought until November 5.

6. At the time of the armistice the division was considered in reserve of 5th Army.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its conduct during the retreat to the Vesle was good. The three months of constant service in line greatly fatigued the troops and lowered the morale of the division.

217th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │ │45. │18 Ldw. │9 Res. │18 Ldw. │9 Res.
│ │9 Res. │ │22 Ldw. │ │22 Ldw.
│ │22 Ldw. │ │29 Bav. │ │21 Res.
│ Nov. to Jan. 1 │ │ │ │
│ │9 Res. │ │ │ │
│ │22 Ldw. │ │ │ │
│ │21 Res. │ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │47 Res. Cav. Detch.│47 Res. Cav. Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │ │65 Res. F. A. Rgt. │274 F. A. Rgt. (2d
│ │ │ Abt.).
│ │ │65 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │ (except 3d Btry.
│ │ │ and 2 Abt. Staff
│ │ │ and 4 and 6
│ │ │ Btries.).
│ │ │1049, 1056, and
│ │ │ 1073 Light. Am.
│ │ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│2 Res. Co. 17 │(217) Pion. Btn.: │2 Res. Co. 17
Liaisons. │ Pions. │ │ Pions.
│ │ 2 Res. Co. 17 │130 Searchlight
│ │ Pions. │ Section.
│ │ 174 T. M. Co. │217 Signal Command:
│ │ 427 T. M. Co. │ 217 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 217 Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │Ambulance Co. │237 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │58 Field Hospital. │149 Field Hospital.
│ │149 Field Hospital.│317 Vet. Hospital.
│ │317 Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │1044 M. T. Col. │
│ │1094 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(9th Reserve Infantry Regiment: 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 22d
Landwehr Regiment: 6th Corps District—Upper Silesia. 29th Bavarian
Infantry Regiment: Mixed—Prussia and Bavaria.)

1916.

The 217th Division was formed on the Eastern Front about August, 1916.

ROUMANIA.

1. Composed of the 9th Reserve Infantry Regiment from the 3d Reserve Division, the 45th Infantry Regiment from the 101st Division, and the 22d Landwehr Regiment from the 4th Landwehr Division, the 217th Division left the Brest-Litowsk area at the beginning of October, 1916, to take part in the Roumanian campaign.

2. It was in Dobroudja about the end of October; in the area south of Bucarest in November. At the beginning of November the 45th Infantry Regiment, which returned to Macedonia, was replaced by the 21st Infantry Regiment from the 36th Reserve Division.

3. At the end of December elements of the 9th Reserve Infantry Regiment occupied the front south of Isaccea (Dobroudja).

1917.

BRAILA.

1. In January, 1917, the 217th Division was in the Braila area; in February, at the mouth of the Buzeu.

ODOBESTI.

2. In the month of May the division left the Braila front and went into line northwest of Odobesti in the vicinity of Focsani. At this time it acquired its definite organization: 9th Reserve, 29th Bavarian, and 22d Landwehr Infantry Regiments.

PANCIU.

3. From July to December the 217th Division remained in line northwest of Panciu.

RECRUITING.

The 217th Division was one of the most heterogeneous.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division had been on the Roumanian front since October, 1916, and was mediocre.

1918.

ROUMANIA.

1. Early in April the division was still on the Roumanian front, but was leaving shortly for another theater.

UKRAINE.

2. At the beginning of May the division was in the Kherson region.

CRIMEA.

3. The middle of the month the division was near Sebastopol.

GEORGIA.

4. About the middle of July elements of the division were identified at Poti and Tiflis.

SERBIA.

5. Early in October the division having moved to the vicinity of Nish opposed the advance of the Serbian and allied troops.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

218th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[34]
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │ │204 Res. │62. │204 Res. │ │256 Res.
│ │256 Res. │ │256 Res. │ │5 Ldw.
│ │ │ │ │ │ (2d
│ │ │ │ │ │ Btn.).
│ │5 Ldw. │ │5 Ldw. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │4 Sqn. 1 Gd. Drag. │4 Sqn. 1 Drag. Rgt.
│ │ Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │85 F. A. Rgt. │85 F. A. Rgt. │85 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │ (except 2 Abt.
│ │ │ Staff, 4 and 6
│ │ │ Btries.; 3d Abt.
│ │ │ Staff, 7 and 9
│ │ │ Btries.).
│11 Mountain F. A. │ │
│ Btry. │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │(218) Pion. Btn.: │218 Signal Command:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ 2 Res. Co. 26 │ 218 Tel. Detch.
│ │ Pions. │
│ │ 388 Pion. Co. │
│ │ 428 T. M. Co. │
│ │ 267 Searchlight │
│ │ Section. │
│ │ 218 Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │121 Ambulance Co. │121 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │145 Field Hospital.│145 Field Hospital.
│ │96 Field Hospital. │318 Vet. Hospital.
│ │367 Field Hospital.│
│ │Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │628 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 34:

The below comprises only the elements under 308th Postal Sector (Nov.
13, 1918). The 62d Infantry Brigade, and elements of the 5th Landwehr
Regiment were in the 310th Postal Sector and are carried as attached
to other divisions.

