defensive works in the Wytschaete-Messines sector; it also held a sector
in that region. At the same time it underwent a course of training in
the neighborhood of Cambrai.
ARTOIS.
3. The beginning of May the division took over the sector south of
Neuville-St. Vaast.
SOMME.
4. At the end of July it was engaged on the Somme (Belloy-Barleux).
5. After August 19 it spent some days at rest near Cambrai, and came
back into line until September 8 between the Mouquet Farm and
Martinpuich. It suffered local attacks, in which it was constantly
pushed back with heavy losses.
FLANDERS.
6. After a rest in the neighborhood of Cambrai it was sent to a calm
sector to the north of Ypres, near the Ypres-Pilkem road.
SOMME.
7. November 5 the division returned to the Somme (Warlencourt) where it
spent the winter of 1916–17.
1917.
SOMME.
1. In March, 1917, the 1st Guard Reserve Division commenced the
withdrawal movement on the Hindenburg Line, leaving prisoners in rear-
guard actions (PysGrevillers region). It was withdrawn from the front
about March 20 to go to rest near Tournai.
2. The 1st Guard Reserve Division and the 4th Guard Division then became
independent divisions.
ARTOIS.
3. April 25 the division took over the Oppy-Gavrelle sector and fought
off the British attacks.
4. Relieved the beginning of May, it was sent to rest at Templeuve, and
was later employed in the construction of defensive works near Cambrai
(May).
FLANDERS.
5. The 1st of June it was carried to Tourcoing, and from there to
Warneton, June 8 it went into line to the east of Messines, where it
relieved the 3d Bavarian Division, very much worn out the day before. It
was itself withdrawn as early as the 12th.
ARTOIS.
6. The division then went back to Artois and held the Moeuvres-Pronville
front (June 21–22 to Aug. 16) taking part in no important action.
LENS.
7. After some days rest at Douai, it became reengaged August 21, on the
Lens front, in a series of very heavy conflicts following the attack of
August 15. The 64th Reserve Infantry Regiment was particularly
exhausted. Gas attacks caused it to suffer equally heavy losses in
September and December.
8. The division remained in this sector until the end of 1917. In
November it sent some elements to reinforce the Cambrai front against
the British attack.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The division was recruited in all provinces of Prussia, like the rest of
the Guard. Despite their numbers, the 64th and 93d Reserve Infantry
Regiments do not come (to any considerable extent) from the 3d and 4th
Corps Districts. The 93d Reserve Infantry Regiments came from what was,
before its dissolution, a “guard landwehr battalion (Magdeburg)” (seal
of pay book).
The 1st Guard Reserve Division is not above the average German division
in value. The Alsatians in its ranks were withdrawn and sent to Russia
in 1916, but there are still numerous Poles, who do not constitute an
element of strength. It seems much less to be feared than most of the
Prussian organizations that do not have the “Litze” (braiding), less,
too, than the Wurttemburgers of the 13th Corps District and the better
Bavarian troops. (British document, February, 1918.)
1918.
LENS.
1. The 1st Guard Reserve Division was relieved in the Lens sector by the
220th Division the first of the year and was withdrawn, remaining at
rest in this region until it relieved the 220th Division, February 4.
CARVIN.
2. The division was relieved by the 220th Division February 20 and went
to the Carvin area, where it went through a course of training in open
warfare so as to become the assault division of the Souchez Group.
SOMME.
3. The opening day of the March 21 offensive the division was identified
at Lagnicourt (northeast of Bapaume). It was very probably “leap-
frogged” by some other division the next day, but it reappeared the 27th
near Bucquoy, in a straight line with the advance taken as a whole. It
suffered exceedingly heavy losses, finally having to utilize its
pioneers as Infantry.
LA BASSÉE.
4. April 20 the division was withdrawn from the Somme front and marched
to Givenchy (just north of the La Bassée Canal) the next day, where it
relieved the 4th Ersatz Division. It fought there until about May 21,
giving a good account of itself, considering its weakened condition, and
as a result its brigade commander was promoted a lieutenant general, and
the division commander received Pour le Mérite.
GRAMMONT.
5. The division moved to the Grammont area, where it underwent a course
of training with artillery and aeroplanes in preparation for a coming
offensive.
LA BASSÉE.
