from September 28 to October 5, with very heavy losses. The division was
out of line for 10 days and then came back on the 15th southwest of
Thourout. The Belgium advance forced it back southeast of Bruges (Oct.
18–19). On the 28th the division was relieved, but was obliged to return
to line on November 3 and fought until the armistice.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as second class. It was engaged largely in
holding defensive but active sectors on the British front in 1918.
17th Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │33. │75. │33. │75. │34. │75.
│ │76. │ │76. │ │89 Gren.
│34. │89 Gren. │34. │89 Gren. │ │90 Fus.
│ │90 Fus. │ │90 Fus. │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │16 Dragoon Rgt. (3 │ │16 Dragoon Rgt. (3
│ Sqns.). │ │ Sqns.).
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │17 Brig.: │17 Brig.: │17 Brig.:
│ 24 F. A. Rgt. │ 24 F. A. Rgt. │ 24 F. A. Rgt.
│ 60 F. A. Rgt. │ 60 F. A. Rgt. │ 60 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 9:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 9:
Liaisons. │ │ │
│ │ Field Co. 9 Pions.│ 1 Co. 9 Pions.
│ │ 17 Tel. Detch. │ 17 T. M. Co.
│ │ 17 Pont. Engs. │ 17 Pont. Engs.
│ │ │ 17 Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │ │ │13 Anti-Aircraft
│ │ │ Sections.
│ │ │33 Balloon Sqn.
│ │ │
│ │ │39 Labor Btn.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │34. │75. │34. │75.
│ │89 Gren. │ │89.
│ │90 Fus. │ │90.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │4 Sqn. 16 Dragoon │4 Sqn. 16 Drag.
│ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │17 Art. Command: │17 Art. Command:
│ 60 F. A. Rgt. │ 60 F. A. Rgt.
│ │ 1 Abt. 24 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt. (2, 3, and 4
│ │ Btries.).
│ │ 940 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1329 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1270 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│126 Pion. Btn.: │126 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 1 Co. 9 Pions. │ 1 Co. 9 Pions.
│ 5 Co. 9 Pions. │ 5 Co. 9 Pions.
│ 17 T. M. Co. │ 17 T. M. Co.
│ 17 Tel. Detch. │ 62 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ │17 Signal Command:
│ │ 17 Tel. Detch.
│ │ 138 Wireless
│ │ Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │22 Ambulance Co. │22 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│84 Field Hospital. │84 Field Hospital.
│89 Field Hospital. │89 Field Hospital.
│17 Vet. Hospital. │17 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │550 M. T. Col. │550 M. T. Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Attached. │52 M. G. S. S. │
│ Detch. │
│13 Anti-Aircraft │
│ Section. │
│ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(9th Corps District—Hanseatic cities and Mecklenburg.)
1914.
Upon mobilization, the 17th Division with the 18th Division formed the
9th Army Corps (Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklemburg). It gave its 81st
Brigade to the 17th Reserve Division (9th Reserve Corps) (new
organization).
BELGIUM.
1. August, 1914, the 17th Division formed a part of the 1st German Army
(Von Kluck). On the 3d of August it sent one of its brigades, the 34th
(Mecklenburg), to Liege, where it was rejoined by its reservists and by
the other brigade, the 33d (Hanseatic), (Aug. 9–13). On August 20 the
division was with the 9th Corps of Louvain. It went into action against
the British troops on the 24th. It went around Maubeuge on the 25th and
passed through Nesle, Roye, Vezaponin (north bank of the Aisne)
September 1.
MARNE.
2. The division took part in the battle of the Marne at Chatillon sur
Morin (Sept. 6), Esternay-Courgivaux (Sept. 7 and 8). It withdrew by way
of Betz, Crépy en Valois Pierrefonds, crossed the Aisne at Rethondes
(Sept. 11), and stopped in the area Carlepont, Nampcel, Audignicourt
(Sept. 13). It went into action on the front Tracy le Mont east of
Moulin sous Touvent (Sept. 16–21).
OISE.
3. In October it took up the position near Bailly (from the Oise to east
of St. Mard) and remained there until the middle of November, 1915. Some
of its elements occupied the right bank of the Oise near Connectancourt
(Oct. 5 to Dec. 25).
4. November 17 it attacked Tracy le Val.
1915.
