sent a short time afterwards to the area north of Rheims, from which
place it was transferred, at the time of the race to the sea, to Lille,
with the entire 7th Army Corps (at the beginning of October).
ARTOIS.
3. Beginning with November, 1914, it occupied different sectors around
Lille, La Bassée, and Lens until the spring of 1916.
1915.
ARTOIS.
1. The losses of the 14th Division were not very important during the
first two years of the war. However, in March, 1915, and in June, 1915,
it underwent two strong British attacks at Neuve Chapelle and Festubert,
which inflicted heavy losses upon it, following which it had to be
reenforced. From March 7 to March 12 the 3d Battalion of the 16th
Infantry Regiment had no less than 589 casualties, 16 of whom were
officers (official list of casualties).
1916.
1. The 14th Division was relieved at the end of 1916 from the Artois
sector and, after a long period of rest near Tournai, was transferred to
the Verdun area.
VERDUN.
2. In June and July it occupied the Mort Homme sector.
3. At the end of July it crossed over to the right bank of the Meuse and
held the sector of Thiaumont until August 25, where it suffered heavily.
4. It then returned to the left bank of the Meuse (Cumieres) after a
short rest. It was again sent to the rear area about the middle of
October.
5. When the French attack of October 24 broke out the 14th Division went
into action north of Douaumont on the 27th.
6. On December 16 it suffered the shock of the French offensive and had
to be retired at the end of the month, very much weakened (65 per cent
casualties).
1917.
1. After a month behind the Verdun front the 14th Division once more
took over its former sector at the beginning of February, 1917, on the
left bank of the Meuse, north of Chattancourt (Cumieres, Mort Homme).
2. Relieved between April 14 and 20, it entrained between the 21st and
the 25th at Sivry sur Meuse and Vilosnes and was transferred to the
Aisne.
CHEMIN DES DAMES.
3. After a few days of rest in the Marchais area, at Sissonne Camp, it
was brought back to the front, and on May 5 reenforced the sector
between Ailles and Hurtebise, which was being held by guard divisions
very much weakened by our attacks.
4. From May 7 to 12 it replaced the 1st Guard Division in line (west of
Hurtebise) and then was sent to rest east of Laon. It remained in
reserve, not taking part in any action as an entire division.
5. After a rest in the area northwest of Liesse, it came back into line
in the sector Ailles-Hurtebise (June 20, 21) and there, on the 25th,
underwent the French attack. It lost the Cave of the Dragon; the 57th
Infantry Regiment lost 191 prisoners.
6. On July 26 the 14th Division attacked between Hurtebise and La
Bovelle. Its efforts to regain the positions lost were futile. On Aug. 1
the 1st Battalion of the 56th Infantry Regiment was commanded by a first
lieutenant (document).
7. At the end of July, very much weakened by its losses, it was sent to
rest in the Vervins area and reconstituted (principally by men of the
1918 class from the Bevelloo Camp). Between December 21, 1916, and
August, 1917, no less than 326 men came as replacements to the 9th
Company of the 56th Infantry Regiment.
8. On September 17 the 14th Division came back into line in the Laffaux
area, underwent our attacks on October 23, suffered heavy losses from
our preparation fire, and left to the French the greater part of its
artillery and numerous prisoners (1,763 men and 43 officers).
9. An eye witness reckons the number of infantrymen left after the
battle at not more than 1,400 (letter). It was filled up with returned
wounded, men borrowed from Landsturm battalions of the 11th Corps
District and men coming from the Russian front.
10. After being thus reorganized, in the Vervins area, the division was
sent to Haye in the Flirey sector, where it was engaged from the 5th of
November on. It was relieved January 13, 1918.
RECRUITING.
The 14th Division is recruited principally from the Rhine districts of
the 7th Corps District, and it is for this reason that it is called
“Troops from the Lower Rhine” in the German communiques of July 27,
1917.
