Chapter IV: Part 4

The 2d Bavarian Division participated on the 9th and 10th of May, 1917, in violent but unsuccessful counterattacks on the salient northeast of the Californie Plateau. It appears that the Bavarians were always placed in the most dangerous positions and that they were sacrificed by the Prussians.

In spite of this condition the 2d Bavarian Division still showed itself as a good division (July, 1917).

1918.

MEUSE.

1. The division remained in line north of the Bois des Fosses until relieved by the 19th Reserve Division, January 14. It went then to the Longwy region, where it was put through a stiff course of training in open warfare.

AMIENS.

2. March 23 it entrained at Audun-le-Roman, and traveled via Longwy- Sedan-Charleville-Hirson-Anor-Avesnes-Le Cateau-Bertry-Caudry to Cambrai, where it detrained March 24–25. At first the division marched in the direction of Bapaumes, but was diverted in a southerly direction on the way and passed through Le Transloy-Sailly-Saillisel-Péronne- Villers-Carbonnel-Estrees-Foucaucourt and billeted at Beaucourt-en- Santerre on the night of March 30–31. April 2 it attacked at Morisel, and two days later to the southwest of Morisel. It fought then until the 15th, when it side-slipped to the north, relieving the 54th Division, its place being taken by the 15th Division. It was relieved about May 4 by the 21st Division.

3. It moved to the area southeast of Ghent, and there was reconstituted and trained. June 2, it relieved the 14th Bavarian Division in the Morisel sector. It was relieved the middle of the month by the extension of fronts of the neighboring divisions.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. It rested in rear of the front in Champagne for about a month and then entered line in the Navarin sector (north of Souain), being identified by prisoners, July 15. It was withdrawn on the 20th.

VESLE.

5. August 4 the division relieved the 22d Division at Jonchery (on the Vesle, east of Fismes). It remained in line, taking part in the general retirement, until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 2d Bavarian is one of the very best German shock divisions. It was called upon to do a great deal of heavy fighting, and always acquitted itself well. It suffered severe losses in consequence, but these were made good as long as the German High Command had replacements at its disposal.

2d Bavarian Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │9 Bav. Ldw. │2 Bav. Ldw. │9 Bav. Ldw. │2 Bav. Ldw.
│ │5 Bav. Ldw. │ │5 Bav. Ldw.
│ │10 Bav. Ldw. │ │10 Bav. Ldw.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │5th Sqn. 4th Bav. Light │3 Sqn. 1 Bav. Res. Cav.
│ Cav. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │2 Bav. Ldw. F. A. Rgt.
│ 2 Bav. Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │
│ 811 and 905 F. A. Btries. │
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│(25 Bav.) Eng. Btn.: │25 Bav. Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 2 Bav. Ldw. Pion. Co. │ 2 Bav. Ldw. Pion. Co.
│ 3 Bav. Ldw. Pion. Co. │ 3 Bav. Ldw. Pion. Co.
│ 302 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 12 Bav. Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 502 Tel. Detch. │502 Signals Command:
│ │ 502 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │24 Bav. Ambulance Co. │24 Bav. Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│17 Bav. Field Hospital. │63 Bav. Field Hospital.
│63 Bav. Field Hospital. │17 Bav. Field Hospital.
│32 Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Attached. │156 Labor Btn. │
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(Bavaria.)

1917.

The 2d Bavarian Landwehr Division was formed in Lorraine at the end of December, 1916, and the beginning of January, 1917. Two of its regiments, the 5th Bavarian Landwehr and the 10th Bavarian Landwehr, were assigned respectively to the 1st Bavarian Landwehr Division and the 33d Reserve Division, at that time on the Lorraine front. The 2d Bavarian Landwehr was ceded by the 6th Bavarian Landwehr Division, which held a Vosges sector.

RUSSIA.

1. As soon as it was constituted the 2d Bavarian Landwehr Division was transported to the Eastern front via Frankfort and Leipzig.

COURLAND.

2. Directed to Courlande and attached to the 8th Army it entered the line in the vicinity of Friedrichstadt (middle of January, 1917) and remained in this district up till February, 1918. In September it participated in the operations against Riga. In December a number of men were detached in order to reinforce the 10th Bavarian Division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

It remained on the Russian front from the time of its formation (January, 1917). It held the calm sector of Courlande in 1917; it occupied Livonia in 1918 (May). Men under 35 years of age were withdrawn from the 5th Bavarian Landwehr in December, 1917 (letter). It is rated as a 4th class division.

2d Cavalry Division.

COMPOSITION.

───────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────────────
│ 1918
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┬───────────────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┼───────────────────────
Cavalry. │22 Cav. (11 C. D.). │5 Drag. Rgt.
│ │14 Hus. Rgt.
│25 Cav. (18 C. Dist.). │23 Gd. Drag. Rgt. (1
│ │ Sqn. Detch.).
│7 Bav. Cav. │24 Gd. Drag. Rgt. (3
│ (Siebenburgische). │ Sqn. detached).
│ │4 Bav. Light Cav. Rgt.
│ │ (3 Sqn. detached).
│ │5 Bav. Light Cav. Rgt.
│ │ (3 Sqn. detached).
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┴───────────────────────
Artillery. │15 Horse Art. Abt.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Engineers and Liaisons.│2 Cav. Pion. Detch.
│7 Cav. Pion. Detch.
│200 Bav. T. M. Co.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Medical and Veterinary.│21 Ambulance Co.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Odd units. │2 M. G. Btry.
│3 M. G. Btry.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Attached. │4 Jag. Btn.
│1 Cyclist Co. 3 Jag. Btn.
│2 Cyclist Co. 3 Jag. Btn.
───────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

1918.

