│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │18 Ldw. │6 Ldw. │18 Ldw. │6 Ldw. │18 Ldw. │6 Ldw.
│ │7 Ldw. │ │7 Ldw. │ │7 Ldw.
│19 Ldw. │37 Ldw. │ │19 Ldw. │37 Ldw. │19 Ldw.
│ │46 Ldw. │ │46 Ldw. │ │46 Ldw.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │1 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. (3│1 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. │1 Ldw. Cav. Rgt.
│ Sqns.). │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │3 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │3 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │3 Ldw. F. A. Rgt.
│ (Ers. Abils. of │ │
│ 20, 41, and 56, │ │
│ F. A. Rgts.) │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │ │1 Ldw. Survey Sect.
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ │2 Ldw. Survey Sect.
│ │ │
│ │ │1 Ers. Co. 5 Pions.
│ │ │
│ │ │303 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │17 Mixed Ers. Brig.│ │
│ (17, 18, 19, 20, │ │
│ and 77 Brig. Ers.│ │
│ Btns.). │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │17 Ldw. │6 Ldw. │17 Ldw. │6 Ldw.
│ │4 Ldw. │ │7 Ldw.
│37 Ldw. │46 Ldw. │ │46 Ldw.
│ │327 Ldw. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ (?) │3 Sqn. 4 Drag. Rgt.
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │3 Ldw. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ 3 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. │
│ (9 Btries.). │
│ 913 Batry. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(403) Pion. Btn.: │418 Pion. Btn:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Ers. Co. 5 │ 1 Ers. Co. 5
│ Pions. │ Pions.
│ 4 Co. 17 Pions. │ 139 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 344 Pion. Co. │503 Signal Command:
│ 303 T. M. Co. │ 503 Tel. Detch.
│ 246 Searchlight │
│ Section. │
│ 503 Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │230 Ambulance Co. │230 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│21 Ldw. Field │322 Field Hospital.
│ Hospital. │
│Vet. Hospital. │22 Ldw. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│ │503 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │537 M. T. Col │773 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │2 Neuss Landst. │
│ Inf. Btn. (8 │
│ │
│ │
│C. Dist. Btn. No. │
│ 22.). │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(Fifth District—Posen.)
1914.
RUSSIA.
At the beginning of the war the 3d Landwehr Division formed a part of
the 2d Landwehr Corps (old 6th Landwehr Corps) and always occupied the
eastern front.
POLAND.
1. Up to the German offensive of the summer of 1915 the 3d Landwehr
Division, along with the 2d Landwehr Corps, participated in the Polish
campaign. At the end of October, 1914, it was identified before Warsaw
(Rawa-Vistula); in the middle of November it was in retreat to the south
and east of Czenstochow; in December it was to the west of Kielce.
1915.
POLAND.
1. In January, 1915, the 2d Landwehr Corps was still in the Kielce
District.
2. Toward the middle of February a brigade (19th Landwehr Brigade) was
detached to the northeast of Warsaw (Plock-Mlawa). Reassembled to the
west of Kielce in April, the 3d Landwehr Division remained between the
Vistula and the Pilica until July.
BARANOVITCHI.
3. The division took part in the offensive against the Russians (July-
August); it was before Ivangorod July 20 and arrived in the vicinity of
Baranovitchi toward the end of August.
4. In October it was in the line near Goroditche. In November it took
the Liakhovitchi sector (south of Baranovitchi).
1916.
1. The 3d Landwehr Division remained to the southeast of Baranovitchi
(Liakhovitchi) for more than two years (November, 1915-January, 1918).
The 37th Landwehr became independent in July, 1916, and received various
successive additions. About the same date the 3d Landwehr Division
furnished a part of the elements necessary to the formation of the 420th
Infantry. In return the 327th Landwehr was assigned to it, and it kept
this regiment until June, 1917, ceding it at that time to the 4th
Landwehr Division.
1917.
