Chapter V: Part 5

3. Withdrawn from the front and reached Kovno on foot, where it entrained for the Western Front on October 10 via Koenigsberg, Luebeck, Hamburg, Aix-la-Chapelle, Namur. Detrained at Douai and sent to rest.

FRANCE.

4. From November 14 to 26 it occupied a sector near Arras, then went to rest near Cambrai.

5. From December 15, 1915, to January 4, 1916, it built entrenchments in the region of Wytschaete-Messines.

1916.

1. During January and February, 1916, the 4th Guard Division continued its entrenching work in the sector Wytschaete-Messines and held the sector at the same time.

2. Until the end of April, 1917, the 4th Guard Division, together with the 1st Reserve Guard Division, formed the reserve corps of the guard. Both these divisions were put through a course of training with a view to active operations.

3. From May 9 to July 23 the division remained in line northeast of Neuville-St. Vaast.

SOMME.

4. Engaged in the battle of the Somme July 25 (Estres sector), suffered heavy losses and was withdrawn August 19. Engaged again after a few days of rest and fought some severe local battles until September 10 (Thiepval sector).

5. After seven days of rest behind the Flanders front it held a quiet sector north of Ypres from September 17 to October 25.

6. From November 6 to 25 it was again sent to the Somme, where it was subjected to several heavy local attacks (Warlencourt sector).

1917.

1. Remained in the Warlencourt sector until March 17, 1917. It was relieved immediately after it had retired to the Hindenburg line.

LENS.

2. After three weeks’ rest in the region of Tournai it was sent by stages to the south of Lens, where it went back in the lines. It suffered considerable losses there. Withdrawn from the front July 11.

3. At rest in the region of Pont-a-Vendin and Meurchin. On August 15 the division was hurried up to the north of Lens. It attacked to regain the lost ground but in vain. Its losses were extremely heavy.

4. The division stayed in line until September 15.

FLANDERS.

5. At rest for a week behind the front. Entrained September 23 and 24 at Carvin for Flanders.

6. It was at first in the reserve of the army, but went into line September 27 east of Zonnebeke. After one of its regiments had attacked and was stopped by the British artillery fire (Oct. 22), the division obtained replacements and on October 4 renewed its attempt to retake the heights lost on September 26. Warned by a British attack, they became demoralized and fled in disorder toward Becelaere. The losses of the 4th Guard Division were so heavy that it had to be relieved on October 5 to 7.

7. Entrained for Guise and arrived there October 10. Went into line on the 14th in the sector of Itancourt, southeast of St. Quentin, and was still holding it in December. Its forces were much reduced by the attacks in Flanders and were reinforced by neighboring units (13th Landwehr Division).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Formerly an excellent combat unit, having that traditional esprit de corps which animated the regiments of the Prussian Guards. At the present time (November, 1917) it has lost a good part of its fighting value. It seems to have been much weakened by the battle of Ypres (October, 1917).

1918.

GUISE.

1. The division rested during January near d’Origny Ste. Benoite (west of Guise).

SOMME.

2. On February 4 the division came into line northwest of Bellenglise. It was relieved about the middle of February.

3. Upon relief, it marched via Bohain to St. Souplet, near Le Cateau. Here the division underwent a course of training in this area until March 18, when it marched via Bohain-Brancourt-Montbrehain-Ramicourt back to its old sector at Bellenglise, arriving in line March 20.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

4. The division attacked in the first line and advanced by Hesbecourt March 21–26. Passing into support for eight days it was reengaged April 3–8 near Bouzencourt and le Hamel, suffering very heavy losses. Between the 8th and the 24th the division rested. It was in line again near Marcelcave from the 22d to the end of April, participating in the attack at Villers-Bretoneaux on the 24th. Heavy losses were again sustained.

5. Again the division went to rest at St. Souplet, near le Cateau. The 2d Battalion of the 427th Regiment, dissolved, arrived as a reinforcement for the division on May 27. The division was moved by rail to Flavy le Martel on night of June 1. It marched by nights to Canny sur Matz (by Golancourt, Guiscard, and Candor) and entered the line on the night of June 8–9.

BATTLE OF THE OISE.

6. The division attacked on the 9th between Roye sur Matz and Canny sur Matz. It penetrated by Marquelise to Antheuil. The French counterattack threw it back north of Antheuil on the 11th. The division stayed in line until the 19th.

LORRAINE.

7. After resting at Bohain until June 29 the division was moved to Lorraine by Valenciennes-Brussels-Namur-Saarburg. Here it was rested and reconstituted.

8. The division returned by rail to Athies sur Laon on July 22. From there it marched to Mousey sur Aisne by stages and then in trucks to Mareuil en Dole on July 25.

BATTLE OF THE MARNE, VESLE, AISNE.

9. The division was engaged July 27 southeast of Fere en Tardenois. It fell back toward Fismes on August 1–2, from where it was shifted into the Courlandon-Breuil sector, which it held from August 14 to the beginning of September. On the 5th it moved to the south of Glennes, remaining there until the 30th, when it fell back across the canal. The division was relieved on October 2, but turned back to line on the 5th to cover the retreat near Benu au Bac. On the 7th it went to rest for a week.

ARDENNES.

10. Reengaged west of Chateau Porcien from October 14 to November 5. The 93d Regiment was mentioned in the German communique of November 2 as fighting especially well. In the retreat the division passed through Renneville and Rubigny, where it was last identified on November 11.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was always regarded as a first-class fighting division, although the losses on the Somme in March and the setback on the Oise in June lowered its value. Constant fighting impaired the morale and kept the effectives low, but the division was always to be included in the first-class divisions.

