Chapter XXXII: Part 32

Composition at the time of dissolution, October, 1918.

HISTORY.

(81st Reserve Regiment: 18th Corps District—Hesse—Nassau. 193d Reserve
Regiment: 7th Corps District—Westphalia. 397th Reserve Regiment: 2d
Corps District—Pomerania.)

1916.

Formed about September 11, 1916, behind the front north of Verdun, the 222d Division took two of its regiments from existing divisions—the 81st Reserve Regiment from the 21st Reserve Division, and the 193d Reserve Regiment from the 192d Division. Its third regiment, the 397th, was formed at Stenay from elements of the 16th and 53d Reserve Regiments (13th Reserve Division), of the 159th Regiment (14th Reserve Division), of the 118th Infantry Regiment (56th Division), and especially from the 140th Infantry Regiment (4th Division).

1. From September 15 to October 24, 1916, the 222d Division was at rest in Alsace in the vicinity of Rouffach.

SOMME.

2. Entrained on October 25, it was transferred to the vicinity of Cambrai by way of Sarrebruecken, Aix la Chapelle, Brussels, Tournai. About November 5 it went into action on the Somme front near Lesboeufs, Le Transloy, and remained in line until December 7–8.

3. After a few days of rest it was sent by railroad into the Laonnois. Detraining at St. Erme between December 15 and 29 it took over the sector of the Ville aux Bois (southeast of Craonne), which it occupied until February 15, 1917.

1917.

1. Upon its release the 222d Division was employed in defensive works behind the Aisne-Oise front (north of La Fère, St. Gobain, Laffaux, Chavignon).

AISNE.

2. About March 16, 1917, it was engaged east of Soissons (Vregny-Combe Plateau); counterattacked on March 21 north of Missy sur Aisne; retired in the direction of the Laffaux Mill-Jouy-Aizy (at the beginning of April) and fought on this front April 18 to 21.

The 193d Infantry Regiment, sent as reenforcement troops to Soupir, suffered serious losses there and retired by way of Ostel on April 20.

3. The 222d Division, having established its position between Laffaux Mill and Malmaison Farm, was again severely tried during the attacks of May 5 and 6.

4. Withdrawn from the Aisne front on May 13, it was sent to rest in the area Marle-Vervins and reorganized.

5. At the end of June the division took over its former sector (Laffaux), where the attack of July 8 was the only important action in which it took part during this time, which lasted until the beginning of August.

6. After a short rest in the vicinity of Montigny, it came back into line (Ailles—north of Hurtebise) about September 5 and remained in this sector until November 2. At this time it took part in the withdrawal and occupied new positions north of the Ailette.

7. On November 28, the 222d Division was relieved in the sector of Chermizy and sent to rest at Laon and in the vicinity of Marle (one month’s training).

8. At the end of December it occupied the front Brancourt-Anizy.

RECRUITING.

The 81st Reserve Infantry Regiment and the 193d Infantry Regiment were recruited in the Rhine districts (Hesse-Nassau, Rhine Province, and Westphalia). Many elements from these same regions were in the 397th Infantry Regiment in addition to Pomeranians.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Although it had suffered only slight losses since the beginning of November, 1917, the 222d Division was exhausted by a stay of more than seven months in the different sectors of the Aisne. It is a mediocre division (January, 1918).

During its rest in December the division received continual but moderate training, like the maneuvers of peace times. (Interrogation of prisoner, Feb. 4, 1918.)

AILETTE.

1. This was a very quiet sector and the division remained here without incident until the Somme offensive was well under way. However, the division took part in the attacks of April 7 and 8, when the enemy endeavored to squeeze out the new salient of Coucy le Château, which was developed by the progress of the main advance toward Montdidier. It suffered heavily in several attacks but gained little ground.

MONTDIDIER.

2. About the 3d of May the division was withdrawn and sent to the front southeast of Montdidier, where the main battle line had stabilized, but where infantry was still continuing, and during the night of the 9th–10th relieved the 206th Division in the Assainvillers sector. However, the sector soon grew quiet. The division remained in line and took part in the battle of the Oise on June 9, advancing via Courcelles to Mery. The division made but little headway (it will be remembered that this whole offensive failed) and suffered heavy losses in several days of hard fighting. It was relieved by the 11th Division about the 8th of July and went to rest near Coucy le Château.

SOISSONS.

3. During the night of the 25th–26th the division reenforced the front near Nouvron (northwest of Soissons). Here it was subjected to the full weight of the attack of the 18th of August and was driven back to Audignicourt and the Ailette. After having suffered very heavy losses (1829 prisoners), it was withdrawn about the 27th and went to rest near Laon. About the middle of September it was disbanded, the 81st Reserve Regiment going to the 21st Reserve Division, the 193d Regiment going to the 14th Division, and the 397th Regiment going to the 45th Reserve Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 222d was rated a second-class division. It took little part in offensive operations but was not incapable of putting up a tenacious defense. In June two of its regiments threatened to leave the trenches if they were not relieved, but the difficulty seems to have been smoothed over though there was no relief until July 8. It is interesting to note that the divisions receiving regiments when the 222d was disbanded were all second-class units.

223d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[36]
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │67. │144. │67. │144. │67. │144.
│ │173. │ │173. │ │173.
│ │29 Ers. │ │29 Ers. │ │29 Ers.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 3 Res. Drag.│(2 Sqn. 3 Res. │2 Sqn. 3 Res. Drag.
│ Rgt. │ Drag. Rgt.). │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │280 F. A. Rgt. │Art. Command: │(z) Art. Command:
│ │ 280 F. A. Rgt. │ 280 F. A. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│343 Pion. Co. │(223) Pion. Btn.: │5 Co. 23 Pions.
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ 5 Co. 23 Pions. │343 Pion. Co.
│ │ 343 Pion. Co. │433 T. M. Co.
│ │ 433 T. M. Co. │223 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 223 Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │232 Ambulance Co. │232 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │164 Field Hospital.│164 Field Hospital.
│ │170 Field Hospital.│176 Field Hospital.
│ │176 Field Hospital.│Vet. Hospital.
│ │Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │M. T. Col. │M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 36:

Composition at the time of dissolution, October, 1918.