1. Liakhovitchi sector. In November the 3d Landwehr Division sent an
important reinforcement to the 9th Division (particularly to the 7th
Grenadiers); two months later a smaller reinforcement was sent to the
43d Reserve Division, which was preparing to leave the eastern front.
1918.
The division remained in the eastern theatre throughout the year.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division remained on the Russian front from the beginning of the
war. Fighting value mediocre. It was rated as fourth class.
3d Bavarian Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │5 Bav. │22 Bav. │5 Bav. │22 Bav. │6 Bav. │17 Bav.
│ │23 Bav. │ │23 Bav. │ │23 Bav.
│6 Bav. │17 Bav. │6 Bav. │17 Bav. │ │18 Bav.
│ │18 Bav. │ │18 Bav. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3 Bav. Light Cav. │ │3 Bav. Light Cav.
│ Rgt. │ │ Rgt. (3 Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │3 Bav. Brig.: │3 Bav. Brig.: │3 Bav. Brig.:
│ │ │
│ 5 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 5 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 5 Bav. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ 12 Bav. F. A. Rgt.│ 12 Bav. F. A. Rgt.│ 12 Bav. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│1 and 3 Field Cos. │1 and 3 Field Cos. │1 and 3 Field Cos.
Liaisons. │ 2 Bav. Pion. Btn.│ 2 Bav. Pion. Btn.│ 2 Bav. Pion. Btn.
│ │3 Bav. Pont. Engs. │13 Bav. Res. Pion.
│ │ │ Co.
│ │3 Bav. Tel. Detch. │3 Bav. T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │3 Bav. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │3 Bav. Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │Inf. Pion. Co. of
│ │ │ the 3 Bav. Div.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │6 Bav. │17 Bav. │6 Bav. │17 Bav.
│ │18 Bav. │ │18 Bav.
│ │23 Bav. │ │23 Bav.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │4th Sqn. 3 Bav. │4 Sqn. 3 Bav. Light
│ Light Cav. Rgt. │ Cav. Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │3 Bav. Art. │3 Bav. Art.
│ Command: │ Command:
│ 12 Bav. F. A. │ 12 Bav. F. A. Rgt.
│ Rgt.? │
│ │ 1 Abt. 2 Bav. Ft.
│ │ A. Rgt.
│ │ 149 Bav. Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 150 Bav. Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 162 Bav. Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│5 and 7 Bav. Pion. │2 Bav. Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ Cos. │
│3 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 5 Bav. Pion. Co.
│ │
│2 Bav. Searchlight │ 7 Bav. Pion. Co.
│ Section. │
│3 Bav. Tel. Detch. │ 3 Bav. Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │3 Bav. Signals
│ │ Command:
│ │ 3 Bav. Tel. Detch.
│ │ 77 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │4 Bav. Ambulance │4 Bav. Ambulance
Veterinary.│ Co. │ Co.
│9 Bav. Field │9 Bav. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │16 Bav. Field
│ │ Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │683 Bav. M. T. Col.│683 Bav. M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(Second Bavarian District—Bavaria, Bavarian Palatinate.)
1914.
LORRAINE.
1. At the time of the declaration of war the 3d Bavarian Division and
the 4th Bavarian Division constituted the 2d Bavarian Army Corps. At the
beginning of August, 1914, the 2d Bavarian Army Corps formed a part of
the 6th Army (Crown Prince of Bavaria). It detrained at Faulquemont
(Lorraine) on August 8, and the 3d Bavarian Division was to the north of
Château-Salins on the 10th. It took part in the Battle of Morhange on
the 20th, passed the frontier, pillaged Gerbeviller on its way, and
advanced as far as the left bank of the Mortagne. Forced to turn back,
it moved near Metz the 15th of September and entrained the 19th.
SOMME-FLANDERS.
2. Similar to the 1st Bavarian Army Corps, the 2d Bavarian Army Corps
was attached to the 2d Army and fought in the Peronne District (end of
September); then it was transported to Flanders, where it rejoined the
6th Army.