4th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │7. │14. │7. │14. │7. │14.
│ │149. │ │149. │ │149.
│8. │49. │8. │49. │8. │49.
│ │140. │ │140. │ │140.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │12 Drag. Rgt. (v. │12 Drag. Regt. │
│ Arnim). │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │4 Brig.: │4 Brig.: │4 Brig.:
│ 17 F. A. Rgt. │ 17 F. A. Rgt. │ 17 F. A. Rgt.
│ 53 F. A. Rgt. │ 53 F. A. Rgt. │ 53 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 2:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 2:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ Field Co. 1 Pion. │ 2 Co. 2 Pions.
│ │ Btn. No. 2. │
│ │ 4 Pont. Engs. │ 4 T. M. Co.
│ │ 4 Tel. Detch. │ 4 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │ 4 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │8. │14. │8. │14.
│ │49. │ │49.
│ │140. │ │140.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3d Sqn. Horse Gren.│2 Sqn. 3 Horse
│ Rgt. │ Gren. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │4 Art. Command: │4 Art. Command:
│ 53 F. A. Rgt. │ 53 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 48 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ 939 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 945 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1319 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│114 Pion. Btn.: │114 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 2 Co. 2 Pions. │ 2 Co. 2 Pions.
│ │
│ 5 Co. 2 Pions. │ 5 Co. 2 Pions.
│ 2 Co. 114 Pions. │ 4 T. M. Co.
│ 4 T. M. Co. │ 55 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 7 Searchlight │ 4 Signals Command:
│ Section. │
│ 4 Tel. Detch. │ 4 Tel. Detch.
│ 4 Pont. Engs. │ 72 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │6 Ambulance Co. │6 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│17 Field Hospital. │17 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │19 Field Hospital.
│ │131 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │8 Truck Train. │537 M. T. Col.
│9 Truck Train. │
│537 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │Construction Co. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Second District—Pomerania.)

1914.

FRANCE.

1. At the beginning of the campaign the 4th Division fought on the Western Front until November, 1914. It detrained at Rheydt on August 9 and 10, and entered Belgium on the 14th and France on the 25th. Fought at Sailly-Saillisel on the 28th; reached Grand-Morin September 5 and fought at Acy en Multien on the 6th. After retreating to the north of Soissons it remained south of Roye from the end of September to the end of October, and was near Ypres in November.

RUSSIA.

2. Sent to Russia and took part in the second offensive on Warsaw.

1915.

1. In January it took part in the battles of Bolimow. In February it went to the Carpathians (Army of the South under Linsingen). Took part in the offensive on Lemburg.

2. About September 27, 1915, it was relieved in the region south of Baranovitchi and entrained at Kobryn for the Western Front.

FRANCE.

3. It arrived in the vicinity of Sedan at the beginning of October. After a few days’ rest it marched to the north of Tahure.

4. On October 30 the division took part in the attack of Butte De Tahure and suffered severe losses.

5. At the beginning of November it left Champagne for the region of Reims where its units went into the trenches on November 8. Until the beginning of April, 1916, it held the sector northwest of Prunay.

1916.

1. At the beginning of April the division was sent to rest in the vicinity of Rethel. During this period (Nov. 15 to Apr. 16) its losses were light.

VERDUN.

2. At the beginning of May the division was sent to the region of Verdun. On May 4 it took part on the attack on Hill 304, where it suffered heavy losses.

3. Relieved May 15 and sent to rest in the region of Mouzon-Carignan, from where it went to the region of Damvillers.

4. At the beginning of July it was sent to hold the sector of Thiaumont at the moment when the French recommenced their offensive in that region. Its losses were very heavy.

5. On August 3 it left Thiaumont for the region of Cumieres, on the left bank of the Meuse (Aug. 5).

6. At the end of September it held the sector Malancourt-Avocourt.

7. Relieved at the end of October and trained at Dun. After a short rest it went into line in December northeast of Vaux.

1917.

1. The division remained in the Vaux sector until April 17.

2. It relieved the 10th Reserve Division in the region of Satigneul (night of Apr. 15–16) a few hours before the beginning of our attack. It remained in this sector until May 5 and was subjected to French attacks of April 16 and May 4.

3. Beginning May 5, it was relieved and went into camp in the region of Caurel.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. On May 7 and the following days it went into the sector of Grille Mont Haut and held this until June 19.

5. The division was put in reserve on this date in the region Epove- Warmeriville.

6. Went into line in the sector Moronvilliers (July 19 and days following) until the end of October.

BELGIUM.

7. At the end of October it entrained at Juniville and went to Belgium, where it held the sector Poelcapelle until November 24.

8. It went into line again east of Armentieres on November 30 and was still in that sector on January 11, 1918.

RECRUITING.

In spite of heavy losses suffered several times, it would seem that they wished to keep up the Pomeranian character of the 4th Division, although it received in September, 1915, some men of the 1915 class from Hesse- Nassau, and later on a number of Brandenburgers and Silesians, as the third and sixth districts often furnished their ratio to the districts temporarily out of men. A great majority of men, however, came from Pomerania, and as the resources of this Province in men are limited it was necessary, to keep up the provincial composition of this division, to draw from the Landwehr depots and the battalions of Pomeranian Landsturm. Since it was impossible to maintain the quality of the division, it seems that they were anxious to maintain its nationality.

VALUE.

The 4th Division was always a very good division and gave proof of very fine military qualities in all the battles in which it took part, especially in the sector of Sapigneul during the offensives of April 16 and May 4, 1917. It would seem that the nature of the replacements they received, especially the most recent ones, has considerably altered the value of this division.

1918.

1. The division was relieved from the front of Armentieres on January 23, and went to rest and instruction in the Oisene area (southwest of Deyuze). After four weeks the division entrained at Roubaix on March 16 and detrained at Douai on the following day. Hence it marched by stages to Neuville St. Remy, a suburb of Cambrai. The division was concentrated south of Inchy on the night of March 20–21.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. Engaged on March 21, the division advanced by Doignies and Herrnies. It passed to rest on the 24th and was reengaged from March 26 to April 6 at Miraumont, Hebuterne, and Colincamps. The division suffered very heavy losses in the engagement.