HISTORY.

(144th Infantry Regiment: 16th Corps District—Lorraine. 173d Infantry
Regiment: 16th Corps District—Lorraine. 29th Ersatz Regiment: 14th Corps
District—Grand Duchy of Baden.)

1916.

The 223d Division was concentrated at Mulhousen at the beginning of October, 1916. Its regiments formerly belonged to other divisions. The 144th Infantry Regiment was taken from the 3d Division on the Verdun front; the 173d from the 34th Division, then at Thiaumont; the 29th Ersatz from the 39th Bavarian Reserve Division, on the Lorraine front.

1. Entraining at Mulhousen on October 26, 1916, the 223d Division was transferred to the north by way of Sarrelouis-Treves-Aix la Chapelle- Louvain-Brussels-Valenciennes, and detrained north of Cambrai on October 28. During the night of November 11–12 it came to the Ancre front (Serre-Grandcourt) and lost heavily there.

2. Relieved about November 25, it was sent to rest in the area east of Cambrai. Elements of the 173d Infantry Regiment were sent on detached service south of Bapaume (Ligny-Tilloy).

1917.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. At the end of January, 1917, the 223d Division left the Cambrai area for Champagne. It occupied the sector north of Rheims (Witry les Rheims, March and April).

2. About April 27 it was engaged south of Nauroy at Mont Cornillet and lost heavily between April 30 and May 8.

GALICIA.

3. Withdrawn from the Champagne front about May 18, the 223d Division was transferred to Galicia. (Itinerary: Amagne (May 21)-Sedan- Thionville-Sarrebruecken-Frankfort-Leipzig-Breslau-Cracow-Lemberg.) It detrained at Zloczow, May 26.

4. At the beginning of July it opposed the Russian offensive in the vicinity of Brzezany; on July 18, it took part in the Austro-German counterattack and marched in the direction of Husiatyn, which it reached on the 30th and remained in line there until the middle of December. It was sent in reserve on this date, and prepared to leave for the Western Front, borrowing men from the regiments of the 83d Division.

RECRUITING.

The 223d Division was recruited from Westphalia and the Rhine Province so far as concerns the 144th and 173d Infantry Regiments. The 29th Ersatz Regiment came from the Grand Duchy of Baden.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 223d Division may be considered good.

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division rested in a camp at Sissonne until March 19, after which it was railed to La Fere, arriving there on March 21.

2. On the second day of the attack it was engaged near Tergnier-Chauny and advanced to the Guiscard region by the 24th. Shortly after its withdrawal from Guiscard (25th) it took over the Morlincourt-Appilly sector on the Oise (east of Noyon) and held it until May 1.

EAST OF OISE.

3. It rested near Guiscard during the first half of May. On the 15th it was engaged in front of Noyon (Larbroye-Mont Renaud-Pont l’Eveque) until the 30th. It took part in the Oise offensive of June, crossing the river and advancing in the Bois de Carlepont in the direction of Caisnes and Cuts. It established itself on the line Bailley-Tracy le Val-Oise and held that sector until the French attack of August 18.

OISE-AISNE.

4. The French attack of the 18th threw the division back on Salency. It was relieved on the 22d and railed to Anizy le Chateau the same day. From there it was taken to north of Soissons and reengaged on the 29th on the line Chauvigny-Juvigny. In these two engagements the division lost 688 prisoners.

5. The division had lost heavily in March and in the August fighting. Its morale was poor. The authority of the officers was low and desertions were frequent. As a result the division was dissolved in September. Its effectives were turned into the 52d, 103d, and 115th Divisions.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Prior to the March offensive it had been regarded a good division.

224th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │ │19 Ldw. │216. │19 Ldw. │216. │19 Ldw.
│ │61 Ldw. │ │61 Ldw. │ │61 Ldw.
│ │429 Ldw. │ │429 Ldw. │ │429 Ldw.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │(?) Sqn. 10 Mounted│4 Sqn. 10 Mounted
│ │ Jag. Rgt. │ Jag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │284 F. A. Rgt. │224 Art. Command: │224 Art. Command:
│ │ 284 F. A. Rgt. │ 284 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │ 795 Light Am. Col.
│ │ │ 1015 Light Am.
│ │ │ Col.
│ │ │ 1029 Light Am.
│ │ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │224 Pion. Btn.: │423 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ 2 Co. 27 Pions. │ 2 Co. 27 Pions.
│ │ 434 T. M. Co. │ 3 Landst. Co. 9 C.
│ │ │ Dist. Pions.
│ │ Tel. Detch. │ 251 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ │224 Signal Command:
│ │ │ 224 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │234 Ambulance Co. │234 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │181 Field Hospital.│336 Field Hospital.
│ │330 Field Hospital.│324 Field Hospital.
│ │324 Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │794 M. T. Col. │
│ │795 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │1 Landst. Pion. Co.│
│ │ (8 C. Dist.). │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(429th Landwehr: 3d Corps District—Brandenburg. 19th Landwehr: 5th Corps
District—Posen. 61st Landwehr: 17th Corps District—West Prussia.)

1916.

RUSSIA.

1. Upon its formation the 224th Division appeared on the Eastern Front about October, 1916.

2. At this time it was near the 31st Division, north of Lake Narotch.

1917.

VOLHYNIA-SVINIOUKI.

1. At the beginning of February, 1917, the composition of the 224th Division appeared to be as follows: 19th Landwehr Regiment taken from the 18th Landwehr Division; 61st Landwehr Regiment, from the 85th Landwehr Division, and the 429th Landwehr Regiment, a new formation (1916).

2. The 224th Division then occupied the sector of Sviniouki in Volhynia. It remained there during the entire year of 1917, during the latter months furnishing important replacements to the Western Front, to such a degree that in November the companies of the 429th Landwehr did not have more than 100 men left (Russian interrogation).

RECRUITING.