1. The division was in the Stochod sector until February 28, when it advanced through Kiev and Kharhov to Rostov, where it was on August 4. At this date the division occupied the area between Kharkov and Rostov. The troops were frequently attacked by armed bands or by mobs. In this way they suffered some heavy losses. The German cruiser _Goeben_, which had been supporting them, was damaged by fire and had to put into Constantinople.

Nothing was known of the division’s movements after August, 1918.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was considered as 4th class.

2d Naval Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │3 Nav. │ │3 Nav. │
│4 Nav. │ │4 Nav. │
│ │ │ │
│ The 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6th Marine Fus. Rgts. and the 4
│ Marine Inf. Rgt. alternated between the 1st and 2d Naval
│ Divisions.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
Cavalry. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │ │Marine E. A. Abt.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│ │3 Nav. Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │27 Labor Btn.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │3 Nav. │ │3 Mar. │3 Mat.
│4 Nav. │ │ │4 Mat.
│ │ │ │5 Mat.
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │ │4 Sqn. 10 Hus. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │1 Mar. F. A. Rgt. │3 Mar. Art. Rgt.
│2 Mar. F. A. Rgt. │
│3 Mar. F. A. Rgt. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│2 Nav. Pion. Btn.: │2 Mar. Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 3 Nav. Pion. Co. │ 2 Mar. Pion. Co.
│ 4 Nav. Pion. Co. │ 3 Mar. Pion. Co.
│ 377 Pion. Co. │ 3 Entrenching Co.
│ Tel. Detch. │ 4 Entrenching Co.
│ │292 Signal Command:
│ │ 292 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │Ambulance Co. │2 Mar. Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │3 Mar. Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │4 Mar. Field Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │Coast Defense Btn. │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

1915.

BELGIUM.

1. The 2d Naval Division, formed November 24, 1914, was a part of the Naval Corps at this time.

Since its formation the 6th Naval Fusileer Regiments of the Corps alternate in Flanders between the coast sector (2d Naval Division) and the sea front (1st Naval Division).

1916.

2. In September, 1916, the 3d Naval Infantry Regiment was transferred to the Naval Division, which later became the 3d Naval Division, engaged on the Somme.

1917.

FLANDERS.

Sector of the coast and sea front. The staff of the 2d Naval Division remained in charge of the coast sector.

1918.

1. In early March the division was relieved in its sector southeast of Nieuport and took over the coast sector from the 3d Naval Division. Elements of the division reinforced the German attacking forces north of Bixschoote on April 17.

2. After October 15, the division retreated toward Ostend and Maldeghem. It was last identified at Wachtebeke on November 2. On the day of the armistice it was considered to be in reserve of the 4th Army.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

3d Guard Division.[2]

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │5 Gd. │5 Ft. │5 Gd. │5 Ft. │6 Gd. │Gd. Fus.
│ │5 Gren. │ │5 Gren. │ │Lehr Rgt.
│6 Gd. │Gd. Fus. │6 Gd. │Gd. Fus. │ │9 Gren.
│ │Lehr Rgt.│ │Lehr Rgt.│ │
│ (Instruction.) │ │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │Gd. Res. Uhlan Rgt.│ │Gd. Res. Uhlan Rgt.
│ │ │ (?Sqns.).
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │5 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │3 Brig.: │3 Brig.:
│6 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │ 5 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │ 5 Gd. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│(Formed of the │ 6 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │ 6 Gd. F. A. Rgt.
│ Juterbog │ │
│ Instruction Rgt.)│ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │(?) Pion. Co. │(?) Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │3 Gd. Pont. Engs. │3 Gd. T. M. Co.
│ │3 Gd. Tel. Detch. │3 Gd. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │3 Gd. Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │75 Anti-Aircraft
│ │ │ Section.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │6 Gd. │Gd. Fus. │6 Gd. │Lehr Rgt.
│ │Lehr Rgt.│ │Fus. Rgt.
│ │9 Gren. │ │9 Gren.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3d Sqn. Gd. Res. │1 Sqn. 2 Gd. Drag.
│ Uhlan Rgt. │ Rgt.
│1st Sqn. 2 Gd. │
│ Drag. Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │(*) Art. Command: │5 Gd. F. A. Rgt.
│ 5 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │1 Abt. 2 Gd. Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt.
│ │(Staff, 1 and 3
│ │ Btries.).
│ │
│ │936 Light Am. Col.
│ │1347 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(104) Pion. Btn. │104 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Co. 28 Pions. │ 1 Co. 28 Pions.
│ 274 Pion. Co. │ 274 Pion. Co.
│ 3 Gd. T. M. Co. │ 198 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 280 Searchlight │3 Gd. Signals
│ Section. │ Command:
│ 3 Gd. Tel. Detch. │ 3 Gd. Tel. Detch.
│ 55 Tel. Detch. │ 90 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │7 Ambulance Co. │265 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│265 Ambulance Co. │393 Field Hospital.
│393 Ambulance Co. │35 Field Hospital.
│Field Hospital. │3 Gd. Vet.
│ │ Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │532 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │75 Anti-Aircraft │
│ Section. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
Footnote 2:

Organized in August, 1914; elements taken from 1st and 2d Guard
Divisions.

HISTORY.

1914.

FRANCE.

1. In August, 1914, the 3d Guard Division was first directed to the Western Front. It fought below Namur.

RUSSIA.

2. The 27th of August the division was transported to Silesia via Oriental Prussia. It took part in the invasion of southern Poland.

3. The group of armies of which it formed a part was turned back and was obliged to retire to Lodz.

4. During the winter of 1914–15 it took part in the severe engagements on the Bzura.

1915.

1. At the beginning of 1915 the 3d Guard Division was dismembered; the 5th Brigade was sent to Oriental Prussia; the 6th Brigade, to the south of the Carpathians, was engaged in the Uzsok defile distinct.

2. In March, 1915, the 6th Brigade alone formed the 3d Guard Division, with the addition of the 9th Grenadier Regiment to its own two regiments. Thus formed, the 3d Guard Division took part in the campaign of the summer of 1915. (Carpathians Oriental Galicia. Linsingen’s army.)