3. Relieved from the Hebuterne front on April 6, the division rested two weeks in the Bapaune-Cambrai area. The division moved north to the Lys front via Douai-Lille.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

4. The division was in line west of Merville from April 23 to May 14.

5. While at rest north of Tournai, the division was reconstituted and prepared for another heavy engagement.

6. The division entrained for Loos on June 30 and moved on to Sailly sur la Lys on July 18.

THE LYS WITHDRAWAL.

7. The division came into line near Merris on July 27. It lost 500 prisoners south of Meteren on August 18. On the 30th the division fell back on Bailleul and later to Bac St. Maur and Fleurbaix. It was relieved at Fleurbaix on October 11.

8. The division rested from the 11th to the 21st near Denain.

9. Again the division was engaged to the east and northeast of Solesmes and near Le Quesnoy, retreating to Beaurain, Ghissignies, and Ruesnes. It passed in the second line on November 1, but came back to the line south of Le Quesnoy about November 5. It retreated by Locquignol toward Maubeuge, where it was last identified on November 9.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 4th Division was a very good division. In 1918 its morale was mediocre, due to the young recruits.

4th Ersatz Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │9 Ers. │9, 10, │9 Ers. │9, 10, │9 Mixed │359.
│ │ 11, and│ │ 11, and│ Ers. │
│ │ 12, │ │ 12, │ │
│ │ Brig. │ │ Brig. │ │
│ │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │
│ │ Btns. │ │ Btns. │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │360.
│ │ │ │ │13 Mixed │361.
│ │ │ │ │ Ers. │
│ │ │ │ │ │362.
│13 Ers. │13, 14, │13 Ers. │13, 14, │ │
│ │ 15, and│ │ 15, and│ │
│ │ 16, │ │ 16, │ │
│ │ Brig. │ │ Brig. │ │
│ │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │
│ │ Btns. │ │ Btns. │ │
│33 Ers. │33, 34, │33 Ers. │33, 34, │ │
│ │ 35, 36,│ │ 35, and│ │
│ │ and 81,│ │ 81, │ │
│ │ Brig. │ │ Brig. │ │
│ │ Ers. │ │ Ers. │ │
│ │ Btns. │ │ Btns. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │Ers. Detchs. of the│Ers. Detchs. of the│4 Ers. Cav. Sqn.
│ 9, 13, and 33 │ 9, 13, and 33 │
│ Ers. Brigs. │ Ers. Brigs. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │1 Ers. Abt. of the │1 Ers. Abts. of the│90 F. A. Rgt.
│ 18 and 39 F. A. │ 18 and 39 F. A. │
│ Rgt. │ Rgt. │
│1 Ers. Abts. of the│1 Ers. Abts. of the│91 F. A. Rgt.
│ 40 and 75 F. A. │ 40 and 75 F. A. │
│ Rgt. │ Rgt. │
│1 Ers. Abts. of the│1 Ers. Abts. of the│
│ 45 and 60 F. A. │ 45 and 60 F. A. │
│ Rgt. │ Rgt. │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│1 Ers. Co., 3 │1 Ers. Co., 3 │303 Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ Pions. │ Pions. │
│1 Ers. Co., 4 │1 Ers. Co., 4 │304 Pion. Co.
│ Pions. │ Pions. │
│1 Ers. Co., 9 │1 Ers. Co., 9 │305 Pion. Co.
│ Pions. │ Pions. │
│ │ │161 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │1 Res. Co., 25 │103 Antiaircraft
│ │ Pions. │ Section
│ │ │2 Res. Co., 25
│ │ │ Pions.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │13 Ers. │360. │13 Ers. │214 Res.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │361. │ │360.
│ │362. │ │362.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │Ers. Cav. Detch. │3 Sqn. 10 Hus. Rgt.
│ (3d C. Dist.). │
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │139 Art. Command: │139 Art. Command:
│ │
│ │
│ 90 F. A. Rgt. │ 90 F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │ 119 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │
│ │
│ │ 1052 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1059 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1323 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│504 Pion. Btn.: │504 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 304 Pion. Co. │ 304 Pion. Co.
│ │
│ 305 Pion. Co. │ 305 Pion. Co.
│ │
│ 161 T. M. Co. │ 161 T. M. Co.
│ 251 Searchlight │ 59 Searchlight
│ Section. │ Section.
│ 554 Tel. Detch. │554 Signal Command:
│ │ 554 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 123 Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │64 Ambulance Co. │64 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│135 Field Hospital.│135 Field Hospital.
│136 Field Hospital.│136 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │136 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │762 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(360th and 361st: Fourth District—Prussian Saxony. 362d: Ninth
District—Schleswig—Holstein.)

1914.

The 4th Ersatz Division was organized in August, 1914, by grouping together brigade Ersatz Battalions coming from the Third, Fourth, and Ninth districts (Brandenburg Prussian-Saxony, Mecklenburg, Schleswig- Holstein, and Hansa towns).

LORRAINE.

1. Detrained August 18 at Teterchen (Lorraine) and at the battle of the 20th the division was in the rear of the 2d Bavarian Corps. It fought on the 22d along the Marne-Rhine Canal between Einville and Dombasle, retreated on the 23d, suffered heavy losses on the 25th at Mazerulles, and engaged only a few units of its 9th Brigade in the attack on Nancy in September.

2. On September 15 the division went to rest west of Delme. On the 23d it entrained at Rening (Sarralbee-Benestroff line), passed through Metz, Luxemburg, Arlon, Marche, Liége, Louvain and detrained September 25, 1915, at Brussels.

BELGIUM.

3. From there it went to Bruges (Oct. 14), then Ostend (Oct. 16). On the 17th by the road along the coast it marched from Ostend to Nieuport (Oct. 30). It then went into the line in front of the Belgians on the right bank of the Yser (November).