6. It relieved the 38th Division at Festubert, north of the La Bassée
Canal July 5; it was relieved July 14 by the 18th Reserve Division.
7. The division rested in the Fauquissart area, and then relieved the
12th Reserve Division north of Hinges the night of August 2–3. It was
relieved about August 26 by extension of front of the neighboring
divisions.
CAMBRAI.
8. The 2d of September the division reinforced the front north of the
Arras-Cambrai Road. About the 10th it side-slipped south, for it was
identified southwest of Moeuvres. It remained here, suffering heavy
casualties (450 prisoners), and was relieved by the 7th Cavalry Division
during the night of September 22–23.
9. It remained in this region, however, and was thrown back into line in
attempt to stem the British advance, being identified at Bourlon
September 28; withdrawn about October 5.
10. The division returned October 16–17, relieving the 30th Division
east of Neuvilly, and was withdrawn about the 20th.
11. November 4 it was identified north of Landrecies. It took part in
the general retirement, being identified south of Berlaimont November 5,
and east of Maubeuge on the 9th.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 1st Guard Reserve Division was rated as in the first of four
classes. During 1918 it did not fight brilliantly, but it was always to
be depended upon. It was called upon to fight much in heavy engagements,
and suffered very severe losses.
Guard Ersatz Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1914–15 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │1 Gd. Mixed │1 Gd. Ers.(1, │1 Gd. Mixed │6 Gd. (former
│ Ers. │ 2, and 6 Gd.│ Ers. │ 1 Gd. Ers.).
│ │ Bde. Ers. │ │
│ │ Btns.). │ │
│ │2 Gd. Ers. │ │7 Gd. (former
│ │ (3,4 and 5 │ │ 2 Gd. Ers.).
│ │ Gd. Bde. │ │
│ │ Ers. Btns.).│ │
│5 Gd. Mixed │357 (5 Ers. │5 Gd. Mixed │357.
│ Ers. │ Btn. 2d C. │ Ers. │358.
│ │ Dist. and 5 │ │
│ │ Ers. Btn. 1 │ │
│ │ C. Dist.). │ │
│ │358 (6, 7, and│ │
│ │ 8 Ers. Btns.│ │
│ │ 2d C. │ │
│ │ Dist.). │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │Gd. Ers. Cav. Detach. │1st Sqn. Gd. Cav. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │1st Ers. Abt. (1st and 2d Gd.│7th Gd. F. A. Rgt.
│ F. A. Rgt.). │
│38th F. A. Rgt. │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│1 Co. Gd. Ers. Pion. Btn. │301 (Gd.) Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│1 Ers. Co. 2 Pion. Btn. │302 Pion. Co.
│ │7 Gd. T. M. Co.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │32 Ldw. Btn. 2d C. Dist. │81 Labor Btn.
│ (1915). │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │Gd. Ers. │6 Gd. │Gd. Ers. │6 Gd.
│ │7 Gd. │ │7 Gd.
│ │399. │ │399.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │5th Sqn. 2d Gd. Uhlan Regt. │5 Sqn. 2 Gd. Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │6th Gd. Art. Command: │6 Gd. Art. Command:
│ │
│ 7 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │ 7 Gd. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 89 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ 759 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 814 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 886 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│Eng. Btn.: │501 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 301 (Gd.) Pion. Co. │ 301 Gd. Pion. Co.
│ 302 Pion. Co. │ 302 Pion. Co.
│ 7 Gd. T. M. Co. │ 49 Searchlight Section.
│ 292 Searchlight Section. │551 Signals Command:
│ 551 Gd. Tel. Detch. │ 551 Gd. Tel. Detch.
│ │ 36 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │62 Ambulance Co. │63 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│133 Field Hospital. │133 Field Hospital.
│134 Field Hospital. │134 Field Hospital.
│209 Vet. Hospital. │209 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │761 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
HISTORY.
1914–15.
Formed in August, 1914, by grouping the Guard Ersatz Battalions and the
Ersatz Battalions of the 2d Corps District, the division detrained at
Saverne August 19. In reserve during the battle on the 20th, it crossed
the frontier on the 23d with the 6th Army, fought southeast of Lunéville
the first days of September, and toward the end of the same month it
went to Haye (Woevre).
HAYE.