3. The division took up its position before Tarnopol and passed the winter of 1915–16 there. (Bothmer’s army.)

1916.

FRANCE.

1. In April, 1916, the 3d Guard Division was transported to the Western Front. It occupied a sector in Champagne and took part in no serious engagements.

2. It was sent to rest at Valenciennes the 1st of June.

SOMME.

3. The 1st of July (beginning of the Franco-British offensive) the 3d Guard Division went into the line on the Somme. It was put to a severe test there, particularly in the Thiepval district (57.5 per cent loss).

4. After the Somme it was sent to the Dixmude front.

GALICIA.

5. It was transported to Galicia (beginning of September) by the following itinerary: Liège, Cologne, Leipzig, Dresden, Cracow, Przemysl.

6. At Halicz the 3d Guard Division took part in the German counteroffensive, and again suffered great losses.

FRANCE.

7. It was sent back to the Western Front on the 24th of November by the following itinerary: Lemberg, Jaroslaw, Gorlitz, Dresden, Chemnitz, Nurnberg, Heilbronn, Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Rheinweiler, and having arrived there the 20th of November, was sent to rest for a month.

1917.

LORRAINE.

1. Beginning with January and up to April 6, 1917, the division occupied the sector of the forest of Parroy.

2. The 8th of April it entrained at Metz, and arrived at Cambrai via Montmedy, Sedan, and Charleville.

ARTOIS.

3. Engaged in action before Arras in order to repulse the English offensive from April 15 on, it participated in severe battles (May).

4. On the 18th of May the division was relieved and sent into the Cambrai district. After a short period of repose it occupied the Pronville-Inchy-en-Artois sector (June 1–22).

5. It was sent in reserve to the Bruges sector (June 22).

6. It was transported to Thourout the 9th of July and remained there at rest until July 29.

YPRES.

7. On the 31st of July, the date of the great British attack, the 3d Guard Division suffered very heavy losses (1,000 prisoners) in relieving the 23d Reserve Division in the Pilken sector.

ALSACE.

8. It was relieved the 5th and 6th of August and transported to Alsace, where it was placed at rest. At the beginning of September it occupied the Altkirch sector.

FLANDERS.

9. About the 7th of October the division was again sent to Flanders to the northeast of Zonnebecke.

10. The 3d Guard Division left the Ypres front (Zonnebecke) at the beginning of November, 1917.

CAMBRAI.

11. After remaining in the vicinity of Ghent it went into action before Cambrai near the Bourlon wood (Nov. 22).

12. It was relieved the 10th of December and went to rest in the Vendegies District (south of Valenciennes—division maneuvers).

1918.

CAMBRAI.

1. The division returned to the line in the sector, southwest of Cambrai on January 10, relieving the 21st Reserve Division. It remained in line until the 119th Division relieved it on February 12.

2. The division retired to Hem-Lenglet (north of Cambrai) where it rested and underwent instruction.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

3. The division entered the line on March 19, between Inchy-en-Artois and Pronville. Engaged in the advance between the 21st and 24th. It suffered heavy losses on the 22d in the fighting north of Beaumetz, passing to the second line on the 24th. The division came back and participated in the fighting about Bucquoy and Hebuterne, March 26-April 3.

4. Returning from the Somme front about April 4, the division was at rest until April 18.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

5. The division was engaged on the Lys, northeast of Estaires, after April 18, then north of Kemmel from April 30 to May 5. Heavy losses featured the fighting.

6. After resting at Halluin for seven days the division was moved by rail to Lorraine by the route Namur, Treves, Saarbruck, Sarreguemines.

LORRAINE.

7. On May 18 the division relieved the 202d Division in the Chateau Salins sector. While in this quiet sector the division received reinforcements. When it left the line on June 24, the division was comparatively fresh and an available reinforcement for a battle front.

CHAMPAGNE.

8. On leaving Lorraine the division moved to Rozay-sur-Lene, July 1, and later southward to Hannogne.

9. In the offensive of July 15, the division fought east of Rheims in the region of des Monts. Between the 15th and 31st heavy losses were suffered. It is known to have received a draft of 300 men in July.

10. While at rest behind the Champagne front further drafts of men from Russia and Rumania were received.

11. The division held the line in Champagne north of St. Hilaire-le- Grand from August 15 to September 18.

12. Upon relief the division was first sent to Laon, but was hastily entrained and hurried to Machault, where it entered the line immediately.

BATTLE OF ARGONNE.

13. From September 27 to October 5 the division was engaged between Somme-Py and Manre; then it fought near Orfeuil where 900 prisoners were lost. Acting as a rear guard, the division covered the retreat from Machault to Voziers. Extremely heavy losses were reported in this period.

14. Withdrawn on the 8th, the division was moved by truck to Romagne. After two days in reserve it entered the line on the 12th, now opposing the first American Army. In this sector it fought vigorously, making perhaps the stiffest resistance encountered in the offensive.

15. The division went out on October 17 and rested until the 26th.

16. Reengaged northeast of Attigny (Rilly-aux-Dies) on the 26th, the division continued in line until the armistice. The last identification was southeast of Mezieres on November 7. Five hundred prisoners were lost by the division during their last period in line.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 3d Guard Division was rated as one of the best German divisions. It was completely exhausted in the offensive of March and April and suffered from a low morale in July and August. The Argonne Battle losses were very severe for the division. The regiments were reduced to 200 and 300 effectives.

