division. This division entered Belgium on September 4, 1914, detrained
at Brussels, and on September 6 took up its position to the left of the
corps which was besieging Antwerp. After the taking of the city on
October 10 the division marched along the coast, arrived at a point
between Ostend and Bruges on October 23, and on November 2 relieved the
4th Ersatz Division on the front of Nieuport-St. Georges.
2. On November 24, 1914, the Naval Corps was formed by adding a 2d Naval
Division to the 1st.
3. After this time the Naval Corps occupied the sea front and the sector
of the coast in occupied Flanders. The staffs of the 1st and 2d Naval
Divisions were permanently in command of this sector—the sea front (from
Raversyde to the frontier of Zeeland as far as Maldegem was assigned to
the 1st Naval Division; the front on land from the North Sea to
Schoorbakke, 4 kilometers southeast Nieuport, to the 2d Naval Division).
The six regiments of Marine Fusileers alternated between the two
sectors, and consequently changed from one division to the other.
4. In April, 1917, the three naval infantry regiments were withdrawn
from the 1st and 2d Naval Divisions to organize a new Division, the 3d
Naval Division. These regiments had already formed a provisional
division, from the end of September, 1916, to January, 1917, when they
were engaged on the Somme. After fighting east of Ypres (August to
November, 1917), the 3d Naval Division came into line at Nieuport
(Lombartzyde) to the right of the 2d Naval Division in December.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The Marine or Sailor Fusileers, recruited at the beginning of the war
from among the seamen or the population of the ports, had only a
mediocre combat value at the time.
Since 1917, in consequence of reinforcements taken from the land army,
and also in consequence of reducing the age of the effectives, the
regiments of Naval Fusileers seem to be of better quality.
From a recruiting standpoint, they may be compared with the active
divisions of the German Army.
1918.
1. The division was out of line in 1918 until May 1. From that date
until November 4 it held the extreme right of the German line.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as fourth class. Until the last month of the war
its front was quiet.
2d Guard Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │3 Gd. │1 Gren. │3 Gd. │1 Gren. │3 Gd. │1 Gren.
│ │3 Gren. │ │3 Gren. │ │3 Gren.
│4 Gd. │2 Gren. │4 Gd. │2 Gren. │4 Gd. │2 Gren.
│ │4 Gren. │ │4 Gren. │ │4 Gren.
│5 Gd. │5 Gren. │ │ │ │
│ │5 Ft. │ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │4 Gd. Brig.: │Cav. Rgt.,
│ │ │ Schlotheim.
│ │ Body Guard Hus. │2 and 5 Sqns. 2 Gd.
│ │ Rgt. │ Uhlan Rgt.
│ │ 2 Gd. Uhlan Rgt. │1 Sqn. 6 Drag. Rgt.
│ │ │Ers. Sqn. 2 Uhlan
│ │ │ Rgt.
│ │ │Ers. Sqn. 1 Horse
│ │ │ Jag. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │2 Gd. Brig.: │2 Gd. Brig.: │2 Gd. Brig.:
│ 2 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │ 2 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │ 2 Gd. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ 4 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │ 4 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │ 4 Gd. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Gd. Eng. Btn.: │1 Gd. Eng. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ Field Co. Gd. │ 2 Co. Gd. Pion.
│ │ Pion. Btn. │ Btn.
│ │ 2 Gd. Pont. Engs. │ 1 Co. 28 Pion.
│ │ │ Btn.
│ │ 2 Gd. Tel. Detch. │ 281 Pion. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 2 Gd. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │ 2 Gd. Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 2 Gd. T. M. Co.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │3 Gd. │1 Gren. │3 Gd. │1 Gren.
│ │2 Gren. │ │2 Gren.
│ │4 Gren. │ │4 Gren.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 6 Drag. Rgt.│1 Sqn. Body Gd.
│ │ Hus. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │2 Gd. Art. Command:│2 Gd. F. A. Rgt.
│ 2 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │3 Abt. 3 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt.
│ │(Staff, 10, 11, and
│ │ 12 Btries.).
│ │535 Ft. A. Btry.
│ │965 Light Am. Col.
│ │1385 Light Am. Col.
│ │1386 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│102 Eng. Btn.: │102 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 2 Co. Gd. Pion. │ 2 Co. Gd. Pions.
│ Btn. │
│ 3 Co. Gd. Pion. │ 3 Co. Gd. Pions.
