8th Reserve Corps on the Champagne front (east).
2. About the middle of June the division went to Artois to reinforce the
6th Army in preparation for the French offensive.
SOUCHEZ.
3. At the end of June it held the sector north of Souchez, east of
Neuville St. Vaast. It executed many unsuccessful attacks on Souchez and
the Chateau of Carleul. It suffered considerable losses during July.
September 25 and 26 it had more losses before La Folie. Relieved at the
end of September and sent to rest in the region of Cambrai. The casualty
lists for the 10th Grenadiers show 432 killed, 1,023 wounded, 64
missing; total, 1,519 men. The losses were hastily made good from
October 5 to 14 by replacements with less than three months’ training
(oldest class Landsturm 2d Band and 1915 class men who entered service
in July). The 9th Company of the 10th Grenadiers received in this way at
least 119 men and the 12th Company of the 38th Fusiliers about the same.
4. During the first two weeks of October the division went into line in
the sector astride the Somme.
1916.
FRISE.
1. At the end of January, 1916, the division took part in the attack
which ended in the taking of the village of Frise and suffered very
heavy losses.
2. On May 25 it was relieved, and a short time afterwards took over the
sector south of the Amiens-St. Quentin road. (At the end of June the
first 1917-class soldiers arrived with older classes put back, taken
from the mines and factories of Silesia.)
SOMME.
3. In this sector it opposed the French attack of July 1 and days
following. It suffered heavily and lost a large number of prisoners to
the French. (The 11th Grenadiers, whose battalions had fought in three
different places, separated from the rest of the division, had to have
at least 181 replacements to complete the 11th Company. They arrived
from July 6 to 20.)
4. It was withdrawn from this sector about the end of July and sent to
the region of St. Quentin to be reorganized.
5. On August 1 the division took over the trenches in the sector
Andechy-Beuvraignes.
SOMME.
6. September 4 it again went in to the battle of the Somme between
Deniecourt and Vermandovillers. During these two actions in the Somme it
suffered 83 per cent losses.
7. Relieved October 10 and took over the sector of Prunay the 24th,
which it held until December 12, then went to rest near St. Quentin. The
11th Grenadiers left the division in October and were transferred to the
101st Division in Macedonia.
1917.
1. On January 4, 1917, the division went into line in the sector of
Lassigny, then on February 10 in the sector of Ablaincourt, south of the
Somme.
2. About the middle of the month of March the division retreated, with
the other German forces engaged in the Somme, to the Hindenburg line.
3. March 29 it was sent to the Arras front.
ARTOIS.
April 19 it opposed south of the Scarpe the first shock of the British
attack. In spite of a desperate defense it was routed and lost 2,200
prisoners to the British. The 51st Infantry was reduced to 600 men
(prisoners’ statements) and its 12th Company to 6 men.
4. On April 11 the division was relieved and reorganized in the region
of Bruges. It received replacements especially from the 623d Infantry,
which was dissolved, organized, and trained at the camp at Neuhammer.
FLANDERS.
5. At the beginning of June it was in support of the Wytschaete-Messines
front when the British attacked. It then held this sector until June 26
and suffered heavy losses again (June 8 and 9).
WOEVRE.
6. After a few days’ rest it was sent to Metz and then put in line in
the sector of Flirey (in Haye), end of July to September 15.
7. Relieved about the middle of September, and in October took over a
sector on the Champagne front.
FLANDERS.
8. At the end of October it was sent to Flanders and went into line near
Passchendeale. Withdrawn at the end of December and went to the rear of
the front in the region of Maubeuge.
RECRUITING.
The division was recruited in the regions of Breslau, Glatz, and
Schweidnitz from a German population. The Poles, therefore, coming from
the Province of Silesia, are in the minority. The Sixth District is
thickly populated and was able by itself to maintain the division even
during the period of heavy losses.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
In spite of the heavy losses suffered at the Somme, Arras, and
Wytschaete the division always fought well. Its value is diminished by
the presence of a certain number of Poles who were generally ready to
desert when they had a chance. Lieut. Col. Schwerck, commanding the 51st
Infantry, received the order “Pour le Merite” after the battle of Arras.
This reward, which has been given to only six other regimental
commanders, seems to prove that the fighting value of the 11th Division
at Arras in April, 1917, was greatly appreciated by the German High
Command.
1918.
CHAMPAGNE.
1. The 11th Division rested first in the Maubeuge region, and later near
Charleville and Laon for about two months. About March 1 it relieved the
51st Reserve Division in the Butte de Mesnil. Here nothing except minor
trench raids was attempted. Most of the older men were exchanged for
young ones. It was relieved by the 88th Division April 15.