The 224th Division was recruited from Brandenburg and the eastern Provinces of the empire.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division was on the Russian front from its formation and was of mediocre combat value.

In December, 1917, in Volhynia, 50 men of the youngest classes were taken from each company of the 429th Landwehr Regiment to be sent to the Flanders front.

In January, 1918, the companies of the 61st Landwehr Regiment were composed of men of the Landsturm. (Prisoner’s statement, Jan. 13.)

1918.

VOLHYNIA.

At the beginning of March the division left the Sviniouki region and went via Pinsk to Gomel.

UKRAINE.

2. Toward the end of April the division was identified in the Vorojva region (southwest of Koursk). On the 9th of September the division was identified a little farther to the north in the Delgorod region.

WOEVRE.

3. On September 29 the division was relieved (probably by the 45th Landwehr Division) and, entraining at Sadtowo, traveled via Kubiantz- Kharkov-Kiev-Kovel-Kattovitz-Dresden-Frankfort on the Main-Saarbrueken- Metz-Batilly, where it detrained on October 12. Resting here until the 16th, it marched via Bruville-Mars la Tour-Chambley and relieved the 88th Division during the night of the 16th–17th south of Dampvitoux. The division was identified by prisoners on November 7 here and does not seem to have been withdrawn before the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was a very poor one. About the middle of the summer the best men were chosen to be sent to the Western Front. They were paraded before the commanding general and when they reached the place where he was standing they dropped their guns and went back to the caserne. Later when the whole division was to come to the west, the men were far from satisfied, not being entirely consoled when they were informed that they were to enter a quiet sector.

225th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[37]
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │5 Ers. │18 Res. │5 Ers. │18 Res. │5 Ers. │373.
│ │217 Res. │ │217 Res. │ │18 Res.
│ │373. │ │373. │ │217 Res.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 13 Uhlan │3 Sqn. 13 Uhlan │3 Sqn. 13 Uhlan
│ Rgt. │ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │ │225 Art. Command: │225 Art. Command:
│ │ 47 F. A. Rgt. │ 47 F. A. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │(225) Pion. Btn.: │259 Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ 259 Pion. Co. │413 T. M. Co.
│ │ 344 Pion. Co. │225 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 413 T. M. Co. │
│ │ Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │259 Ambulance Co. │240 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │155 Field Hospital.│259 Ambulance Co.
│ │172 Field Hospital.│155 Field Hospital.
│ │265 Vet. Hospital. │Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │ │M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 37:

Composition at the time of the dissolution, September, 1918.

HISTORY.

(18th Reserve: 18th Corps Division—East Prussia. 217th Reserve: 7th
Corps District—Westphalia. 373d Infantry Regiment: 1st Corps
District—East Prussia.)

1916.

The 225th Division, including the 18th Reserve Infantry Regiment (from the 1st Reserve Division), the 217th Reserve Infantry Regiment (from the 47th Reserve Division), and the 373d Infantry Regiment (from the 10th Landwehr Division), was formed on the Eastern Front in the vicinity of Wladimir-Volynski about September, 1916.

ROUMANIA-TRANSYLVANIA.

1. In November, 1916, the 225th Division was transferred to the Roumanian Carpathians. It was there in December in the valley of the Uz.

1917.

ROUMANIA.

1. During the first half of 1917 the 225th Division occupied the calm sectors in the vicinity of Uz (Hills 1031 and 1640).

2. In July the 373d Infantry Regiment was transferred to the valley of the Putna to withstand the Russo-Roumanian offensive. The division took part in the Austro-German counterattack and established its positions near Ocna in September and October.

FRANCE.

3. Relieved about November 11, it went to Bereczk, where it entrained on the 18th for the Western Front. (Itinerary: Kronstadt (Brasso)-Budapest- Vienna-Munich-Carlsruhe-Sarrebruecken.) It detrained on November 25 at Vallieres-Vantoux, near Metz, and from there was transferred to the vicinity of Vigneulles (Cote de Meuse).

COTES DE MEUSE.

4. On December 4–5, it took over the sector of Chevalierswood, south of Vaux les Palameix-Seuzey.

RECRUITING.

Two regiments were drawn from East Prussia (18th Reserve and 372d Infantry Regiment), the 217th Reserve from Westphalia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 225th Division which comprised drafts from Baden, Alsace, Westphalia, East Prussia, and the Rhine was not homogeneous and was not considered as a fighting division.

The 18th Reserve Regiment had a bad reputation. On January 6, 1917, it refused to attack at Hill 1298 in Hungary. (Interrogation of prisoners Feb. 3 and Mar. 17, 1918.)

The division included a large number of Poles. However, men of the young classes gradually replaced the older men, who still made up a large part of the division in 1917; consequently, the combat value of the division may have improved.

1918.

1. The division held the Woevre sector until the beginning of May. It entrained at Jeandelize about May 15 and was railed by Sedan, Givet, Dmant, Namur, Charleroi, Mons, and Cambrai. It detrained near Peronne and marched toward the Avre front by Chaulnes, Rosieres en Santerre.

BATTLE OF THE SANTERRE.

2. It was engaged north of Moreuil (east of the Villers aux Erables- Thennes) on May 22. The Allied attack struck the division and threw it back on Beaufort, losing 2,358 prisoners. It was relieved on the 10th and rested 15 days. Reengaged on the 25th east of Albert (Contalmaison, Montauban) the division again lost heavily. It was withdrawn on the 30th.

3. After its withdrawal the division was dissolved to the profit of the 1st Reserve Division and 2d Division.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. In the August fighting in Picardy it did not make a strong resistance. In the two engagements in August the division lost 3,593 prisoners.