│ Btn. │
│ 2 Gd. T. M. Co. │ 211 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 278, 281, and 298 │2 Gd. Signals
│ Searchlight │ Command:
│ Sections. │
│ 2 Gd. Tel. Detch. │ 2 Gd. Tel. Detch.
│ │ 73 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │2 Ambulance Co. │2 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│2 Field Hospital. │2 Field Hospital.
│3 Field Hospital. │3 Field Hospital.
│2 Gd. Vet. │2 Gd. Vet.
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │2 M. G. S. S. │
│ Detch. │
│1 Abtl. 43 Res. F. │
│ A. Rgt. │
│3 Abtl. 43 Res. F. │
│ A. Rgt. │
│1 Abtl. 16 Ft. A. │
│ Rgt. │
│2 Abtl. 11 Res. Ft.│
│ A. Rgt. with │
│ transport. │
│10 Btry. 13 Res. │
│ Ft. A. Rgt. │
│190 Ft. Batry. │
│9 Btry. 12 Res. Ft.│
│ A. Rgt. with │
│ transport. │
│1 Btry. 57 Ldw. Ft.│
│ A. Rgt. │
│3 Co. 87 Labor Btn.│
│1 Co. 8 Ammunition │
│ Train. │
│1133 Wireless │
│ Detch. (from 27 │
│ Div.). │
│289 Pigeon Loft. │
│3 Balloon Section. │
│327 Ammunition │
│ Train. │
│191 M. T. Col. │
│216 M. T. Col. │
│853 M. T. Col. │
│865 M. T. Col. │
│188 Depot Supply │
│ Train. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
1914.
FRANCE.
1. Entrained August 9 to 11 (notebooks). Detrained at Beutgenbach (12
kilos east of Malmedy). Entered Belgium August 14. Crossed the Meuse at
Huy August 18. Crossed the Sambre at Auvelais (Aug. 22) on the right of
the 1st Guard Division. Fought at Falisolle and Aisemont the 23d; at
Mettet the 24th. Fought on the 29th at Haution and Vallee-aux-Bleds; on
the 30th at St. Pierre (west of Vervins), on the left of the 1st Guard
Division.
2. From there via Lugny, Boncourt, La Malmaison, Ville-aux-Bois, Sarcy,
Epernay, Avize, Vertus; fought after September 6 at Ecury-le-Repos and
Normee.
3. Retreated on the 9th at Vertus; 10th at Tauxieres; 11th at Thuizy.
Was before Reims until September 30.
4. In Artois in October (Bucquoy, Monchy-aux-Bois, Adinfer), near the
1st Guard Division. Split up in November like the latter; sent one of
its brigades, the 4th, in the region of Ypres (Gheluvelt), and remained
there until the end of December.
1915.
RUSSIA.
1. In January the division was again assembled. At rest at Douai from
the end of January till the middle of February. On the Monchy-aux-Bois-
Puisieux front till the end of March. Entrained March 30 at Cambrai for
Schelestadt (Alsace), where it was placed at rest.
2. In April transferred to Galicia (Neu-Samdek, Apr. 26–30).
3. Beginning on May 2 it took part in Mackensen’s offensive—Battle of
Gorlitz, May 2–3; at Jaroslav, May 16; battle of Krasnostav, July 17;
crossed the Bug August 24. At Zegrje, on the Narew, September 14.
4. On September 16 it returned to Novo-Georgievsk and entrained for the
western front. Detrained at Nivelles September 20.
FRANCE-LORETTE.
5. The division was at rest for one month in Belgium.
6. On October 25 entrained for Orchies and reached Henin-Lietard by
stages and fought at Lorette on November 5 for 6 days. It suffered
casualties again there.
7. The division went into line in the region between Noyon and Roye.
1916.
FRANCE-SOMME.
1. The 2d Guard Division remained in the sector of the region Noyon-Roye
until August, 1916.
2. On August 15 it was sent to the Somme region (Chilly), where it
suffered heavy losses both to the north and to the south of Peronne.
3. From October 1 to the end of December, 1916, it fought for a second
time south of Peronne.
1917.
1. At the end of January the division was sent to rest near Guise. To
the east of Clery-sur-Somme, end of February.
2. Then it held the Siegfried line, near Roisel and St. Quentin, for
five or six days (beginning of March).
3. Entrained for Vervins and sent back to rest (Mar. 16 to Apr. 12).
CHEMIN DES DAMES.
