Chapter VIII: Part 8

3. It was sent to the Verdun front and took part in the attack of June 1 on Thiaumont-Damploup in the sector of Bois de la Caillette. Suffered very heavy losses June 2 and 3 and at the attack of Bois de Vaux Chapitre on June 21. Total of losses before Verdun, 8,200 men. On June 16 the companies of the 36th Reserve were reduced to an average of 30 men (prisoners’ statements). From June 1 to 5 the 10th Company of the 72d Reserves received no less than 138 replacements.

ARGONNE.

4. The division was withdrawn from the Verdun front about July 1. Sent to the Argonne and occupied the sector north of Ville sur Tourbe (between Main de Massiges and the Aisne) until the end of August. It was reorganized in this region.

SOMME.

5. After a rest in the vicinity of Longwy it was sent to the Somme and fought in the region of Gueudecourt September 23 to October 11.

ARGONNE.

6. About October 14 the division took over its old sector north of Ville sur Tourbe, south of Cernay en Dormois.

1917.

MEUSE.

1. Withdrawn from the Argonne front about January 8, 1917, and sent, February 5, before Verdun (region of Louvemont, north of Chambrettes), where it was kept until the beginning of April.

2. The division next held the sector of Cernay les Reims at the end of April to May 25.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. About May 30 and 31 it was sent into line before Teton (region of Moronvilliers) until the middle of August.

4. After a rest in the vicinity of Aussonce the division went into line at the beginning of September in the region of Nauroy, sector of Mont Haut-Cornillet. Relieved January, 1918, and sent to rest north of Rethel.

RECRUITING.

Prussian Saxony and part of Thuringia.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

At Tahure in October, 1915, and at Verdun the division obtained only mediocre results in spite of heavy losses. “This division seems to be rather a sector division than a shock unit.”

1918.

RETHEL.

1. On January 14 the division was relieved by the 14th Bavarian Division and sent to Wassigny (north of Rethel) to rest and train. On March 14 it started by night marches toward St. Quentin, bivouacking in the woods by day and avoiding all villages. The itinerary followed was Dezy le Gros- Bucy les Pierrepont-Marle-Origny et Mesnil-St. Laurent, where it arrived March 21.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. From the 22d to the 28th the division was in army reserve. It followed the general advance through Itancourt, Essigny, Grand Serancourt, St. Simon, Golancourt, Muirancourt, and Candor. On March 29 it relieved the 1st Bavarian Division west of Lassigny, where it attacked on the day following. It suffered such heavy losses that it was hastily relieved on the night of March 31-April 1.

AISNE.

3. It came into line near Reims on April 26 relieving the 25th Reserve Division between the Miettl and the Aisne. It took part in the offensive of May 27. About June 1 the division was relieved in the sector east of Ville en Tardenois.

CHAMPAGNE.

4. The division moved to Champagne and relieved the Guard Cavalry Division on July 6. It passed into the second line on July 14 to permit a fresh division to pass through for the attack. It returned to line on the 20th, relieving the 1st Division near St. Hilaire. During July the 66th Reserve Regiment is known to have received drafts, raising the company strength to 100.

SOISSONS.

5. Between August 4 and 20 the exact date is not known, the division was moved from line in Champagne to the front west of Chavigny, where it was engaged on August 24. It took part in heavy fighting in that region until its relief about August 31.

6. The division arrived at Fourmies from Laon on September 8, where it rested and trained until September 17. It entrained at Trelon and moved to Grandpre, from where it marched to the front by way of St. Juvin and Brieulles.

MEUSE-ARGONNE.

7. The division was in line on the day of the American attack September 26, holding the sector immediately west of the Meuse. It was swamped on the opening attack without offering any considerable resistance. It was withdrawn on the 28th, but on October 9 elements were returned to fill a gap in the former sector of the 1st A. H. division. The last elements were finally withdrawn about October 25. The losses of the division in the Argonne are estimated at 3,500, including 2,260 prisoners.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a second-class division. Its efforts in 1918 were generally unsuccessful in spite of heavy losses. By the time of the armistice it had been almost annihilated.

7th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │Mathy │119 Ldw. │52 Ldw. │119 Ldw. │51 Ldw. │119 Ldw.
│ (55). │ │ │ │ │
│ │40 Ldw. │ │121 Ldw. │ │123 Ldw.
│52. │123 Ldw. │ │123 Ldw. │52 Ldw. │121 Ldw.
│ │121 Ldw. │ │ │ │126 Ldw.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │2 Ldw. Sqn. (13 C. │2 Ldw. Sqn. (13 C.
│ │ Dist.). │ Dist.).
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │ │1 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │1 Ldw. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │ │2 Ldw. Co. 13 C.
Liaisons. │ │ │ Dist. Pions.
│ │ │4 Ldw. Co. 13 C.
│ │ │ Dist. Pions.
│ │ │6 Ldw. Co. 13 C.
│ │ │ Dist. Pions.
│ │ │307 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd units. │ │ │1 Cyclist Co.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │13 Balloon Sqn.
│ │ │59 Labor Btn.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │52 Ldw. │122 Res. │52 Ldw. │122 Res.
│ │ │ │
│ │121 Ldw. │ │121 Ldw.
│ │126 Ldw. │ │126 Ldw.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Ldw. Sqn. (13 C. │
│ Dist.). │
│1 Sqn. 20 Uhlan │
│ Rgt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │1 Ldw. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ (except the 3d
│ │ Abt. Staff and 7
│ │ and 9 Btries.).
│ 1 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │1025 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(407) Pion. Btn.: │407 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 2 Ldw. Co. 13 │ 2 Ldw. Co. 13 C.
│ Pions. │ Dist. Pions.
│ 3 Ldw. Co. 13 │ 141 Searchlight
│ Pions. │ Section.
│ 307 T. M. Co. │507 Signal Command:
│ 334 Searchlight │ 507 Tel. Detch.
│ Section. │
│ 507 Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │571 Ambulance Co. │571 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│258 Field Hospital.│258 Field Hospital.
│33 Ldw. Field │33 Ldw. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │47 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │776 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Odd units. │1 Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Thirteenth District—Wurtemberg.)