226th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1916 │ 1917 │ 1918[38]
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │5 Ldw. │2 Ldw. │5 Ldw. │2 Ldw. │5 Ldw. │2 Ldw.
│ │9 Ldw. │ │9 Ldw. │ │9 Ldw.
│ │ │ │ │ │ Rgt.
│ │439. │ │427. │ │427.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │1 Sqn. 4 Mounted │1 Sqn. 4 Mounted
│ │ Jag. Rgt. │ Jag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │ │64 Res. F. A. Rgt. │(?) Art. Command:
│ │ │ 64 Res. F. A. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │(226) Pion. Btn.: │2 Ers. Co. 18
Liaisons. │ │ │ Pions.
│ │ 2 Ers. Co. 18 │Searchlight
│ │ Pions. │ Section.
│ │ (?) T. M. Co. │430 T. M. Co.
│ │ 26 Searchlight Co.│226 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 226 Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │257 Ambulance Co. │257 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │Field Hospital. │Field Hospital.
│ │262 Vet. Hospital. │262 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │471 M. T. Col. │635 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 38:

Composition at the time of dissolution, May, 1918.

HISTORY.

(2d Corps District—Pomerania.)

1916.

The 226th Division was formed about December, 1916.

RUSSIA.

1. At the end of December it was identified on the Eastern Front in the vicinity of Smorgoni, forming, with the 205th Division, the 3d (reenforced) Reserve Corps of the 10th Army.

1917.

1. The 226th Division included in 1917 the 2d and 9th Landwehr Regiments (5th Landwehr Brigade), taken from the 35th Reserve Division, and the 439th Infantry Regiment, formed in 1916.

SMORGONI.

2. The division occupied the sector of Smorgoni-Krevo from January until August, 1917. In this sector it received the Russian attacks of July 2 and 23, which caused it very heavy losses, in consequence of which Emperor William II called himself commander of the 2d Landwehr Regiment.

3. About the beginning of August the 226th Division was relieved south of Smorgoni and replaced the 123d Division south of Lake Svir. In November the 2d Landwehr Regiment sent men to reenforce the 121st Division and the 9th Landwehr to reenforce the 2d Guard Division.

LAKE NAROTCH.

4. In December the division was in line north of Lake Narotch, relieving the 31st Division, which was sent to the Western Front.

1918.

1. The division was still there in January, 1918. It was dissolved in June.

ROUMANIA.

2. The presence of the headquarters of the 226th Division at Targovistea was reported early in October. These headquarters apparently had under its order the 58th Reserve Field Artillery Regiment, of which the headquarters and three batteries are at Bucharest, the remaining batteries at Durnu Margurelf, Targovistea, and Cantulung.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

227th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │49 Ldw. │417. │49 Ldw. │417 and 477.
│ │441. │ │
│ │477. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │ (?) │1 Sqn. 10 Hus. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │92 F. A. Rgt. │227 Art. Command:
│ │ 92 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 3 Abt. 20 Ft. A. Rgt. (9
│ │ and 11 Btries.).
│ │ 853 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1102 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 113 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│227 Pion. Btn.: │227 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 339 Pion. Co. │ 339 Pion. Co.
│ 347 Pion. Co. │ 347 Pion. Co.
│ 162 T. M. Co. │ 162 T. M. Co.
│ 227 Tel. Detch. │ 213 Searchlight Section.
│ │227 Signal Command:
│ │ 227 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 155 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │65 Ambulance Co. │65 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│278 Field Hospital. │278 Field Hospital.
│285 Field Hospital. │285 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │208 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │637 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(417th Infantry Regiment; 14th Corps District—Grand Duchy of Baden.
441st Infantry Regiment; 18th Corps District—Hesse—Nassau. 477th
Infantry Regiment; 8th Corps District—Rhine Province.)

1917.

The 227th Division, formed in March, 1917, was composed of three newly- formed regiments—the 417th (Baden), the 441st (18th District-Hesse), the 477th, formed by drafts upon the units of the 38th and 13th Divisions and upon the 16th Corps, then attached after its formation in the autumn of 1916 to the 33d Division of this corps.

ARGONNE.

1. The 227th Division was identified for the first time on March 27, 1917, on the Argonne front. It occupied the calm sector of the Fille- Morte until May 26.

AISNE.

2. About June 1 it went into line south of the Aisne (La Neuville-Godat) and extended its sector, at the beginning of July, to Hill 108 (Sapigneul).

3. Relieved about August 5, it was sent for rest and training to the Asfeld area. On August 20 it went into line north of Berry au Bac, between the Miette and Hill 108, from which it was withdrawn on August 2.

The division did not take part in any important engagement on the Aisne front. Its losses were very slight.

FLANDERS.

4. On October 5 and 6 the 227th Division entrained at Amagne (east of Rethel), and was transferred to Belgium by way of Hirson-Toumai- Courtrai-Thielt. Detraining at Pitthem on October 6 and 7, it reached the front north of Poepcappelle on the night of the 8th–9th, was in action for a week and suffered very heavy losses.

5. The division left the Ypres front about October 15 to go to Ghent (two days), then into the Champagne in the vicinity of Aussonce. It was filled up with three replacements, the most important of which was made up of 1,200 men taken from units on the Eastern Front, especially from the 12th Landwehr Division, from the same Provinces as the 227th Division (end of October).

CHAMPAGNE.

6. At the beginning of November the 227th Division went into line north of Cornillet.

RECRUITING.

The 227th Division was recruited from the Rhine Districts (Baden, Hesse- Nassau, the Rhine Province), which gives rise to a certain homogeneity.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 227th Division lost very heavily in Flanders and received as replacements a certain number of men coming from the Russian front whose combat value was mediocre (October, 1917).

The 227th Division was of only mediocre offensive value.

1918.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. About the middle of January the 227th Division was relieved by the 28th Division and went to the Juniville area, where it was intensively trained in open warfare with a view to its being used as an assault division.

2. On February 16 it relieved the 28th Division. It was withdrawn toward the end of March.

PICARDY.

3. About the 10th of April it relieved the 5th Guard Division near Canny sur Matz (west of Lassigny). The battle of the Somme had come to end by this time, and so, although there was still considerable artillery activity here, the division was not seriously engaged in infantry attacks, and remained in line until relieved by the 75th Reserve Division during the night of May 16–17, when it went to rest and be trained in the region of Ham.

OISE.