3d Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │5. │2 Gren. │5. │2 Gren. │6. │34 Fus.
│ │9 Gren. │ │9 Gren. │ │42.
│6. │34 Fus. │6. │34 Fus. │ │4 Ldw.
│ │42. │ │42. │ (1, 2, and 4
│ │ │ │ │ Btns.).
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼───────────────────
Cavalry. │3 Horse Gren. Rgt. │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │3 Brig.: │3 Brig.: │3 Brig.:
│ 2 F. A. Rgt. │ 2 F. A. Rgt. │ 2 F. A. Rgt.
│ 38 F. A. Rgt. │ 38 F. A. Rgt. │ 38 F. A. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 2:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 2:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ Field Co. 2 Pions.│ 1 Co. 2 Pions.
│ │ │
│ │ 3 Pont. Engs. │ 3 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ 3 Tel. Detch. │ 3 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 3 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │6. │426. │6. │381.
│ │428. │ │(?)
│ │4 Ldw. │ │428.
│ (1, 2, and 4 │ │
│ Btns.). │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3 Horse Gren. Rgt. │3 Sqn. 3 Horse
│ (3d Sqn.). │ Gren. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │3 Art. Command: │(?).
│ 38 F. A. Rgt. │
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│1 Pion. Btn. No. 2:│108 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Co. 2 Pions. │ 1 Co. 6 Ldw.
│ │ Pions.
│ 3 Tel. Detch. │ 2 Ldw. Co. 4 C.
│ │ Dist. Pion.
│ 3 Co. 32 Pions. │ 110 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 3 T. M. Co. │3 Signals Command:
│ 283 and 301 │ 3 Tel. Detch.
│ Searchlight │
│ Sections. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │7 Ambulance Co. │7 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│18 Field Hospital. │23 Field Hospital.
│24 Field Hospital. │24 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │189 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │6 Truck train. │
│7 Truck train. │
│436 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Second District—Pomerania).

1914.

1. The 3d and 4th Division together composed the 2d Army Corps (Stettin).

2. At the beginning of the war it gave up one of its five regiments, the 54th Infantry, for the formation of the 36th Reserve Division, which operated against Russia.

BELGIUM.

3. In August, 1914, the 3d Division formed a part of the 1st Army (Von Kluck). It invaded Belgium the 13th and 14th of August, passing through Visé (Aug. 14), Hasselt (Aug. 17), Aerschot (Aug. 19), Laeken (Aug. 21) and entered France on the 24th.

MARNE.

4. It was at Cambrai on the 26th and on the Somme the 28th. It took part in the Battle of the Marne at Vareddes on the 7th of September (district northeast of Meaux).

5. Was situated to the north of Soissons after the retreat. The 2d of October it was in the district south of Roye; on the 4th it fought near Beauvraignes.

6. At the beginning of November it was transported to Flanders (Wytschaete-Messines District) where it remained till the end of the month.

RUSSIA.

7. It then entrained for Russia (end of November). On its arrival it was divided. The 5th Brigade was attached to the 8th Army in Oriental Prussia, the 6th Brigade to the 10th Army to the east of Lodz.

1915.

1. During the first months of 1915 the two brigades remained separated and changed position with their respective armies. The 5th Brigade went into the government of Souvalki near the frontier of Oriental Prussia; the 6th into Poland near Prasnysz and the Narew.

2. In May, at the time of the formation of new divisions, the 5th Brigade was broken up. The 2d Grenadiers, then in Courland, went over to the Homeyer Brigade which then became the 109th Division; the 9th Grenadiers went as the Third Regiment to the 3d Guard Division which abandoned one of its brigades (the 5th Guard) for the formation of a 4th Guard Division.

3. The 3d Division, reduced to the 6th Brigade, completed itself by the addition of the 4th Landwehr Regiment (1st, 2d, and 4th Battalions). The progress of the Russian offensive conducted it into the Vidzy District, where it firmly established itself.

1916.

1. Its composition varied still more in the course of the year 1916 and it lost the two active regiments which it still had. The 42d Infantry left it in September to go to the Kovel District and from there to Macedonia; in December the 34th Fusiliers left it definitely in order to go to Courland. In exchange it received two regiments formed in the autumn, the 426th and the 428th Infantry.

1917.

1. There was no change of composition or position during 1917.

1918.

The division remained in the east throughout the year. Its movements were obscure.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated fourth class.

3d Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │18 Ldw. │6 Ldw. │18 Ldw. │6 Ldw. │18 Ldw. │6 Ldw.
│ │7 Ldw. │ │7 Ldw. │ │7 Ldw.
│19 Ldw. │37 Ldw. │ │19 Ldw. │37 Ldw. │19 Ldw.
│ │46 Ldw. │ │46 Ldw. │ │46 Ldw.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │1 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. (3│1 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. │1 Ldw. Cav. Rgt.
│ Sqns.). │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │3 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │3 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │3 Ldw. F. A. Rgt.
│ (Ers. Abils. of │ │
│ 20, 41, and 56, │ │
│ F. A. Rgts.) │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │ │1 Ldw. Survey Sect.
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ │2 Ldw. Survey Sect.
│ │ │
│ │ │1 Ers. Co. 5 Pions.
│ │ │
│ │ │303 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │17 Mixed Ers. Brig.│ │
│ (17, 18, 19, 20, │ │
│ and 77 Brig. Ers.│ │
│ Btns.). │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │17 Ldw. │6 Ldw. │17 Ldw. │6 Ldw.
│ │4 Ldw. │ │7 Ldw.
│37 Ldw. │46 Ldw. │ │46 Ldw.
│ │327 Ldw. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ (?) │3 Sqn. 4 Drag. Rgt.
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │3 Ldw. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ 3 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │
│ (9 Btries.). │
│ 913 Batry. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(403) Pion. Btn.: │418 Pion. Btn:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Ers. Co. 5 │ 1 Ers. Co. 5
│ Pions. │ Pions.
│ 4 Co. 17 Pions. │ 139 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 344 Pion. Co. │503 Signal Command:
│ 303 T. M. Co. │ 503 Tel. Detch.
│ 246 Searchlight │
│ Section. │
│ 503 Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │230 Ambulance Co. │230 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│21 Ldw. Field │322 Field Hospital.
│ Hospital. │
│Vet. Hospital. │22 Ldw. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│ │503 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │537 M. T. Col │773 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │2 Neuss Landst. │
│ Inf. Btn. (8 │
│ │
│ │
│C. Dist. Btn. No. │
│ 22.). │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Fifth District—Posen.)