This region, very populous, suffices for its own recruiting. It is to be
noticed, however, that in the course of the year 1917, in spite of the
growing tendency to emphasize the sectional character of the large
units, the 14th Division received replacement troops from other
districts besides the seventh; in May, men from the 6th Corps District
trained in the fourth (class of 1918); in August, men from the third,
fourth, and eighth (class of 1918); in October, Pomeranians from the 22d
Landwehr Division. The seventh district hardly counts except in the
replacements of October, with convalescents and men from the Westphalian
Landsturm battalions. The heavy losses suffered since December, 1916
would explain, to a certain extent, this falling off in numbers. It may
also be that the morale of an industrial region such as Westphalia had
been sufficiently shattered to make a mixture advisable.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
During the French offensive of December 15, 1916, the 14th Division
behaved very well.
South of Ailles (at the end of June, 1917) it attempted to regain lost
ground with great tenacity.
It put up a strong resistance to the attacks of October 23.
“The 14th Division is a good division. It has just been withdrawn from a
quiet sector to take part in a war of movement. It is a division
destined to attack.” (Jan. 18, 1918—note from the 1st French Army.)
1918.
1. The 14th Division was relieved in the Flirey sector (east of St.
Mihiel) by the 78th Reserve Division during the night of January 13–14.
PICARDY.
2. After having gone through some maneuvers in the region of Mars la
Tour the division entrained at that place (also Chambley) on March 27
and detrained at St. Quentin on the 29th. It remained in support for a
few days and then reenforced the battle front west of Moreuil (northwest
of Montdidier) on April 4. The same day attacked Rouvrel, but could make
no progress. It suffered severely, and was withdrawn on the 11th, very
much exhausted, to rest in the region of Bohain, where it was
reconstituted, and went into intensive training for open warfare.
AISNE.
3. On May 27 the division entrained at Bohain, and detrained to the west
of Laon, where it assembled in the forest of Coucy, and followed the
offensive of the Aisne in the second line. It crossed the Aisne on May
30, and marched via Crécy au Mont to Hautebraye. Its objective was Vic
sur Aisne, but it was completely checked with heavy losses. It was
withdrawn about June 11.
4. On June 14 it relieved the 51st Reserve Division near St. Bandry
(southwest of Soissons). It was badly shattered in the fighting that
followed and was withdrawn about July 2.
5. On July 16 the division reinforced the front near Osly-Courtil (north
of the Aisne—west of Soissons); it was withdrawn about the 26th of
August.
CHAMPAGNE.
6. During the night of September 18–19 the division relieved the 3d
Guard Division southeast of Auberive; it was withdrawn about October 12
and went to rest in the area north of Rethel.
SOLESMES.
7. The division marched by easy stages, and entered line near
Englefontaine (east of Solesmes) during the night of October 25–26. It
was still in line at the time of the signing of the armistice.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The 14th Division is rated as being in the second of four classes.
Despite its two training periods (March and May), it did not distinguish
itself on the offensive, being decidedly checked at Moreuil and
Hautebraye. On the defensive, however, it fought tenaciously; it
suffered heavy losses, the regiments being reduced to three companies.
There is evidence supporting the view that there were not more than
1,800 rifles in the division the end of October.
14th Reserve Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │27 Res. │16 Res. │27 Res. │16 Res. │27 Res. │16 Res.
│ │53 Res. │ │53 Res. │ │53 Res.
│28. │39 Fus. │28. │39 Fus. │ │159.
│ │159. │ │159. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │8 Res. Hus. Rgt. (3│8 Res. Hus. Rgt. │5 Res. Hus. Rgt. (?
│ Sqns.). │ │ Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │14 Res. F. A. Rgt. │14 Res. F. A. Rgt. │14 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (6 Btries.). │ │ (8 Btries.).
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2│1 and 2 Res. Cos. 2
Liaisons. │ Pion. Btn. No. 7.│ Pion. Btn. No. 7.│ Pion. Btn. No. 7.
│ │14 Res. Pont. Engs.│ 282 Pion. Co.
│ │ │
│ │14 Res. Tel. Detch.│ 214 T. M. Co.
│ │ │
│ │ │ 14 Res. Pont.
│ │ │ Engrs.