1. There it formed part of the Ersatz Corps and held various sectors of
the region until March, 1916 (St. Baussant, Flirey, Bois de Mort-Mare,
etc.).
1916.
1. In March, 1916, the 1st Guard Ersatz Mixed Bde. (6th and 7th Guard
Regiments) left the Apremont region to go to the north of Combres and to
the south of Fresnes-en-Woevre.
VERDUN.
2. After a rest of 10 days at St. Marie aux Chênes (Apr. 24-May 3) it
went to the front north of Verdun. May 11–12 it entered line in the
Bois-Nawé (west of Douaumont), where it took part in several attacks
(notably that of May 25). It rested in June, and fought again, beginning
July 1, to the southeast of the Thiaumont works.
3. The 5th Guard Ersatz Mixed Bde. which had remained in the Montsec
region, entrained at Vigneulles-St. Benoît (July 23–26), detrained at
Spincourt, and during the night of August 3–4 entered line to the east
of Fleury. Together with the 1st Bde., it took part in the attack of
August 5, and both suffered heavy losses.
4. The Guard Ersatz Division was withdrawn from line the end of August,
after having lost 50 per cent of its infantry before Verdun.
FLIREY-EN-HAYE.
5. After a rest in the region west of Spincourt it went back into line
to the north of Flirey-en-Haye; it remained there until about the 5th of
November.
In September the 357th and the 358th Infantry Regiments were attached to
the Bavarian Ersatz Division and the 214th Division, respectively. The
Guard Ersatz Division received in exchange a regiment newly formed from
companies taken from the 6th and 7th Guard and the 357th Infantry
Regiments.
COTE DU POIVRE.
6. The division rested in November, leaving December 18 to go to the
region north of Côte du Poivre, following the French attack of December
15.
1917.
1. About January 15, 1917, the Guard Ersatz Division was withdrawn from
the Verdun front and sent to Champagne (St. Hilaire sector).
2. Relieved toward the end of March, the division was sent to reserve in
the Chateau-Porcien region, which it quitted April 12.
AISNE.
3. April 16 and the days following elements of the division
counterattacked toward Bermericourt; then relieving (Apr. 18) the
remnants of the 21st Division, the Guard Ersatz Division went through
the French attack of May 4. It left this front soon after.
4. May; rest in rear of the Champagne front.
RUSSIA.
5. After a stay in a sector in Haye to the north of Flirey (from the
beginning of June to the middle of July), the division was carried to
the eastern front (July 23–27). (Itinerary: Sarrebrucken, Kreuznach,
Frankfort, Leipsic, Cottbus, Glogau, Warsaw, Grodno, Vilna.)
6. The Kaiser reviewed the division July 29. From the 1st to the 17th of
August it was trained in open warfare near Vilna.
RIGA.
7. Taken to Chavli (Aug. 28), then to the Gross-Ekkau region, the
division entered line in the Uxkuell region and participated in the Riga
offensive, entering Riga September 3–4.
FRANCE.
8. September 8 the division entrained for the western front. (Itinerary:
Chavli, Kovno, Eydtkuhnen, Insterberg, Posen, Cottbus, Leipsic,
Frankfort, Thionville, Briey.) It encamped near Spincourt, and then,
about October 10, entered line to the north of Bezonvaux.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The Guard Ersatz Division was recruited all over Prussia just as all the
other Guard divisions.
Good division. The 6th and 7th Guard Regiments are not to be considered
as tried troops. The 399th Infantry Regiment seems to have but a slight
combative value.
The men are said to have shown dissatisfaction when they left Russia for
the western front. Desertions are said to have taken place en route.
(Inter. pris. Dec. 15–17.)
1918.
VERDUN.
1. The division remained north of Verdun until February 20, when it was
relieved and went to Damvillers, entrained, and went to the Arlon area
and was trained until March 15.
SOMME.
2. It entrained at Arlon on that date and traveled via Charleroi to
Mons, where it arrived the following day. By night marches the division
passed through Maubeuge-Bavai-Englefontaine-Fontaine au Bois-Bazuel-Le
Cateau-Busigny-Bohain-Fresnoy-Péronne, without taking part in any
fighting. It came into line March 25–26, and was heavily engaged at
Proyart the 27th.
HANGARD.