1914.

RUSSIA.

At the beginning of the war the 3d Landwehr Division formed a part of the 2d Landwehr Corps (old 6th Landwehr Corps) and always occupied the eastern front.

POLAND.

1. Up to the German offensive of the summer of 1915 the 3d Landwehr Division, along with the 2d Landwehr Corps, participated in the Polish campaign. At the end of October, 1914, it was identified before Warsaw (Rawa-Vistula); in the middle of November it was in retreat to the south and east of Czenstochow; in December it was to the west of Kielce.

1915.

POLAND.

1. In January, 1915, the 2d Landwehr Corps was still in the Kielce District.

2. Toward the middle of February a brigade (19th Landwehr Brigade) was detached to the northeast of Warsaw (Plock-Mlawa). Reassembled to the west of Kielce in April, the 3d Landwehr Division remained between the Vistula and the Pilica until July.

BARANOVITCHI.

3. The division took part in the offensive against the Russians (July- August); it was before Ivangorod July 20 and arrived in the vicinity of Baranovitchi toward the end of August.

4. In October it was in the line near Goroditche. In November it took the Liakhovitchi sector (south of Baranovitchi).

1916.

1. The 3d Landwehr Division remained to the southeast of Baranovitchi (Liakhovitchi) for more than two years (November, 1915-January, 1918). The 37th Landwehr became independent in July, 1916, and received various successive additions. About the same date the 3d Landwehr Division furnished a part of the elements necessary to the formation of the 420th Infantry. In return the 327th Landwehr was assigned to it, and it kept this regiment until June, 1917, ceding it at that time to the 4th Landwehr Division.

1917.

1. Liakhovitchi sector. In November the 3d Landwehr Division sent an important reinforcement to the 9th Division (particularly to the 7th Grenadiers); two months later a smaller reinforcement was sent to the 43d Reserve Division, which was preparing to leave the eastern front.

1918.

The division remained in the eastern theatre throughout the year.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division remained on the Russian front from the beginning of the war. Fighting value mediocre. It was rated as fourth class.

3d Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │5 Bav. │22 Bav. │5 Bav. │22 Bav. │6 Bav. │17 Bav.
│ │23 Bav. │ │23 Bav. │ │23 Bav.
│6 Bav. │17 Bav. │6 Bav. │17 Bav. │ │18 Bav.
│ │18 Bav. │ │18 Bav. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3 Bav. Light Cav. │ │3 Bav. Light Cav.
│ Rgt. │ │ Rgt. (3 Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │3 Bav. Brig.: │3 Bav. Brig.: │3 Bav. Brig.:
│ │ │
│ 5 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 5 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 5 Bav. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ 12 Bav. F. A. Rgt.│ 12 Bav. F. A. Rgt.│ 12 Bav. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│1 and 3 Field Cos. │1 and 3 Field Cos. │1 and 3 Field Cos.
Liaisons. │ 2 Bav. Pion. Btn.│ 2 Bav. Pion. Btn.│ 2 Bav. Pion. Btn.
│ │3 Bav. Pont. Engs. │13 Bav. Res. Pion.
│ │ │ Co.
│ │3 Bav. Tel. Detch. │3 Bav. T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │3 Bav. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │3 Bav. Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │Inf. Pion. Co. of
│ │ │ the 3 Bav. Div.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │6 Bav. │17 Bav. │6 Bav. │17 Bav.
│ │18 Bav. │ │18 Bav.
│ │23 Bav. │ │23 Bav.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │4th Sqn. 3 Bav. │4 Sqn. 3 Bav. Light
│ Light Cav. Rgt. │ Cav. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │3 Bav. Art. │3 Bav. Art.
│ Command: │ Command:
│ 12 Bav. F. A. │ 12 Bav. F. A. Rgt.
│ Rgt.? │
│ │ 1 Abt. 2 Bav. Ft.
│ │ A. Rgt.
│ │ 149 Bav. Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 150 Bav. Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 162 Bav. Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│5 and 7 Bav. Pion. │2 Bav. Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ Cos. │
│3 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 5 Bav. Pion. Co.
│ │
│2 Bav. Searchlight │ 7 Bav. Pion. Co.
│ Section. │
│3 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ 3 Bav. Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │3 Bav. Signals
│ │ Command:
│ │ 3 Bav. Tel. Detch.
│ │ 77 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │4 Bav. Ambulance │4 Bav. Ambulance
Veterinary.│ Co. │ Co.
│9 Bav. Field │9 Bav. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │16 Bav. Field
│ │ Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │683 Bav. M. T. Col.│683 Bav. M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Second Bavarian District—Bavaria, Bavarian Palatinate.)

1914.

LORRAINE.

1. At the time of the declaration of war the 3d Bavarian Division and the 4th Bavarian Division constituted the 2d Bavarian Army Corps. At the beginning of August, 1914, the 2d Bavarian Army Corps formed a part of the 6th Army (Crown Prince of Bavaria). It detrained at Faulquemont (Lorraine) on August 8, and the 3d Bavarian Division was to the north of Château-Salins on the 10th. It took part in the Battle of Morhange on the 20th, passed the frontier, pillaged Gerbeviller on its way, and advanced as far as the left bank of the Mortagne. Forced to turn back, it moved near Metz the 15th of September and entrained the 19th.

SOMME-FLANDERS.

2. Similar to the 1st Bavarian Army Corps, the 2d Bavarian Army Corps was attached to the 2d Army and fought in the Peronne District (end of September); then it was transported to Flanders, where it rejoined the 6th Army.