1914.

ALSACE.

1. The 7th Landwehr Division did not leave Alsace from its organization in 1915 until February, 1917. Its first units appeared there beginning August 9, 1914, the date of the detraining of the 121st Landwehr at Neuf Brisach. The 119th Landwehr fought south of Mulhouse beginning August 19, and the 40th Landwehr at Dornach near Mulhouse on the same day.

2. In October, 1917, the 52d and 55th Brigades, which were to compose in 1915 the 7th Landwehr Division, were part of the Gaede Army Group and occupied the region of Munster, Guebwiller, Cernay.

3. In December the 123d Landwehr took part in the attacks on Hartmannswillerkopf.

1915.

ALSACE.

1. In March, 1915, the 52d Brigade was in line in the valleys of the Fecht and the Lauch. The 119th Landwehr was south of Cernay. In April the 40th Landwehr (Baden) left the division and was transferred for some time to the 6th Landwehr Division (Bavarian).

2. The 7th Landwehr Division then contained the 119th, 121st and 123d Landwehr, to which a fourth regiment was joined, the 126th Landwehr, formed by drafts from the three others. The division, from then on exclusively Wurtemberger, from that time held the sector Wattwiller- Rhone-Rhine Canal (Cernay-Altkirch).

1916.

ALSACE.

1. Cernay-Altkirch sector.

1917.

ALSACE-LORRAINE.

1. The division remained on the Mulhouse front (Cernay-Altkirch) until February 20, 1917. Relieved on that date and sent to Lorraine (Leintrey- Badonviller sector), where it replaced the 33d Reserve Division. It was at this time that the division was decreased to three regiments; its 119th Landwehr and 123d Landwehr were transferred to the 26th Landwehr Division and it obtained the 122d Reserves from the 54th Reserve Division.

RUSSIA-VOLHYNIA.

2. The division left the Lorraine front in the middle of May. Entrained beginning May 14 at Sarrebourg and sent to the Eastern Front via Nurnberg-Warsaw-Lublin-Kovel-Vladimir Volynski. It took over the Kisselin sector (Volhynia).

RECRUITING.

From April, 1915 on, the division was entirely composed from men from Wurtemberg.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

A mediocre division, much reduced by transferring its most energetic units to active regiments and Wurtemberg reserve regiments and receiving in exchange older men.

1918.

UKRAINE.

1. In February, 1918, the 7th Landwehr Division left the Kisselin region and advanced into the Ukraine. “We are going into Russia to succor the Ukrainians,” wrote a man of the 122d Reserve Regiment from the Rovno region on February 26. On April 1, the 126th Landwehr Regiment was identified between Kiev and Odessa; along with the 122d Reserve Regiment it was identified near Odessa on the 9th.

2. On May 11 the division was identified south of Ekaterinoslav and on the 4th of July at Rostov on the Don.

3. The division was reported to have been sent to the Danube front about the middle of October, but it was never actually identified there.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

7th Cavalry Division (Dismounted).

COMPOSITION.

───────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────────────
│ 1918
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┬───────────────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┼───────────────────────
Cavalry. │28 Cav. │11 Uhlan.
│ │15 Uhlan.
│ │4 Res. Uhlan.
│30 Cav. │9 Hus.
│ │15 Drag.
│ │25 Drag.
│41 Cav. │26 Drag.
│ │5 Cuirassier.
│ │4 Uhlan.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┴───────────────────────
Engineers and Liaisons.│19 Pion. Btn. (1, 2, and 3 Cos.):
│ 6 Cav. Pion. Detch.
│ 312 T. M. Co.
│ 186 Wireless Detch.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Medical and Veterinary.│606 Ambulance Co.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Odd Units │10 M. G. S. S. Detch. (1, 2, and 3 Cos.).
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Attached │5 F. A. Rgt. (10 and 11 Btries.).
───────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

1918.

1. The division held the Guebwiller (Alsace) sector until the end of May. It rested in the Saarebourg area until mid-July, when it was railed to Belgium (Courtrai area).

2. After resting near Courtrai for two weeks, the division entrained at Lauwe on August 13 for Armentieres, where it remained until August 23. It went into line in the Kemmel area for three days. The division was then railed back to Tourcoing, from where it was transferred by trucks to Lagnicourt on August 26 and came into line on the following day at Ecoust.

ARRAS-CAMBRAI.

3. In two weeks the division was heavily engaged in the Arras battle. It was relieved on September 9, after losing more than 700 prisoners. The division rested in the Cambrai area until September 22, when it relieved the 1st Guard Reserve Division north of Moeuvres. It was withdrawn on September 30.

BELGIUM.

4. The division entrained at Solesmes on October 5 and detrained at Mouscron. It remained here until October 14, when it moved to Deerlyck, and on the 17th elements counterattacked between Courtrai and Harlebeke. It was engaged until its relief on October 29 by the 49th Reserve Division northwest of Anseghem. The division was considered to be in reserve of the 10th German Army at the time of the armistice.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class. Its use on the Cambrai and Belgium fronts in September and October indicate that it might have been considered a third-class division after its reorganization.