3. The division was withdrawn about April 6, after having large
casualties, and reinforced the front near Hangard the night of April
9–10, not being relieved until about May 4. Flanking divisions extended
their fronts.
MONS.
4. It rested northwest of Mons until the end of June.
CHAMPAGNE.
5. It then went to reserve in Champagne, and entered line west of
Auberive July 15. It was withdrawn on the 21st.
OULCHY LE CHATEAU.
6. The division was identified in line north of Oulchy le Chateau July
29, where it fought until withdrawn, about August 9.
ALSACE.
7. It went into rest cantonments at Helfrantzkirch (northeast of Basle),
and remained there until September 25.
YPRES.
8. Prisoners of the division were captured southwest of Roulers, and
they stated that it entered line October 5–6. The division remained in
line fighting stubbornly, but to no purpose, until withdrawn, November
7.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
Reliable information is to the effect that the Guard Ersatz, the Guard
Cavalry, and the Jaeger Divisions bore the title “Oberste Heeresleitungs
Angriffsdivisionen,” and that they were held under the direct control of
the Supreme Command. Nevertheless, the Guard Ersatz has always been
considered as being in the second of four classes.
Guard Cavalry Division.
COMPOSITION.
───────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────────────
│ 1918
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┬───────────────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┼───────────────────────
Infantry. │5 Ldw. Inf. │
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┼───────────────────────
Cavalry. │11 Cav. │1 Cuirassier.
│ │8 Drag.
│14 Cav. │5 Uhlan.
│ │8 Hus.
│ │11 Hus.
│38 Cav. │2 Mounted Jag.
│ │6 Mounted Jag.
│ │4 Cuirassier.
│ │Gd. Cuirassier (1 Sqn.
│ │ of 4 Mounted Jag.).
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────┴───────────────────────
Artillery. │132 Art. Command:
│ 3 Gd. F. A. Rgt.
│ 226 F. A. Rgt.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Engineers and Liaisons.│412 Pion. Btn.:
│ 307 Pion. Co.
│ 2 Ers. Pion. Co.
│ 183 Wireless Detch.
│ 286 and 385 T. M. Cos.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Medical and Veterinary.│257 Ambulance Co.
│302 Field Hospital.
│315 Field Hospital.
│286 Vet. Hospital.
───────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────────────────
Attached. │Balloon Sqn. No. 33.
│290 Reconnaissance Flight.
───────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────────
HISTORY.
1918.
1. The division left the eastern theater in the middle of March. It was
reconstituted in the camp at Zossen (south of Berlin), and was then
moved to the Maubeuge area, where it underwent six weeks’ training for
open warfare. It now consisted of 9 dismounted regiments, grouped in 3
brigades, 2 companies of pioneers, and a trench mortar company.
CHAMPAGNE.
2. About May 28 the division relieved the 23d Division east of the
Suippe. It was relieved about July 2, and on the 15th returned to
strengthen the battle front near Souain. It was relieved about July 20.
SOISSONS.
3. The division was moved to the Soissons area, and on August 22
relieved the Jaeger Division east of Soissons. It retired from the front
about September 5.
CHAMPAGNE.
4. On September 23–24 it relieved the 15th Bavarian Division north of
Prosnes, and was thereafter constantly in line in Champagne. The
direction of its final retreat lay through Herpy (Nov. 1), St. Ferguex
(5th), Rethel (6th), and Rocquigny (7th).
VALUE.
The division was rated as second class. It was reported to be one of the
General Headquarters attack divisions held under direct control of the
Supreme Command. After the failure of the July offensive east of Reims
the division was constantly on the defensive.
1st Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │1. │1 Gren. │1. │1 Gren. │1. │1 Gren.
│ │41. │ │41. │ │41.
│2. │3 Gren. │2. │3 Gren. │2. │3 Gren.
│ │43. │ │43. │ │43.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │8 Uhlan. Regt. │ (?) │ (?)
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │1 Brig.: │1 Brig.: │1 Brig.:
│16 F. A. Rgt. │16 F. A. Rgt. │16 F. A. Rgt.
│52 F. A. Rgt. │52 F. A. Rgt. │52 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Eng. Btn. (1 C. │1 Eng. Btn. (1 C.
Liaisons. │ │ Dist.): │ Dist.):
│ │ Field Co. 1 Pion. │ 271 Pion. Co.