3. From November, 1914, to October, 1915, the 2d Bavarian Army Corps occupied the front from the Ypres-Comines Canal as far as Douve. During this period it generally remained on the defensive.

1915.

1. In April, 1915, the 3d Bavarian Division ceded the 22d Infantry to the 11th Bavarian Division, formed at this time.

In June, 1915, the 3d Bavarian Division was sent as a reinforcement for a short time to the Arras sector.

ARTOIS.

2. In the month of October the 2d Bavarian Army Corps (3d and 4th Bavarian Divisions) was transported to the Auchy-Loos sector and kept there until August, 1916.

1916.

1. In the Loos sector the 2d Bavarian Army Corps showed itself very active. It undertook mine works and executed them with great rapidity. At the end of April it attempted a gas attack; this latter had no success, however.

SOMME.

2. The 3d Bavarian Division left the Loos sector with its Army Corps about August 25 and went into the Somme District. It occupied the Martinpuich-Bazentin-le-Petit sector up to the 15th of September and fought with characteristic stubbornness. Its total losses during this period reached 4,976 men (55 per cent).

3. The Division retired from the Somme September 27 and was sent to the Douve sector (from this river to the Armentières-Lille railroad). It remained there till the end of March, 1917.

1917.

ARTOIS.

1. The 3d Bavarian Division was relieved from Armentieres March 20, 1917. It was transported to the Arras District, situated on the Scarpe front, on April 11. It suffered considerable loss in the two unfortunate counterattacks of Monchy-le-Preux and in the French counterattack of April 23.

2. The division was withdrawn from the front April 25 and sent to rest in the Roubaix zone until the beginning of June.

FLANDERS.

3. On June 5 the 3d Bavarian Division began to relieve the 40th Division in the Messines sector. The British attack took place on the 7th during this relief. The division lost the village and the summit of Messines. It suffered considerable loss and left 1,531 prisoners in the hands of the enemy. (The 17th Battalion was reduced to 800 men; the 23d suffered about equal losses; the 18th lost fewer men.)

LORRAINE.

4. The 3d Bavarian Division was withdrawn from the Messines sector June 8, 1917, and taken to the Conflans area. After a short period of repose, during which it was partially reconstituted, it was put into the line in the sector of the Bezange forest (south of Château-Salins) July 18.

5. The 3d Bavarian Division received a reinforcement of 4,500 men—convalescents, exclusively—between June 8 and the end of August. (At the end of August the personnel averaged only 120 men who drew rations (80 combatants) per company in the 17th Battalion.) The losses sustained the 7th of June had not been made good by the 28th of August.

6. The division was sent into Lorraine for rest and reconstitution, remaining on the defensive, and pursuing the instruction of its detachments in the use of light minenwerfers and assault tactics.

AISNE.

7. It left Lorraine in the middle of October. On the 28th it occupied the Aisne front to the north of Braye-en-Laonnois (Trucy sector). The 17th Battalion was the only one to engage in the October battles which preceded the German retreat to the north of the Ailette.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 3d Bavarian Division is one of the best German units.

It always fought well, showing great energy in the offensive and preserving a great tenacity in the defensive.

Nevertheless, the fighting value of this division appears to have diminished during the course of the year 1917.

1918.

1. About January 1 the division was relieved and went into training in the region Fournes-Chimay, where it remained for four weeks.

ST. GOBAIN.

2. The division relieved the 47th Reserve Division near Septvaux about February 1, and occupied the line until March 28.

3. Retired from the front on the 28th; the division was sent toward Chauny-La Fere, where it constituted the reserve division of the 8th Reserve Corps.

NOYON.

4. In April the division alternated between short periods in line and brief rests. North of Plemont it relieved the 7th Reserve Division about April 2, was relieved by the 1st Bavarian Division a few days later, and returned to line about April 11, relieving the 1st Bavarian Division. About this time the division received a draft of 900 men of the 1919 class.

5. The division was withdrawn from the Lassigny front about May 25.

BATTLE OF THE OISE.

6. The division participated in the Oise fighting of June, although it did not take a direct part in the opening attack. It supported the effort of the 3d Bavarian Reserve Division, lending some battalions, from which prisoners were taken. About the middle of June the division passed to the second line, rested two weeks, and returned to the Montdidier-Noyon front about June 30.

LASSIGNY.

7. The division remained in line throughout July and encountered the Allied attack of middle August. About August 21 it was withdrawn.

8. Between August 21 and October 7 the division was not satisfactorily identified. Elements were reported near Terguier in September, near Ypres, and in the region of St. Etienne-Arnes.

WOEVRE.

9. The division entered the Woevre line on October 7, near Manheulles, where it remained until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was used during 1918 as a sector-holding division. It took no prominent part in the offensives of the year.

3d Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │5 Res. │2 Res. │5 Res. │2 Res. │5 Res. │2 Res.
│ │9 Res. │ │9 Res. │ │9 Res.
│6 Res. │34 Res. │6 Res. │34 Res. │6 Res. │20
│ │ │ │ │ │ Landst.
│ │49 Res. │ │49 Res. │ │49 Res.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │5 Res. Dragoon Rgt.│5 Res. Dragoon Rgt.│
│ (3 Sqns.). │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │3 Res. F. A. Rgt. │3 Res. F. A. Rgt. │3 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (6 Btries.). │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │2d Pion. Btn. No. │2d Pion. Btn. No.
Liaisons. │ │ 2: │ 2:
│ │ Field Co. 2 Pions.│ 2 Res. Co. 2
│ │ │ Pions.
│ │ 3 Res. Pont. Engs.│ 203 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ 3 Res. Tel. Detch.│ 3 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 3 Res. Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │5 Res. │2 Res. │5 Res. │2.
│ │49 Res. │ │34 Fus.
│ │34 Fus. │ │49 Res.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │1 Sqn. 22 Drag.
│ │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │73 Art. Command: │73 Art. Command:
│ │
│ 3 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 3 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (9 Btries.). │
│ │ 4 Abt. 14 Res. Ft.
│ │ A. Rgt.
│ │ 865 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1177 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1195 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│303 Pion. Btn. (?):│303 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 2 Res. Co. 2 │ 2 Res. Co. 2
│ Pions. │ Pions.
│ 2 Co. 34 Res. │ 203 T. M. Co.
│ Pions. │
│ 203 M. T. Co. │ 196 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 403 Tel. Detch. │403 Signals
│ │ Command:
│ 3 Res. Pont. Engs.│ 403 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 33 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │502 Ambulance Co. │502 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│14 Field Hospital. │14 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│15 Field Hospital. │15 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│16 Field Hospital. │163 Vet. Hospital.
│163 Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │704 M. T. Col. │704 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │154 Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(2d District—Pomerania.)