4. On June 7 it started to march to the front via Ognolles-Champien Wood-Beuvraignes-Crapeaumesnil. On the 9th it attacked through the line and succeeded in passing Ricquebourg, Ressons, and Marqueglise. This advance cost the divisions heavy losses, and it suffered still more heavily when the French counterattacked in force on the 12th. The following day it was relieved by the 17th Reserve Division and marched by stages to the region east of St. Quentin.

WOEVRE.

5. About the 20th it entrained at Origny and traveled via Charleville- Sedan-Longuyon-Conflans-Dampvitoux, where it detrained the 21st and 22d. It relieved the 8th Bavarian Reserve Division in the St. Baussant- Richecourt sector (south of Thiaucourt) on the 27th. It was relieved by the 10th Division on the 22d of August.

SOISSONS.

6. About the 30th it reenforced the front in the Terny-Sorny sector (north of Soissons). It was withdrawn about the 8th of September.

AISNE.

7. There was some talk of dissolving the division at this time, but it was not done, and it came back into line, relieving the 17th Division in the Pont-Arcy sector (east of Vailly) on the 17th. It remained in line, falling back via Monchâlons-Coucy les Eppes-Pierrepont-Montcornet- Ebouleau-Renneval-Jeantes la Ville. It had not been withdrawn on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 227th was rated a third-class division. It was in no heavy fighting during 1918 until June, when it did not distinguish itself, neither advancing far nor holding its ground in counterattack. Its conduct, however, can not be characterized as poor. It is to be noted, moreover, that the division commander was awarded “Pour le Mérite” in July.

228th. Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │104. │35 Fus. │104. │35.
│ │48. │ │48.
│ │207 Res. │ │207 Res.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt. │1 Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │228 Art. Command: │228 Art. Command:
│ 39 F. A. Rgt. │ 39 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 92 Ft. A. Btn. (Staff, and
│ │ 1, 2, and 3 Btries).
│ │ 1143 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1144 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1145 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│(228) Pion. Btn.: │228 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 389 Pion. Co. │ 389 Pion. Co.
│ 395 Pion. Co. │ 395 Pion. Co.
│ 197 T. M. Co. │ 197 T. M. Co.
│ Tel. Detch. │ 116 Searchlight Section.
│ │228 Signal Command:
│ │ 228 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 56 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │567 Ambulance Co. │567 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│63 Field Hospital. │63 Field Hospital.
│260 Field Hospital. │260 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │55 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transport │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(3d Corps District—Brandenburg.)

1917.

The 228th Division appears to have been formed in the Sedan area in May, 1917. Its three regiments belonged to the 3d Corps District—the 35th Fusileer Regiment was taken from the 56th Division, the 48th Infantry Regiment from the 113th Division, and the 207th Reserve Regiment from the 220th Division.

VERDUN.

1. On June 22, 1917, the 228th Division was identified on the Verdun front in the sector of Les Chambrettes (35th Fusileers). It was still in line on the right bank of the Meuse (Louvemont) when the French attacks of August 20–24 were launched. It lost heavily there. “Our regiment has only two companies left” (letter from a man of the 48th Infantry Regiment, Aug. 23).

CÔTES DE MEUSE.

2. Relieved about August 24, it was sent to rest for a few days, then into line again about September 6 on the Côtes de Meuse (between Moulainville and Damploup). It was reorganized in both men and material. At the end of September 900 men came as replacements from the 1st Corps District (returned wounded for the most part). The 35th Fusileer Regiment, decimated in August, remained in the rear for reorganization.

RECRUITING.

The division was purely Brandenburg (infantry and field artillery).

For its reorganization after the attacks of August 20–24, 1917, the 228th Division received replacements from the 1st Corps District. A replacement unit was formed from the 3d Corps District, but the men are said to have refused to leave for the Western Front. In default of men from Brandenburg, they called upon the 1st Corps District. (Interrogation of prisoner, Sept. 30, 1917.)

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

This was a fairly good division.

1918.

1. The division was relieved northeast of Verdun in mid-February and went to rest and train southeast of Montmedy (near Marville) until March 17. It was then railed to Picardy via Montmedy, Sedan, Hirson, Aulnoye. From there it moved toward the front by Croix, Maurois, Beaurevoir, Bellicourt, Roisel, Maurepas, Bray, arriving there on the 27th.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. It was engaged on the 29th–30th near Le Hamel, north of Marcelcave, and participated in heavy fighting about Hamel until April 13. All three regiments lost heavily in the attack. The 207th Reserve Regiment was too weak to hold more than 160 yards of front. The 35th Fusileer Regiment lost 700 men in killed and wounded. After resting from April 13 to 18 the division was reengaged on the 18th. It attacked at Villers- Bretonneux on the 24th without success. After suffering very heavy losses the division was withdrawn on April 27–28.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. On the 28th it entrained east of Peronne and was railed to Valenciennes, where it rested until May 6–7. From rest the division proceeded to south of Vouziers (May 7) and entered line near Tahure on the 13th and held that quiet sector until July 15. It did not attack in the offensive in Champagne, but remained behind in reserve of the 88th Division. Later it was used by battalions in support of units in line until the end of the month.

4. From the end of July to September 12 the division held a quiet sector of the line near Maisons de Champagne.

5. On the 12th it was moved to Spincourt by Mezieres, Sedan, Montmedy, Longuyon. It rested and trained until the 28th, when it marched toward the front at Romagne sous Montfaucon (Sept. 28 to Oct. 2).

6. The division was engaged near Cunel on October 8. Four days later it shifted to the right bank of the Meuse (east of Sivry sur Meuse) and held there until November 5. It retreated toward Fontaine and Ecurey after that date. The division was still in line on the day of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. After its failure on the Somme in the spring it was used on unimportant sectors until October. It did not distinguish itself in the Meuse-Argonne battle.