8th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │15. │36 Fus. │15. │36 Fus. │16. │72.
│ │93. │ │93. │ │93.
│16. │72. │16. │72. │ │153.
│ │153. │ │153. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │10 Hus. Rgt. (3 │10 Hus. Rgt. (3 │10 Hus. Rgt. (3
│ Sqns.). │ Sqns.). │ Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │8 Brig.: │8 Brig.: │8 Brig.:
│ 74 F. A. Rgt. │ 74 F. A. Rgt. │ 74 F. A. Rgt.
│ 75 F. A. Rgt. │ 75 F. A. Rgt. │ 75 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 4:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 4:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ Field Co. 4 Pions.│ 2 Co. 4 Pions.
│ │ 8 Pont. Engs. │ 8 T. M. Co.
│ │ 8 Tel. Detch. │ 8 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │ 8 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │72 Anti-Aircraft
│ │ │ Section.
│ │ │7 Balloon Sqn.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │16. │72. │16. │72.
│ │93. │ │93.
│ │153. │ │153.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │10 Hus. Rgt. ( │5 Sqns. 10 Hus.
│ Sqns.). │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │8 Art. Command: │8 Art. Command:
│ 74 F. A. Rgt. │ 74 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 1 Abt. 1 Res. Ft.
│ │ A. Rgt.
│ │ 815 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 983 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1247 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│118 Pion. Btn. or 1│118 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. 4:│
│ 2 Co. 4 Pions. │ 2 Co. 4 Pions.
│ 5 Co. 4 Pions. │ 5 Co. 4 Pions.
│ 8 T. M. Co. │ 8 T. M. Co.
│ 8 Tel. Detch. │ 95 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │8 Signal Command:
│ │ 8 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 95 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │Ambulance Co. │11 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│31 Field Hospital. │36 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │39 Field Hospital.
│ │8 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │72 Anti-Aircraft │
│ Section. │
│ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Fourth District—Prussian Saxony.)

1914.

FRANCE.

1. With the 7th Division, the 8th Division formed the 4th Army Corps. It detrained August 10 to 12 near Dusseldorf and, with that corps, was part of the 1st Army (Von Kluck). Entered Belgium the 15th, passed through Louvain the 19th, and through Brussels the 20th, and executed with the 7th Division an enveloping movement on the left of the Allies. Fought at Solesmes the 26th and arrived east of Coulommiers September 6, from where it was sent in a great hurry to the right of the 1st Army, with the 7th Division (Lizy sur Ourcq-Plessis, Placy, etc.). September 8 the 11th Company of the 93d Infantry was reduced to 96 men (notebook).

2. After the retreat, beginning the 15th, it was engaged against the left wing of the British north of Soissons (battle of the Aisne, Cuffies, Chavigny, Pasly, etc.).

3. At the end of September it went with the 4th Army Corps to Artois with the 6th Army.

4. At the beginning of October it took part in the attacks south of Arras and held the lines near Monchy aux Bois.

1915.

1. The division held the Monchy sector during the first few months of 1915. At the end of May it was relieved from this sector and put in the reserve of the army near Douai after transferring the 36th Fusiliers to the 113th Division, newly formed (March).

2. During the first two weeks of June it went into line in the Souchez sector and opposed the French attacks. Relieved at the beginning of September and became army reserve near Tourcoing and Roubaix.

LOOS.

3. At the battle of Loos during the counterattack the division suffered heavy losses in September and October.

1916.

1. In 1916 until the battle of the Somme the division did not take part in any serious engagements. It was established in the Loos sector. July 3 it left this front for the Somme.

SOMME.

2. In the middle of July it went into battle on the Pozieres-Longueval- Bois Delville front and suffered very heavy losses.

3. Toward the end of July it was relieved and sent to rest in the region of Valenciennes.

4. August 9 it took over a quiet sector before Arras and stayed there about five weeks.

5. About September 18 it again went into the battle of the Somme. It held the Thiepval-Courcelette sector, where it had some hard fighting, which caused it heavy losses.

ARTOIS.

6. October 1 it left this sector to again hold the trenches northeast of Loos.

1917.

1. During the winter of 1916–17 the division had no heavy fighting. However, in April, May, and June it had serious losses due to the many raids executed by the British.

2. Toward the end of July and the beginning of August the division suffered considerably from artillery fire. It was relieved before the attack of the British before Lens.

CHAMPAGNE.

3. August 5 it entrained for Rethel. Rested for some time in the region of Semide, then held the sector west of Butte du Mesnil from August 15 to September 15.

BELGIUM.

4. About September 18 it was sent in the region of Bouziers and October 4 went into line west of Becelaere (Belgium), and shortly afterwards, October 9, south of Hollebeke. It was still there January 20, 1918.

RECRUITING.

Province of Prussian Saxony, Duchy of Anhalt, and part of Thuringia. Same remarks as for the 7th Division. The fluctuations in the resources of the region are evidenced by the following facts: On November 4, 1917, a man came to the 5th Company of the 93d Infantry who was born in 1898 in the Eighth District, was a farmer, and had been called up September 3, having had just two months of training. He was sent by a depot in Cologne.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Since the battles of 1914 the division remained entirely on the offensive. It always defended itself well in attacks and held its positions with tenacity.

During its stay on the Champagne it did not show any activity, but also it had no desertions. It may be said that its morale is good. (September, 1917).

1918.

1. The division was relieved by the 17th Reserve Division in the Hollebeke sector about January 31. It rested and trained near Coutrai during February and until March 7.

2. On March 7 it was engaged west of Zandvoorde, where it was in line until April 11.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

3. The division came into the battle line west of Merville on April 11, which town it captured. About the 23d it passed to the second line.

4. The division rested for two weeks at Canteleu (a suburb of Lille). It returned to a rest camp north of Kemmel about May 12th.

YPRES.

5. It was engaged south of Ypres from May 15 until the 1st of July in the sector, with division headquarters at Halluin.

6. The division rested near Coutrai during July, from where it returned to its former sector south of Ypres on July 26 and was in line until the night of September 17–18.

LE CATELET.

7. It was moved south to relieve the Alpine Corps at Vendhuile, where it came in on September 23. In the fighting the division was driven back by Aubencheul-Villers Cutreaux on Maretz-Clary early in October. After suffering heavy casualties and losing over 400 prisoners, it was withdrawn on October 14.