HISTORY.

(204th Infantry Regiment: Guard. 256th Reserve Infantry Regiment: 7th
Corps District—Westphalia. 5th Landwehr Regiment: 17th Corps
District—West Prussia.)

1916.

The division was formed on the Eastern Front about September, 1916.

GALICIA.

1. Concentrated, beginning of October, in the Brest-Litovsk area, the 218th Division was transferred to Galicia, in the Brody, sector in the middle of October.

ROUMANIA.

2. Beginning of December the 218th Division was sent to the Roumanian front. It was then composed of the 204th Infantry Regiment, taken from the 43d Reserve Division; the 256th Reserve Infantry Regiment, from the Mitau Group; and of the 5th Landwehr Regiment, taken from the 11th Landwehr Division. It occupied the sector of Oitoz (December).

1917.

ROUMANIA.

1. The 218th Division remained in line between the valleys of the Trotus and of the Putna (south of Ocna, northwest of Panciu) until July, 1917.

2. At the end of July it was engaged in its sector in front of Kezdi- Vasarhely and retired to the south bank of the Putna on July 29.

3. In August and until the end of the year 1917 the 218th Division remained in line in the vicinity of Soveja.

RECRUITING.

The 204th Reserve Infantry Regiment was recruited from the whole of Russia; the 256th Reserve Infantry Regiment from Westphalia and the Rhine Districts; the 5th Landwehr Regiment from West Prussia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 218th Division had been on the Roumanian front since December, 1916, and was mediocre.

1918.

ROUMANIA.

In June the division was still in Roumania. Men under 35 years of age were sent to the Western Front, which gave rise to the report of the division’s presence in the Lille-Armentières region early in June. The 256th Reserve Regiment was identified in Macedonia early in July, but the remainder of the division was still in Roumania the middle of October.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

219th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │47 Ers. │101 Res. │47 Ers. │101 Res.
│ │391. │ │391.
│ │431. │ │431.
│ │(100 Ldw.). │ │
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │ (?) │4 Sqn. 19 Hus. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │ (?) │45 Saxon Ers. F. A. Rgt.
│ │767 Light Am. Col.
│ │768 Light Am. Col.
│ │785 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│(219) Pion. Btn.: │205 Pion. Btn. Rgt.
Liaisons. │ │
│ 254 Pion. Co. │ 377 Pion. Co.
│ 54 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 78 Res. Pion. Co.
│ 416 T. M. Co. │ 222 Searchlight Section.
│ 219 Tel. Detch. │219 Signal Command:
│ │ 219 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │444 Ambulance Co. │404 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│111 Field Hospital. │111 Field Hospital.
│153 Field Hospital. │153 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │226 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(12th and 19th Corps Districts—Saxony.)

1917.

The 219th Division (Saxon) appeared to have been formed in January, 1917.

LORRAINE.

1. Concentrated in Lorraine and comprising the 431st Infantry Regiment, made up of drafts from various Saxon Regiments, the 101st Infantry Regiment, from the 23d Reserve Division, and the 100th Landwehr Regiment, a surplus regiment of the 19th Ersatz Division, the 219th Division occupied the sector of Blamont in February, 1917.

2. It remained on the Lorraine front in the vicinity of Leintrey- Badonviller until June 10.

ARTOIS.

3. Sent to the north of France, it relieved the 79th Reserve Division north of La Bassée (Neuvechapelle-Fromelles) on July 8. With the 42d Landwehr Division, it exchanged the 100th Landwehr Regiment for the 391st Infantry Regiment, Saxon also.

RUSSIA.

4. About the end of September the 219th Division was withdrawn from the front and transferred to Russia at the beginning of October.

RIGA.

5. It was in the Riga area in October and November.

RECRUITING.

The division was entirely Saxon.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 219th Division had been in Russia since October, 1917, and was a fairly good division.

1918.

LIVONIA.

1. The 219th Division took part in the occupation of Livonia; on the 17th of March it arrived at Dorpat.

SERBIA.