1915.

DIXMUDE.

1. Remained in the sector north of Dixmude during the whole of 1915.

2. At the end of July, 1915, the brigade Ersatz Battalions of the division were grouped into regiments. The 4th Ersatz Division was made up of the 359th, 360th, 361st and 362d Infantry. With the 37th Landwehr Brigade and the 2d Reserve Ersatz Brigade (Basedow Division) it constituted the Werder Corps (December).

1916.

1. The division was kept in the region of Dixmude until April, 1916.

2. After April a part of the division was sent east of Ypres between the Ypres-Roulers Railway and the Comines Canal. Some of the units of the division remained in line near Dixmude.

SOMME.

3. About September 27 the division left Belgium for the Somme, where it was engaged during the first two weeks of October near Le Sars.

4. On October 15 it returned to Belgium and went back to the sector east of Ypres in November.

5. Sent to rest about November 30 and sent back to the Somme south of Bapaume, about the middle of December.

1917.

1. Remained south of Bapaume (Le Transloy-Gueudecourt) until the end of February, 1917.

2. About the middle of March it relieved the 14th Bavarian Division in the same sector at the beginning of the retirement of the German troops, withdrew to the east of Bertincourt, via Neuville-Bourjonval, Metz en Courtuere, and fought on the Trescault-Havricourt line (April).

ARTOIS.

3. Relieved about April 26 or 28 and sent north of the Scarpe about May 10. Engaged near Roeux until about May 18 and suffered heavy losses (more than 800 prisoners).

4. At the end of May it was sent to the Eastern Front. The 361st Infantry entrained May 26 at Vitry en Artois, via Paderborn-Halle- Leipzig-Dresden-Breslau-Lemburg.

GALICIA.

5. Until July the division remained in reserve in Galicia with the Bothmer army.

6. In July it held the sector south of Brzezany. Took part in the offensive against the Russians, and in September was near Radautz, where it remained until December. Due to some of its forces being transferred to other organizations more than to its losses, the companies of the 362d Infantry from August to October, had fallen from 120 men to 70 (examinations of Russians).

FRANCE.

7. Relieved December 4 and entrained the 16th for the Western Front, via Lemberg-Cracow-Breslau-Berlin-Hanover-Aix la Chapelle-Brussels-Courtrai- Tournai. Detrained the 26th.

RECRUITING.

360th Infantry: Brandenburg and Prussia Saxony. 361st and 362d Infantry: Prussia Saxony, Hanover, Schleswig-Holstein and Hansa towns.

VALUE.

A fairly good division.

1918.

LA BASSEE.

1. The first entry into line of the division was on January 18 in the sector south of the La Bassee Canal, relieving the 6th Bavarian Division.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

2. On the 5th of April the division crossed north of the canal and attacked in the Gorre-Givenchy-Festubert region. Seven hundred prisoners were lost on April 9, besides heavy casualties. The division was relieved on April 20–21.

WOEVRE.

3. The division was moved to the region south of Metz for a rest. About May 18 it took up a sector south of Les Esparges, which it held until about June 13.

4. After resting near Conflans until June 25, it entrained in the Woevre and moved by Sedan-Charleville to the region east of Laon, arriving on June 28. It proceeded to the line by the road through Fismes.

AISNES-MARNE.

5. The division was engaged at Bussiares, Torcy, and Hautevisnes between June 30 and July 18. It met the attack of July 18 and was thrown back toward Oulchy le Chateau. On the 24th it was relieved.

6. The division rested at Perthes for a week and then moved to Novy. It entrained at Amagne on August 12 and traveled to Ostrecourt, where it remained for two weeks. On August 28 it occupied the Dricourt-Queant line astride the Arras-Cambria road.

SECOND BATTLE OF PICARDY.

7. Engaged on the 29th, the division came in for some heavy fighting. It was thrown back on Dury (Sept. 2) and after losing 1,650 prisoners was relieved on September 5.

8. The division rested until the middle of September. The 214th Reserve Regiment coming from the dissolved 46th Reserve Division, replaced the 361st Regiment.

9. The division was engaged near the La Bassee Canal from September 16 to October 1. It rested until the 16th, when it was reengaged southwest of Lille. In the retreat it fell back by Wavrin, Seclin, Cysoing, Ere, Mons and Blaugies. The last identification was at Boussu on November 9.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a third-class division. At no time in 1918 did it distinguish itself, especially not in the Lys battle. Before the July 18 attack, the infantry effectives of the division numbered about 3,200. In October the battalions were reduced to three companies.

4th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │22 Ldw. │11 Ldw. │22 Ldw. │11 Ldw. │22 Ldw. │11 Ldw.
│ │51 Ldw. │ │51 Ldw. │ │51 Ldw.
│23 Ldw. │22 Ldw. │23 Ldw. │22 Ldw. │23 Ldw. │22 Ldw.
│ │23 Ldw. │ │23 Ldw. │ │23 Ldw.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │Ers. Cav. Rgt. of │Ers. Cav. Rgt. of │Ers. Cav. Rgt. of
│ the 4 Ldw. Div. │ the 4 Ldw. Div. │ the 4 Ldw. Div.
│ (4 Sqns.). │ │
│2 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. (3│ │
│ Sqns.). │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │4 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │4 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │4 Ldw. F. A. Rgt.
│ (Ers. Abtls. 6, │ │
│ 42, and 56 F. A. │ │
│ Rgt.). │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│1 Ers. Co. 6 Pions.│1 Ers. Co. 6 Pions.│1 Ers. Co. 6 Pions.
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ │2 Ers. Co. 6 Pions.
│ │ │
│ │ │304 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │21 Mixed Ers. Brig.│ │
│ (21, 22, 23, 24, │ │
│ and 78, Brig. │ │
│ Ers. Btns.) Dis. │ │
│ in Sept. │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918[4]
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │22 Ldw. │11 Ldw. │22 Ldw. │ (?)
│ │23 Ldw. │ │23 Ldw.
│ │51 Ldw. │ │51 Ldw.
│ │404. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 4 Drag. Rgt.│
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │4 Ldw. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ (Staff, 2 Abt.
│ │ Staff and 5 and 6
│ │ Btries.).
│ 4 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │
│ (9 Btries.). │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(404) Pion. Btn.: │2 Ers. Co. 6 Pions.
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Ers. Co. 6 │504 Signals
│ Pions. │ Command:
│ 2 Ers. Co. 6 │ 504 Tel. Detch.
│ Pions. │
│ 304 T. M. Co. │
│ 25 Light Fortress │
│ Searchlight │
│ Section. │
│ 323 and 332 │
│ Searchlight │
│ Sections. │
│ Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │236 Ambulance Co. │236 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│19 Ldw. Field │19 Ldw. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│20 Ldw. Field │504 Vet. Hospital.
│ Hospital. │
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │785 T. M. Co. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │7th Munster Landst.│
│ Inf. Btn. (7 C. │
│ Dist. Batn. No. │
│ 69) arrived from │
│ 3 Ldw. Div. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
Footnote 4:

The elements below are those grouped in the 4th Landwehr Division
Postal Zone. Other elements belonging to the 4th Landwehr Division but
operating in other sectors (Nov. 13) are listed as attached to the
divisions they are operating under.

HISTORY.

(Sixth District—Silesia.)

1914.

At the beginning of the war the 4th Landwehr Division, with the 3d Landwehr Division, formed the 2d Landwehr Corps (former 7th Landwehr Corps), which was engaged on the Eastern Front.

POLAND.

1. The 4th Landwehr Division at the beginning of September, 1914, took part in the battle of Tarnowka with the 3d Landwehr Division, then in the operations before Warsaw and the retreat following the enveloping movement of the Russians at Lodz. In December it was located between the Vistula and Pilica (at Czenstochow, Dec. 1; near Kielce, Dec. 28).

1915.

1. Until July, 1915, the division remained on the Polish front (left bank of the Vistula) between Radom and Gravowiec.

BARANOVITCHI.

2. Took part in the offensive against the Russians, which carried it through the region of Baranovitchi in July to August.

1916.

1. Held the front northeast of Baranovitchi from September, 1915, until the beginning of 1918. In 1916 it contributed drafts to the 420th Infantry.

1917.

1. Sector of Baranovitchi. The division had many of its forces transferred to the Western Front: In November, 1917, for the 52d Division; in February, 1918, for the 5th Reserve Division, but during 1917 it was reinforced by the 404th Infantry, coming from the 18th Landwehr Division.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Mediocre.

1918.

UKRAINE.

1. At the beginning of April, 1918, the 4th Landwehr Division marched into Russia. On the 14th of April, the 11th Landwehr Regiment was near Minsk; and at the beginning of May it was east of Kiev, along with the 404th Regiment.

2. On June 15 the 23d and 51st Landwehr Regiments were identified near Ochra.

3. A man of the 51st Landwehr Regiment wrote on October 23: “The latest news is that the 4th Landwehr Division is going into France.” The division was still in Russia on October 28 and was never identified on the Western Front.

4th Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │7 Bav. │5 Bav. │7 Bav. │5 Bav. │7 Bav. │5 Bav.
│ │9 Bav. │ │9 Bav. │ │5 Bav.
│ │ │ │ │ │ Res.
│5 Bav. │5 Bav. │5 Bav. │5 Bav. │ │9 Bav.
│ Res. │ Res. │ Res. │ Res. │ │
│ │8 Bav. │ │8 Bav. │ │
│ │ Res. │ │ Res. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │5 Bav. Light Cav. │ │5 Bav. Light Cav.
│ │ │ (3 Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │4 Bav. Brig.: │4 Bav. Brig.: │4 Bav. Brig.:
│ │ │
│ 2 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 2 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 2 Bav. F. A. Rgt.
│ 11 Bav. F. A. Rgt.│ 11 Bav. F. A. Rgt.│ 11 Bav. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│2d Field Co. │2d Field Co. │2d and 5th Field
Liaisons. │ │ │ Cos.
│2 Bav. Pion. Btn. │2 Bav. Pion. Btn. │2 Bav. Pion. Btn.
│ │4 Bav. Pont. Engs. │4 Bav. T. M. Co.
│ │4 Bav. Tel. Detch. │4 Bav. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │4 Bav. Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │35 Labor Btn.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │7 Bav. │5 Bav. │7 Bav. │4 Bav.
│ │5 Bav. │ │5 Bav.
│ │ Res. │ │
│ │9 Bav. │ │9 Bav.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3 Bav. Light Cav. │5 Sqn. 3 Bav. Light
│ (5th Sqn.). │ Cav. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │4 Bav. Art. │4 Bav. Art.
│ Command: │ Command:
│2 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 2 Bav. F. A. Rgt.
│11 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 2 Abt. 4 Bav. F.
│ (?). │ A. Rgt.
│ │ 122 Bav. Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 134 Bav. Light
│ │ Am. Col.
│ │ 135 Bav. Light
│ │ Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│6 Bav. Pion. Co. │8 Bav. Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│9 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 6 Bav. Pion. Co.
│4 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 9 Bav. Pion. Co.
│4 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ 14 Bav. T. M. Co.
│ │ 4 Bav. Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │4 Bav. Signal
│ │ Command:
│ │ 4 Bav. Tel. Detch.
│ │ 108 Bav. Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │5 Bav. Ambulance │5 Bav. Ambulance
Veterinary.│ Co. │ Co.
│11 Bav. Field │11 Bav. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │12 Bav. Field
│ │ Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │684 Bav. M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Second Bavarian District—Bavaria and Lower Franconia.)