4. About April 12 the division was sent to Sissonne. Went into line
between Hurtebise and Craonne (Apr. 20 to 22), supporting or relieving
the units of the 5th Guard Division. It remained for three weeks in the
region of Craonne and Amifontaine. It suffered new losses and still
heavier ones on Californie Plateau.
5. On May 11 the division went to the Argonne by road (La Harazee, May
17) and was reorganized, receiving replacements from the 613th, 614th,
and 615th Regiments, which were dissolved.
RUSSIA.
6. Withdrawn from the line at the beginning of July and entrained for
the eastern front (from July 4 to 10), via Charleville, Givet, Namur,
Liege, Herbestal, Hanover, Berlin, Posen, Skalmiercyze, Ozidof.
7. Took part in the attack on the Sereth (July 19); relieved August 1
and sent to rest.
RIGA.
8. On August 9 entrained at Horlodylow and took part in the attack on
Uxkull (Sept. 1). On the 4th it entered Riga.
FRANCE.
9. From September 7 to 9 the division entrained for France, via Zanke,
Mitaul Vilna, Kovno, Posen, Berlin, Hanover, Dusseldorf, Aix-la-
Chapelle, Liege, Namur, Givet, Charleville.
LA MALMAISON.
10. Beginning September 21 it was sent to Laon. About the 28th it went
into line in the Malmaison sector. On October 23 the French attack
commenced and caused them very heavy losses (1,800 prisoners, of whom 50
officers, and many wounded). Relieved on the 25th and its regiments,
much reduced in strength, were sent to the Region of Vervins.
11. In the middle of November it held the sector of St. Mihiel, Forests
of Apremont. The regiment received replacements from the interior and
from the Russian front taken from the 226th Division.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 2d Guard Division had the reputation of being a good division. It
suffered heavy losses in the Aisne sector in May, 1917. However, even
after this attack the morale of the men on the whole seemed quite high.
At the Malmaison attack, October 23, the troops of the division, after
three days, were completely defeated.
During the last battles the division showed only moderate fighting
value.
1918.
1. The 2d Guard Division was relieved by the 201st Division January 11
and went to rest at Metz.
2. Here the division underwent a 10 weeks’ course of training. March 18
it entrained at Metz and traveled via Thionville to St. Amand, where it
detrained on the evening of March 19. It went then via Marchiennes (Mar.
20–21), Montigny (Mar. 21–22), to Lambres, where it arrived the evening
of March 22. After 5 days’ rest here the division moved up to the line
at Vitry-en-Artois (Mar. 27) to reinforce the front for the attack north
of the Scarpe on the 28th. Except for one battalion of the 1st Guard
Grenadier Regiment, the division took part in the fighting, as the
attack was unsuccessful.
MOREUIL.
3. The following day it marched via Arleux-Morchies-Beaumetz-
Haplincourt-Le Fansloy-Les Boeufs-Maricourt, crossing the Somme at
Suzanne-Proyart-Framerville-Caix-Mézières. It went into reserve east of
Mailly-Raineval, where it remained until April 5, when it came into line
north of Rouvrel. It was relieved by the 6th Reserve Division May 2.
AISNE.
4. The division reinforced the Aisne battle front about May 26 to the
west of Vailly. It was relieved, June 17, by the 40th Division.
MARNE.
5. After a rest in the Marle region the division reinforced the front
near Chatillon-sur-Marne July 15. It was withdrawn on the 22d.
SOMME.
6. August 27 the division reinforced the front south of the Somme near
Dompierre. It was relieved, September 3, by the Alpine Corps, after
suffering heavy losses, and losing 1,450 prisoners.
LE CATELET.
7. During the night of September 11–12 it reinforced the front near
Ronssoy (west of Le Catelet). It was withdrawn October 9.
YPRES.
8. After resting a fortnight the division relieved the 52d Reserve
Division at Machelen, October 24. It was relieved by the 6th Cavalry
Division November 4, and did not return to line.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 2d Guard Division is rated as a first-class assault division. It
participated in a great deal of heavy fighting during 1918 and always
acquitted itself very well. It was mentioned in the official communiqués
on several occasions. Between the end of August and October 9 it had
lost 2,800 in prisoners alone. Indeed, its losses must have been very
heavy, since there is positive evidence at hand to show that it received
4,000 replacements between August 10 and October 10.