8. The division rested in the Guise area until October 22.

9. It was reengaged north of Le Cateau on October 22–23, but withdrew about November 1. On the 5th it was identified in line north of Maulde, where it remained until the end.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was regarded as a first-class division. A majority of its men came from the younger classes. Its effectives were high and the morale good. Apart from the Armentieres offensive in April, the division was on the defensive during 1918.

8th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │56 Ldw. │109 Ldw. │56 Ldw. │109 Ldw.
│ │110 Ldw. │ │110 Ldw.
│ │109 Landst. │ │109 Landst.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │2 Ldw. Sqn. 14 C. Dist. │2 Ldw. Sqn. 14 C. Dist.
│ │ (dissolved late 1916).
│ │3 Landst. Sqn. 14 C. Dist.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │Landst. F. A. Abt. (14 C. │8 Ldw. F. A. Regt.
│ Dist.). │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│4 Co. 14 Pions. │4 Co. 14 Pions.
Liaisons. │ │
│2 Res. Co. 14 Pions. │2 Res. Co. 14 Pions.
│ │308 T. M. Co.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │Fribourg Landst. Inf. Btn. │68 Labor Btn.
│ (14 C. Dist. Btn. No. 7). │
│2 Heidelberg Landst. Inf. │Pforzheim Landst. Inf. Btn.
│ Btn. (14 C. Dist. Btn. No. │ (14 C. Dist. Btn. No. 21).
│ 13). │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │56 Ldw. │109 Ldw. │56 Ldw. │109 Ldw.
│ │110 Ldw. │ │110 Ldw.
│ │111 Ldw. │ │111 Ldw.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 5 Horse Jag. Rgt. │1 Sqn. 5 Horse Jag. Rgt.
│ │
│ (?) │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │8 Ldw. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ 8 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │803 Light Am. Col.
│ │1416 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│408 Pion. Btn.: │408 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Res. Co. 14 Pions. │ 1 Res. Co. 14 Pions.
│ 2 Res. Co. 14 Pions. │ 2 Res. Co. 14 Pions.
│ 308 T. M. Co. │ 308 T. M. Co.
│ 305 Searchlight Section. │ 216 Searchlight Section.
│ 508 Tel. Detch. │508 Signal Command:
│ │ 508 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 177 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │559 Ambulance Co. │559 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│321 (?) Field Hospital. │321 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │7 Field Hospital.
│ │563 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │777 M. T. Col. │777 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(Fourteenth District—Grand Duchy of Baden.)

1915.

The 8th Landwehr Division was formed February, 1915, from Baden troops, which entered Alsace at the beginning of the campaign (the 110th Landwehr detrained Aug. 11, 1914, at Neuenburg near Mullheim and the 109th Landwehr on the same date), and the 109th Landsturm organized at the beginning of 1915 from five Baden Landsturm battalions.

ALSACE.

The division held the same sector between Altkirch and the Swiss Frontier from its formation until January, 1917.

1916.

1. In February, 1916, the 109th Landwehr and the 110th Landwehr, which had up to that time remained on the defensive, took part in the attacks between Seppois and Largitzen and against the Scoonholz, northwest of Altkirch. They executed many raids during 1916.

2. The 109th Landsturm, which was in line at one end of the front, was broken up in May, 1916, and replaced in the division by the 111th Landwehr, newly formed, consisting in reality of three Landsturm battalions already stationed in Alsace, of which two were part of the 109th Landsturm (XIV 23 and XIV 25).

COTES DE MEUSE.

About January 23, 1917, the division was withdrawn from the Alsace front and sent to the Cotes de Meuse, where it took over the sector west of Fresnes en Woevre. April 15 the division moved toward the north and held the lines to the Etain-Verdun road.

RECRUITING.

Entirely from Baden.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division was a defense division (May, 1918). Each company had one shock-troop squad per platoon (prisoners’ statements Dec. 8, 1917).

Like the 2d and 7th Landwehr Divisions, but to a smaller degree, the 8th Landwehr Division had some of its men transferred to active units; thus, in November, 1917, it transferred some men to 121st Division, then near it.

1918.

The division continued in the Woevre sector during 1918. Through failure to identify it, it was considered as out of line September 21 and September 25.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

It was rated as a fourth-class division. Its losses apart from the St. Mihiel attack were negligible. In the attack it did fairly well, without heavy loss. The morale was fair.