2. The 101st Reserve and the 431st Landwehr Regiments were identified at Nish on the 9th of October. The 391st Regiment was seen at Walk in Livonia at the beginning of October, when the men said they were leaving for the western theater (the regiment was never identified there). The whole of the 219th Division had thus left the Russian front and two regiments at least went to Serbia.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class.

220th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │4 Gd. │55 Res. │4 Gd. │190. │4 Gd. │190.
│ │99 Res. │ │55 Res. │ │55 Res.
│ │207 Res. │ │99 Res. │ │99 Res.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │4 Sqn. 14 Uhlan │4 Sqn. 14 Uhlan
│ │ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │51 F. A. Rgt. │220 Art. Command: │220 Art. Command:
│ │ 51 F. A. Rgt. │ 51 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │ 87 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ │ 938 Light Am. Col.
│ │ │ 1326 Light Am.
│ │ │ Col.
│ │ │ 1327 Light Am.
│ │ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │220 Pion. Btn.: │220 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ 2 Res. Co. Gd. │ 2 Gd. Res. Pion.
│ │ Pions. │ Co.
│ │ 88 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 88 Res. Pion. Co.
│ │ 417 T. M. Co. │ 417 T. M. Co.
│ │ 220 Tel. Detch. │ 189 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ │220 Signal Command:
│ │ │ 220 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 124 Wireless
│ │ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │40 Ambulance Co. │40 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │55 Res. Field │55 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│ │74 Res. Field │74 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│ │276 Vet. Hospital. │276 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │630 M. T. Col. │630 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(190th Infantry Regiment and 55th Reserve Infantry Regiment; 7th Corps
District—Westphalia. 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment; 15th Corps
District—Alsace.)

1916.

The 220th Division was formed at the end of 1916 with regiments taken from divisions then in line on the Somme and south of Artois. The 207th Reserve Infantry Regiment coming from the 44th Reserve Division, the 55th Reserve Infantry Regiment and the 2d Reserve Guard Division and the 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment from the 26th Reserve Division.

1917.

ARTOIS.

1. Concentrated at Boyelles (west of Croisilles) on February 6, 1917, the 220th Division went into line at Ransart, south of Arras. About March 18 it took part in the retirement of the German forces and established its position at Hénin sur Cojeul, Ecoust St. Menin, Croisilles. It was engaged, in April, between Croisilles and Arras. In April the 190th Infantry Regiment replaced the 207th Reserve Infantry Regiment.

2. Withdrawn from the Arras front at the end of April, the 220th Division was sent to rest in the vicinity of Montagne du Nord, then to Belgium between May 6 and 15.

3. It came back to its old sector in Artois (Fontaine les Croisilles, Bullecourt) about May 29, and remained there until about July 6.

LENS.

4. After a rest in the rear of Douai, northwest of Lens, from the beginning of July to the middle of August, the division was engaged near Lens from August 16 to 22.

YPRES.

5. At the beginning of October it was sent to Belgium. On the 12th it went into line east of Zonnebeke.

CAMBRAI.

6. Sent to rest about October 15 in the vicinity of Bruges, it then fought on the Cambrai front, south of Crèvecoeur, at the end of November (German counterattack).

7. It was sent to rest in December.

RECRUITING.

The 220th Division may be considered as Westphalian since two of its regiments were normally filled up from the 7th Corps District, and since the 99th Reserve Infantry Regiment, like a number of regiments in Alsace, received most of its men from there.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The regiments of the 220th Division did not appear to have any great offensive value.

The division lost quite heavily in the sector of Lens at the beginning of 1918.

1918.

LA BASSÉE.

1. During the night of December 31-January 1 it relieved the 1st Guard Reserve Division in the Hulluch-Loos sector (south of La Bassée). On the 27th it was relieved by the 1st Guard Reserve Division.

2. A day or two later it relieved the 207th Division in the sector to the right of the one it had just held. During the night of the 18th–19th of February it was relieved by the 207th Division.

3. It went back to the Lens sector then and relieved the 1st Guard Reserve Division on the 20th. It was not withdrawn until April 25, when it was relieved by the 42d Division. During these three months the division had about 1,600 casualties (mainly gas), and so now a week or so was spent refitting in the region north of Douai.

4. On May 6 it relieved the 44th Reserve Division southeast of Locon (west of La Bassée). This front had been stabilized by now, but still there was a great deal of artillery activity and constant raiding. The division was withdrawn about the 1st of August, the neighboring divisions extending their fronts.

BAPAUME.