│ │ │ 14 Res. Tel.
│ │ │ Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │Electric Power
│ │ │ Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │27 Res. │16 Res. │27 Res. │159.
│ │53 Res. │ │16 Res.
│ │159. │ │53 Res.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. Res. Uhlan │1 Sqn. 5 Res. Hus.
│ Rgt. (?). │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │(?) Art. Command: │102 Art. Command:
│ │
│ 14 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 14 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (9 Btries.). │
│ │ 1 Abt. 16 Ft. A.
│ │ Btn. (1, 3, and 4
│ │ Btries.).
│ │ 1169 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1170 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1193 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│314 Pion. Btn.: │314 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Res. Co. 7 │ 1 Res. Co. 7
│ Pions. │ Pions.
│ 2 Res. Co. 7 │ 2 Res. Co. 7
│ Pions. │ Pions.
│ 214 T. M. Co. │ 214 T. M. Co.
│ │
│ 414 Tel. Detch. │ 66 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │414 Signal Command:
│ │ 414 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 150 Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │521 Ambulance Co. │521 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│34 Res. Field │35 Res. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│35 Res. Field │36 Res. Field
│ Hospital. │ Hospital.
│(?) 414 Vet. │414 Vet. Hospital.
│ Hospital. │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transport. │M. T. Col. │713 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │6 Bav. F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │410 Ft. A. Btn.
│ │2 Res. Ft. A. Btn.
│ │19 Res. Ft. A. Btn.
│ │74 Art. Observation
│ │ Section.
│ │23 Sound Ranging
│ │ Section.
│ │49 Balloon Sqn.
│ │265 Reconnaissance
│ │ Flight.
│ │(Elements attached,
│ │ July, 1918; from
│ │ German
│ │ document.).
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(7TH CORPS DISTRICT—WESTPHALIA.)
1914.
BELGIUM.
1. The 14th Reserve Division belongs, like the 13th Reserve Division, to
the 7th Reserve Corps. It was formed from the Reserve Brigade at the
Senne Camp and from one brigade, surplus, of the 14th active division
(28th Brigade). One regiment of this brigade, the 39th Fusiliers, from
Dusseldorf, appeared in front of Liege on August 8, while the rest of
the division was being assembled at Dueren.
MAUBEUGE.
2. Entering into Belgium by way of Verviers, on August 16, the 14th
Reserve Division then formed a part of the 2d German Army. It was in
front of Namur on August 21, with the reserve corps of the Guard and the
11th Corps. After Namur was taken it went to invest Maubeuge with the
13th Division.
AISNE.
3. Set free on September 7 by the fall of this place, it left on the
10th to strengthen the Aisne front. About the 13th of September it
occupied the heights around Cerny-en-Laonnois.
1915.
AISNE.
1. The division held the sector between Cerny and Craonne (north of
Paissy) until the beginning of November, 1915. In March it gave the 39th
Fusiliers to the 50th Division, a new formation.
2. About November 2 it was transferred to the Charleroi area where it
rested and had further training.
3. At the end of December it was sent north of Verdun, near Romagne sous
les Cotes.
1916.
VERDUN.
1. In January and until February 20, 1916, it was employed in works
preparatory to the attack (Damvillers area).
2. On February 23 it was in line on the right bank of the Meuse. It took
part, from the very beginning, in the German offensive against Verdun,
attacked Samogneux, Poivre Hill, and the Hill of Talou and
Vacherauville. (On the 3d of April, the 11th Company of the 16th Reserve
Infantry Regiment had already received more than 118 men as
replacements. On May 14, at least 153 had been sent to the 8th Company
of the 53d Infantry Reserve Regiment.)
3. Until the end of December the 14th Reserve Division occupied this
sector (of the Meuse (Champneuville) at Poivre Hill). On December 15, it
underwent the French counteroffensive, to the west of Douaumont, which
caused it to suffer very heavy losses. Then it took over the sector of
Hill 344 for one week.
4. The division was relieved from December 22–25, concentrated in the
Damvillers area and transferred to Champagne where it was reorganized.
1917.