8th. Bavarian Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │15 Bav. Res. │18 Bav. Res. │15 Bav. Res. │18 Bav. Res.
│ │19 Bav. Res. │ │19 Bav. Res.
│16 Bav. Res. │22 Bav. Res. │16 Bav. Res. │22 Bav. Res.
│ │23 Bav. Res. │ │23 Bav. Res.
│ │ │ Wurtt. Mountain Btn.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Cavalry. │8 Bav. Res. Cav. Detch. │8 Bav. Res. Cav. Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │8 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt. │8 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt.
│9 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt. │9 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│9 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │8 Bav. Res. Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │9 Bav. Res. Pion. Co.
│ │208 Bav. T. M. Co.
│ │8 Bav. Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │8 Bav. Res. Tel. Detch.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │8 Bav. Res. Cyclist Co.
│ │
│ │81 Anti-Aircraft Section.
│ │
│ │6 Bav. Labor Btn.
│ │64 Labor Btn.
│ │69 Labor Btn.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │15 Bav. Res. │18 Bav. Res. │15 Bav. Res. │19 Bav. Res.
│ │19 Bav. Res. │ │22 Bav. Res.
│16 Bav. Res. │22 Bav. Res. │ │23 Bav. Res.
│ │23 Bav. Res. │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │8 Bav. Res. Cav. Detch. │8 Bav. Res. Cav. Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │8 Bav. Art. Command: │8 Bav. Art. Command:
│ 8 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 9 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ 9 Bav. Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 19 Bav. Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ 105 Bav. Light Am. Col.
│ │ 171 Bav. Light Am. Col.
│ │ 172 Bav. Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(20 Bav.) Pion. Btn.: │20 Bav. Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 5 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 8 Bav. Res. Pion. Co.
│ 8 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 9 Bav. Res. Pion. Co.
│ 9 Bav. Res. Pion. Co. │ 20 Bav. Searchlight Section.
│ 208 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 208 Bav. T. M. Col.
│ 3 Bav. Res. Searchlight │408 Bav. Signal Command:
│ Section. │
│ 803 Tel. Detch. │ 408 Bav. Tel. Detch.
│ │ 99 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │18 Bav. Ambulance Co. │18 Bav. Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│30 Bav. Ambulance Co. │65 Bav. Field Hospital.
│55 Bav. Field Hospital. │57 Bav. Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │ │753 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │8 Bav. Res. Cyclist Co. │1 Landst. Inf. Btn. 10 C.
│ │ Dist.
│ │1, 2, and 3 Abtls. 24 Res. F.
│ │ A. Rgt.
│ │69 Ldw. Ft. A. Btn.
│ │14, 33, and 34 Mortar Btries.
│ │52 Searchlight Section.
│ │94 Pion. Btn.
│ │66 Balloon Sqn.
│ │115 Observation Section.
│ │2 Sound Ranging Section.
│ │286 Reconnaisance Flight.
│ │ Elements attached in
│ │ October, 1918.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────

HISTORY.

(19th Bavarian Reserve: First Bavarian District. 22d Bavarian Reserve:
Second Bavarian District. 23d Bavarian Reserve: Third Bavarian
District.)

1915.

ALSACE.

1. The division was organized in January, 1915 (second series of new reserve divisions) and was identified on the front for the first time at the beginning of February, 1915, in the valley of the Lauch and at Hartmannswillerkopf. It fought at the end of February in the region of Munster-Metzeral-Sultzeren. On the 24th it took part in the attack of Reichackerkopf and lost heavily.

2. Since that time and until May the division remained in the same sector of Alsace.

GALICIA.

3. Relieved at the end of May and sent to Galicia, where it became part of the 11th Army and cooperated in the capture of Przemsl June 3.

ALSACE.

4. Returned to the Western Front at the beginning of July and went to rest in the region of Schelestadt (Alsace); then went into line again about July 14 in the valley of the Fecht (Reichackerkopf-Metzeral). It repulsed an attack of the French July 20 at Reichackerkopf.

1916.

ALSACE.

1. The division remained in Alsace, sector of Metzeral-Sondernach, for a year from July, 1915, to July, 1916. During this period it did not take part in any action.

SOMME.

2. About July 10, 1916, it entrained at Mulhouse, Colmar, and Pfaffenheim, south of Colmar, and went to the Somme, south of Péronne, and was in reserve until July 20. July 21 and 22 it was engaged between Maurepas and Guillemont (the 23d Bavarian Reserve was detached and went to the east of Estrees).

3. Relieved August 15 after suffering heavy losses during the attacks of July 30 and August 12. Reorganized in the region of St. Quentin, then went back into line for a short time west of Roye at the beginning of September.

4. Withdrawn from the region of Roye in the middle of September and sent to the Roumanian front October 13 to 23, via Mons-Maubeuge-Namur- Liége—Aix-la-Chapelle-Cologne-Cassel-Halle-Leipzig-Prague-Brunn- Budapest-Arad.

1917.

ROUMANIA.

5. Took part in the operations on the frontier of Transylvania in the region of the Oltu in October to November and in the valley of the Trotus in December.

GALICIA.

2. In July it left Roumania and went to Galicia. At the end of July it was in the region of Nowitza. August 27 it fought at Bojan. In September it was at Czernowitz and went to rest near Radautz in Bukowina beginning September 6. After being reviewed by the Emperor September 27 it was filled up again (men of the 1918 class with less than four months’ training were sent to the 22d Reserve Infantry) and sent to the Western Front.

BELGIUM.

3. It entrained October 15 at Kolomea. Itinerary: Stanislau-Lemberg- Cracow-Leipzig-Northeim-Paderborn-Aix la Chapelle-Liege-Louvain-Malines- Brussels-Bruges, and detrained at Thourout October 23.

4. October 26 the division took over the Aschhoop sector near Dixmude.

RECRUITING.

It seems to come from all over Bavaria.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division had no serious fighting from August, 1916, on. Its losses on the Eastern Front were few. It was trained especially for mountain warfare, and they carried on this sort of warfare for a long time in Alsace, Galicia, and Roumania.

1918.

1. On January 24 the division was relieved at Dixmude and sent to Ghent for rest. From there it was transferred to Courtrai.

BELGIUM.

2. It relieved the 7th Division in the Becelaere sector on February 4, a quiet part at that time, and remained until March 7, when it was in turn relieved by the 7th Division.

BATTLE OF THE LYS.

3. It rested at Ostend until the Lys battle began, when it returned to attack on April 9 in the Estaires sector, which was defended by Portuguese. It advanced toward Calonne sur Lys, where it was withdrawn about April 14. The losses were 50 per cent of the effectives in this fighting.

WOEVRE.

4. Upon relief the division entrained on April 20 at Roubaix and moved to Conflans. On May 11 it relieved the 78th Reserve Division north of Seicheprey. It was in line in this sector until June 27. A draft of 300 men were received late in June.

CHAMPAGNE.

5. The division rested at Conflans until July 4. It was then moved to Wassigny (north of Rethel) on the 5th. It marched toward the front by Herpy and St. Remy July 8 to 14. It was in reserve on July 15 east of Reims, in support of the 15th Bavarian Division. The division was not actively engaged in this offensive.