2d Guard Reserve Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │26 Res. │15 Res. │26 Res. │15 Res. │26 Res. │15 Res.
│ │55 Res. │ │55 Res. │ │55 Res.
│38 Res. │77 Res. │38 Res. │77 Res. │38 Res. │77 Res.
│ │91 Res. │ │91 Res. │ │91 Res.
│ 10 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 10 Res. Jag. Btn. │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Res. Uhlan Rgt. │ │
│ (3 Sqns.). │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │20 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ │20 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (6 Btries.). │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│4 Field Co. 2d │4 Field Co. 2d │4 and 6 Field Cos.
Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. │ Pion. Btn. No. │ 2 Pion. Btn. No.
│ 10. │ 10. │ 10.
│ │ │2 Gd. Res. Pontoon
│ │ │ Engs.
│ │ │2 Gd. Res. Tel.
│ │ │ Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │38 Res. │15 Res. │38 Res. │15 Res.
│ │77 Res. │ │77 Res.
│ │91 Res. │ │91 Res.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2d Sqn. 2 Res. │4 Cav. Sqn.
│ Uhlan Regt. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │8 Gd. Art. Command:│116 Art. Command:
│ │
│ 20 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 20 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (9 Btries.). │
│ │ 2 Abt. 23 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt. (4 and 6
│ │ Btries.).
│ │ 714 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 911 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1237 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│4 and 6 Field Cos. │302 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. │
│ 10. │
│6 Gd. T. M. Co. │ 6 Co. 10 Pions.
│ │
│260 Searchlight │ 6 Gd. T. M. Co.
│ Section. │
│402 Tel. Detch. │ 212 Searchlight
│ (Gd.). │ section.
│ │402 Gd. Signals
│ │ Commands:
│ │ 402 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 21 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │268 Ambulance Co. │268 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│389, 390, 17, and │45 Res. Field
│ 45 Res. Field │ Hospital.
│ Hospitals. │
│Vet. Hospital. │17 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│ │204 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │702 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(15th Reserve: Eighth District—Westphalia. 77th and 91st Reserve: Tenth
District—Hanover.)
1914.
BELGIUM.
1. At the beginning of the war the 2d Reserve Guard Division was grouped
with the 19th Reserve Division in the 10th Reserve Corps. This corps
formed a part of the Second German Army (Von Bülow).
The division entrained at Zulpich August 10, entered Belgium the 14th,
passed the Meuse near Liege the 17th, surrounded Namur on the north,
crossed the Sambre to the west of Charleroi on the 22d, fought at
Marbaix the 23d, and the 29th and 30th at Ribemont and St. Quentin.
MARNE-CHAMPAGNE.
2. The 2d Reserve Guard Division was engaged in the battle of the Marne
between Sezanne and Montmirail (Sept. 6–7). It retreated through Epernay
and fought on the Rheims front. It held its position on this front
(Courcy sector) up to the month of February, 1915.
1915.
ARTOIS.
1. Toward the middle of February, 1915, the two brigades of the 2d
Reserve Guard Division were separated. The 26th Brigade went into the
line between Thiescourt and the Oise and the 38th Brigade went to the
forest of the Argonne.
2. Regrouped in Alsace in the vicinity of Schlestadt toward the end of
April, the 2d Reserve Guard Division was transported about May 20 to the
district of La Bassee. It was engaged in the Cuinchy-Givenchy sector
(June-July).
3. About the 1st of August the division was sent to rest east of
Cambrai.
4. In September it occupied the sector of Vingles-Hulluch to the south
of the La Bassee Canal. September 25–26 it took part in the third battle
of the Artois and suffered great losses. Portions of the 2d Reserve
Guard Division participated in the attack near Loos October 8.
5. The division remained in the district of La Bassee up to April, 1916.
1916.
SOMME.
1. The 2d Reserve Guard Division was relieved about April 7 of the
Cuinchy-Canal sector of La Bassee. After a rest in Belgium in the
vicinity of Tournai, the division was placed in the Gommecourt sector
(Somme), end of May.
2. The Franco-British offensive found it in this sector July 1. It was
severely engaged from July to November, 1916, sometimes in the vicinity
of Pozieres, Thiepval, Bazentin-le-Petit (from July to September),
sometimes farther north, and suffered serious losses (51 per cent of its
personnel).
3. The 2d Reserve Guard Division was maintained in the Gommecourt-
Hebuterne sector during the entire winter of 1916–17. At the end of 1916
it ceded the 55th Reserve Infantry to the 220th Division (organization).