CHAMPAGNE.
1. On January 1, 1917, it went into line north of Prunay and remained in
this sector (quiet) until October 22–25.
2. In May the division sent some of its elements as reenforcements to
units attacked at Cornillet and at Monthaut.
FORET DE COUCY.
3. It entrained on October 26 at Chatelet and was transferred to the
area of Cerny-en-Laonnois. On the 28th it was interpolated between two
divisions (the 10th Division and the 27th Division) on the front
Bassoles-Fresnes, in the upper Coucy wood, which it occupied until the
middle of February, 1918.
RECRUITING.
The 14th Reserve Division is recruited from Westphalia. As it suffered
very little in 1917, the division probably did not receive in the course
of that year the heterogeneous replacements which were sent—perhaps
intentionally—to the other Westphalian divisions.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 14th Reserve Division did not participate in any important action in
the course of the year 1917. It was thoroughly reorganized during its
long stay in Champagne. It is composed for the most part of young men
(20 to 30 years of age) and has suffered but few losses (a slight
proportion of the 1918 class).
Its valor has not been put to any serious test since Verdun. It appears
capable of serious effort.
1918.
LAON.
1. The division was withdrawn from line in the St. Gobain region and
went to rest in the neighborhood of Laon. It was trained in open warfare
during the weeks that followed.
2. On March 16 some equipment belonging to the 53d Reserve Regiment was
found west of Laon, near Champs, but it is unlikely that the division
was in line there; it was not identified in any other way. It was
identified in line in that region, however, on the 6th of April. It was
withdrawn on May 29.
AISNE.
3. The division went immediately to the Aisne battle front, where it was
identified by prisoners in the Vierzy sector (south of Soissons) on May
31. It was withdrawn about the 10th of June and rested for a month in
the region of Fere en Tardenois.
4. On July 8 it relieved the 47th Reserve Division near Chavigny (south
of Soissons). The 47th Reserve Division relieved part of the 14th
Reserve Division on the 12th, and the 14th Reserve seems to have come
back in its entirety on the 16th. During this fighting, the division
lost more than 1,500 prisoners. It was withdrawn on July 20, and went to
rest and refit in the neighborhood of Mulhouse.
NESLE.
5. The division entrained on the 22d of August at Birnsweiler and
traveled via Saarbruecken-Trier-Herbesthal-Liége-Namur-Charleroi-Condé,
detraining at Tincourt the night of August 23–24. On the 26th it
reinforced the front near Thilloy (southwest of Nesle). It was withdrawn
on September 9, after losing some 1,300 prisoners, and went to rest in
Alsace in the neighborhood of Oltingen.
CHAMPAGNE.
6. On October 9, it reinforced the front near Orfeuil (southwest of
Vouziers).
7. On October 28, the division was moved eastward to Boult, so as to
help to hinder the American advance. It was still in line on November
11.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
After the division’s participation in the battle of the Aisne, Lieut.
Gen. Loeb, its commander, was awarded the order Pour le Mérite. Again,
the German communiqué of September 2 spoke highly of the fighting of the
56th Reserve Regiment. A captured regimental order mentions the fact
that there had been many cases of the grippe. The division suffered such
severe losses that most of the men from the 47th Reserve Division,
dissolved in July, were sent to it. Nevertheless, the battalions were
reduced to three companies in August. Despite its subsequent heavy
losses (the 159th Regiment was reduced to 600 men, and the other
regiment to about the same size), the division is still considered as
being first class.
14th Landwehr Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │21 Ldw. │10 Ldw. │21 Ldw. │10 Ldw.
│ │38 Ldw. │ │38 Ldw.
│ │101 Ldw. │46 Ldw. │101 Ldw.
│ │103 Ldw. │ │103 Ldw.
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │ │93 Cav. Regt.
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │82 F. A. Rgt. (1 Ers. Abt.). │217 F. A. Rgt.
│ │
│ │908 F. A. Btry.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Ers. Co. 23 Pions.
Liaisons. │ │
│ │314 T. M. Co.
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │ │
Veterinary.│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │ │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │ │155 Cyclist Co.
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │10 Landst. Inf. Rgt.
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
─────────────┬─────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────┼──────────────┬──────────────
│ Brigade. │ Regiment. │ Brigade. │ Regiment.
─────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────
Infantry. │21 Ldw. │10 Ldw. │ │337 (2 Btn.).
│ │38 Ldw. │ │
│ │346. │ │
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────┼──────────────┴──────────────
Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 6 Cuirassier Rgt. │1 Sqn. 17 Uhlan Rgt.
│2 Sqn. 93 Cav. Rgt. │2 Sqn. 17 Uhlan Rgt.
│1 Body Hus. Rgt. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Artillery. │Art. Command: │253 Ldw. F. A. Rgt. (3d Btry.
│ │ 1st Abt.)
│ 217 F. A. Rgt. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Engineers and│(414) Pion. Btn.: │272 Searchlight Section.
Liaisons. │ │
│ 2 Ldw. Co. 3 C. Dist. Pions.│514 Tel. Detch.
│ 1 Ers. Co. 23 Pions. │
│ 314 T. M. Co. │
│ 338 Searchlight Section. │
│ 514 Tel. Detch. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Medical and │218 Ambulance Co. │257 Field Hospital.
Veterinary.│ │
│143 Field Hospital. │167 Field Hospital.
│257 Field Hospital. │
│170 Vet. Hospital. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Transports. │473 M. T. Col. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Odd units. │155 Cyclist Co. │
─────────────┼─────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────
Attached. │ │
─────────────┴─────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────
HISTORY.
(346th Infantry Regiment: 5th Corps District—Posen. 10th and 38th
Landwehr Regiments: 6th Corps District—Silesia.)
1915.
RUSSIA-POLAND.
1. The 14th Landwehr Division appeared in Poland about the middle of
July, 1915, in the Sierpec area.
It appeared to be made up at this time of the 21st Mixed Brigade of
Landwehr (10th and 38th Landwehr Regiments, taken from the Breslau
Corps), elements of the Graudenz Corps, the 46th Landwehr Brigade (Pfeil
Brigade—101st and 103d Landwehr Regiments). At all events, the 14th
Landwehr Division does not appear to have received its complete
coherence until the stabilization of the front which followed the summer
offensive against the Russians.
SMORGONI.
2. The division then took position in the Smorgoni sector (September).
It remained there until February, 1918.
1916.
1. In 1916 the division remained in the Smorgoni sector.
1917.
1. In 1917 the division remained in the Smorgoni sector.
2. About the month of April, 1917, the 101st and 103d Landwehr Regiments
(Saxon) were taken from the 14th Landwehr Division and assigned to the
46th Landwehr Division, a new formation on the Eastern Front. They were
replaced in the 14th Landwehr Division by the 346th Regiment, which
formerly belonged to the 87th Division.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The division is of mediocre value.
1918.
MINSK.
1. At the beginning of 1918 the 14th Landwehr Division was still on the
Smorgoni front, which it left about the middle of February to march
farther toward the east. “We are advancing right into Russia,” wrote a
man of the 38th Landwehr Regiment on March 7. About the middle of March
the division went into cantonment in the vicinity of Orcha and Kochanovo
on the Minsk-Smolensk Railroad. It was still there at the end of April.
2. Sent to France during May, the 14th Landwehr Division arrived in
Alsace with only two regiments, the 10th and 38th Landwehr Regiments.
The division seems to have been dissolved soon afterwards, the 10th
Landwehr seeming to be attached to the 301st Division and the 38th
Landwehr to the 4th Cavalry Division.
3. The latter part of June the division was reconstituted on the Russian
front after the departure of these two regiments for the West, with the
following units: 103d Landwehr (from the 46th Landwehr Division), 343d
Ersatz (from the 87th Division), and the 3d Landsturm (14th Landwehr
Division). On the 30th of July the division was identified in the Orcha
region. Late in September the division was identified in the same
region.
VALUE.
The division was rated as fourth class.
14th Bavarian Division.
COMPOSITION.