6. Withdrawn from Champagne, the division marched toward the front south of the Vesle by Warnerville, Soivre, and Jonchery, Vendeuil.

VESLE.

7. It was engaged west of Reims (St. Euphraise, Vrigny) between July 22 and August 8.

8. About August 22 the division arrived in the area northeast of Ath from the Aisne front to refit and train.

ARDENNES.

9. It was engaged west of La Pompelle on September 20, retreating to the Suippe, south of Bazancourt, about October 1, then toward Chateau Porcien and Faizy. It was relieved about October 15.

10. It rested for 10 days at Son and St. Fergeux, receiving 150 to 200 men per regiment as drafts.

11. On the 25th the division returned to line in the Chateau Porcien sector. It retired in November by Son, Chappes, Dommely, and La Romagn, where it was last identified on November 7.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a first-class division, though it was considered as a shade under the class of the best divisions. It fought hard on the Lys, losing but 1 prisoner. It was not used later as an attack division. The morale was good.

8th. Cavalry Division.

COMPOSITION.[7]

───────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────────────
│ 1918
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┬───────────────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┼───────────────────────
Cavalry. │39 Cav. │Guard Reiter.
│ │17 Uhlan.
│40 Cav. │Karabinier.
│ │21 Uhlan.
│38 Cav. │2 Jager.
│ │6 Jag.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┴───────────────────────
Artillery. │12 Horse Art. Det.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Engineers and Liaisons.│Pion. Detch.
│8 M. G. Btry.
│260 Searchlight Section.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Medical and Veterinary.│54 Field Hospital.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Attached. │44 Cav. Brig.:
│11 Horse Jag. Rgt.
│9 Res. Uhlan Schutzen Rgt.
│87 Cav. Schutzen Rgt.
│89 Cav. Schutzen Rgt.
│7 Landst. Inf. Rgt.
───────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────────

Footnote 7:

At the time of its dissolution, April, 1918.

HISTORY.

1918.

The division continued on the Eastern Front, employed in small police detachments, until about April 1, when it was dissolved.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a fourth-class division.

9th Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │17. │19. │17. │19. │18. │7 Gren.
│ │58. │ │58. │ │19.
│18. │7 Gren. │18. │7 Gren. │ │154.
│ │154. │ │154. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │1 Uhlan Regt. │ │1 and 2 Sqns., 1
│ │ │ Uhlan Regt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │9 Brig.: │9 Brig.: │9 Brig.:
│ 5 F. A. Rgt. │ 5 F. A. Rgt. │ 5 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ 41 F. A. Rgt. │ 41 F. A. Rgt. │ 41 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. │1 Pion. Btn. No. 5:
Liaisons. │ │ 55: │
│ │ Field Co. 5 Pions.│ 1 Co. 5 Pions.
│ │ 9 Pont. Engs. │ 9 Pont. Engs.
│ │ 9 Tel. Detch. │ 9 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 9 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │37 Searchlight
│ │ │ Section.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │18. │7 Gren. │18. │7.
│ │19. │ │19.
│ │154. │ │154.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 1 Horse Jag.│2 Sqn. 1 Horse Jag.
│ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │9 Art. Command: │9 Art. Command:
│ 5 F. A. Rgt. │ 5 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ (except 4 Abt.)
│ │ 2 Abt. 6 Res. Ft.
│ │ A. Rgt. (5, 6,
│ │ and 12 Btries.).
│ │ 907 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1175 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1201 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│120 Pion. Btn.: │120 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Co. 5 Pions. │ 5 Co. 5 Pions.
│ 5 Co. 5 Pions. │ 1 Co. 5 Pions.
│ 9 T. M. Co. │ 9 T. M. Co.
│ 304 Searchlight │ 194 Searchlight
│ Section. │ Section.
│ 9 Tel. Detch. │9 Signal Command:
│ │ 9 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 53 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │14 Ambulance Co. │14 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│45 Field Hospital. │48 Field Hospital.
│48 Field Hospital. │52 Field Hospital.
│52 Field Hospital. │9 Vet. Hospital.
│9 Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │542 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │37 Searchlight │
│ Section. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Fifth District—Lower Silesia.)

1914.

COTES DE MEUSE.

1. The 9th Division with the 10th Division, formed the 5th Army Corps (Posen), and at the beginning of the war was part of the 5th Army (German Crown Prince). Detrained August 9 to 10 in annexed Lorraine, near Bouzonville, and fought August 22 at Virton. After a number of marches and countermarches in Woevre, it established itself during the first days of September with the 10th Division in a sector of Cotes de Meuse (Calonne trench). It remained there about two years from September, 1914, to September, 1916, with rest billets in the villages of the Woevre at the foot of the hills (Thillot, Woël, Hannonville, etc.).

1915.

LES EPARGES.

1. In the spring of 1915 it took part in the battles of Les Eparges where it suffered heavily. In March it transferred its 58th Infantry to the 119th Division, newly formed, which was operating in Galicia beginning with April.

1916.

VERDUN.

1. At the beginning of September, 1916, the division was withdrawn from the sector of Calonne trench and relieved the 14th Bavarian Division in the woods of Vaux Chapitre (Verdun). In this last sector it suffered huge losses. October 24, 1916, it lost 700 men captured.

2. Relieved at the beginning of November and reorganized with men of all ages from depots of the Fifth District.

3. November 4 it entrained behind Douaumont; was sent to the Aisne and put in the line November 8 in the sector of Nouvron, where it remained until the middle of February, 1917.

1917.

COTES DE MEUSE.

1. Entrained at Laon during the last two weeks of February, 1917, and sent to Vigneulles, via Charleville-Conflans-Chambley; and again went into the sector of Calonne trench between February 18 and the end of April.

CALIFORNIE PLATEAU.