1917.
HINDENBURG LINE.
1. The middle of March, 1917, the 2d Reserve Guard Division participated
in the retreat of the German Army; it went back through Bucquoy,
Lagnicourt, Beaumetz-les-Cambrai toward the Hindenburg line. It
established itself on this line between Queant and Boursies until the
end of May.
FLANDERS.
2. At the beginning of June the division remained at rest several days
in the vicinity of Cambrai, and was then transported to the Thielt,
(Pitthem-Eeghem) district (end of June). At the beginning of July it
approached the front toward Staden.
3. On July 31, certain elements of the division, being surprised and
later reassembled on the western border of the Houthulst forest, counter
attacked in the direction of Bixschoote and suffered rather heavy
losses.
4. The 2d Reserve Guard Division remained in this sector eight days. It
was relieved August 8–9 and sent to rest in the district of Gand
(Lakeren-Ostnieuwekerke) till the beginning of September.
5. About the 10th of September it was sent into the line on the front
west of Passchendaele (southeast of St. Julien). It was withdrawn from
this position toward the end of the month in order to go in again,
almost immediately, to the southeast of Armentieres.
6. It remained there until the end of November, after which it
reappeared on the front west and north of Passchendaele in December.
7. It was relieved February 1, 1918, and went into the district of
Roulers.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 2d Reserve Guard Division was always considered as being an
excellent division because it had always fought well, though it showed
only mediocre fighting qualities to the north of Ypres in 1917.
The 31st of July it counterattacked without energy and without success
in the direction of Bixschoote. During the approach, a great number of
men remained in the rear.
Following this, its attitude was passive.
1918.
FLANDERS.
1. The division remained in the Passchendaele sector until withdrawn
about January 9.
2. It came back into line, relieving the 199th Division, during the
night of January 23–24, north of Passchendaele. It was relieved by the
239th Division February 1.
3. February 7 it relieved the 239th Division; relieved by 41st Division
March 3. It then was trained for a fortnight.
CAMBRAI.
4. March 21 the division reinforced the Cambrai front near St. Leger,
fighting, with heavy losses, until the 26th.
ARRAS.
5. It came back into line west of Neuville-Vitasse about April 3,
relieving the 236th Division. April 29 the division was relieved by the
extension of the fronts of the neighboring divisions.
6. It went to the Douai area and rested there until coming into line in
the Gavrelle sector during the night of June 7–8; it relieved the 187th
Division. It was relieved by the 187th Division June 20 and went to be
reconstituted in the Tournai area, receiving a draft from the 427th
Infantry Regiment and another of over 500 men from Germany.
7. The division relieved the 5th Bavarian Reserve Division, near
Bucquoy, August 7. During the heavy fighting that followed it lost 2,400
in prisoners alone. It was withdrawn August 25.
8. September 2 it reinforced the front near the Arras-Cambrai road,
whence it was withdrawn about the middle of the month.
LA BASSÉE.
9. It then relieved the 9th Reserve Division near Neuve-Chapelle
September 26.
FLANDERS.
10. October 5 prisoners belonging to the division were identified near
Ledeghem. It remained there, being identified by prisoners November 11.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The general commanding the 2d Guard Reserve Division was decorated in
February and again in May. The last decoration was Pour le Mérite, and
was accompanied by promotion. August 15 Gen. Petersdorff reprimanded the
division because, as he said, “within 14 days, 1 noncommissioned officer
and 10 other ranks have been missing from the division * * *.” It is
considered as a second-class division.
2d Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │3. │4 Gren. │3. │4 Gren. │3. │4 Gren.
│ │44. │ │44. │ │33 Fus.
│4. │33 Fus. │4. │33 Fus. │ │44.
│ │45. │ │45. │ │3 Landst.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │10 Horse Jag. Rgt. │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │2 Brig.: │2 Brig.: │2 Brig.:
│ 1 F. A. Rgt. │ 1 F. A. Rgt. │ 1 F. A. Rgt.
│ 37 F. A. Rgt. │ 37 F. A. Rgt. │ 37 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 1:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 1:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ Field Co. 1 Pion. │ 2 Co. 1 Pion. Btn.
│ │ Btn. │
│ │ 2 Pontoon, Engrs. │ 2 T. M. Co.
│ │ 2 Tel. Detch. │ 2 Pontoon, Engrs.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 2 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────