LASSIGNY.
2. April 20 it relieved elements of the 34th and 37th Divisions south of
Dives, (east of Lassigny). It was relieved by the 202d Division during
the night of May 22–23. It rested then for about 10 days in the Guiscard
region.
MONTDIDIER.
3. June 9 it reinforced the Montdidier-Noyon battle front south of
Thiescourt (west of Noyon). It attacked the first day of the offensive
as an attack division. It attacked on a front of 1,500 yards, with
Compiegne as its final objective (its orders were captured), but did
poorly, succeeding only in reaching Machemont—less than half way. In
this engagement it suffered heavy losses. It was withdrawn the 16th and
went to rest in the Guiscard region, where it received some 1,300
replacements.
4. The division relieved the 222d Division near Rubescourt (south of
Montdidier) July 19. In the fighting which followed, the division lost
heavily. The 10th Regiment received 300 replacements August 2; relieved
about the 12th.
5. It reentered line near Varesnes the 22d and was withdrawn the 28th.
ST. QUENTIN.
6. September 8 it came back into line southwest of St. Quentin near
Jussy. It was withdrawn about the 20th.
7. Four days later the division was identified north of St. Quentin in
the Gricourt sector; withdrawn the 2d of October.
8. It came back into line about the 12th near Barisis (south of LaFere).
The division took part in the general German retirement and was
identified successively at Remies, Mesbrecourt, Léa Ferte-Chevresis,
Monceau le Neuf, Le Herie la Vieville, St. Algis, and Champ Bouvier. It
was still in line when the armistice was signed.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 11th is rated as a good second-class division. It did not do well in
the battle of the Oise, but everywhere else its conduct under fire was
characterized by considerable tenacity. Losses were very heavy. Numerous
cases of desertion, especially to the interior; a large number of
replacements—returned prisoners from Russia—are said to have mutinied at
Breslau.
11th Reserve Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │21 Res. │10 Res. │21 Res. │10 Res. │23. │10 Res.
│ │11 Res. │ │11 Res. │ │22.
│23. │22. │23. │22. │ │156.
│ │156. │ │156. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │3 Res. Hus. Rgt. (3│ │4 Res. Hus. Rgt.
│ Sqns.). │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │11 Res. F. A. Rgt. │11 Res. F. A. Rgt. │11 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (6 Btries.). │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.
Liaisons. │ Btn. No. 6. │ Btn. No. 6. │ Btn. No. 6.
│ │11 Res. Pont. Engs.│211 T. M. Co.
│ │11 Res. Tel. Detch.│11 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │11 Res. Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │95 Anti-Aircraft
│ │ │ Section.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │23. │10 Res. │23. │22.
│ │22. │ │156.
│ │156. │ │10 Res.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 4 Res. Hus. │1 Sqn. 4 Res. Hus.
│ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │(s) Art. Command: │11 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ 11 Res. F. A. Rgt.│1 Abt. 5 Res. Ft.
│ (9 Btries.). │ A. Rgt.
│ │748 Light Am. Col.
│ │1242 Light Am. Col.
│ │1296 Light Am. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(311) Pion. Btn.: │311 Pion Btn.
Liaisons. │ │
│ 4 Co. 6 Pions. │4 Co. 6 Pions.
│ 2 Res. Co. 25 │2 Res. Co. 25
│ Pion. Btn. │ Pions.
│ 211 T. M. Co. │211 T. M. Co.
│ 4 Heavy Field │39 Searchlight
│ Searchlight │ Section.
│ Section. │
│ 411 Tel. Detch. │411 Signal Command:
│ │117 Wireless Detch.
│ │411 Tel. Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │506 Ambulance Co. │506 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│29 Res. Field │29 Res. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│32 Res. Field │32 Res. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│411 Vet. Hospital. │411 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(Sixth District-Silesia.).
1914.
FRANCE.
1. This division, with the 12th Reserve Division, formed the 6th Reserve
Corps.
LORRAINE-MEUSE.
2. At the beginning of the war it belonged to the 5th Army (Prussian
Crown Prince). Fought at Arrancy from August 22 to 25; crossed the Meuse
the 21st of September. Fought in the region of Cierges September 2;
advanced nearly to Triaucourt September 9 and retreated through the east
of the Argonne near Montfaucon September 11 to 17.
3. At the end of September it established itself at the eastern edge of
the Argonne (Varennes-Malancourt wood). It occupied this region until
the Verdun offensive in February, 1916.
1915.
1. January to December, 1915, the division held the sector of Malancourt
wood, south of Montfaucon, in Argonne. In April the 11th Reserve
Infantry was transferred to form the 117th Division.
1916.
VERDUN.
1. In February, 1916, when the battle of Verdun commenced, the division
was still in its sector on the left bank of the Meuse.
2. In March it fought near Bethencourt. It took this village April 9.
Relieved about May 15 after suffering very heavy losses (68 per cent of
its infantry).
3. Sent to rest and reorganized with replacements from the 1916 class.
SOMME.
4. It was at first army reserve in the region of Cambrai at the
beginning of June. Then a hurry call was sent for the division June 27
and it went into the battle of the Somme.
5. July 2 to 3 it relieved some units of the 12th Division and 10th
Bavarian Division on the front Hardecourt to the Somme and suffered
enormous losses from July 2 to 9.
6. Received replacements July 10 and suffered again heavily between the
10th and 20th in the same region. It was withdrawn from the Somme front
about July 24.
FLANDERS.
7. Reconstituted again with replacements from the depots of the 12th
Army Corps and sent at the end of July and beginning of August to the
east of Armentieres, south of the Lys, and held this sector until
September 20 to 27.
SOMME.
8. At the end of September the division returned to the Somme, between
the Somme and Barleux. It opposed the attack of the French October 18 to
19 in the sector of Biaches.
9. The division was relieved from the Somme area at the beginning of
November.
ARTOIS.
10. Sent to Artois and went into line at the beginning of December in
the sector of Lens, between Loos and Lievin.
1917.
1. About March 24 to 25, 1917, the division was withdrawn from the
Artois front.
2. In line for six weeks between Cambrai and St. Quentin, in the sector
Bellicourt-Bellenglise, from the end of March to May 10. Returned about
May 14 to 15 to the region of Lens, where it stayed until August 20.
(Attack of the Canadians on its right flank Aug. 15.)
ARTOIS-FLANDERS.
3. At rest in the vicinity of St. Amand (Artois) at the end of August
and beginning of September. Held the front south of Lens (sector Frenoy-
Acheville) September 9. In November it was sent to Flanders near
Passchendaele, where it alternated with the 12th Reserve Division until
January, 1918. At rest from the middle of January and went back into
line February 24 south of the forest of Houthulst.
RECRUITING.
Silesia. Drafts from other districts—for example, the fourth—to
counterbalance the Polish element.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
At the present time (February, 1918) it is difficult to form a precise
opinion of the fighting qualities of this division, as it has not been
seriously engaged since the battle of the Somme. In the sector of Lens
and Frenoy the heavy losses which it suffered from gas have no doubt
caused a certain weakening of the morale. (One company of the 156th
Infantry was reduced to 24 men.)
In Flanders the division held a difficult sector, but arrived at a time
when active operations were coming to an end. The nature of the ground
has been the main cause of its losses. (Information from the British,
Feb. 9, 1918.)
1918.
PASSCHENDAELE.
1. The division remained in line south of Passchendaele until January
16, when it was relieved by the 31st Division. It then moved to the
Oostroosebeke area, where it underwent a course of training in open
warfare.
YPRES.
2. February 24 the division relieved the 199th Division astride the
Ypres-Staden railway (northeast of Ypres).
ARMENTIERES.
3. It was relieved about the 18th of March by the extension of front of
the neighboring divisions, and one regiment was identified by prisoners
as having reenforced the front south of Villers-Carbonnel (southwest of
Peronne). This regiment was relieved March 26 and went to join the
remainder of the division which was resting in the Turcoing area. April
9 the division reenforced the front in the Croix du Bac sector (north of
the La Bassee Canal). It was withdrawn about the 16th, after losing
heavily, and went to rest in the vicinity of Laventie.
4. April 28 it relieved the 81st Reserve Division southwest of Meteren.
It was withdrawn about the 6th of May, going to be reconstituted in the
area southeast of Bailleul.
5. It relieved the 12th Division southwest of Meteren during the night
of May 18–19, remaining in line until June 7, when it was withdrawn to
rest in the Courtrai area.
6. During the night of June 22–23 the division relieved the 216th
Division in the Locre sector (west of Kemmel). Here it fought until a
day or two before the armistice, when it seems to have been withdrawn.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 11th Reserve is rated as a second-class division. It has fought a
great deal during 1918, especially since June, and has lost heavily. Its
record has not been brilliant.
11th Landwehr Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │33 Ldw. │75 Ldw. │33 Ldw. │75 Ldw.
│ │76 Ldw. │ │76 Ldw.
│70 Mixed Ldw. │5 Ldw. │70 Mixed Ldw. │5 Ldw.
│ │18 Ldw. │ │18 Ldw.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │92 Ldw. Cav. Rgt. │92 Ldw. Cav. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │98 F. A. Rgt. │98 F. A. Rgt.
│ │910 Btry. F. A.
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 and 2 Ldw. Pion. Cos. (3 C.
Liaisons. │ │ Dist.).
│ │311 T. M. Co.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd Units. │ │11 Ldw. Div. Cyclist Co.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │33 Ldw. │18 Ldw. │70 Ldw. │18 Ldw.
│ │75 Ldw. │ │75 Ldw.
│ │76 Ldw. │ │424.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 11 Dragoon Rgt. (?). │1 Sqn. 11 Drag. Rgt.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │131 Art. Command: │98 F. A. Rgt.
│ 98 F. A. Rgt. │1018 Light Am. Col.
│ 910 Btry. F. A. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(411) Pion. Btn.: │4 Landst. Co. 3 C. Dist.
Liaisons. │ │ Pions.
│ 1 Co. 1 Pions. │359 Searchlight Section.
│ 1 Ldw. Co. 3 Pions. │79 Searchlight Section.
│ 311 T. M. Co. │511 Signal Command:
│ 353 Searchlight Section. │ 511 Tel. Detch.
│ 272 Searchlight Section. │
│ 511 Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │217 Sanitary Co. │217 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│10 Ldw. Field Hospital. │105 Field Hospital.
│17 Ldw. Field Hospital. │150 Field Hospital.
│ │211 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd Units. │11 Ldw. Div. Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │70 Ldw. Brig.: │
│ (424 Inf. & Consbruch Rgts. │
│ “1 and 2 Allenstein.”) │
│ (20 C. Dist. 1 and 2 Btns. │
│ Landst.). │
│ 1 Lotzen Landst. Btn. (20 C.│
│ Dist. Btn. No. 4). │
│ Neustadt Landst. Btn. (17 C.│
│ Dist. Landst. Btn. No. 9). │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
HISTORY.
(18th Landwehr: Twentieth District—Eastern part of West Prussia. 75th
Landwehr and 76th Landwehr: Ninth District—Schleswig—Holstein and
Mecklemburg.)
1914.
EAST PRUSSIA-POLAND.
1. This division is the former Von Einem Division, which, with the
Jacobi Division (former 10th Landwehr Division), formed the 1st Landwehr
Corps on the Eastern Front in 1914–15. It took part in the battle of
Tannenberg in August and fought near Lyck in October, 1914.
2. From November to December the 1st Landwehr Corps held the defiles of
the Masurian Lakes, the 33d and 70th Landwehr Brigades being in the
region of Angerburg and Loetzen.
1915.
1. In February, 1915, the 1st Landwehr Corps was identified between
Mariampol and Suwalki.
2. From March to August the Von Einem Division, which became the 11th
Landwehr Division, was in line before the fortress of Ossowiec.
VICHNEV.
3. The offensive against the Russians brought it to the railroad
Molodetchno-Lida, near Vichnev, in September. It established its
positions there and remained more than two years, from September, 1915,
to the beginning of 1918.
1916.
1. Vichnev-Krevo sector.
2. Toward the end of 1916 the 424th Infantry was assigned to the 11th
Landwehr Division, which had given its 5th Landwehr to the 218th
Division in October.
1917.
1. Vichnev-Krevo sector.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
On the Russian front since the beginning of the war. Mediocre quality.
1918.
UKRAINE.
1. The 11th Landwehr Division, which was still in line south of Krevo in
January, 1918, marched to the east in February. On April 30 it was
identified in the Ukraine between Kiev and Koursk. About the middle of
May it was in the Soumy region. A man of the 75th Landwehr Regiment
wrote on the 16th of June: “I am still at Kiev, but I tell you one
thing, it is much worse here than in the trenches, for there one has the
enemy in front, while here it is just the opposite. The people are so
badly disposed toward us they would eat us alive if they were able, but
they can not.”
RUSSIA.
2. The middle of July the division was identified south of Moscow.
During all this time men were taken from the division and sent as
replacements to the Western Front.
3. Early in November elements of the division were identified along the
Danube.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as fourth class.
11th Bavarian Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │21 Bav. │3 Bav. │21 Bav. │3 Bav.
│ │22 Bav. │ │22 Bav.
│ │13 Bav. Res. │ │13 Bav. Res.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │ │4 Sqn. 7 Bav. Light Cav. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │21 Bav. F. A. Rgt. │21 Bav. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│19 Bav. Pion. Co. │19 Bav. Pion. Co.
Liaisons. │ │
│21 Bav. Pion. Co. │21 Bav. Pion. Co.
│ │11 Bav. T. M. Co.
│ │11 Bav. Pont. Engs.
│ │11 Bav. Tel. Detch.
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd Units. │ │11 Bav. Cyclist Co.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────