2. Relieved at the end of April and sent from Mars la Tour-Vigneulles (via Conflans-Sedan-Liart) to the region of Rozoy sur Serre. After a few days’ rest in the vicinity of Sissonne it was engaged beginning May 6 in the attacks on the plateaus of Vauclerc and Californie, where some of its regiments suffered heavy losses, especially on the Winterberg.

3. Beginning May 18 the division did not attack any more but merely held the sector (Californie-Chevreux les Courtines). However, our attack of May 22 to 24 caused it heavy losses.

4. At the end of May the 9th Division was replaced by the 41st Division. It received reinforcements. (The 19th Infantry received 200 men June 14. About May 25, 60 men of the 1918 class were sent to the 6th Company of this regiment.) From May 13 to June 13 the 10th Company of the 154th Infantry received 68 men at least, most of them of the 1918 class.

5. About June 17–18 the division appeared in the sector of Juvincourt, where it attacked on the night of August 4–5 without success. Relieved about September 8 without having losses in this last sector.

CHEMIN DES DAMES.

6. During September it was sent to rest in the region of Pierrepont- Missy-Liesse. Engaged in the sector of Bovettes-Pargny-Filain from October 23 to 27 and withdrawn from this front at the beginning of November after some of its regiments had suffered heavy losses during the battle of October 23 to 25.

7. About the middle of November the division went to the sector of Chevregny, after a rest of about two weeks in the region of Laon, during which it was filled up again. It held this sector until the beginning of December. December 8 it was in the vicinity of Laon. January 11, 1918, some of the units were at Liesse.

RECRUITING.

The division (Fifth District) was recruited in Lower Silesia, where the German population is much more numerous than the Polish population. Although it received men from the Second and Third Districts in 1913 and men from the Seventh District in 1916, it could without great difficulty get all its men from its original territory. Its replacements come almost entirely from Lower Silesia, and in emergency from Silesia. It is more homogeneous than the 10th Division, where the Polish elements have to be balanced off by Germans.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

Among the various German units which were engaged in front of Verdun and at Californie Plateau, the 9th Division was one of those which showed the least resistance.

1918.

1. The division was relieved on the Chemin des Dames front on December 29 and went to rest and train in the Guise area until the middle of March, when it proceeded to the battle front.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

2. It was at Marcyon March 20. On the 21st it followed up the attack without being engaged through Happencourt, Artemps, Tugny, Dury, Pithon, Ham, and Nesle (Mar. 25). It was engaged on the 26th near Roye and advanced by Montdidier to west of Mesnil-St. Georges March 27–28. Its attack of March 30 on Ayencourt-Royancourt met with heavy losses.

MONTDIDIER.

3. The division was withdrawn on April 1 for a short rest, during which it received a draft of 400 men. It returned to line southwest of Montdidier and was in line from April 5 to 8.

4. Until the 18th it was in reserve near La Boissiere and later near Nesle until April 24.

5. It rested near Hirson and Vervins during May, again receiving drafts to the number of 300 men.

BATTLE OF THE AISNE.

6. On May 20 it marched by night stages to the Aisne front, passing through Froidmont, Verneuil sur Serre, and Bruyeres. On the opening day it advanced in reserve by Presles, Monampteuil, and Pargny Filain. It was engaged on the 28th at Sancy-Vregny and advanced in the first line south of Soissons, Venizel, Missy sur Aisne, Courmelles, Noyant, Chazelle, and Poisy (May 30). Its losses in front of Chazelle were particularly heavy. It was relieved on June 8. An official German document gives the division losses between May 28 and June 2 as 96 officers and 2,830 men.

7. It rested in the vicinity of Rethel and Novion-Porcien (June 15 to July 7) and reconstituted by drafts. It moved toward the Aisne front on July 10, going into reserve northeast of Rheims for a week. Alerted on the 17th it moved to Oulchy le Chateau.

SECOND BATTLE OF THE MARNE.

8. The division was engaged near Hartennes and Varcy from July 20 to August 2. It was driven back on Fismes on that date and relieved the next day.

9. In August it rested and trained near Vailly and in the vicinity of Laon. After the 24th it was north of Rheims.

CHAMPAGNE.

10. The division was engaged east of La Pompelle from September 20 to the beginning of October. On the 3d it was forced back on Isles Bazancourt, and later to Nanteuil sur Aisne. On October 17 it was relieved.

11. Two days later it was entrained for Flanders, but at Mons directed toward Avesnes and La Capelle.

12. Its last engagement was north of Guise from October 21 to November 4; then near Novin and Avesnes. 1,800 prisoners were taken on November 4.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as a first-class division. Its performance in 1918 was not of the best, however. It was engaged in the Somme, Aisne, and Marne actions without winning special credit. Discipline was reported to be lax, and morale poor at the end.

9th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │17 Res. │6 Res. │17 Res. │19 Res. │17 Res. │6 Res.
│ │7 Res. │ │7 Res. │ │19 Res.
│ │19 Res. │ │6 Res. │ │102
│ │ │ │ │ │ (Ldw.).
│ │5 Res. │ │5 Res. │ │5 Res.
│ │ Jag. │ │ Jag. │ │ Jag.
│ │ Btn. │ │ Btn. │ │ Btn.
│ │ │ │ │ │98 Res.
│ │ │ │ │ │395.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3 Res. Dragoon Rgt.│ │3 Res. Dragoon Rgt.
│ (3 Sqns.). │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │9 Res. F. A. Rgt. │9 Res. F. A. Rgt. │9 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (6 Btries.). │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Co. 2 Pion. Btn.
Liaisons. │ Btn. No. 5. │ Btn. No. 5 │ No. 5.
│2 Res. Co. 2 Pion. │2 Res. Co. 2 Pion. │2090 T. M. Co.
│ Btn. No. 5. │ Btn. No. 5 │
│ │9 Res. Pont. Engs. │9 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │9 Res. Tel. Detch. │9 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │18 Res. │6 Res. │18 Res. │6 Res.
│ │19 Res. │ │19 Res.
│ │395. │ │395.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │1 and 3 Sqns. 3 │3 Sqn. 3 Res. Drag.
│ Res. Dragoon Rgt.│ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │97 Art. Command: │97 Art. Command:
│ │
│ 9 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 9 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (9 Btries.). │
│ │ 29 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ (Staff and 1 and
│ │ 3 Btries.).
│ │ 735 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1287 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1361 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│309 Pion. Btn.: │309 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 4 Co. 55 Pions. │ 4 Co. 5 Pions.
│ │
│ 1 Res. Co. 18 │ 1 Res. Co. 18
│ Pions. │ Pions.
│ 209 T. M. Co. │ 209 T. M. Co.
│ 409 Tel. Detch. │ 29 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │409 Signal Command:
│ │ 409 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 28 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │519 Ambulance Co. │519 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │13 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │25 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│ │409 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │708 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Fifth District—Posen.)