231st Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │231. │442. │231. │442.
│ │443. │ │443.
│ │444. │ │444.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │ │1 Sqn. 9 Drag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │3 Gd. Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ 3 Gd. Res. F. A. Rgt. │90 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │910 Light Am. Col.
│ │912 Light Am. Col.
│ │1135 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│(231) Pion. Btn.: │231 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 353 Pion. Co. │ 353 Pion. Co.
│ 354 Pion. Co. │ 354 Pion. Co.
│ 358 (?) T. M. Co. │ 181 Searchlight Section.
│ 418 T. M. Co. │231 Signal Command.
│ 231 Tel. Detch. │ 231 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 57 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │243 Ambulance Co. │243 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│183 Field Hospital. │184 Field Hospital.
│184 Field Hospital. │217 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │227 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transport. │641 M. T. Col. │641 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(Guard.)

1917.

The 231st Division was formed on January 15, 1917, at the Zossen Camp, near Berlin. Its infantry regiments (442d, 443d, and 444th) were formed from the depots of the Guard and the 43d Reserve Division, likewise a subsidiary of the Guard. Initial effectives: 235 to 240 men per company, one-half of the 1918 class, one-fourth of returned sick and wounded, one-fourth men withdrawn from the front. The composition is practically the same for the divisions Nos. 231 to 242, as regards infantry and pioneers.

HAYE.

1. The 231st Division left the Zossen Camp on March 30, 1917, detrained at Audun le Roman on April 3, and went into line on the 13th at Flirey (Haye). It did not show any activity there and left the front on May 12.

CHAMPAGNE.

2. Entraining at Jaulny on May 16, it was concentrated in the vicinity of Epoye, northeast of Rheims, and went into line on May 18–19 north of La Pompelle.

MONT HAUT.

3. In the middle of June it went into line in the Nauroy sector, between Cornillet and Mont Haut, and suffered the French attack of the 18th, which caused it heavy losses (especially in the 443d Infantry Regiment, where the 10th Company had only 1 officer and 10 men left). It was relieved about July 6.

4. After two weeks’ rest in the vicinity of Rethel the division was sent into line at Bermericourt on July 21.

RECRUITING.

The 231st Division was recruited from the entire extent of Prussian territory, the same as the Guard from whose depots it was formed.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

At the time of the formation of the 231st Division 40 per cent of the men were of the 1918 class. In consequence of replacements, the proportion of the men of this class appeared to be 50 per cent in November, 1917.

The 231st Division opposed an honorable resistance to the French assault of June 18, 1917, at Le Cornillet.

However, taking into consideration that it has never given proof of offensive qualities, it seems impossible to class it among the good divisions.

1918.

CHAMPAGNE.

1. Early in February the 231st Division was relieved by the 213th Division and went to the Givet-Namur area for training in open warfare.

PICARDY.

2. On the 21st of March it was in support behind the 45th Reserve Division. Two days later it attacked southwest of Ham in the direction of Esmery-Hallon, suffering heavy losses. It was in reserve near Roye on the 28th. Early in April it was resting near Laon, and later in the month it moved to the Marle area, where it was reconstituted.

AISNE.

3. It then relieved the 3d Reserve Division in the Bouconville sector (southeast of Laon) early in May. On the 27th other divisions attacked through its sector, the 231st following up in reserve via Fismes and Fère en Tardenois. It became engaged on the 30th near Beuvardes and advanced through Verdilly to Château Thierry; relieved by the 201st Division about the 16th of June. It refitted in the Laon region, entrained at Sissonne, and traveled via Asfeld to Dun sur Meuse.

VERDUN.

4. About the 1st of July it relieved the Bavarian Ersatz Division in the Avocourt sector (northwest of Verdun). It was relieved by the 37th Division on the 7th of August.

PICARDY.

5. The division traveled via Sedan-Laon-Chauny and reenforced the front near Appilly (east of Noyon). In the fighting that followed the division was forced to withdraw through Lagny, Champagne, Villeselve, Artemps, Mont d’Origny, and Hauteville. It was withdrawn about the 20th of October.

6. After having rested about a week it came back into line west of Guise about the 28th. Again it fell back, being identified east of Guise and southeast of Etreux. It was still in line on the 11th of November.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division did not distinguish itself during the battle of the Somme, but, on the other hand, it did not do badly, for soon afterwards the division commander was granted “Pour le Mérite.” After the Aisne offensive the brigade commander also received it. The division was mentioned in the German official communiqués of September 4 and October 31. Its losses necessitated the reduction of the battalions to three companies but did not lower the morale to any great extent. It should be considered as a good second-class division.

232d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │232. │445. │232. │445.
│ │446. │ │446.
│ │447. │ │447.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt. │4 Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │37 F. A. Rgt. │232 Art. Command:
│ │ 37 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 776 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 981 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1093 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│(232) Pion Btn.: │232 Pion Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 355 Pion Co. │ 346 Pion. Co.
│ 356 Pion Co. │ 356 Pion. Co.
│ 419 T. M. Co. │ 419 T. M. Co.
│ 232 Tel. Detch. │ 119 Searchlight Section.
│ │232 Signal Command:
│ │ 232 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 162 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │244 Ambulance Co. │244 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│185 Field Hospital. │185 Field Hospital.
│186 Field Hospital. │186 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │267 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transport. │642 M. T. Col. │642 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(445th Infantry Regiment: 1st Corps District—East Prussia. 446th and
447th Infantry Regiments: 20th Corps District—Eastern section of West
Prussia.)

1917.

The 232d Division belonged to the series of divisions 231 to 242, formed in January, 1917, by drafts upon the depots (1918 class) and upon the front. It was recruited principally from the 1st and 20th Corps Districts (East Prussia).

After its formation the division was sent for training to the Arys Camp and then, on April 3, 1917, to the Eastern Front.

COURLAND.

1. On April 6 the 232d Division went into line in the vicinity of Illukst; it remained there until July.

SMORGONI.

2. Relieved by the 2d Division, coming from Flanders on July 7, it entrained on the 9th, was transferred by railroad to Soly on July 11, and from there went to the sector of Smorgoni-Krevo, where it suffered the Russian attack of July 22.

GALICIA.