1914.

1. At mobilization the 4th Bavarian Division, with the 3d Bavarian Division, formed the 2d Bavarian Army Corps. It transferred its 8th Brigade (Metz Garrison) to the 33d Reserve Division and replaced it by the 5th Bavarian Reserve Brigade, organized in the Palatinate. The other brigade, the 7th, detrained, commencing August 3, between Morhange and Remilly. The reserve brigade detrained August 10 at St. Avold. Assembled the 18th in the rear of the Metz-Strasbourg Railroad and with the 2d Bavarian Army Corps constituted the 6th Army (Crown Prince Ruprecht of Bavaria).

LORRAINE.

2. On August 20 it fought west of Morhange. Then it captured the fort of Manonviller (with the 22d Bavarian of the 3d Bavarian Division) and advanced to Mortagne, south of Luniville. September 11 it was withdrawn to the rear.

SOMME.

3. September 18 the division entrained at Metz for Namur, from where it went to the north of Peronne (Sept. 25). It then became part of the 2d Army and fought from September 26 to the middle of October in the region north of the Somme (Fricout, Mametz, Montauban).

FLANDERS.

4. During the third and fourth weeks of October (beginning the 23d) it went to Flanders (6th Army) south of Ypres. It held the sector of Wytschaete from November 14 to October 15 and was on the defensive. November 9 the 5th Infantry was reduced to less than 800 men (notebooks).

1915.

In March, 1915, the 8th Reserve Infantry was transferred from this division to the 10th Bavarian Division.

ARTOIS.

1. September 26, 1915, some of its units fought on the Loos-Hulluch front at the time of the British attack. In the counter attack, during which these troops retook ditch No. 8, they suffered severe losses.

In November the whole division was in the region of Loos south of Hulluch, where it stayed until August 16. In this sector it carried on mine warfare. About the end of April, 1916, it lost 1,100 men while attempting a gas attack.

1916.

SOMME.

1. Toward the end of August, 1916, the division was sent to the Somme.

2. It was engaged between Martinpuich and Longueval, where it fought violent battles for the Bois Haut (Aug. 25–28 to Sept. 15). Its total losses were 5,361 men, or 60 per cent of its effectives.

FLANDERS.

3. Again sent to Flanders and held the sector northeast of Armentieres (east of the Bois de Ploegsteert) from October 16 to June 17.

1917.

1. In June, 1917, while still in line in front of Bois de Ploegsteert, it was in part subjected to the British attack against Messines ridge, and suffered especially from the artillery preparations. It lost 200 prisoners.

2. Relieved from the Belgian front about June 16 and sent to rest in the region of Audenarde until July 7.

3. Beginning July 9, it was engaged southeast of Armentieres (between the Lys and Wez-Macquart) July and August.

4. Withdrawn from the Armentieres sector in the middle of September and went into line northeast of Ypres, between Zonnebeke and Passchendaele, from September 26 to October 27. Suffered heavy losses (30 per cent of its forces).

LORRAINE.

5. October 11 entrained at Pitthem and went to Conflans the 13th from where it went into line in the region of Thiaucourt (Limey sector). It was there still in February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

Lower Franconia and Bavarian Palatinate.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 4th Bavarian Division went through some very severe offensive and defensive fights and came through them with honors.

The prisoners examined gave proof of vigor and tenacity if not of intelligence. As soon as it is filled up again this division shall again take its place on the most effective fronts (December, 1917).

It is to be noted that February, 1918, it is not yet completely filled up and does not seem to be in shape for an offensive.

1918.

1. The division remained in the quiet Thiaucourt sector until late March when it was relieved by the 40th Division. On April 14 it entrained at Nancieulles and traveled via Audun le Romain-Longuyon-Sedan-Charleville- Hirson-Avesnes-Denain-Orchies to Rouchin. It marched to Armentieres, arriving on April 16, and proceeded to reserve near Bailleul on the following day.

KEMMEL.

2. On the 23d of April the division came into line northeast of Dranoutre, suffered heavy losses about here, and was relieved about May 1.

3. The division rested until June 11 in the north of France. During this time it was reviewed by the King of Bavaria and Prince Franz. The division commander was decorated.

FLANDERS.

4. It returned to line near Merris about June 11. It continued in line, suffering heavy losses until July 10.

5. The division rested out of line until August 17.

6. It was reengaged on August 17 east of Bucquoy, coming from Lille via Cambrai Velu Beugny. It was withdrawn from the battle north of Bapaume on August 25, after losing 1,600 prisoners.

7. The division rested near Tourcoing until late in September.

8. On September 29 the division was identified in line in Champagne, north of Maure. Its composition had been changed by the disbandment of the 5th Bavarian Reserve Regiment and the substitution of the 4th Bavarian Regiment from the dissolved 14th Bavarian Division. The division continued on this front, with short periods in the second line, until November 4. It was identified north of Marvaux (October 4), near Monthois (October 11), between Namdy and Falaise (October 19). The division was considered in reserve 3d Army between November 4 and the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was of the first quality. It saw heavy fighting and showed itself very aggressive in attack and tenacious in defense. The extensive replacements which have been necessary did not improve the morale, but due to the high quality and spirit of the organization, it was always to be considered as a first-class division.

4th Cavalry Division (Dismounted).

COMPOSITION.

───────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────────────
│ 1918
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┬───────────────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┼───────────────────────
│39 Cav. │38 Ldw. Inf. Rgt.
│ │40 Ldw. Inf. Rgt.
│ │9 Res. Schutzen Uhlan
│ │ Rgt.
│ │89 Schutzen Rgt.
│ │87 Schutzen Rgt.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┴───────────────────────
Engineers and Liaisons.│2 Ldw. Pion. Co., 14 C. Dist. Pions.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Medical and Veterinary.│99 Ambulance Co.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Attached. │Landst. Inf. Btns.
│VII-54 Munster.
│XIV-14 Bruchsae.
│IV-15 Jorgan.
│XVI-7 2d Saarlouis.
│XIV-51st Offenburg.
───────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

1918.