1914.

EAST PRUSSIA-RUSSIA.

1. At the beginning of the war the 3d Reserve Division, recruited in the 2d District (Pomerania), formed a part of the 8th German Army (Hindenburg). It fought with this army in eastern Prussia; it was engaged in the battle of Tannenberg (Aug. 26–28), in the battles of Biallo, Lyck, Suwalki, and Augustowo (September-October).

1915.

1. In February, 1915, the 3d Reserve Division participated in the battle of the Mazurian Lakes, and in May in the battles on the Polish frontier.

2. During the great offensive of the summer of 1915 the division was engaged in the operations on the Bobr, which resulted in the taking of Ossovietz. In August it fought in the vicinity of Kovno. It participated in the siege of this city (Aug. 13–18) at the battle of Niemen (Aug. 19- Sept. 8). When the front was stabilized it took position to the north of Smorgoni (southeast of Vilna).

1916.

1. The 3d Reserve Division occupied this sector (north of Smorgoni) up to March, 1917. At this time it was placed in reserve in the Vilna sector.

BELGIUM.

2. At the beginning of May, 1917, it was sent to the western front. It entrained May 13 at Soly (east of Vilna), and was transported via Vilna, Wirballen, Gumbinnen, Berlin, Hanover, Aix-la-Chapelle, Liege, Louvain, and Brussels up to Bruges, where it detrained May 18. It was sent to rest in this district until June 4.

3. On this date the division was transported to the district north of St. Quentin and went into the line on the 8th in the Vendhuille- Bellicourt sector (west of Catelet), where it habituated itself to the western front.

1917.

YPRES.

4. The division was relieved the end of July. After having been in reserve for several days it engaged in the battle of Ypres on the Frezenberg front on August 4; here it was severely tried by artillery fire.

5. It was withdrawn from the front August 18 and sent to rest, first at Tournai and later in the Moorslede District.

6. On September 23 it was again sent into the line in the battle of Flanders to the south of Zonnebeke (Polygone wood), and again suffered serious losses on the 26th.

ALSACE.

7. The 3d Reserve Division was relieved September 28 and transported to Alsace (Mulhouse District), where it remained in repose up to the middle of October.

8. About the 10th or 15th of October it occupied the sector north of the canal from the Rhone to the Rhine, and remained there till the end of October.

9. At this time it was withdrawn from the front. It entrained for Metz November 10. In December it was in the vicinity of Sissone.

AISNE.

10. About December 13 it entered the line in the Craonne sector (Juvincourt area). At the beginning of January it took over the neighboring sector (Bouconville).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Very mediocre morale. The 49th Reserve Regiment was very severely tested by losses and desertions to such a point that it had to be returned to the rear after August 18, 1917. September 26 the 8th Company of the same regiment refused to take part in the attack. The relatively high proportion of men of the 2d Landsturm levy may be responsible for these facts, since they formed part of the regiments of the Second District.

According to prisoners captured in February, 1918, the 3d Reserve Division seemed to be of mediocre quality: “6,000 men lost in Flanders, poorly replaced by men 50 per cent of whom were old, many being above 40, and by 30 per cent Poles.”

Nevertheless, despite the mediocrity of its personnel, it must be noted that the 49th Reserve was subjected to a special training for attack troops in November and December.

1918.

LAON.

1. The division held the line in the Craonne sector until about April 20, when it was relieved.

OISE.

2. It reappeared on May 1 near Hainvillers (southeast of Montdidier), where it remained until about June 20. The division was in the thick of the June fighting on the Oise and lost heavily.

3. About June 20 the division went to rest in the region of Guise.

MARNE.

4. The division participated in the fighting between the Marne and Soissons when the Allies delivered their attack on the Marne salient. It relieved the 115th Division at Longpont on July 18 and withstood the attack until July 31. The 49th Reserve Regiment was almost annihilated in the course of the fighting near Mery. The other regiments were reduced to 70–80 rifles per company.

5. Retired from the front on July 31, the division rested at La Capelle until September 1.

CAMBRAI.

6. The division came into line east of Chevisy on September 2. Its composition had been altered by the disbandment of the 2d Reserve Regiment and the addition of the 2d Grenadier Regiment from the 109th Division. The British attack on the Somme of September 12 engulfed the division, which lost 1,300 prisoners.

BELGIUM.

7. It was withdrawn about September 27 and transferred to Belgium, where it entered the line near Dixmude on September 29. It held the line in this sector until October 16, when it passed into the second line for a week’s rest. Returning to line on the 23d, it remained in line until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division is rated as a third-class division. Its morale was on the whole bad. The Polish elements deserted freely. In July pillaging of supply trains was apparently prevalent in the divisional area. Elements of the division refused to fight in the Oise battle in June, and the German command appeared to have confidence in its fighting value.