3. From November, 1914, to October, 1915, the 2d Bavarian Army Corps
occupied the front from the Ypres-Comines Canal as far as Douve. During
this period it generally remained on the defensive.
1915.
1. In April, 1915, the 3d Bavarian Division ceded the 22d Infantry to
the 11th Bavarian Division, formed at this time.
In June, 1915, the 3d Bavarian Division was sent as a reinforcement for
a short time to the Arras sector.
ARTOIS.
2. In the month of October the 2d Bavarian Army Corps (3d and 4th
Bavarian Divisions) was transported to the Auchy-Loos sector and kept
there until August, 1916.
1916.
1. In the Loos sector the 2d Bavarian Army Corps showed itself very
active. It undertook mine works and executed them with great rapidity.
At the end of April it attempted a gas attack; this latter had no
success, however.
SOMME.
2. The 3d Bavarian Division left the Loos sector with its Army Corps
about August 25 and went into the Somme District. It occupied the
Martinpuich-Bazentin-le-Petit sector up to the 15th of September and
fought with characteristic stubbornness. Its total losses during this
period reached 4,976 men (55 per cent).
3. The Division retired from the Somme September 27 and was sent to the
Douve sector (from this river to the Armentières-Lille railroad). It
remained there till the end of March, 1917.
1917.
ARTOIS.
1. The 3d Bavarian Division was relieved from Armentieres March 20,
1917. It was transported to the Arras District, situated on the Scarpe
front, on April 11. It suffered considerable loss in the two unfortunate
counterattacks of Monchy-le-Preux and in the French counterattack of
April 23.
2. The division was withdrawn from the front April 25 and sent to rest
in the Roubaix zone until the beginning of June.
FLANDERS.
3. On June 5 the 3d Bavarian Division began to relieve the 40th Division
in the Messines sector. The British attack took place on the 7th during
this relief. The division lost the village and the summit of Messines.
It suffered considerable loss and left 1,531 prisoners in the hands of
the enemy. (The 17th Battalion was reduced to 800 men; the 23d suffered
about equal losses; the 18th lost fewer men.)
LORRAINE.
4. The 3d Bavarian Division was withdrawn from the Messines sector June
8, 1917, and taken to the Conflans area. After a short period of repose,
during which it was partially reconstituted, it was put into the line in
the sector of the Bezange forest (south of Château-Salins) July 18.
5. The 3d Bavarian Division received a reinforcement of 4,500
men—convalescents, exclusively—between June 8 and the end of August. (At
the end of August the personnel averaged only 120 men who drew rations
(80 combatants) per company in the 17th Battalion.) The losses sustained
the 7th of June had not been made good by the 28th of August.
6. The division was sent into Lorraine for rest and reconstitution,
remaining on the defensive, and pursuing the instruction of its
detachments in the use of light minenwerfers and assault tactics.
AISNE.
7. It left Lorraine in the middle of October. On the 28th it occupied
the Aisne front to the north of Braye-en-Laonnois (Trucy sector). The
17th Battalion was the only one to engage in the October battles which
preceded the German retreat to the north of the Ailette.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 3d Bavarian Division is one of the best German units.
It always fought well, showing great energy in the offensive and
preserving a great tenacity in the defensive.
Nevertheless, the fighting value of this division appears to have
diminished during the course of the year 1917.
1918.
1. About January 1 the division was relieved and went into training in
the region Fournes-Chimay, where it remained for four weeks.
ST. GOBAIN.
2. The division relieved the 47th Reserve Division near Septvaux about
February 1, and occupied the line until March 28.
3. Retired from the front on the 28th; the division was sent toward
Chauny-La Fere, where it constituted the reserve division of the 8th
Reserve Corps.
NOYON.
4. In April the division alternated between short periods in line and
brief rests. North of Plemont it relieved the 7th Reserve Division about
April 2, was relieved by the 1st Bavarian Division a few days later, and
returned to line about April 11, relieving the 1st Bavarian Division.
About this time the division received a draft of 900 men of the 1919
class.
5. The division was withdrawn from the Lassigny front about May 25.
BATTLE OF THE OISE.
6. The division participated in the Oise fighting of June, although it
did not take a direct part in the opening attack. It supported the
effort of the 3d Bavarian Reserve Division, lending some battalions,
from which prisoners were taken. About the middle of June the division
passed to the second line, rested two weeks, and returned to the
Montdidier-Noyon front about June 30.
LASSIGNY.
7. The division remained in line throughout July and encountered the
Allied attack of middle August. About August 21 it was withdrawn.
8. Between August 21 and October 7 the division was not satisfactorily
identified. Elements were reported near Terguier in September, near
Ypres, and in the region of St. Etienne-Arnes.
WOEVRE.
9. The division entered the Woevre line on October 7, near Manheulles,
where it remained until the armistice.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was used during 1918 as a sector-holding division. It took
no prominent part in the offensives of the year.
3d Reserve Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │5 Res. │2 Res. │5 Res. │2 Res. │5 Res. │2 Res.
│ │9 Res. │ │9 Res. │ │9 Res.
│6 Res. │34 Res. │6 Res. │34 Res. │6 Res. │20
│ │ │ │ │ │ Landst.
│ │49 Res. │ │49 Res. │ │49 Res.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │5 Res. Dragoon Rgt.│5 Res. Dragoon Rgt.│
│ (3 Sqns.). │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │3 Res. F. A. Rgt. │3 Res. F. A. Rgt. │3 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (6 Btries.). │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │2d Pion. Btn. No. │2d Pion. Btn. No.
Liaisons. │ │ 2: │ 2:
│ │ Field Co. 2 Pions.│ 2 Res. Co. 2
│ │ │ Pions.
│ │ 3 Res. Pont. Engs.│ 203 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ 3 Res. Tel. Detch.│ 3 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 3 Res. Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │5 Res. │2 Res. │5 Res. │2.
│ │49 Res. │ │34 Fus.
│ │34 Fus. │ │49 Res.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │ │1 Sqn. 22 Drag.
│ │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │73 Art. Command: │73 Art. Command:
│ │
│ 3 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 3 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (9 Btries.). │
│ │ 4 Abt. 14 Res. Ft.
│ │ A. Rgt.
│ │ 865 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1177 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1195 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│303 Pion. Btn. (?):│303 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 2 Res. Co. 2 │ 2 Res. Co. 2
│ Pions. │ Pions.
│ 2 Co. 34 Res. │ 203 T. M. Co.
│ Pions. │
│ 203 M. T. Co. │ 196 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 403 Tel. Detch. │403 Signals
│ │ Command:
│ 3 Res. Pont. Engs.│ 403 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 33 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │502 Ambulance Co. │502 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│14 Field Hospital. │14 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│15 Field Hospital. │15 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│16 Field Hospital. │163 Vet. Hospital.
│163 Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │704 M. T. Col. │704 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │154 Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(2d District—Pomerania.)
1914.
EAST PRUSSIA-RUSSIA.
1. At the beginning of the war the 3d Reserve Division, recruited in the
2d District (Pomerania), formed a part of the 8th German Army
(Hindenburg). It fought with this army in eastern Prussia; it was
engaged in the battle of Tannenberg (Aug. 26–28), in the battles of
Biallo, Lyck, Suwalki, and Augustowo (September-October).
1915.
1. In February, 1915, the 3d Reserve Division participated in the battle
of the Mazurian Lakes, and in May in the battles on the Polish frontier.
2. During the great offensive of the summer of 1915 the division was
engaged in the operations on the Bobr, which resulted in the taking of
Ossovietz. In August it fought in the vicinity of Kovno. It participated
in the siege of this city (Aug. 13–18) at the battle of Niemen (Aug. 19-
Sept. 8). When the front was stabilized it took position to the north of
Smorgoni (southeast of Vilna).
1916.
1. The 3d Reserve Division occupied this sector (north of Smorgoni) up
to March, 1917. At this time it was placed in reserve in the Vilna
sector.