5. After a fortnight’s rest the division reenforced the front in the Biefvillers sector (northwest of Bapaume) about the 20th of August. It was withdrawn about the 3d of September after losing some 600 prisoners.

CAMBRAI.

6. It rested again for a fortnight, and then reenforced the front near Blécourt (north of Cambrai) about the 29th of the month. It was heavily engaged here and suffered severely; withdrawn on the 13th of October.

VALENCIENNES.

7. About the 21st it reenforced the front near Anzin (northwest of Valenciennes). It was withdrawn on November 4.

8. On the 7th it was put back into line near Elouges (southwest of Ghislain); it was not withdrawn before the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 220th Division was not used in any of the German offensives during 1918; on the contrary, its rôle seems to have been that of a holding division. The 55th Reserve Regiment was mentioned as having displayed “marked gallantry” in the German communiqué of October 2. It is rated as a second-class division.

221st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │1 Res. │41. │1 Res. │41. │1 Res. │41.
│ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │
│ │60 Res. │ │60 Res. │ │60 Res.
│ │1 Res. │ │1 Res. │ │45.
│ │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 2 Res. Uhlan│1 Sqn. 2 Res. Uhlan│5 Sqn. 8 Uhlan Rgt.
│ Rgt. │ Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │273 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │221 Art. Command:
│ │ 273 F. A. Rgt. │ 273 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │ 40 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ │ (Staff, and 1, 2,
│ │ │ and 3 Btries.).
│ │ │ 126 Light Am. Col.
│ │ │ 1276 Light Am.
│ │ │ Col.
│ │ │ 1345 Light Am.
│ │ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │(221) Pion. Btn.: │(221) Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ 2 Res. Co. 21 │ 1 Res. Co. 25
│ │ Pions. │ Pions.
│ │ 1 Res. Co. 25 │ 2 Res. Co. 21
│ │ Pions. │ Pions.
│ │ 431 T. M. Co. │ 431 T. M. Co.
│ │ 221 Tel. Detch. │ 200 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ │221 Signal Command:
│ │ │ 221 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 71 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │223 Ambulance Co. │223 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │161 Field Hospital.│161 Field Hospital.
│ │Vet. Hospital. │163 Field Hospital.
│ │ │321 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │631 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │7 Art. Observation
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ │82 Carrier Pigeon
│ │ │ Loft.
│ │ │21 M. G. S. S.
│ │ │ Detch.
│ │ │1 Btry. 39 Ft. A.
│ │ │ Rgt.
│ │ │2 Btry. 39 Ft. A.
│ │ │ Rgt.
│ │ │119 Balloon Sqn.
│ │ │238 Reconnaissance
│ │ │ Flight.
│ │ │ Elements attached
│ │ │ Sept. 29, 1918.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(41st Infantry Regiment: 1st Corps District—East Prussia. 60th Reserve
Infantry Regiment: 21st Corps District—Lorraine, 1st Reserve Ersatz
Regiment: Guard Depots.)

1916.

The 221st Division was formed in the Ardennes (vicinity of Mouzon) in October, 1916, by taking the 41st Infantry Regiment from the 1st Division, the 60th Reserve Infantry Regiment (21st Corps District) from the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division, and the 1st Reserve Ersatz Regiment (Guard Depots) from the 1st Reserve Ersatz Brigade.

SOMME.

1. A short time after its formation the 221st Division was transferred south of the Somme. On October 21–23 it went into line east of Berny; it remained there during the entire winter of 1916–17 and launched only a few local attacks.

1917.

HINDENBURG LINE.

1. At the end of March, 1917, the division withdrew with the German Army to the new positions on the Hindenburg Line, northwest of St. Quentin.

ARTOIS.

2. Relieved about April 8, it rested for 10 days near Tournai, and on April 27 went into line in the sector of Guémappe-Monchy le Preux (southeast of Arras). It was seriously engaged against the British offensive until May 8–9.

3. About May 28 it returned to the Hindenburg Line between Moeuvres and Havrincourt.

FLANDERS.

4. On July 12 it left this sector for Flanders, where it was sent into reserve near Winckel-St. Eloi. It did not take part as a whole in the British attack of July 31. On August 1 the entire division was engaged in the sector of Zonnebeke, where it launched a violent counterattack, in the course of which it lost heavily.

5. The 221st Division was relieved from the Ypres front during the night of August 3–4, but left some units in line until the 10th. Transferred to Champagne, it went into line east of Auberive on August 17, without having had any rest. It there filled up its effectives (with replacements comprising a large proportion of the 1918 class). Its activity was not manifested there except by a few raids.

CAMBRAI.