3d Naval Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────── │ 1917 │ 1918 ─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬───────────── │ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment. ─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────────── Infantry │4 Nav. │1 Mar. │Mar. │1 Mar. │ │2 Mar. │Inf. Brig. │2 Mar. │ │3 Mar. │ │3 Mar. ─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴───────────── Cavalry │ │3 Sqn. 7 Hus. Rgt. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Artillery │9 F. A. Rgt. │2 Matr. F. A. Rgt. │ │925 Light Am. Col. │ │1234 Light Am. Col. │ │1292 Light Am. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Engineers and│1 Co. Mar. Pion. Btn. │115 Pion. Btn. Liaisons │ │ │3 Co. Mar. Pion. Btn. │ 1 Res. Co. 24 Pions. │337 Pion. Co. │293 Signal Command: │165 T. M. Co. │ 293 Tel. Detch. │ │ 66 Wireless Detch. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Medical and │ │610 Ambulance Co. Veterinary │ │ │ │2 Mar. Field Hospital. │ │390 Field Hospital. │ │569 Vet. Hospital. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Transports │ │679 M. T. Col. ─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────── Attached │Coast Defense Btn. │ ─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

1917.

1. The 3d Naval Division was organized in April, 1917. Its Regiments (1st, 2d, and 3d Naval Infantry) were detached from the Naval Corps, before the constitution of the division, to take part in the attacks upon Steenstraat on April 22, 1915, and on the Somme from September, 1916, to April, 1917. Since its formation the 3d Naval Division has scarcely left the coast.

FLANDERS.

2. In August, 1917, the 3d Naval Division occupied the sector of Lombartzyde.

3. In October it was in action on the Ypres front at Poelcappelle.

4. In December it again took over the sector of Lombartzyde.

RECRUITING.

The 3d Naval Division is recruited from the entire German Empire, the naval troops being imperial troops.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Before the war the troops of the 3d Naval Division were landing and occupying troops for the German colonies. They are good units whose recruiting has been kept up to a high standard.

1918.

ALBERT.

1. The division was relieved north of St. Georges about the 1st of March and moved to Valenciennes, where it arrived about the 13th. From March 18 to 23 it moved up to the front by stages via Haussy-Cattenieres- Lesdain. On the 23d it followed up the advance, passing through Fins and Manancourt on the 24th–25th and coming into action at Contalmaison on the 25th. It captured Albert on the 26th. The division held a sector west of Albert until mid-April, and on April 24 returned to its former sector west of Anthuille. It was relieved about the end of May by the 24th Division.

2. On June 20 the division returned to relieve the 24th Division in the Aveluy sector. In mid-July the company strength was low. No drafts had been received recently and sickness was prevalent. This, together with the August spell in line, had considerably reduced the morale of the division. It was relieved on August 19 by the 83d Division.

SCARPE-SOMME.

3. The division rested at Flers for five days, when it came into line west of Grevillers on the night of August 23–24 to reinforce the line. It was withdrawn in a few days (Aug. 26) and rested at Cambrai. Five hundred prisoners were taken from the division in this period.

4. The division rested at Thourout during the first half of September. On the 27th it was engaged west of Marcoing and fought in that area until the end of the month. The total prisoners captured from the division was 700.

5. After two weeks’ rest in the Cambrai area, the division returned to line at Molain on October 17. It fought in the Molain-Catillon area until October 23, when it was relieved by the 19th Reserve Division. On November 1 it was again in line, northwest of the Hattencourt Farm. The last identification was at Any, on November 7.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as third class. Its use in the Somme March offensive and as an intervention division in the Scarpe-Somme battle suggest that the division was a second class division.

4th Guard Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │ │5 Ft. │5 Gd. │5 Ft.
│ │5 Gren. │ │5 Gren.
│ │93 Res. │ │93 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │ │3d Sqn. Gd. Res. Ulan Regt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │ │(z) 2d Gd. Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │6 Gd. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│ │(z) Co. 3 Gd. Pions.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │261 Pion. Co.
│ │4 Gd. T. M. Co.
│ │4 Gd. Pont. Engs.
│ │4 Gd. Tel. Detch.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918[3]
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │5 Gd. │5 Ft. │5 Gd. │5 Ft.
│ │5 Gren. │ │5 Gren.
│ │93 Res. │ │93 Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │2d Sqn. Gd. Res. Drag. Rgt. │2d Sqn. Gd. Res. Drag. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │4 Gd. Art. Command: │4 Gd. Art. Command:
│ 6 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │ 6 Gd. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 3 Abt. 1 Gd. Ft. A. Rgt. (5,
│ │ 6, and 10 Btries.).
│ │ 1208 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1285 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1359 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│106 Pion. Btn.: │106 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 261 Pion. Co. │ 261 Pion. Co.
│ 269 Pion. Co. │ 269 Pion. Co.
│ 4 Gd. T. M. Co. │ 4 Gd. T. M. Co.
│ 315 Searchlight Section. │4 Gd. Signals Command:
│ 4 Gd. Tel. Detch. │ 4 Gd. Tel. Detch.
│ │ 61 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │267 Ambulance Co. │267 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│392 Field Hospital. │392 Field Hospital.
│397 Field Hospital. │397 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │4 Gd. Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │13 Gd. Truck Train. │533 M. T. Col.
│533 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │32 M. G. S. S. Detch. │44 Observation Group.
│70 Anti-Aircraft Section. │72 Sound Ranging Section.
│ │244 Reconnaissance Flight.
│ │20 Balloon Sqn.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
Footnote 3:

According to a document of Aug. 21, 1918.

HISTORY.

1915.

The 4th Guard Division was formed on the Russian front in March, 1915.

RUSSIA.

1. From March 14 to July 12 the 4th Guard Division was in line near Przasnysz. It belonged to Gallwitz’s army, which was operating north of the Vistula.

2. From July 13 to September 28 the division took part in many fights, notably on the Narew, and took part in the pursuit as far as the region of the marshes of Lithuania.