1. The 4th Cavalry Division entrained in the Riga region on the 1st of April, 1918, for the Western Front. It detrained at Molsheim in Alsace on April 7, and went into line near the Ban de Sapt (Vosges). The division had recently been reorganized. During April a report was received stating that Lieut Gen. von Krame, commander of the 39th Cavalry Brigade, had been decorated. The division continued to hold the Alsace sector until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

5th Guard Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │2 Gd. │3 Ft. │2 Gd. │3 Ft.
│ │3 Gren. │ │3 Gren.
│ │20. │ │20.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 2 Gd. Uhlan Rgt. │1 Sqn. 2 Gd. Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │5 Gd. Art. Command: │5 Gd. Art. Command:
│ 4 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │ 4 Gd. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 1 Abt. 1 Gd. Res. Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt.
│ │ 1180 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1181 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1203 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│100 Pion. Btn.: │100 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 4 Gd. Pions. │ 4 Gd. Pion. Co.
│ 1 Gd. Res. Pion. Co. │ 1 Gd. Res. Pion. Co.
│ 9 Gd. T. M. Co. │ 9 Gd. T. M. Co.
│ (?) 28 Searchlight │ 195 Searchlight Section.
│ Section. │
│ 5 Gd. Tel. Detch. │5 Gd. Signal Command:
│ │ 5 Gd. Tel. Detch.
│ │ 149 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │3 Ambulance Co. │3 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│8 Field Hospital. │8 Field Hospital.
│9 Field Hospital. │9 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │5 Gd. Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │680 M. T. Col.
│680 Divisional M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Odd units. │Field Recruit Depot No. │
│ 815. │
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Attached. │3 Abt. 43 Res. F. A. Rgt. │
│2 Abt. 3 Bav. Ft. A. Rgt. │
│2 Abt. 11 Res. Ft. A. Rgt. │
│2 Abt. 21 Ft. A. Rgt. │
│3 Btry. 57 Ldw. Ft. A. Rgt.│
│5 Btry. 57 Ldw. Ft. A. Rgt.│
│6 Btry. 57 Ldw. Ft. A. Rgt.│
│10 Btry. 13 Res. Ft. A. │
│ Rgt. │
│11 Btry. 13 Res. Ft. A. │
│ Rgt. │
│6 Btry. 17 Bav. Ft. A. Rgt.│
│464 Ft. A. Btry. │
│4 Co. 8 T. M. Btn. │
│3 Co. 8 T. M. Btn. │
│1 Co. 5 Road. Const. Btn. │
│ No. 72. │
│3 Co. 166 Labor Btn. │
│43 Res. Pion. Co. │
│199 Signal Btn. │
│307 Signal Btn. │
│2 Field Signal Co. │
│60 Balloon Section. │
│114 Supply Train. │
│21 Munition Train. │
│181 Munition Train. │
│190 Munition Train. │
│374 Munition Train. │
│517 Munition Train. │
│560 Supply Train. │
│50 Supply Train. │
│1 Field Bakery. │
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────

HISTORY.

1917.

Organized in February, 1917, from regiments transferred from already existing units (3d Foot Guards, transferred from the 1st Guard Division; 3d Grenadier Guards, transferred from the 2d Guard Division; 20th Infantry, from the 212th Division, previously belonging to the 6th).

CRAONNE.

1. It appeared for the first time in line about March 20 between Craonne and Hurtebise, where it suffered heavy losses, April 16 to 18.

2. Relieved May 4 and went to a calm sector in the region of Preqmontreq.

3. About June 5–6 it was sent to rest in the region north and northwest of Laon. June 20 it was located in the region of Sissonne, where it remained until July 7.

CALIFORNIE PLATEAU.

4. On the night of July 7–8 it arrived in this sector. It executed a violent attack on July 19 and again suffered heavy losses. Relieved July 27.

5. Reinforced by drafts from depots in Brandenburg and rested in the region of Mauregny en Haye and Barenton sur Cerre, and then went through a methodical and intensive training at the camp at Chivy les Etouvelles.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

6. About August 20 it relieved the 43d Reserve Division on the Chemin des Dames between Panthéon and La Royere; suffered considerable losses during the French offensive of October 23.

7. In the region of Vervins at the beginning of November, with its battalions greatly reduced.

8. Went into line near Hargicourt at the end of November.

RECRUITING.

The 20th Infantry (3d Brandenburg) was a regiment from the Province of Brandenburg.

The 3d Foot Guards and the 3d Grenadier Guards were drawn not only from Brandenburg, but generally from the Kingdom of Prussia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 5th Guard Division must be considered one of the best divisions of the German Army. Its regiments are extremely good.

The Division had been brought to the Aisne to retake the Californie Plateau, and it showed wonderful energy in this work (July 19, 1917). October 23, 1917, at the Chemin des Dames, in spite of its great losses and of the fact that the 1918 class formed about 20 per cent of its effectives, the division showed great resistance, and left only a comparatively small number of prisoners in our hands (about 300).

1918.

1. The division arrived at Fourmies on January 10 for training and maneuvers. About February 14 it marched to Avesnes, where it rested until March 5. It then marched to St. Quentin by night marches, passing through Homblieres, Dallow, Happencourt, Tugny, and crossed the Crozat Canal between Ham and St. Simon on March 23.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. On the night of the 23d it relieved the 45th Reserve Division in front of Golancourt, where it met a lively resistance. From the 24th to the 27th it was in army reserve resting in the region Golancourt le Plesses Patte d’Oie. On the 28th it moved

by Flavy le Meldux, Ecuvilly, Catigny, Candor, and entered line west of Lassigny on the 29th, relieving the 1st Bavarian Division. On the 30th it attacked west of the Roye sur Matz railroad but was stopped by our counterattacks. Until April 10 the division was in line at Beuvraignes and at Roye sur Matz. On the 8th it received 400 men, mostly of the 1919 class, in reinforcements.

3. Withdrawn from line on April 4, the division moved by degrees to the northeast of Laon on April 24, where it was reorganized, reinforced, and rested near Rozay sur Serre. By night marches it moved to the Aisne front and entered line on May 26, between Corbeny and the Californie Plateau.

BATTLE OF AISNE.

4. It fought in the offensive from May 27 to 30, advancing by Guyencourt, Fismes, Crugny, Cierges, and Vincelles. Between May 31 and June 7 it was in reserve at Coulonges, Sergy, Beuvardes, Grisolles, and Sommelous. The division was reengaged northwest of Chateau Thierry on June 7 against the American 2d Division.

CHATEAU THIERRY.

5. In the three weeks the division was in the Torcy-Hautevesnes sector it lost most heavily. Several companies of the 20th Regiment were annihilated on June 8–9; the others were reduced to 30–40 rifles. The division lost about one-half its effectives in this period.

6. It was withdrawn about June 30 and reconstituted in reserve of the Torcy sector near Coincy from July 1 to 17.

BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

7. The division came back on the 18th and engaged in rear-guard fighting near Monthiers and Grisolles. It was engaged on defensive works near Blanzy les Fismes from July 29 to August 8.

8. It rested in the region of Bruyeres from August 2–8, when it was transported to Belgium by Marle-Hirson to rest. On the 31st it was alerted and entrained, the regiments following with a day’s interval by Mauberg-St. Quentin, detraining at Laon and Crepy en Laonnois. From that point it moved by foot to Vauxaillon front.

AISNE-AILETTE.

9. On September 3 the division relieved the 238th Division east of Louilly. In the succeeding days it suffered very heavily. It was relieved on September 16.

10. The division left the Laon area on September 16 and detrained that night at St. Juvin, where it rested until September 24. The heavy losses of the division were made good while there.

ARGONNE.

11. It entered the line opposite the American 1st Army on September 27 in the region of Montblainville. After heavy losses, which caused a partial disintegration of the division, it withdrew on October 8. The 3d Guard Grenadier Regiment was practically destroyed in this fighting.

WOEVRE.

12. It was transported to the Woevre and on October 19 was engaged east of Verdun at Chatillon sous les Cotes. Here it remained until the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a first-class division, but after its rough handling in the Hautevesnes-Torcy sector it lost much of its value as an attack division.

Both on the Aisne in September and in the Argonne the division’s losses were extremely heavy. Battalions were reduced to three companies in October. By the 20th of October the remnants of the companies were combined to make one.

5th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │9. │8 Body │9. │8 Body │10. │8 Body
│ │ Gren. │ │ Gren. │ │ Gren.
│ │48. │ │48. │ │12 Gren.
│10. │12 Gren. │10. │12 Gren. │ │52.
│ │52. │ │52. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3 Hus. Rgt. (3 │ (?) │3 Hus. Rgt. (3
│ Sqns.) │ │ Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │5 Brig.: │5 Brig.: │5 Brig.:
│ 18 F. A. Rgt. │ 18 F. A. Rgt. │ 18 F. A. Rgt.
│ 54 F. A. Rgt. │ 54 F. A. Rgt. │ 54 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 3:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 3:
Liasions. │ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ Field Co. 3 Pions.│ 1 Co. 3 Pions.
│ │ 5 Pont. Engs. │ 5 Pont. Engs.
│ │ 5 Tel. Detch. │ 5 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 5 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │Field M. G. Co. of
│ │ │ the 10 Brig.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │10. │8 Body │10. │8 Body
│ │ Gren. │ │ Gren.
│ │12 Gren. │ │12 Gren.
│ │52. │ │52.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3 Hus. Rgt. (?). │3 Sqn. 3 Hus. Rgt.
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │5 Art. Command: │142 Art. Command:
│ 18 F. A. Rgt. │ 18 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 67 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ (Staff and 1, 2,
│ │ and 3 Btries).
│ │ 848 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 879 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 792 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│116 Pion. Btn. │116 Pion. Btn.:
Liasions. │ (formerly 1 Pion.│
│ Btn. No. 3): │
│ 1 Co. 3 Pions. │ 1 Co. 3 Pions.
│ 2 Co. 3 Pions. │ 2 Co. 3 Pions.
│ 5 T. M. Co. │ 14 Bav. Pion. Co.
│ 319 Searchlight │ 5 T. M. Co.
│ Section. │
│ 5 Tel. Detch. │ 35 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 99 Searchlight │5 Signal Command:
│ Section. │
│ │ 5 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 29 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │9 Ambulance Co. │9 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │27 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │26 Field Hospital.
│ │5 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │11 Supply Train. │538 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │M. T. Col. │
│ │
│M. G. S. S. Detch. │
│ No. 5. │
│68 Anti-Aircraft │
│ Sect. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Third District—Brandenburg.)

1914.

FRANCE.

1. The 5th Division with the 6th Division formed the 3d Army Corps. At the beginning of the campaign it was part of the 1st Army (Von Kluck). It detrained near Aix la Chapelle August 9 and 10, entered Belgium the 14th, and passed through Louvain the 19th. Took part in the battle of Charleroi and the battle of the Marne (at Sancy and Cerneux, Sept. 6), then in the battles between the Aisne and the Marne in September, and was finally stabilized between the Aisne and the Oise, in the region Vailly and Soissons.

1915.

1. Battle of Soissons (Jan. 13).

2. About June 10 the 5th Division was no longer a part of the 1st Army. July 1 it was sent to Douai, and about July 14 held the sector before Arras.

3. September 25, 1915, took part in the attacks in Champagne.

BELGIUM.