3. On July 31 the 232d Division left the Smorgoni front for Galicia. It went into line northeast of Tarnapol, west of Zbaraz. It was identified there on December 25 (fraternization with the Russians). It was during this rest period, in November and December, that the division received its first reenforcements of the 1919 class, which it later took to France.

RECRUITING.

The 232d Division was recruited from East and West Prussia, with a certain number of Alsace-Lorrainers.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Having always occupied the Eastern Front from its formation (beginning of 1917) until March, 1918, the 232d Division was of mediocre combat value (April, 1918).

In the 445th Infantry Regiment the majority of men were very young; many belonged to the 1919 class (April, 1918). (Interrogation of prisoner.)

In the 2d Company of the 1st Battalion of the 447th Infantry Regiment, one-third belonged to the 1919 class (May, 1918). (Interrogation of prisoner.)

1918.

1. The division held the sector west of Vaudesincourt until about May 10, when it went to rest in the Juniville-Neuflize area. While there the division was trained for mobile warfare.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

2. On May 22 the division left the region of Juniville and moved in three marches to Lor and Le Thour (north of Asfeld). On May 26 the division left Lor and advanced toward the battle front, following the 86th Division. It passed the former French first line near Juvincourt, arrived near Treslon-Bouleuse on May 29, and on the 30th was engaged to the right of the 86th Division, near Sarey, where it relieved the troops of the 7th Reserve Division.

3. After that date the division was in the sector on the west bank of the Ardre near Chambrecy. The division losses were small during the first three days of the offensive, but later it suffered seriously, especially in its unsuccessful attack on Bligny on June 4. The division was relieved on the 18th by the 123d Division.

4. It marched by stages to Asfeld and was railed to Montmedy. On the night of June 28–29 it relieved the 19th Ersatz Division in the Beaumont sector. It held the quiet sector until August 18, when it was withdrawn. On the night of August 26–27 the division entrained and traveled via Montmedy-Sedan-Charleville-Revin-Charleroi-Mons-Valenciennes-Cambrai, detraining near Etricourt and Manancourt on August 28 after a journey of 28 hours.

BAPAUME.

5. The division was engaged in the Bapaume area (Le Forest, Bouchavesnes, Moislains) on August 29. It lost 1,500 prisoners before it was withdrawn on September 9.

6. It rested in the Le Cateau area until September 21, when it reenforced the battle front northwest of Hargicourt. After four days it was relieved by the 54th Division and rested near La Capelle. It had been there but 10 days when it was hurried to the Oise front by motor trucks.

7. On October 6 it was engaged at Lesdins, with the exception of the 447th Regiment, which remained at rest at Pont a Bucy and joined the division later. It continued in line until about the end of the month, when it retired from the Villers le Sec vicinity. It was considered in reserve of the German 18th Army at the time of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as 4th class. By October its morale was very low and its combat value small. On October 25 the division had but 850 infantrymen, 300 machine gunners, and 120 trench mortar effectives. After August there were but three companies to a battalion and but two battalions to the 446th Regiment in October. Influenced by Bolshevists, elements of the division refused to go into action in October.

233d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918[39] ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry. │243. │448. │243. │448. │ │449. │ │449. │ │450. │ │450. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry. │ │3 Sqn. 9 Drag. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery. │81 F. A. Rgt. │233 Art. Command: │ │ 81 F. A. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│(233) Pion. Btn.: │233 Pion. Btn.: Liaisons. │ │ │ 357 Pion. Co. │ 357 Pion. Co. │ 358 Pion. Co. │ 358 Pion. Co. │ 420 T. M. Co. │ 420 T. M. Co. │ 233 Tel. Detch. │ 233 Tel. Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │245 Ambulance Co. │245 Ambulance Co. Veterinary.│ │ │187 Field Hospital. │187 Field Hospital. │188 Field Hospital. │188 Field Hospital. │Vet. Hospital. │268 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transport. │880 M. T. Col. │643 M. T. Col. ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

Footnote 39:

Composition at the time of dissolution, September, 1918.

HISTORY.

(448th and 449th Infantry Regiments: 2d Corps District—Pomerania. 450th
Infantry Regiment: 17th Corps District—West Prussia.)

1917.

The 233d Division, formed at the Hammerstein Camp in January, 1917, recruited its infantry (448th, 449th, 450th Regiments) from the 2d and 17th Corps Districts. It then contained 40 per cent of the 1918 class and 40 per cent returned wounded.

1. After six weeks in training at Hammerstein, the 233d Division was transferred to Beverloo, where it continued its training from the end of February to the beginning of April.

2. About April 10 it occupied a calm sector between La Fère and Alaincourt.

FLANDERS.

3. On May 16 it left the Oise front and went to Flanders. Sent into line at Ypres, on both sides of the Ypres-Roulers road (May 19–20), the division had very heavy losses in this sector toward the end of July, during the artillery preparation which preceded the British attack of the 31st. “In the course of the nine weeks passed in Flanders the 450th Infantry Regiment lost 900 men, more than half of whom were killed.” (Letter of Aug. 6.)

4. Relieved on the eve of the attack, the 233d Division was brought back by railroad into the Guise area and sent to rest for two weeks.

5. From the middle of August until September 28 it occupied the sector of St. Quentin (Gauchy), after having pillaged the city the same as several other divisions.

FLANDERS.

6. On October 2 it entrained for Flanders and was sent by way of Origny, Le Cateau, Maubeuge, Mons, Ath, Ghent, Deynze. From October 5 to 12 it was engaged southeast of Sonnebeke and lost very heavily during the British attacks of October 6 and 9.

LORRAINE.

7. The division was withdrawn from the Ypres front on October 12, sent to rest for four days at Sottegem, then sent to Lorraine by way of Brussels, Namur, Hirson, Charleville, Sedan, Metz. Detraining at Sarreburg, it rested from the 20th to the 29th, then went into line south of Blamont.

RECRUITING.