BELGIUM.
2. At the beginning of May, 1917, it was sent to the western front. It
entrained May 13 at Soly (east of Vilna), and was transported via Vilna,
Wirballen, Gumbinnen, Berlin, Hanover, Aix-la-Chapelle, Liege, Louvain,
and Brussels up to Bruges, where it detrained May 18. It was sent to
rest in this district until June 4.
3. On this date the division was transported to the district north of
St. Quentin and went into the line on the 8th in the Vendhuille-
Bellicourt sector (west of Catelet), where it habituated itself to the
western front.
1917.
YPRES.
4. The division was relieved the end of July. After having been in
reserve for several days it engaged in the battle of Ypres on the
Frezenberg front on August 4; here it was severely tried by artillery
fire.
5. It was withdrawn from the front August 18 and sent to rest, first at
Tournai and later in the Moorslede District.
6. On September 23 it was again sent into the line in the battle of
Flanders to the south of Zonnebeke (Polygone wood), and again suffered
serious losses on the 26th.
ALSACE.
7. The 3d Reserve Division was relieved September 28 and transported to
Alsace (Mulhouse District), where it remained in repose up to the middle
of October.
8. About the 10th or 15th of October it occupied the sector north of the
canal from the Rhone to the Rhine, and remained there till the end of
October.
9. At this time it was withdrawn from the front. It entrained for Metz
November 10. In December it was in the vicinity of Sissone.
AISNE.
10. About December 13 it entered the line in the Craonne sector
(Juvincourt area). At the beginning of January it took over the
neighboring sector (Bouconville).
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
Very mediocre morale. The 49th Reserve Regiment was very severely tested
by losses and desertions to such a point that it had to be returned to
the rear after August 18, 1917. September 26 the 8th Company of the same
regiment refused to take part in the attack. The relatively high
proportion of men of the 2d Landsturm levy may be responsible for these
facts, since they formed part of the regiments of the Second District.
According to prisoners captured in February, 1918, the 3d Reserve
Division seemed to be of mediocre quality: “6,000 men lost in Flanders,
poorly replaced by men 50 per cent of whom were old, many being above
40, and by 30 per cent Poles.”
Nevertheless, despite the mediocrity of its personnel, it must be noted
that the 49th Reserve was subjected to a special training for attack
troops in November and December.
1918.
LAON.
1. The division held the line in the Craonne sector until about April
20, when it was relieved.
OISE.
2. It reappeared on May 1 near Hainvillers (southeast of Montdidier),
where it remained until about June 20. The division was in the thick of
the June fighting on the Oise and lost heavily.
3. About June 20 the division went to rest in the region of Guise.
MARNE.
4. The division participated in the fighting between the Marne and
Soissons when the Allies delivered their attack on the Marne salient. It
relieved the 115th Division at Longpont on July 18 and withstood the
attack until July 31. The 49th Reserve Regiment was almost annihilated
in the course of the fighting near Mery. The other regiments were
reduced to 70–80 rifles per company.
5. Retired from the front on July 31, the division rested at La Capelle
until September 1.
CAMBRAI.
6. The division came into line east of Chevisy on September 2. Its
composition had been altered by the disbandment of the 2d Reserve
Regiment and the addition of the 2d Grenadier Regiment from the 109th
Division. The British attack on the Somme of September 12 engulfed the
division, which lost 1,300 prisoners.
BELGIUM.
7. It was withdrawn about September 27 and transferred to Belgium, where
it entered the line near Dixmude on September 29. It held the line in
this sector until October 16, when it passed into the second line for a
week’s rest. Returning to line on the 23d, it remained in line until the
armistice.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division is rated as a third-class division. Its morale was on the
whole bad. The Polish elements deserted freely. In July pillaging of
supply trains was apparently prevalent in the divisional area. Elements
of the division refused to fight in the Oise battle in June, and the
German command appeared to have confidence in its fighting value.
3d Naval Division.
COMPOSITION.