From January to October, 1915, it held the sector on the left bank of
the Oise, east edge of the St. Mard wood. At the end of March the 76th
Infantry Regiment was withdrawn and transferred to the 111th Division.
1. June 14 to 16 certain elements of the division counterattacked at
Quennevieres.
CHAMPAGNE.
2. Withdrawn from the sector of the Oise (about Oct. 15), the division
was transferred to Champagne. It occupied the front between the road
Souain, Somme Py, and St. Hilaire, St. Souplet. It launched an attack on
December 7.
1916.
1. The division was retained on the Champagne front northwest of Souain
until June, 1916.
2. Relieved in the middle of June, it was sent to rest in the area
southwest of Charleville (second half of June).
SOMME.
It entrained for the Somme between July 2 and 4. Certain elements of the
17th Division appeared in the sector of Biaches la Maisonnette, on July
9 and 10. The entire division was in line between Barleux and Belloy
(July 10 to 25) and suffered heavy losses.
3. The division was withdrawn from the front and reorganized (end of
July to Aug. 15).
4. From August 16 to August 20 to the middle of September it again
occupied the sector of Barleux-Belloy.
ARTOIS.
5. At the beginning of October the division was sent to Artois. It held
the line opposite Arras, between Roclincourt and Bailly, until December
24.
1917.
SOMME.
1. About January 9, 1917, the 17th Division occupied the sector of Py,
south of the Ancre. Local combats in the neighborhood of Grandcourt and
Miraumont (in January and February) caused it serious losses.
2. The division was withdrawn from the Somme front about March 20, at
the time of the German retirement. It rested southwest of Douai (end of
March and beginning of April).
ARTOIS.
3. On April 10 it was sent as a reenforcement to Arras to oppose the
British offensive. It held the sector of Oppy-Gavrelle and suffered a
great deal in the course of counterattacks. It was relieved on April 25.
From March 27 to April 24 the 7th Company of 90th Fusiliers lost 115
men. (British Summary of Information.)
4. After a rest in the Tournai area until May 9 the 17th Division went
into line in the sector of Boursies, Demicourt (west of Cambrai).
5. Relieved from this calm sector on May 28, it was sent to rest in the
Cambrai area until June 9.
FLANDERS.
6. On this date it was transferred to Roulers by way of Valenciennes-
Mons and put on the Ypres front north of Hooge. It was withdrawn three
days before the British attack, on July 27, but suffered heavy losses
from the bombardment.
7. For five weeks, until September 23, the division occupied the calm
sector of Havrincourt (south of the road Bapaume-Cambrai).
8. On September 23 it again entrained for Flanders. Sent by way of
Cambrai to Ledeghem, it went into action in the Polygon wood sector
(northeast of Ypres). On September 26 it counterattacked without success
and with great losses. It only remained in line for two days. In these
engagements the 75th Infantry Regiment lost 30 officers and 1,000 men
(British Summary of Information.)
9. Relieved on September 28 from the Flanders front, the 17th Division
was sent south of Lens on October 17. It was still there on February,
1918.
RECRUITING.
The 17th Division is recruited from the Hanseatic towns and the Duchies
of Mecklenburg. The sectional character was accentuated in June 1917,
when the 89th Grenadiers took from the regiments of the 18th Division
all the inhabitants of Mecklenburg who were in them. (Summary of
Information, June 28.)
However, one must take into account a certain proportion of Poles from
the 6th Corps District, received in the replacements of 1917.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
On July 11, 1916, the following appreciation was written of the 9th Army
Corps:
“The 9th Army Corps gives the impression of a very good corps which
would be a formidable adversary. The intellectual level of officers and
men is appreciably higher than that ordinarily encountered in the German
Army. This fact is due to the recruiting which, in most cases, is done
in Hamburg, Bremen, and Luebeck.”
After the last combats of Flanders (July and September, 1917), the 17th
Division was considered as having its combative force perceptibly
diminished on account of its losses.
In a general manner, the division has given a good account of itself in
the course of its battles.
The Danes, who are numerous in its ranks, fight well and do not appear
to occasion any weakness. (October, 1917.)
1918.
BATTLE OF PICARDY.
1. The division was relieved on the Acheville sector on February 17–18
by the 12th Reserve Division and went to rest near Douai until mid-
March. On March 21 it was engaged near Lagnicourt and Moreuil (southeast
of Arras), north of Vaulx-Vraucourt (22d), at Beliagnies and Lapigines
(24th). The division was relieved on the 25th, after losing 50 per cent
of its effectives. It rested until April 1, when it was reengaged near
Bucquoy until the 10th.
2. The division was relieved by the 5th Bavarian Division, retired to
the Favreuil-Sapignies-Beugnatre area on the 10th, and the next day went
into billets near Cambrai. Later it moved to the Valenciennes area. On
May 24 it left Bouchain and traveled via Marquion to Bapaume, where it
came into line on that evening. While resting the division had undergone
no special training. It is known to have received 1,300 men as a draft
during this period.
3. It was reengaged in the Bucquoy sector from May 24 to June 23, when
it returned to rest near Bouchain until July 17. The division was moved
to Laon on July 24–25 and from there marched to the Vesle front by
stage.
VESLE.
4. About August 1 the division went into line between Bazoches and Mont
Notre Dame. It fell back on the Aisne toward Bourg et Comin from
September 3–4, where it was relieved on September 15–16. The German
communique of August 28 mentioned the 89th Grenadier Regiment for its
conduct against the Americans at Bazoches.
AISNE-AILETTE.
5. The division was again in line on September 18 at Jouy-Aizy sector
(north of Vailly). It retired to the Ailette on the 30th and shifted by
rail to Semide.
CHAMPAGNE.
6. On October 4 it was engaged southeast of Machault (Somme Py road).
The French attack forced it back to east of Attigny, where it was
relieved on the 19th.
7. The division rested five days near Mouzon. It entrained on October 26
and moved to Rozoy, reaching there on the 27–28th.
ARDENNES.
8. It was put into line northwest of Chateau Porcien on the St. Fergeux-
Recouvrance Road on October 28–29th. For its fighting east of Banonge on
the 29th, the 90th Regiment was complimented by the German communique of
the 30th. (558 prisoners were lost by the division on the 29th.) In
November the division was driven back through Seraincourt, Remaucourt,
Chaumont Porcien, Rocquigny, St. Jean aux Bois.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as first class. It was one of the best German
divisions. Its conduct in the March offensive won the Kaiser’s praise.
Until August it was relatively fresh, but after that was engaged almost
constantly in efforts to check the Allied offensive in Champagne. At the
end the division was so reduced in numbers that it could muster but one
or two battalions.
Its morale was excellent until late in the fall, when it was lowered
noticeably. A mutiny and other acts of indiscipline were reported.
17th Reserve Division.
COMPOSITION.
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │81. │162. │81. │162. │81. │162.
│ │163. │ │163. │ │163.
│33 Res. │75 Res. │33 Res. │75 Res. │33 Res. │75 Res.
│ │76 Res. │ │76 Res. │ │76 Res.
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │6 Res. Hus. Rgt. (3│6 Res. Hus. Rgt. │6 Res. Hus. Rgt.
│ Sqns.). │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │17 Res. F. A. Rgt. │17 Res. F. A. Rgt. │17 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (6 Btries.). │ (8 Btries.). │ (10 Btries.).
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.│4 Field Co. 2 Pion.
Liaisons. │ Btn. No. 9. │ Btn. No. 9. │ Btn. No. 9.
│ │17 Res. Pont. Engs.│340 Pion. Co.
│ │17 Res. Tel. Detch.│217 T. M. Co.
│ │ │17 Res. Pont. Engs.
│ │ │
│ │ │17 Res. Tel. Detch.
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │ │ │
Veterinary.│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
│ │ │
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │ │ │
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
─────────────┬───────────────────┬───────────────────
│ 1917 │ 1918
─────────────┼─────────┬─────────┼─────────┬─────────
│Brigade. │Regiment.│Brigade. │Regiment.
─────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────┼─────────
Infantry. │81. │16. │81. │162.
│ │162. │ │163.
│ │76 Res. │ │76 Res.
│ │ │ │
─────────────┼─────────┴─────────┼─────────┴─────────
Cavalry. │1 Sqn. 6 Res. Hus. │1 Sqn. 16 Res. Hus.
│ Rgt. │ Rgt.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Artillery. │110 Art. Command: │110 Art. Command:
│ │
│ 17 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 17 Res. F. A. Rgt.
│ (10 Btries.) │
│ (Nov. 4). │
│ │ 3 Abt. 26 Ft. A.
│ │ Rgt. (7 and 9
│ │ Btries.).
│ │ 703 Light Am. Col.
│ │ 1245 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
│ │ 1299 Light Am.
│ │ Col.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Engineers and│(317) Pion. Btn.: │317 Pion. Btn.:
Liaisons. │ │
│ 4 Co. 9 Pions. │4 Co. 9 Pions.
│ 340 Pion. Co. │340 Pion. Co.
│ 217 T. M. Co. │42 Searchlight
│ │ Section.
│ 255 Searchlight │417 Signal Command:
│ Section. │
│ 417 Tel. Detch. │417 Tel. Detch.
│ │111 Wireless Detch.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Medical and │509 Ambulance Co. │509 Ambulance Co.
Veterinary.│ │
│Field Hospital. │501 Field Hospital.
│Vet. Hospital. │41 Res. Field
│ │ Hospital.
│ │417 Vet. Hospital.
─────────────┼───────────────────┼───────────────────
Transports. │M. T. Col. │716 M. T. Col.
─────────────┴───────────────────┴───────────────────
HISTORY.
(9th Corps District.—Schleswig—Holstein and the Hanseatic cities.)
1914.
1. The 17th Reserve Division formed with the 18th Reserve Division, the
9th Reserve Corps. One of its brigades is a surplus brigade of the 9th
Army Corps (the 81st).
2. During the first part of the month of August, 1914, the 17th Reserve
Division was used to guard the coast of Schleswig-Holstein.
BELGIUM.
3. Entraining on August 23 for Belgium, it was at Louvain on the 25th,
at Brussels on the 30th (until Sept. 3). It reached Termonde on
September 4, and remained outside of Antwerp.
OISE.
4. On September 9, it was transferred in haste to the Valenciennes area
and then sent to the Oise. It detrained on the 13th at Chauny and went
into action on the right bank of the Oise, south of Noyon (Sept. 15 to
20).
5. About October 7 the 17th Reserve Division was sent to the vicinity of
Roye, where it lost heavily.
6. About the middle of November the division occupied the front between
the Avre and Roye. On December 20 it was in line between Ribecourt and
Thiescourt.
1915.
On January 4, 1915, the 75th Reserve Infantry Regiment entrained at
Noyon for Upper Alsace (Hartmannswillerkopf), and did not return to the
division until May.
ROYE (SOMME).
1. On February 6 the division left the banks of the Oise to go back to
the area south of the Avre, between Lassigny and Roye. It remained in
this sector until the month of October.
2. Toward the end of September elements of the division formed a part of
the Hartz Division in Artois (Sick and Balthasar Regiments).
ARTOIS.
3. In October the 17th Reserve Division was withdrawn from the front
south of Roye and sent to Artois, near Lens (Liévin-Givenchy).
1916.
1. The 17th Reserve Division remained in Artois until the battle of the
Somme. In February it launched several attacks.
SOMME.
2. About the beginning of July the 163d Infantry Regiment was sent,
temporarily, to reinforce the 185th Division, engaged along the Somme
near Cantalmaison.
3. The 17th Reserve Division was in line as a whole north of the Somme
about July 25 (Bazentin-Pozières). It remained there until August 9–14.
4. It was sent to rest and to be reorganized near Valenciennes.
5. At the end of August it occupied the sector of Loos-Hulluch (north of
Lens). In September the 75th Reserve Infantry Regiment was sent to the
211th Division.
6. About September 21 the division returned to the Somme (Le Transloy-
Combles), where it lost heavily (losses, 51 per cent).
7. Relieved about October 10 it was transferred to Belgium.
8. From October 23–25 to the end of January, 1917, it was in line
between Het Sas and the Ypres-Roulers railroad.
1917.
1. At the end of January, 1917, the 17th Reserve Division was sent for a
month’s rest near Bruges, and again took over its sector.
ARTOIS.
2. It left the Ypres salient at the end of March and went into line
southeast of Arras. On April 9 it suffered very heavy losses from the
British offensives (2,100 prisoners).
3. On April 12–13 the division was relieved and sent to rest and to be
reorganized.
CAMBRESIS.
4. On April 27 it took over the sector of Havrincourt (southwest of
Cambrai) and occupied it until June 1.
ARTOIS.
5. Transferred to the Arras front, the 17th Reserve Division went back
into line in the sector Guémappe-Monchy le Preux, where it launched
several violent battles during the month of June. At the end of July it
extended its sector toward the north (south of the Scarpe).
6. Relieved at the end of August it went back into line at the beginning
of September southeast of Arras (Vis en Artois). It lost especially
heavy during the gas attacks. (It received, on Oct. 23, 40 men per
company, coming from Hamburg and Beverloo, slightly trained, and on Nov.
10 men taken from the Russian front.) (Summary of Information, Dec. 2.)
7. The 17th Reserve Division left Artois in the middle of November.
FLANDERS.
8. Sent to Flanders the division took over the sector at Becelaere about
November 18. The division was engaged against the British attack of
December 3 and suffered heavy losses. It underwent violent attacks and
left the front in the beginning of January, 1918.
RECRUITING.
The division is recruited in Schleswig-Holstein, the Hanseatic cities,
and adjacent parts of Hanover. Some replacement troops were from
Westphalia, and in September, 1916, men from Brandenburg of the 1917
class.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
During the year 1917 the 17th Reserve Division launched a great number
of terrible attacks on the Arras front and in Flanders.
At Becelaere (Dec., 1917) it gave proof of great stubbornness. The 162d
Infantry Regiment carried out a successful attack in this sector on
December 14. However, a few months before, on June 18, the 163d Infantry
Regiment is said to have refused to advance. (Summary of Information,
June 19.)
Although this division is not one of the best in the German Army and its
morale is mediocre it is capable of offering serious resistance.
1918.
BATTLE OF THE LYS.
1. The northern sector was a fairly quiet front in the winter months and
the division remained in line here until just before the German
offensive on the Lys of April 9. Prior to this attack all of the
division but one battalion of the 76th Reserve Regiment was withdrawn
and sent hurriedly to the vicinity of Messines. It attacked there with
other German divisions on the morning of April 9 under orders to take
Messines by the evening of the 10th and to push ahead as far as
possible. It gained considerable ground at heavy cost. Elements of the
7th Division relieved part of the 17th Reserve Division a few days
later, but the bulk of the division remained in line until about April
22, when it was relieved by the 13th Reserve Division and the 19th
Reserve Division.
2. On April 24 the division arrived in the Maldeghem area for a long
rest. While there the divisional and the brigade commanders were
decorated for their part in the Lys offensive. Death notices published
in the German newspapers disclosed the death of two battalion and many
company commanders on the Lys. While at rest the division went through
courses of training. On June 4 it entrained at Eecloo and moved via Mons
and Marle to Tergnier. At this time the Noyon offensive (June 9) was
being organized. The division marched at night to Boulogne la Grasse
(10th) and went into line on the evening of the 11th near Mery,
relieving the 227th Division.
OISE.
3. The division was in heavy fighting immediately and suffered severely
in the successful French counteroffensive of June 16.
BATTLE OF THE MATZ.
4. The French attack in August threw the division back on Canny sur Matz
and later north of Fresnieres. It passed to second line about August 31,
but was reengaged on September 5 at Esmery-Hallon. It suffered heavy
losses and was taken out on September 9.
5. The division was moved to Lorraine, where it rested a month and
returned to Le Cateau on October 10.
6. The division was engaged at Le Cateau on October 11 and resisted the
British attack until November 3. It fought near Le Cateau (Oct. 18),
Bazuel (21st), Forest (23d), Landrecies (24th), and Bois L’Eveque (Oct.
27). The division received the men of the 265th Reserve Regiment (108th
Division) as a draft in October.
7. The division was out of line from November 3 to the armistice.
VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.
The division was rated as first class. Its effectives were generally
young; 31 per cent belong to the 1919 class and 18 per cent to the 1918
class on October 1. It took a prominent part in the Lys and Noyon
offensives, winning a reputation for its vigorous attacks. Its defensive
work in October around Le Cateau was of a high order.
17th Landwehr Division.
COMPOSITION.