The 233d Division was recruited from Pomerania and West Prussia, with a certain admixture from the neighboring Provinces (3d and 5th Corps Districts).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

A German official document of June 12, 1917, gives the following appreciation of the troops of the 233d Division engaged at that moment in the Ypres sector: “These men are too young to be able to furnish prolonged resistance and to have great endurance in a critical situation. Nevertheless, their conduct is generally good. One cannot say that this organization is in a good condition; it is not suited for trench warfare.” (Report from the 2d Battalion of the 450th Regiment.)

It is to be noticed, however, that the 233d Division was left in line northeast of Ypres until July 29.

Since that time the division took part in numerous battles and improved.

It contained a certain number of Poles and some Alsatians.

From January 20 to February 24, 1918, it received special training for the warfare of movement, in the vicinity of Zabern-Haguenau.

It was a fairly good division.

1918.

KEMMEL.

1. The division was railed to Flanders in the middle of April and detrained at Zarren (southwest of Thourout). It marched toward the front south of Ypres through Ardoye, Tourcoing. It was engaged on April 25 at Mount Kemmel and took part in the heavy fighting there until May 3. Its losses were heavy in this engagement.

2. The division rested near Sottegem in Belgium until May 19. It was then transferred to Peronne. During June a regiment of the division came into line southwest of Morlancourt for a short period and reenforced the 54th Division. The rest of the division rested at Caudry, Bretigny, Morcourt until July 6.

THIRD BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

3. It was engaged on that date north and south of Alvert, where it was still in line at the time of the British attack of August 22. It was thrown back on Fricourt, La Boisselle, Bazentin le Grand, Montauban, where it was relieved on August 30, after losing 1,422 prisoners.

4. Following the heavy losses in August the division was dissolved. The 448th Regiment was transferred to the 107th Division, replacing the 227th Reserve Regiment, dissolved. The 405th Regiment replaced the 22d Reserve Regiment, dissolved in the 117th Division; while the men of the 449th Regiment were allotted to the 448th and 450th Regiments.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class.

234th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │234. │451. │234. │451.
│ │452. │ │452.
│ │453. │ │453.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 13 Dragoon Rgt. │1 Sqn. 13 Drag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │234 Art. Command:
│ 4 F. A. Rgt. │ 4 F. A. Rgt.
│ │3 Abt. 21 Ft. A. Rgt. (7
│ │ and 9 Btries.).
│ │841 Light Am. Col.
│ │847 Light Am. Col.
│ │1340 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│(234) Pion. Btn.: │234 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 359 Pion. Co. │ 359 Pion. Co.
│ 360 Pion. Co. │ 360 Pion. Co.
│ 429 T. M. Co. │ 201 Searchlight Section.
│ 234 Tel. Detch. │234 Signal Command:
│ │ 234 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 126 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │246 Ambulance Co. │246 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│189 Field Hospital. │189 Field Hospital.
│190 Field Hospital. │190 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │269 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │644 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(451st and 452d Infantry Regiments: 3d Corps District—453d Infantry
Regiment: 4th Corps District—Prussian Saxony.)

1917.

The 234th Division was formed on January 6, 1917, at the camp of Altengrabow. Its infantry regiments were recruited from the 3d and 4th Corps Districts (Berlin-Magdeburg) and were composed of men of the 1918 class (50 per cent) and of returned wounded and men withdrawn from the front (50 per cent).

ST. QUENTIN.

1. After three months’ training at Altengrabow, the 234th Division entrained, on March 28, for the Western Front. Going by way of Magdeburg-Aix la Chapelle-Liége-Brussels-Mons, it detrained on March 30–31 at Le Cateau, from which place it marched to the sector of Fayet, northwest of St. Quentin (on the Hindenburg Line) on April 8.

On April 14 the division was attacked by British troops and lost heavily (451st Infantry Regiment, 400 prisoners). This regiment again suffered seriously in the course of violent battles with the French east of Fayet, August 9 to 11.

YPRES.

2. About September 1 the 234th Division was relieved northwest of St. Quentin and sent to Roulers, by way of Bohain, Le Cateau, Denain, Lille, Courtrai, and Menin. In reserve first near Hooglede, on the Ypres front at the time of the British attack, it counterattacked on September 20, northeast of St. Julien. On September 23–24 it again went into reserve and after the British attack of the 26th sent some of its elements into action southeast of Zonnebeke on September 27.

3. Exhausted by these battles the division left the Ypres front for the Lille area. It had lost about one-half of its effectives.

LA BASSÉE.

4. It went into line north of La Bassée Canal on October 7, remained there six weeks, and about November 24 went to the Cambrai area.

ARTOIS.

5. On December 7 it took over the sector north of Bullecourt.

RECRUITING.

The 234th Division was recruited from Brandenburg and Prussian Saxony.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 234th Division lost very heavily at Ypres in September, 1917; these losses had some effect upon its morale. At all events, it acquired a certain combat experience in the course of these engagements.

The 451st Infantry Regiment seemed to be considered the best one in the division by the German High Command.

In the 453d Infantry Regiment, September, 1917, many officers belonged to the Reserve and to the Landwehr; some of these, during the war, were retired for inefficiency (document).

1918.

PICARDY.

1. The 234th Division remained in the Bullecourt sector until relieved by the 111th Division on the 8th of February, when it went to rest in the Douai area.

2. About the end of the month it relieved the 111th Division. On the opening of the Somme offensive on the 21st of March, although not engaged in the initial attack, the division was severely engaged in the fighting around Croisilles, and on the 31st some of its elements carried out a costly and unsuccessful attack against Boisleux-St. Mare. It was relieved about the 7th of April by the 231st Division.

3. The division rested a fortnight and then relieved the 111th Division in the Ayette sector on the 20th. During the night of the 24th–25th of May it was relieved by the 17th Division.

4. About June 21 it relieved the 17th Division. When the British attacked on the 21st of August, the division was thrown back upon Hamelincourt with heavy losses (including 1,585 prisoners). It was withdrawn on the 24th to the Douai region.

5. On the 22d of September it reenforced the front in the Gavrelle sector, being withdrawn a few days later.

6. On the 30th it came into line north of Cambrai in the Tilloy sector. Withdrawn about the 15th of October.