6. On November 7 the division left the Champagne front, was transferred to Belgium, and remained at rest at Deynze until November 23. On this date it was taken by railroad to the Cambrai front, attacked by the British troops. Sent into line between Bourlon and Fontaine-Notre Dame on the 27th, it took part in the German counterattack. Relieved on December 7, it rested for a month in the vicinity of Douai.

RECRUITING.

The division was very mixed. The 1st Reserve Ersatz Regiment, originating in the Guard depots, was recruited from the entire Province of Prussia; the 41st Infantry Regiment (from East Prussia) was one of the regiments of the Prussian Army which had received the most replacements because of losses; the 60th Reserve Infantry Regiment comprised a majority of Westphalians and men from the Rhine Province, but also a large number from other corps districts.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 221st Division always gave a good account of itself in the battles in which it took part. The 1st Reserve Ersatz Regiment, especially, in the course of the attacks of November, 1916, showed great tenacity on the defensive and great vigor on the offensive.

The morale of the 221st Division was good in November, 1917. The general commanding the division and the major commanding the 41st Infantry Regiment both received the order “Pour le Merite.”

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division continued to hold the sector near the Arras-Cambrai road until shortly before the March offensive. It was withdrawn, given a short rest, and attacked on the 21st at Queant. In two days it advanced as far as Ervillers (north of Bapaume). From the 25th of March to April 16 it rested in close support.

2. On April 16 the division was engaged the second time in the battle. It entered south of Arras in the Boyelles sector and remained there until May 25, when it was relieved by the 5th Bavarian Division.

3. The division rested and trained for almost two months in the locality east of Douai (Bruille, Somain, Aniches). The 45th Regiment, coming from the Macedonian front, replaced the 1st Reserve Ersatz Regiment, which was dissolved. Toward the end of July the division marched by stages to Noyon. It was held in reserve west of that place from July 30-August 8.

BATTLE OF THE SANTERRE AND SECOND BATTLE OF PICARDY.

4. On August 9 the division was engaged at Arvillers-Hangest. In two days it was thrown back on Andechy, west of Roye. It was re-formed to the north and then to the southwest of Nesle (Aug. 11–17). It was reengaged on the 18th, and between that and the 27th fought north and south of the Avre near Roye (St. Mard-Sancourt). Again it was pushed back on the Canal du Nord at Buverchy-Libermont (Aug. 26–27). Its retreat continued toward Ham (Sept. 3–4) and St. Quentin (5th–8th). After that the division was in line near Fontaine les Cleres and Dallon until September 28. About 1,000 prisoners were taken from the division in this last sector.

5. The division was reengaged almost immediately south of Joncourt, Levergies, and Sequehart (Sept. 30). By October 10 it had reached Fresnoy le Grand. It was withdrawn on the 10th and rested a week near Bergues sur Sambre.

6. On the 18th it was engaged in the sector of the forest d’Antigny (near Wassigny). It retreated across the Sambre Canal on the 19th and passed into reserve. On the 24th it was reengaged near the Serre River (west of La Ferte Chevresis). In the final retreat it fell back through La Herie la Vieville, Laigny, and east of Vervins. It was in line on November 11.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as second class. It was used as an attack division in the March offensive and as a counterattack division in the last three months of the war. It was noted for its energetic higher command. When called in to oppose the French attack near Roye in August, the division had a rifle strength of 4,000. By the end of October this had been reduced to about 1,000. The 45th Regiment was reduced to four small companies by October 24. The 41st and 60th Reserve Regiments had but three companies to a battalion.

The division fought very well in spite of its losses and fatigue in the final months.

222d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[35]
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │7. │193. │7. │193. │7. │193.
│ │81 Res. │ │81 Res. │ │397.
│ │397. │ │397. │ │81 Res.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │3 Sqn. 2 Res. Uhlan│
│ │ Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │278 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │222 (?) Art.
│ │ │ Command:
│ │ 278 F. A. Rgt. │ 278 F. A. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│2 Res. Co. 27 │Pion. Btn.: │2 Res. Co. 2 Pion.
Liaisons. │ Pions. │ │ Btn. No. 27.
│ │ 2 Res. Co. 27 │345 Pion. Co.
│ │ Pions. │
│ │ 345 Pion. Co. │432 T. M. Co.
│ │ 432 T. M. Co. │222 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 222 Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │231 Ambulance Co. │231 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │162 Field Hospital.│162 Field Hospital.
│ │175 Field Hospital.│175 Field Hospital.
│ │322 Vet. Hospital. │322 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │1071 M. T. Col. │M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 35: