─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬──────_Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918)

│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916

─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────

│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.

─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────

Infantry. │11 Res. │20 Res. │11 Res. │20 Res. │11 Res. │20 Res.

│ │24 Res. │ │24 Res. │ │35 Res.

│12 Res. │26 Res. │12 Res. │26 Res. │12 Res. │24 Res.

│ │35 Res. │ │35 Res. │ │19

│ │ │ │ │ │ Landst.

─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────

Cavalry. │3 Res. Uhlan Rgt. │ │3 Res. Uhlan Rgt.

│ (3 Sqns.). │ │

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Artillery. │6 Res. F. A. Rgt. │6 Res. F. A. Rgt. │6 Res. F. A. Rgt.

│ (6 Btries.). │ │

│ │ │

Engineers and│1 Res. Co. 2 Pion. │1 Res. Co. 2 Pion. │1 Res. Co. 3 Pion.

Liaisons. │ Btn. No. 3. │ Btn. No. 3. │ Btn. No. 3.

│ │6 Res. Pont. Engs. │3 Co. 34 Res.

│ │ │ Pions.

│ │6 Res. Tel. Detch. │206 T. M. Co.

│ │ │

│ │ │6 Res. Pont. Engs.

│ │ │6 Res. Tel. Detch.

│ │ │

Medical and │ │ │

Veterinary.│ │ │

│ │ │

Transports. │ │ │

Attached. │ │ │151 Cyclist Co.

│ │ │102 Labor Btn.

─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────

│ 1917 │ 1918

─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────

│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.

─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────

Infantry. │12 Res. │20 Res. │12 Res. │20 Res.

│ │24 Res. │ │24 Res.

│ │35 Res. │ │35 Res.

│ │ │ │

─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────

Cavalry. │3 Res. Uhlan Rgt.? │

│ (1 Sqn.). │

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Artillery. │94 Art. Command: │94 Art. Command:

│ │

│ 6 Res. F. A. Rgt. │ 6 Res. F. A. Rgt.

│ (9 Btries.). │

│ │

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Engineers and│(306) Pion. Btn.: │1 Res. Co. (2 Pion.

Liaisons. │ │ Btn. No. 3).

│ 5 Co. 1 Pions. │3 Co. 34 Res. Pion.

│ │ Btn.

│ 1 Res. Co. 3 │274 Searchlight

│ Pions. │ Section.

│ 206 T. M. Co. │206 T. M. Co.

│ 274 Searchlight │4 06th Tel. Detch.

│ Section. │

│ 406 Tel. Detch. │

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Medical and │516 Ambulance Co. │516 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │

│19 Res. Field │18 Res. Field

│ Hospital. │ Hospital.

│20 Res. Field │19 Res. Field

│ Hospital. │ Hospital.

│Vet. Hospital. │20 Res. Field

│ │ Hospital.

│ │144 Vet. Hospital.

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Transports. │M. T. Col. │706 M. T. Col.

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Attached. │151 Cyclist Co. │

│ │

─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

Footnote 6:

At time of dissolution, Aug. 23, 1918.

HISTORY.

(Third District—Brandenburg.)

1914.

The 6th Reserve Division belonged organically to the 3d Reserve Corps,

like the 5th Reserve Division.

BELGIUM.

1. At the beginning of the war the 3d Reserve Corps belonged to the 1st

German Army (Gen. von Kluck). The 6th Reserve Division detrained August

10 in the region of Crefeld, entered Belgium the 17th, passed through

Belgian Limburg at the beginning of September, moved on Malines to

oppose the Belgian offensive. September 9 the division attacked the

Belgian troops in the region of Louvain and then took part in the siege

of Antwerp.

YSER.

2. After the fall of Antwerp it moved toward the sea from October 13 to

16, through Ghent, Bruges, and Ostend. It concentrated near Thourout

October 19 and fought along the Yser Canal. It fought violently in the

region of Nieuport-Dixmude at the end of October and the beginning of

November.

RUSSIA.

3. At the beginning of December the 3d Reserve Corps went to Russia, the

6th Reserve Division being withdrawn from the Belgian front about the

middle of November.

1915.

POLAND.

1. On arriving on the Eastern Front the division was engaged on the

Bzura and before Warsaw (9th Army, under Mackensen).

2. In July, 1915, it became a part of Von Buelow’s army, which marched

on the left wing (north) of the German forces during the offensive

against Russia (summer and fall of 1915).

DVINA.

3. In November the division still belonged to Von Buelow’s army, called

the Niemen army, and was engaged on the Dvina.

1916.

COURLAND.

1. In February, 1916, the division (8th Army under Von Buelow) held a

sector in the region of Riga-Friedrichstadt.

2. During its stay in Russia the division did not have very heavy losses

except in July, 1916, when it opposed violent Russian attacks near

Kekkau.

1917.

COURLAND.

1. Relieved from the Kekkau sector in May, 1917, and was sent to the

Western Front.

FRANCE.

2. Entrained about May 6 at Mitau and sent via Cottbus, Cassel,

Coblentz, Treves, Thionville to Dun, where it detrained May 13.

MORT HOMME-HILL 304.

3. At the end of May the division went into line on the left bank of the

Meuse in the sector Mort Homme-Hill 304. On June 29 some of the units of

the division supported an attack attempted by the 10th Reserve Division

against Hill 304 and suffered heavy losses. August 20 the French

offensive struck them. Its losses were enormous. Two of its regiments,

the 24th Reserve and 20th Reserve, were nearly wiped out. The 35th

Reserve was not weakened quite so much, yet was seriously diminished.

The division lost 2,800 prisoners.

RUSSIA.

4. Withdrawn from the front, the division was sent to Galicia at the end

of September. It was still there January 31 on the old Austro-Russian

frontier after furnishing reinforcements to the Western Front.

RECRUITING.

Brandenburg.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 6th Reserve Division, a short time after its return from the Eastern

Front, was considered about as follows: “Its value is mediocre. In spite

of its units from Brandenburg and the recent creation of shock troops,

its long stay in Russia has greatly depreciated its fighting value”

(July 11, 1917).

This judgment was completely verified August 20, 1917: “The 6th Reserve

Division on the whole opposed no resistance to the French attack of

August 20 at any point. * * * The conduct of a good number of its

officers seems not to have been edifying. A good many seized the pretext

of intoxication or gave unsatisfactory reasons for withdrawing to the

rear” (October, 1917).

The German command thought best to send this division back to the

Eastern Front (September, 1917).

1918.

FRANCE.

The 6th Reserve Division entrained at Zborow the evening of March 8, and

traveled via Sokal-Brest Litovsk-Varsovia-Kaliscz-Lissa-Gorlitz-Bautzen-

Dresden-Leipsic-Weimar-Erfurth-Eisenach-Bebra-Fulda-Hanau-Frankfort-

Mainz-Kreuznach-Thionville-Sedan to Balhain (northeast of Asfeld), where

it arrived March 15.

The division rested at Villers (near Asfeld) until the 25th of March,

when it reentrained and traveled to Crécy sur Serre. From there it

marched via Mesbrecourt-Pouilly sur Serre-La Fère-Liez-Commonchon to the

area northeast of Noyon, and remained in reserve for some days. Elements

of the division came into line west of Chauny at the end of March, but

were soon withdrawn. About the 1st of April the whole division marched

to Roye and remained there until the 15th, when it continued its march

via Erches and Arvillers to Plessier, relieving the 2d Guard Division

southwest of Moreuil May 1.

The beginning of August it was relieved by the 24th Division and shortly

after it was dissolved and the men composing it were sent as drafts to

the 5th and 6th Divisions.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The only aggressive action of the division on the Western Front during

1918 was a raid carried out by a battalion against the French lines in

the La Gaune woods (southwest of Moreuil) early in May; it was not a

success, and it is estimated that practically the whole attacking force

was wiped out. The 6th Reserve is rated as a third-class division.

6th Bavarian Division.

COMPOSITION.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────

│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916

│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.

Infantry. │11 Bav. │10 Bav. │11 Bav. │10 Bav. │11 Bav. │10 Bav.

│ │13 Bav. │ │13 Bav. │ │13 Bav.

│12 Bav. │6 Bav. │12 Bav. │6 Bav. │12 Bav. │6 Bav.

│ │11 Bav. │ │11 Bav. │ │11 Bav.

Cavalry. │2 Bav. Light Cav. │2 Bav. Light Cav. │2 Bav. Light Cav.

│ Rgt. │ Rgt. │ Rgt. (2 Sqns.)

Artillery. │6 Bav. Brig.: │6 Bav. Brig.: │6 Bav. Brig.:

│ │ │

│ 3 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 3 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 3 Bav. F. A. Rgt.

│ 8 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 8 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 8 Bav. F. A. Rgt.

│ │ │

Engineers and│2 and 3 Field Cos. │2 and 3 Field Cos. │2 Field Co. 3 Bav.

Liaisons. │ 3 Bav. Pion. Btn.│ 3 Bav. Pion. Btn.│ Pion. Btn.

│ │6 Bav. Pont. Engs. │6 Bav. T. M. Co.

│ │6 Bav. Tel. Detch. │6 Bav. Pont. Engs.

│ │ │6 Bav. Tel. Detch.

│ │ │

Medical and │ │ │

Veterinary.│ │ │

│ │ │

Transports. │ │ │

Attached. │ │ │46 Bav. Anti-

│ │ │ Aircraft Section.

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────

│ 1917 │ 1918

─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────

│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.

─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────

Infantry. │11 Bav. │10 Bav. │11 Bav. │6 Bav.

│ │6 Bav. │ │10 Bav.

│ │13 Bav. │ │13 Bav.

│ │ │ │

─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────

Cavalry. │2 Bav. Light Cav. │3 Sqn. 2 Bav. Light

│ Rgt. (3d Sqn.) │ Cav. Rgt.

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Artillery. │6 Bav. Art. │6 Bav. Art.

│ Command: │ Command:

│ 8 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │ 3 Bav. F. A. Rgt.

│ │ 2 Abt. 1 Bav. Res.

│ │ Ft. A. Rgt.

│ │ 115 Bav. Light Am.

│ │ Col.

│ │ 142 Bav. Light Am.

│ │ Col.

│ │ 169 Bav. Light Am.

│ │ Col.

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Engineers and│(?) Bav. Pion. │6 Bav. Pion. Btn.:

Liaisons. │ Btn.: │

│ 11 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 11 Bav. Pion. Co.

│ 12 Bav. Pion. Co. │ 12 Bav. Pion. Co.

│ 6 Bav. T. M. Co. │ 6 Bav. T. M. Co.

│ z (42) Searchlight│ 6 Bav. Searchlight

│ Section. │ Section.

│ 6 Bav. Tel. Detch.│6 Bav. Signal

│ │ Command:

│ │ 6 Bav. Tel. Detch.

│ │ 101 Bav. Wireless

│ │ Detch.

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Medical and │7 Bav. Ambulance │7 Bav. Ambulance

Veterinary.│ Co. │ Co.

│Field Hospital. │20 Bav. Field

│ │ Hospital.

│6 Bav. Vet. │24 Bav. Field

│ Hospital. │ Hospital.

│ │6 Bav. Vet.

│ │ Hospital.

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Transports. │M. T. Col. │686 M. T. Col.

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Attached. │ │

│ │

─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(Upper Palatinate and part of Lower Bavaria.)

1914.

LORRAINE.

1. In August, 1914, the 6th Bavarian Division with the 5th Bavarian

Division constituted the 3d Bavarian Corps and was part of the 6th

Bavarian Army (Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria). One of its brigades,

the 11th, detrained, beginning August 4, at Remilly as a covering force.

August 20 the division fought on the right of the 5th Bavarian Division

at Prevecourt and Delme. They crossed the French frontier with this

division on the 22d and were engaged the 25th at Maixe on the Sanon and

north of Luneville during the first days of September. Also with the 5th

Bavarian Division, it was near Champenoux September 8, at the time of

the attack against Nancy until the 11th, and then retreated.

COTES DE MEUSE.

2. Assembled at Metz from the 14th to the 17th, the division went on the

18th to the west of the Moselle. It reached and climbed the Cotes de

Meuse the 21st and attacked the fort of the Camp des Romains and St.

Mihiel the 27th.

ST. MIHIEL.

3. Following these attacks which continued during October and ended in

the capture of the fort and of St. Mihiel, the division established

itself from Chauvoncourt to Spada in November to December.

1915.

ST. MIHIEL.

1. The division remained in the sector of the St. Mihiel salient

(Chauvoncourt-Spada-Lamorville) during the whole of 1915 and until June,

1916.

VERDUN.

1. About June 20, 1916, the 11th Bavarian Brigade was relieved from the

St. Mihiel sector and sent to Longuyon and from there to the Verdun

front. It participated in opposing the French attack of June 23 (with

the Alpine Corps) on Thiaumont and suffered heavy losses.

2. Sent to rest July 4.

3. The 12th Brigade withdrew from the St. Mihiel front July 13 and 16

and went into line before Fleury, beginning July 17 to 18 (11th

Regiment). Its losses were such that on July 26 the replacement depot of

the 11th Infantry at Ratisbonne was ordered by telegraph to furnish

immediately 500 replacements (letter).

4. On August 2 and 3 the whole division was fighting in this sector and

lost heavily.

SOMME.

5. The division left the Verdun front about August 5. After a short stay

in the Argonne it was sent to the Somme at the beginning of September,

fought between Flers and Gueudecourt September 15 to 27 and again

suffered serious losses.

ARTOIS.

6. On August 1 the division took over the sector of Neuve Chapelle-

Festubert, and remained there until May 10, 1917.

1917.

1. At the end of January, 1917, the 11th Infantry and the 3d Field

Artillery were transferred to the 6th Bavarian Division (new).

ARTOIS.

2. The division was relieved from the Neuve Chapelle sector May 10 and

went into line northeast of Arras (Oppy, Fresnoy, Acheville), in the

middle of May. They suffered some loss from gas attacks.

FLANDERS.

3. The division left Artois September 10 and went to Flanders (sector

northeast of Langemarck) September 29. The British attack of October 4

caused it heavy losses and it lost Poelcappelle to the British.

4. Relieved October 8, sent to rest, and reorganized.

ARTOIS.

5. On October 18 it appeared south of the La Bassee Canal, where it

suffered again from gas attacks.

RECRUITING.

Upper Palatinate and part of Lower Bavaria (Third Bavarian district).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The morale of the division was good. On the Fresnoy front in 1917 it

showed activity and enterprise. It always reacted quickly against

attacks, but it seems that it could easily be persuaded to adopt a more

passive attitude if circumstances were such as to permit it (information

of the British, February, 1918).

1918.

1. The 6th Bavarian Division was relieved south of the La Bassee Canal

by the 4th Ersatz Division, January 18, and went to rest in the area

south of Tournai.

LILLE.

2. About the middle of February it relieved the 187th Division south of

the Bois Grenier (west of Lille). About the 24th it was relieved by the

10th Ersatz Division, and went back nearer Lille, where it probably

received training in open warfare, although this fact has never been

definitely established.

CAMBRAI.

3. For the Somme offensive, the division was sent to the Cambrai front,

entering the line March 20, near Bullecourt, and attacking the following

day. Little progress was made by the Germans on this part of the front,

and the division lost heavily in many attacks. It was withdrawn about

March 26.

DIXMUDE.

4. April 4 it relieved the 214th Division south of Dixmude. A very

elaborate attack against the Belgians was planned to take place here

April 17, and it was to be made by the 6th Bavarian Division and some

elements of adjoining units. It was presumed that the German successes

at Mount Kemel had shaken the line to the north and that the whole Ypres

salient could be captured. Preparations were made, and the attack

attempted, but it failed completely, and the Belgians not only threw the

enemy back but took a great many prisoners. It was withdrawn about the

19th and went to rest for a week near Ruddervoorde (south of Bruges),

although some of its elements held part of the sector of the 1st

Landwehr Division east of Merckem for a day or two.

VERDUN.

5. The division was sent to the Verdun region via Brussels-Namur-Sedan-

Montmédy, and went into camp in the vicinity of Chauvency (west of

Montmedy), where it remained 10 days.

MEUSE.

6. May 24 it relieved the 22d Division near Beaumont (north of Verdun).

ROYE.

7. It was relieved about August 7, and after resting a few days moved up

to the Roye region. It was identified in the Bois des Loges August 16;

it had relieved the 206th Division. The division remained in line

retiring in the face of the Allied advance, but fighting stubbornly,

especially near Campagne, Montigny, and Essigny le Grand; at the last-

named place it counterattacked violently, but in vain, September 29. It

was still in line when the armistice was signed.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 6th Bavarian is rated as one of the 45 best enemy divisions. It

suffered extremely heavy losses, but since it always fought well—though

not brilliantly, during 1918—the German High Command sent it as many

replacements as it could. The morale has always been good, but quite

anti-Prussian.

6th. Bavarian Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916

│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.

Infantry. │12 Bav. │16 Bav. │12 Bav. │16 Bav. │12 Bav. │16 Bav.

│ Res. │ Res. │ Res. │ Res. │ Res. │ Res.

│ │17 Bav. │ │17 Bav. │ │17 Bav.

│ │ Res. │ │ Res. │ │ Res.

│14 Bav. │20 Bav. │14 Bav. │20 Bav. │14 Bav. │20 Bav.

│ Res. │ Res. │ Res. │ Res. │ Res. │ Res.

│ │21 Bav. │ │21 Bav. │ │21 Bav.

│ │ Res. │ │ Res. │ │ Res.

Cavalry. │6 Bav. Res. Cav. │6 Bav. Res. Cav. │6 Bav. Res. Cav.

│ Rgt. │ Rgt. │ Rgt.

Artillery. │6 Bav. Res. F. A. │6 Bav. Res. F. A. │6 Bav. Res. F. A.

│ Rgt. (9 Btries.).│ Rgt. │ Rgt.

│ │ │

Engineers and│6 Bav. Res. Pion. │6 Bav. Res. Pion. │6 Bav. Res. Pion.

Liaisons. │ Co. │ Co. │ Co.

│ │ │10 Bav. Res. Pion.

│ │ │ Co.

│ │ │206 Bav. T. M. Co.

│ │ │

│ │ │6 Bav. Res. Pont.

│ │ │ Engs.

│ │ │6 Bav. Res. Tel.

│ │ │ Detch.

│ │ │

Medical and │ │ │

Veterinary.│ │ │

│ │ │

Transports. │ │ │

─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────

│ 1917 │ 1918

─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────

│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.

─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────

Infantry. │12 Bav. │16 Bav. │12 Bav. │25 Bav.

│ Res. │ Res. │ Res. │

│ │17 Bav. │ │16 Bav.

│ │ Res. │ │ Res.

│ │20 Bav. │ │20 Bav.

│ │ Res. │ │ Res.

│ │ │ │

─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────

Cavalry. │6 Bav. Res. Cav. │3 Sqn. 5 Bav. Light

│ Rgt. (? Sqns.) │ Cav. Rgt.

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Artillery. │18 Bav. Art. │18 Bav. Art.

│ Command: │ Command:

│ 6 Bav. Res. F. A. │ 19 Bav. F. A. Rgt.

│ Regt. │

│ │ 12 Bav. Ft. A.

│ │ Btn.

│ │ 143 Bav. Light Am.

│ │ Col.

│ │ 110 Bav. Light Am.

│ │ Col.

│ │ 107 Bav. Light Am.

│ │ Col.

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Engineers and│(19 Bav.) Pion. │19 Bav. Pion. Btn.:

Liaisons. │ Btn.: │

│ 6 Bav. Res. Pion. │ 6 Bav. Res. Pion.

│ Co. │ Co.

│ 7 Bav. Res. Pion. │ 7 Bav. Res. Pion.

│ Co. │ Co.

│ 206 Bav. T. M. Co.│ 206 Bav. T. M. Co.

│ │

│ 2 Bav. Res. │ 19 Bav.

│ Searchlight │ Searchlight

│ Section. │ Section.

│ 406 Bav. Res. Tel.│406 Signal Command:

│ Detch. │

│ │ 406 Tel. Detch.

│ │ 144 Wireless

│ │ Detch.

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Medical and │17 Bav. Ambulance │17 Bav. Ambulance

Veterinary.│ Co. │ Co.

│53 Bav. Field │53 Bav. Field

│ Hospital. │ Hospital.

│Vet. Hospital. │54 Bav. Field

│ │ Hospital.

─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────

Transports. │M. T. Col. │752 M. T. Col.

─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────

HISTORY.

(16th Bavarian Reserve Regiment: First Bavarian District. 17th Bavarian

Reserve Regiment: Second Bavarian District. 20th Bavarian Reserve

Regiment: (?).)

1914.

FLANDERS.

1. This division was organized in Bavaria in September, 1914, and sent

to Belgium about October 21. Assembled in the vicinity of Lille and was

sent toward Dadizeele the 27th and was near Gheluvelt October 29, but

does not seem to have been in the fight.

2. November 1 it was sent south of Ypres between Hollebeke and Messines.

It attacked in the direction of Wytschaete November 2 and suffered heavy

losses: 11th Company, 4 officers and 181 men (16th Reserve Regiment);

6th company of the 17th Reserve Regiment, 5 officers and 228 men

(casualty lists). November 6 the 3d company of the 21st Reserve Regiment

was reduced to 3 provisional officers and 63 men (notebook).

1915.

FLANDERS.

1. The division remained in the Messines-Wytschaete sector until the

beginning of March, 1915.

2. Relieved between March 6 and 8 and sent the 11th as reinforcements to

the 7th Corps at Neuve Chapelle. Then sent to rest in the region of

Roubaix in March.

LILLE.

3. Beginning of April it went into line southwest of Lille between

Grenier Wood and Aubers and held this sector until the end of September,

1916.

1. July 19, 1916, the division suffered heavy losses in opposing the

British attack southeast of Laventie.

SOMME.

2. Relieved from the Lille front about September 27 and engaged in the

Somme district near Eaucourt l’Abbaye and Gueudecourt until October 13.

Again suffered heavily.

ARTOIS.

3. October 25 it took over the Vimy-Lievin sector, south of Lens.

1917.

1. The division held the front south of Lens during all the winter of

1916 to 1917 and executed many raids.

2. February 12 sent to rest near Douai and reorganized in February and

March. One of its regiments, the 21st Reserve, was transferred to the

16th Bavarian Division, newly organized.

3. March 14 it went into line north of the La Bassee Canal.

4. Withdrawn from this sector at the end of April and was engaged May 8

northeast of Arras, at Oppy Gavrelle, until May 11. In the middle of

June it returned to this sector for a few days and does not seem to have

suffered heavy losses.

YPRES.

5. After a rest near Douai until the end of June the division was sent

to Flanders. Was first placed in reserve south of Thielt during the

first few weeks of July and engaged the 18th southeast of Ypres in the

Ledeghem sector. Lost heavily from the artillery preparation and was

relieved July 30 before the British attack.

ALSACE.

6. Sent to Alsace and held the Altkirch sector from the middle of August

to beginning of October.

LAONNOIS.

7. About October 16 to 17 it was sent to the region of Lizy, southwest

of Laon. It relieved on the Ailette, east of Anizy le Chateau, about

October 25, the remains of the 14th and 52d Divisions, decimated by the

French attack of the 23d.

8. The division was not heavily engaged in the sector of Lizy. It

continued to hold it in November and December 1917 and January 1918.

During this period it was sent to Vervins for rest and training.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division was organized as an attack unit. From January 24 to

February 19, 1918, it went through a training for the offensive in the

vicinity of Vervins including breaking-through maneuvers, Feb. 1 with a

Prussian division at Vallee aux Bleds; another divisional maneuver

February 11 before the German Crown Prince and Gen. Ludendorff; third

divisional maneuver February 18 (examination of prisoners, Feb. 28,

1918). It is to be noted that in Flanders, where the division had the

only important fight it had in 1917 it suffered heavily. Its morale was

so weakened that it had to be withdrawn before the British attack.

1918.

VERVINS.

1. The 6th Bavarian Reserve Division was relieved in the Anizy le

Chateau region by the 6th Division, January 24 and went to the vicinity

of Vervins where it was put through a course of training in open

warfare, in which artillery and aeroplanes participated. These exercises

were supervised by the Crown Prince and Ludendorff.

Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918) · 第 14 / 78 段