April, 1918, for the Western Front. It detrained at Molsheim in Alsace
on April 7, and went into line near the Ban de Sapt (Vosges). The
division had recently been reorganized. During April a report was
received stating that Lieut Gen. von Krame, commander of the 39th
Cavalry Brigade, had been decorated. The division continued to hold the
Alsace sector until the armistice.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as fourth class.
5th Guard Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────┼─────────────┬─────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────
Infantry. │2 Gd. │3 Ft. │2 Gd. │3 Ft.
│ │3 Gren. │ │3 Gren.
│ │20. │ │20.
─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────┼─────────────┴─────────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 2 Gd. Uhlan Rgt. │1 Sqn. 2 Gd. Uhlan Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Artillery. │5 Gd. Art. Command: │5 Gd. Art. Command:
│ 4 Gd. F. A. Rgt. │ 4 Gd. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 1 Abt. 1 Gd. Res. Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt.
│ │ 1180 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1181 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1203 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Engineers and│100 Pion. Btn.: │100 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 4 Gd. Pions. │ 4 Gd. Pion. Co.
│ 1 Gd. Res. Pion. Co. │ 1 Gd. Res. Pion. Co.
│ 9 Gd. T. M. Co. │ 9 Gd. T. M. Co.
│ (?) 28 Searchlight │ 195 Searchlight Section.
│ Section. │
│ 5 Gd. Tel. Detch. │5 Gd. Signal Command:
│ │ 5 Gd. Tel. Detch.
│ │ 149 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Medical and │3 Ambulance Co. │3 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│8 Field Hospital. │8 Field Hospital.
│9 Field Hospital. │9 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │5 Gd. Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │680 M. T. Col.
│680 Divisional M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Odd units. │Field Recruit Depot No. │
│ 815. │
─────────────┼───────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────
Attached. │3 Abt. 43 Res. F. A. Rgt. │
│2 Abt. 3 Bav. Ft. A. Rgt. │
│2 Abt. 11 Res. Ft. A. Rgt. │
│2 Abt. 21 Ft. A. Rgt. │
│3 Btry. 57 Ldw. Ft. A. Rgt.│
│5 Btry. 57 Ldw. Ft. A. Rgt.│
│6 Btry. 57 Ldw. Ft. A. Rgt.│
│10 Btry. 13 Res. Ft. A. │
│ Rgt. │
│11 Btry. 13 Res. Ft. A. │
│ Rgt. │
│6 Btry. 17 Bav. Ft. A. Rgt.│
│464 Ft. A. Btry. │
│4 Co. 8 T. M. Btn. │
│3 Co. 8 T. M. Btn. │
│1 Co. 5 Road. Const. Btn. │
│ No. 72. │
│3 Co. 166 Labor Btn. │
│43 Res. Pion. Co. │
│199 Signal Btn. │
│307 Signal Btn. │
│2 Field Signal Co. │
│60 Balloon Section. │
│114 Supply Train. │
│21 Munition Train. │
│181 Munition Train. │
│190 Munition Train. │
│374 Munition Train. │
│517 Munition Train. │
│560 Supply Train. │
│50 Supply Train. │
│1 Field Bakery. │
─────────────┴───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────
HISTORY.
1917.
Organized in February, 1917, from regiments transferred from already
existing units (3d Foot Guards, transferred from the 1st Guard Division;
3d Grenadier Guards, transferred from the 2d Guard Division; 20th
Infantry, from the 212th Division, previously belonging to the 6th).
CRAONNE.
1. It appeared for the first time in line about March 20 between Craonne
and Hurtebise, where it suffered heavy losses, April 16 to 18.
2. Relieved May 4 and went to a calm sector in the region of
Preqmontreq.
3. About June 5–6 it was sent to rest in the region north and northwest
of Laon. June 20 it was located in the region of Sissonne, where it
remained until July 7.
CALIFORNIE PLATEAU.
4. On the night of July 7–8 it arrived in this sector. It executed a
violent attack on July 19 and again suffered heavy losses. Relieved July
27.
5. Reinforced by drafts from depots in Brandenburg and rested in the
region of Mauregny en Haye and Barenton sur Cerre, and then went through
a methodical and intensive training at the camp at Chivy les Etouvelles.
CHEMIN DES DAMES.
6. About August 20 it relieved the 43d Reserve Division on the Chemin
des Dames between Panthéon and La Royere; suffered considerable losses
during the French offensive of October 23.
7. In the region of Vervins at the beginning of November, with its
battalions greatly reduced.
8. Went into line near Hargicourt at the end of November.
RECRUITING.
The 20th Infantry (3d Brandenburg) was a regiment from the Province of
Brandenburg.
The 3d Foot Guards and the 3d Grenadier Guards were drawn not only from
Brandenburg, but generally from the Kingdom of Prussia.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 5th Guard Division must be considered one of the best divisions of
the German Army. Its regiments are extremely good.
The Division had been brought to the Aisne to retake the Californie
Plateau, and it showed wonderful energy in this work (July 19, 1917).
October 23, 1917, at the Chemin des Dames, in spite of its great losses
and of the fact that the 1918 class formed about 20 per cent of its
effectives, the division showed great resistance, and left only a
comparatively small number of prisoners in our hands (about 300).
1918.
1. The division arrived at Fourmies on January 10 for training and
maneuvers. About February 14 it marched to Avesnes, where it rested
until March 5. It then marched to St. Quentin by night marches, passing
through Homblieres, Dallow, Happencourt, Tugny, and crossed the Crozat
Canal between Ham and St. Simon on March 23.
BATTLE OF PICARDY.
2. On the night of the 23d it relieved the 45th Reserve Division in
front of Golancourt, where it met a lively resistance. From the 24th to
the 27th it was in army reserve resting in the region Golancourt le
Plesses Patte d’Oie. On the 28th it moved
by Flavy le Meldux, Ecuvilly, Catigny, Candor, and entered line west of
Lassigny on the 29th, relieving the 1st Bavarian Division. On the 30th
it attacked west of the Roye sur Matz railroad but was stopped by our
counterattacks. Until April 10 the division was in line at Beuvraignes
and at Roye sur Matz. On the 8th it received 400 men, mostly of the 1919
class, in reinforcements.
3. Withdrawn from line on April 4, the division moved by degrees to the
northeast of Laon on April 24, where it was reorganized, reinforced, and
rested near Rozay sur Serre. By night marches it moved to the Aisne
front and entered line on May 26, between Corbeny and the Californie
Plateau.
BATTLE OF AISNE.
4. It fought in the offensive from May 27 to 30, advancing by
Guyencourt, Fismes, Crugny, Cierges, and Vincelles. Between May 31 and
June 7 it was in reserve at Coulonges, Sergy, Beuvardes, Grisolles, and
Sommelous. The division was reengaged northwest of Chateau Thierry on
June 7 against the American 2d Division.
CHATEAU THIERRY.
5. In the three weeks the division was in the Torcy-Hautevesnes sector
it lost most heavily. Several companies of the 20th Regiment were
annihilated on June 8–9; the others were reduced to 30–40 rifles. The
division lost about one-half its effectives in this period.
6. It was withdrawn about June 30 and reconstituted in reserve of the
Torcy sector near Coincy from July 1 to 17.
BATTLE OF THE MARNE.
7. The division came back on the 18th and engaged in rear-guard fighting
near Monthiers and Grisolles. It was engaged on defensive works near
Blanzy les Fismes from July 29 to August 8.
8. It rested in the region of Bruyeres from August 2–8, when it was
transported to Belgium by Marle-Hirson to rest. On the 31st it was
alerted and entrained, the regiments following with a day’s interval by
Mauberg-St. Quentin, detraining at Laon and Crepy en Laonnois. From that
point it moved by foot to Vauxaillon front.
AISNE-AILETTE.
9. On September 3 the division relieved the 238th Division east of
Louilly. In the succeeding days it suffered very heavily. It was
relieved on September 16.
10. The division left the Laon area on September 16 and detrained that
night at St. Juvin, where it rested until September 24. The heavy losses
of the division were made good while there.
ARGONNE.
11. It entered the line opposite the American 1st Army on September 27
in the region of Montblainville. After heavy losses, which caused a
partial disintegration of the division, it withdrew on October 8. The 3d
Guard Grenadier Regiment was practically destroyed in this fighting.
WOEVRE.
12. It was transported to the Woevre and on October 19 was engaged east
of Verdun at Chatillon sous les Cotes. Here it remained until the
armistice.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as a first-class division, but after its rough
handling in the Hautevesnes-Torcy sector it lost much of its value as an
attack division.
Both on the Aisne in September and in the Argonne the division’s losses
were extremely heavy. Battalions were reduced to three companies in
October. By the 20th of October the remnants of the companies were
combined to make one.
5th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │9. │8 Body │9. │8 Body │10. │8 Body
│ │ Gren. │ │ Gren. │ │ Gren.
│ │48. │ │48. │ │12 Gren.
│10. │12 Gren. │10. │12 Gren. │ │52.
│ │52. │ │52. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3 Hus. Rgt. (3 │ (?) │3 Hus. Rgt. (3
│ Sqns.) │ │ Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │5 Brig.: │5 Brig.: │5 Brig.:
│ 18 F. A. Rgt. │ 18 F. A. Rgt. │ 18 F. A. Rgt.
│ 54 F. A. Rgt. │ 54 F. A. Rgt. │ 54 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 3:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 3:
Liasions. │ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ Field Co. 3 Pions.│ 1 Co. 3 Pions.
│ │ 5 Pont. Engs. │ 5 Pont. Engs.
│ │ 5 Tel. Detch. │ 5 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │ 5 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │Field M. G. Co. of
│ │ │ the 10 Brig.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │10. │8 Body │10. │8 Body
│ │ Gren. │ │ Gren.
│ │12 Gren. │ │12 Gren.
│ │52. │ │52.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3 Hus. Rgt. (?). │3 Sqn. 3 Hus. Rgt.
│ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │5 Art. Command: │142 Art. Command:
│ 18 F. A. Rgt. │ 18 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 67 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │ (Staff and 1, 2,
│ │ and 3 Btries).
│ │ 848 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 879 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 792 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│116 Pion. Btn. │116 Pion. Btn.:
Liasions. │ (formerly 1 Pion.│
│ Btn. No. 3): │
│ 1 Co. 3 Pions. │ 1 Co. 3 Pions.
│ 2 Co. 3 Pions. │ 2 Co. 3 Pions.
│ 5 T. M. Co. │ 14 Bav. Pion. Co.
│ 319 Searchlight │ 5 T. M. Co.
│ Section. │
│ 5 Tel. Detch. │ 35 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 99 Searchlight │5 Signal Command:
│ Section. │
│ │ 5 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 29 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │9 Ambulance Co. │9 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │27 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │26 Field Hospital.
│ │5 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │11 Supply Train. │538 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │M. T. Col. │
│ │
│M. G. S. S. Detch. │
│ No. 5. │
│68 Anti-Aircraft │
│ Sect. │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(Third District—Brandenburg.)
1914.
FRANCE.
1. The 5th Division with the 6th Division formed the 3d Army Corps. At
the beginning of the campaign it was part of the 1st Army (Von Kluck).
It detrained near Aix la Chapelle August 9 and 10, entered Belgium the
14th, and passed through Louvain the 19th. Took part in the battle of
Charleroi and the battle of the Marne (at Sancy and Cerneux, Sept. 6),
then in the battles between the Aisne and the Marne in September, and
was finally stabilized between the Aisne and the Oise, in the region
Vailly and Soissons.
1915.
1. Battle of Soissons (Jan. 13).
2. About June 10 the 5th Division was no longer a part of the 1st Army.
July 1 it was sent to Douai, and about July 14 held the sector before
Arras.
3. September 25, 1915, took part in the attacks in Champagne.
BELGIUM.
4. Went to Belgium in December. About December 25 was at rest in the
region Hirson-Avesnes.
1916.
VERDUN.
1. At the beginning of February, 1916, it was in the region of
Spincourt.
2. At the end of February at Verdun. It fought near Herbebois February
23. It attacked Douaumont February 26 and suffered severe losses. It was
again engaged from March 8 to 15 and from April 22 to the end of the
May.
SOMME.
3. July at the Somme (Longueval, Bois Delville). Suffered heavy losses.
4. Middle of August in Champagne (Auberive) until October 12.
VERDUN.
5. December, 1916, it went again to Verdun (region of Vaux, Dec. 7).
Units of the 5th Division were engaged as reinforcements during the
French attack of December 15. The division was withdrawn from the Verdun
front about December 25 and sent to the region of Mulhouse.
1917.
ALSACE.
1. Stayed in Upper Alsace (region of Mulhouse and Ferrette) until April
20, 1917. It held temporarily a calm sector in the Vosges region, but
during this period it is used particularly for entrenching works on the
French front and the Swiss frontier.
CHAMPAGNE.
2. It was alarmed. It entrained in the region of Mulhouse and was sent
through Montmedy and Sedan to Champagne, where it went into line on
April 23 in the Mont-Haut sector, where it suffered very heavy losses.
3. Left Champagne front at the beginning of May.
4. Toward the end of June it was in the Woevre in the region between
Conflans and Briey.
5. At the beginning of July it was again in the Champagne (Téton
sector).
RUSSIA.
6. Sent to the Eastern Front in July and relieved at the beginning of
September by the 6th Reserve Division in the region of Zbrucz.
ITALY.
7. About October sent from Galicia to Italy.
FRANCE.
8. Sent from Italy to France at the beginning of January, 1918, and at
rest behind the front in Champagne. January 20, 1918, it went into line
near Butte du Mesnil.
RECRUITING.
Essentially from Brandenburg (Regiments of the Mark, as the communiques
sometimes call it), and its provincial character has been carefully
maintained.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
Although not as good as at the beginning of the war, the morale of the
5th Division seemed good and its fighting value worthy of consideration
(July 17).
1918.
1. After its return from Italy the division rested and trained at
Chenois, near Charleville, from January 1 to March 1, when it moved to
Anderlues-Resbaix (west of Charleroi) from March 1 to 14. On that date
it moved to the front by night marches by Maubeuge, Landrecies,
Wassigny, and Etaves.
BATTLE OF PICARDY.
2. It took its place in line between Lesdins and Remancourt (north of
St. Quentin) on the night of March 20–21. The next day it was engaged in
support of the 25th Division, advancing via Morcourt and Fayet. It took
part in the attack on Holnon Wood and reached Attilly that night. It
continued to advance on the 22d via Beauvois-Lanchy-Uguy-Quivieres-
Croix-Moleguaux to a point east of Falvy. On the 24th it forced the
crossing of the Somme at Falvy and Pargny and reached Morchain that
night. It was at Omilcourt on the 25th and captured Chaulnes on the
26th; from there it advanced to Fouquescourt and Rouvroy on the 27th,
crossed the Avre, and when the line stabilized near Aubvillers the
division withdrew, March 28. Its losses in the fighting were extremely
heavy. In crossing the Somme it especially distinguished itself.
3. The division rested until April 3, when it was reengaged between
Sauvillers and Grivesnes from April 3–12. It again lost heavily,
especially the 52d Regiment, during the attack of April 4 near the Bois
de Arrachies.
4. It rested and trained from April 13 to May 23 at Iron et Vadencourt,
near Guise. It is known to have received 1,000 men from Beverloo on
April 14. From May 23 to 26 it marched toward the Aisne front by night,
through Parpeville, Monceau le Neuf, Aisis sur Serre, Couvron,
Laniscourt, Foucancourt.
BATTLE OF THE AISNE.
5. On the night of June 26 it entered line southeast of Lizy. In the
offensive the division advanced by Chavignon, Malmaison, Uregny, region
of Pommiers, Mercin, Pernant, east of Ambleny. It was partially relieved
on June 7 and the last elements withdrawn by June 13.
6. The division rested between Guise and Le Nouvion (Mannappes Lechelle)
from the middle of June to July 18. During this period the Spanish
sickness ravished the troops. Reinforcements reconstituted the division
during this period. On July 19 the division was transported to Anezy le
Chateau by way of Wassigny, Guise, Mesbricourt. By marches it moved by
steps to south of Soissons.
BATTLE OF THE MARNE.
7. On July 21 the division was engaged near Buzancy. It fell back to the
Vesle by Acy on August 1–2. It remained in the sector south of Vailly
(Ciry-Salsogne, Sermoise) until September 5, when it retired to the line
Vailly-Celle sur Aisne. After losing more than 1,000 prisoners it was
relieved on September 18.
ARDENNES.
8. The division was reengaged in the region of Jonchery on September 28.
It retired north of the Aisne (Sept. 30) toward Berry au Bac. Again
retreated October 10 by Prouvais, La Malmaison, to Nizy le Comte. It was
in line there until October 17, when it retired to the second line for a
week. It was reengaged in the same region from October 25 to November 5,
when it retreated by Rozoy and Brunehamel with extremely heavy losses.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
Before the summer of 1918 the 5th Division was an excellent assault
division, frequently mentioned in German communiques. But after August,
1918, it became a sector-holding division. It was almost constantly in
line after July 21 with consequent lowering of morale and discipline. In
November it had but two battalions per regiment and three companies per
battalion.
5th Reserve Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │9 Res. │8 Res. │9 Res. │8 Res. │10 Res. │8 Res.
│ │48 Res. │ │48 Res. │ │12 Res.
│10 Res. │12 Res. │10 Res. │12 Res. │ │48 Res.
│ │52 Res. │ │52 Res. │ │
│ 3 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 3 Res. Jag. Btn. │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Res. Dragoon Rgt.│ │2 Res. Drag. Rgt.
│ (3 Sqns.). │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │5 Res. F. A. Rgt. │5 Res. F. A. Rgt. │5 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (6 Btries.). │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│4 Field Co. and 2 │4 Field Co. and 2 │4 Field Co. and 2
Liaisons. │ Res. Co. of the 2│ Res. Co. of the 2│ Res. Co. of the 2
│ Pion. Btn. No. 3.│ Pion. Btn. No. 3.│ Pion. Btn. No. 3.
│ │5 Res. Pont. Engs. │205 T. M. Co.
│ │5 Res. Tel. Detch. │5 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │5 Res. Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │10 Res. │8 Res. │9 Res. │8 Res.
│ │12 Res. │ │12 Res.
│ │48 Res. │ │48 Res.
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │2 Res. Drag. Rgt. │5 Sqn. 4 Drag. Rgt.
│ (?) (1 Sqn.). │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │90 Art. Command: │90 Art. Command:
│ │
│ 5 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 5 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 4 Abt. 17 Res. Ft.
│ │ A. Rgt.
│ │ 1086 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1176 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1202 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(305) Pion. Btn.: │505 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ │
│ 4 Co. 3 Pions. │ 4 Co. 3 Pions.
│ 2 Res. Co. 3 │ 2 Res. Co. 3
│ Pions. │ Pions.
│ 205 T. M. Co. │ 205 T. M. Co.
│ Tel. Detch. │ 69 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │405 Signal Command:
│ │ 405 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 44 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │503 Ambulance Co. │503 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│64 Res. Field │64 Res. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│65 Res. Field │65 Res. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │135 Res. Vet.
│ │ Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │705 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(Third District—Brandenburg.)
1914.
The 5th Reserve Division is organically a part of the 3d Reserve Corps,
with the 6th Reserve Division.
BELGIUM.
1. At the beginning of the war the division belonged to the 1st Army
(Von Kluck). Detrained at Crefeld from August 10 to 12; entered Belgium
the 18th. The 3d Reserve Corps was sent to France. The division was at
Malines on August 22, at Vilvorde the 26th, and fought against the
Belgians on that day. The 3d Reserve Corps then turned toward Antwerp,
which it besieged. After the city was taken the corps advanced toward
the sea through Ghent, Bruges, October 13 to 16. The 19th the 5th
Reserve Division attacked in the direction of Nieuport. At the beginning
of November it fought in the vicinity of Bixschoote, in the forest of
Houthulst; then until the end of November it held the Dixmude-Langmarck
front.
RUSSIA.
2. About December 2 the division entrained for the eastern front. On
arriving in Russia it became part of Mackensen’s army (9th Army). It was
sent to the Bzura.
1915.
1. In February, 1915, the division was attached to the 10th Army and
took part in the battle of Prasnysz.
2. In May one of its brigades remained before Kovno with the 10th Army
(Gen. von Eichhorn). The other brigade joined the 3d Reserve Corps of
the 9th Army (Gen. von Fabeck) and fought on the Bzura. The 52d Reserve
Infantry was transferred to the 107th Division.
3. In July the division was reorganized. It was attached to the 9th Army
before Warsaw and fought between the Bzura and the Pilica.
4. In November, after crossing the Vistula and the Bug it arrived before
Baranovitchi. It remained in this region until March, 1917.
1916.
1. On January 1, 1916, it held the eastern sector of Novo-Grudok, north
of Baranovitchi.
2. At the beginning of April the division was placed in reserve behind
this sector.
3. During the first two weeks of July it was engaged between Gorodivche
and Baranovitchi to oppose the Russian offensive started on this part of
the front. On July 8 it suffered heavy losses. (The 8th Reserve had
1,200 men out of action.)
1917.
FRANCE.
1. It was relieved in this area about the middle of April and sent to
the Western Front.