│ │ │ (Oct., 1917).
│ │ 1 Pontoon Engs. │ 1 Pontoon Engs.
│ │ 1 Tel. Detch. │ 1 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 1 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 3d Co. 1 Pions.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │100 Labor Btn.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │1. │1 Gren. │1. │1 Gren.
│ │3 Gren. │ │3 Gren.
│ │43. │ │43.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3d Sqn. 8 Uhlan. │3 Sqn. 8 Uhlan.
│ Regt. │ Regt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │(z) Art. Commandt: │1 Art. Command:
│16 F. A. Rgt. │ 16 F. A. Rgt.
│52 F. A. Rgt. │ 1 Abt. 10 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt. (Staff. 1,
│ │ 3, and 4 Btries.)
│ │ 1083 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1095 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1096 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│112 Eng. Btn.: │110 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 3d Co. 1 Pions. │ 3 Co. 1 Pions.
│ (z). │
│ 271 Pion. Co. │ 271 Pion. Co.
│ 1 T. M. Co. │ 1 T. M. Co.
│ 1 Tel. Detch. │ 108 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 305, 311, 312, and│1 Signal Command:
│ 392 Searchlight │
│ Sections. │
│ │ 1 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 43 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │4 Ambulance Co. │4 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │13 Field Hospital.
│1 Vet. Hospital. │16 Field Hospital.
│ │1 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │534 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │66 M. G. S. S. │
│ Detch. │
│54, 55, 56, and 57 │
│ Light M. G. │
│ Sections. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
1914–15.
Along with the 2d Division, the 1st Division forms the 1st Army Corps
(Koenigsberg).
RUSSIA.
1. The 1st Army Corps was engaged on the Russian front at the very
beginning of the war.
2. Up until November the 1st Division participated in the operations of
East Prussia, and notably in the battle of Tannenberg (Aug. 27–29).
3. In December the two divisions of the 1st Corps separated. The 2d
Division remained in the north; the 1st Division went to the 9th Army,
from December, 1914, to January, 1915 (Bzura-Rawka), then to the Army of
the South, operating in the Carpathians and on the Dniester, from
February, 1915, to February, 1916.
1916.
FRANCE.
1. The division went to France in March, 1916. The 41st Infantry
Regiment detrained March 13 near Metz; the 48th Infantry Regiment at
Hagondange March 5.
VERDUN.
2. The division was put in line near Vaux April 20, fought in the bois
de la Caillette in May, in the bois de Vaux Chapitre, and the bois Fumin
in June and July. It suffered enormous losses there. In the 1st Company
of the 41st Infantry Regiment, the numbers on the pay books passed from
1,359 (Apr. 10) to 1,674 (July 19), indicating the arrival of at least
316 reinforcements. From the beginning of the war until July, 1916, the
regiment had received an average of 1,360 men per company.
RUSSIA.
3. At the end of July, 1916, the 1st Division, leaving behind the 41st
Infantry Regiment, which fought before Verdun in August, was once more
taken to the eastern front, where it formed part of the Carpathian
Corps.
1917.
BUKOVINA.
1. In July, 1917, the division was in the Kirlibaba-Dorna-Vatra region.
Beginning July 27, it followed up the retreating Russians, halting,
early in August, in the Sereth region.
FRANCE.
2. The division entrained, the beginning of December, near Czernowitz,
and was carried to the French front. (Itinerary: Kolomea, Stanislau,
Lemberg, Tarnow, Oppeln, Breslau, Dresden, Leipsic, Halle, Cassel,
Coblentz, Treves.) Ordered to Lorraine, it was sent to the region east
of Etain, relieving the 13th Reserve Division and occupying the sector
in front of Moulainville (Dec. 27; still there Jan. 23, 1918).
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
Theoretically, the regiments of the 1st Division are recruited in East
Prussia, but since the 1st Corps District, sparsely populated and of
restricted size, could not keep it up alone, the elements coming from
outside this district are numerous. During the stay on the eastern front
Alsace-Lorrainers were used in considerable number. While in France the
division’s ranks were filled up with the aid of the abundant resources
of Brandenburg and Silesia (3rd and 4th Corps Districts); consequently,
the division does not display to any degree the local character like the
majority of the German divisions.