1914.

The division was part of the 5th Reserve Corps with the 10th Reserve Division.

MEUSE-WOEVRE.

1. At the beginning of the war it belonged to the 5th German Army (Imperial Crown Prince). Concentrated in the region of Sarrebruck and crossed the southern part of Belgian Luxemburg; fought August 22 near Ville en Montois and September 1 in the region of Consenvoye-Flabas, and was kept east of the Meuse near Sivry September 2. Toward the end of September and the beginning of October the division sent a few units to the left bank of the Meuse (Forges-Malancourt-Chattancourt). The division established itself in Woevre during the last two weeks of October and at the beginning of November in the region Etraye-Wavrille- Romagne, where it did some fighting at Maucourt November 10.

FLANDERS.

2. About November 13 the division was sent from the region of Verdun to Flanders. Some units of the division fought near Poelcappelle and south of Bixschoote in support of the 3d Reserve Corps. It suffered very heavy losses.

3. Again sent to Woevre during the month of December.

1915.

WOEVRE.

1. In January, 1915, the division held the region Gincrey-Etrain-Warcq. It remained in this section during the whole of 1915 and until the end of February, 1916. In April it transferred its 7th Reserve Infantry to form the 121st Division.

1916.

VERDUN.

1. A few days before the Verdun offensive (end of February, 1916,) the regiments of the division were relieved. The 6th Reserve and the 19th Reserve organized with their best units one attack battalion each. These battalions took part with the 15th Army Corps in the violent action at the beginning and suffered heavy losses.

2. March 7 its units were reorganized behind the front and the division advanced through Maucourt-Ornes and established itself north of Vaux. March 9 and 10 the three regiments of the division attacked successfully the village and fort of Vaux. They were repulsed nearly everywhere with very heavy losses.

3. About March 12 the division was relieved from before Vaux and sent to rest in the region of Senon-Amel.

4. Went back into line about March 20 south of Damploup. It did not attack any more, but bombardments caused it heavy losses.

5. Relieved about the end of April and sent to rest in the vicinity of Saverne (Alsace) until June 12.

CHAMPAGNE.

6. About June 20 it went into line in Champagne (sector of Souain- Tahure) but did not take part in any important action.

SOMME.

7. Withdrawn from the front about September 20 or 25 and sent to the Somme. Engaged between the eastern limit of Bouchavesnes and the main Péronne road until October 18. It had a few losses.

8. After a period of rest, probably in the vicinity of Vouziers, it was again sent to the Somme, first behind the front southeast of Bapaume December 1, then about December 17 in line in the sector of Bouchavenes- Bois de St. Pierre-Vaast until February, 1917.

1917.

1. In February, 1917, the division held on the Somme the sector north of the Ancre—south of Achiet le Petit.

2. Withdrawn from the front about March 10 and sent to rest in the region of Cambrai, and was established on a new front about March 20 west of Catelet near Gouzeaucourt, Villers Guislain.

ARTOIS.

3. About April 15 it was relieved and went into line south of the Scarpe, northeast of Monchy le Preaux, from the beginning of May till the beginning of June.

FLANDERS.

4. It was again at the front east of Armentieres from the middle of June till about July 10, then after a rest in the vicinity of Ghent it was in line on the Ypres road at Menin, east of Klein-Zillebeke, from August 10 to September 25, and fought especially on the 20th, on which date it suffered heavily. The 11th Company of the 6th Reserve Infantry was reduced to 20 men, and the 12th to 27. The 19th Reserve Infantry had the same losses. The 3d Company of the 395th Infantry lost half of its men. (Summary of information Sept. 21 and Oct. 24, 1917.)

CAMBRAI.

5. Reorganized in the region of Cambrai and from that time on held various sectors of this front. It fought November 23 to 30 at Banteux, Masnières, and in December south of Marcoing. In January, 1918, it was at La Vacquerie and was relieved there February 21.

RECRUITING.

The Province of Posen, with a few units from other districts, for example the ninth, to reduce the proportion of Poles.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division fought well in many battles at the end of 1917, especially east of Ypres and before Cambrai.

1918.

BATTLE OF PICARDY.

1. The division reinforced the front southwest of Cambrai on March 22 and advanced by Montauban-Maricourt to west of Albert. It was relieved about the 1st of April. After losing heavily in the offensive it was withdrawn.

LENS.

2. It came into line in the quiet sector near Lens about April 10, relieving the 12th Reserve Division. On the 23d it shifted its sector south to Avion. The 12th Reserve Division returned from the Lys front to relieve it on about April 29.

3. The division moved north and entered the battle line in the Festubert sector on April 29. It continued in this sector until September 27, effecting only local reliefs. It reentered at once at Marcoing on September 29. A month later it arrived at Ath from line and went into line on November 2 at Hermes. The last identification was at Ellezelle on November 10.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.