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

│ 1915 │ 1916

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

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

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

Infantry. │182 Ldw. │380 │182 Ldw. │380.

│ │ (Kurhatowski│ │

│ │ Rgt.). │ │

│ │381 (Nussbaum │ │381.

│ │ Rgt.). │ │

│ │23 Landst. │ │23 Landst.

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

Cavalry. │ │1 Landst. Sqn. (1 C. Dist.).

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

Artillery. │ │235 F. A. Rgt.

│ │

Engineers and│ │

Liaisons. │ │

│ │

Medical and │ │

Veterinary.│ │

│ │

Transports. │ │

Attached. │2d Cyclist Co. 1 Jag. Btn. │2 Cyclist Co. 1 Jag. Btn.

│ │16 Cav. Brig. (7 and 8 Horse

│ │ Jag. and 5 Res. Drag.

│ │ Rgts.).

│ │9 C. Dist. Landst. Inf. Btn.

│ │ No. 13.

│ │

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

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

│ 1917 │ 1918[13]

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

Infantry. │182 Ldw. │380. │182 Ldw. │330.

│ │ │ │

│ │381. │ │380.

│ │ │ │

│ │23 Landst. │ │23 Landst.

Cavalry. │1 Landst. Sqn. (1 C. Dist.). │

Artillery. │Art. Command: │

│ 235 F. A. Rgt. │

│ 828 F. A. Btry. │

Engineers and│(417) Pion. Btn.: │87 Searchlight Section.

Liaisons. │ │

│ 2 Ers. Co. 23 Pion. │517 Signal Command:

│ 317 T. M. Co. │517 Tel. Detch.

│ 182 Tel. Detch. │

Medical and │206 Ambulance Co. │206 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │

│152 Field Hospital. │171 Field Hospital.

│206 Field Hospital. │

│Vet. Hospital. │

Transports. │M. T. Col. │

Attached. │2 Cyclist Co. 1 Jag. Btn. │

│158 Cyclist Co. 91 Cav. Rgt. │

│ │

│7 C. Dist. Landst. Inf. Btn. │

│ No. 50. │

│9 C. Dist. Landst. Inf. Btn. │

│ No. 13. │

Footnote 13:

The elements below are those listed under the 700th Postal Sector.

Other elements belonging to the 17th Landwehr Division, but in other

sectors, are listed as attached to whatever divisions may hold those

sectors.

HISTORY.

(380th Infantry Regiment: 1st and 17th Corps Districts. 381st Infantry

Regiment: 12th and 5th Corps Districts.)

1915.

1. The 17th Landwehr Division, formed on the Eastern Front in the Niémen

Army, with the elements of the former Esebeck Brigade, appeared about

the month of December, 1915.

RUSSIA.

2. Before forming a part of the 17th Landwehr Division the Esebeck

Brigade took part in the offensive against the Russians north of Kovno

(July-August, 1915), was east of Vilna about the end of September, and

took up its position west of Kosiany (northwest of Postavy) in October.

POSTAVY.

3. The 17th Landwehr Division, being formed in this sector by the

addition of the 23d Landsturm Regiment to the Esebeck Brigade, remained

in line in the area of Vidzy-Postavy (Tveretch), from the end of 1915 to

the beginning of 1918.

1916.

1. The Division remained in the Tveretch sector.

1917.

1. The Division remained in the Tveretch sector.

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The division is of mediocre value.

1918.

1. The 17th Landwehr Division was identified in the Tveretch region

toward the end of January.

2. About the middle of March it advanced into Russia and was identified

in the Polotsk-Vitebsk region in March, April, and June.

3. The division was identified on the Don on September 26.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The division was rated as fourth class.

18th Division.

COMPOSITION.

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

│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916

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

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

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

Infantry. │35. │84. │35. │84. │36. │31.

│ │86 Fus. │ │86 Fus. │ │85.

│36. │31. │36. │31. │ │86 Fus.

│ │85. │ │85. │ │

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

Cavalry. │16 Dragoon Rgt. (3 │ │16 Dragoon Rgt. (3

│ Sqns.). │ │ Sqns.).

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

Artillery. │18 Brig.: │18 Brig.: │18 Brig.:

│ 9 F. A. Rgt. │ 9 F. A. Rgt. │ 9 F. A. Rgt.

│ 45 F. A. Rgt. │ 45 F. A. Rgt. │ 45 F. A. Rgt.

│ │ │

Engineers and│ │1 Pion. Btn. No. 9:│1 Pion. Btn. No. 9:

Liaisons. │ │ │

│ │ Field Co. 9 Pions.│ 2 Co. 9 Pions.

│ │ 18 Pont. Engs. │ 18 T. M. Co.

│ │ 18 Tel. Detch. │ 18 Tel. Detch.

│ │ │ 18 Pont. Engs.

│ │ │

Medical and │ │ │

Veterinary.│ │ │

│ │ │

Transports. │ │ │

Attached. │ │ │57 Anti-Aircraft

│ │ │ Section.

│ │ │

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

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

│ 1917 │ 1918

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

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

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

Infantry. │36. │31. │36 │31.

│ │85. │ │85.

│ │86 Fus. │ │86.

│ │ │ │

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

Cavalry. │2 Sqn. 16 Drag. │2 Sqn. 16 Drag.

│ Rgt. │ Rgt.

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

Artillery. │18 Art. Command: │18 Art. Command:

│ 45 F. A. Rgt. │ 45 F. A. Rgt.

│ │ 2 Abt. 28 Ft. A.

│ │ Rgt. (4 and 5

│ │ Btries.).

│ │ 749 Light Am. Col.

│ │ 753 Light Am. Col.

│ │ 1,362 Light Am.

│ │ Col.

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

Engineers and│1 Pion. Btn. No. 9:│9 Pion. Btn.:

Liaisons. │ │

│ 2 Co. 9 Pions. │ 2 Co. 9 Pions.

│ 3 Co. 9 Pions. │ 3 Co. 9 Pions.

│ 18 T. M. Co. │ 18 T. M. Co.

│ 18 Tel. Detch. │ 101 Searchlight

│ │ Section.

│ │18 Signal Command:

│ │ 18 Tel. Detch.

│ │ 54 Wireless Detch.

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

Medical and │23 Ambulance Co. │23 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │

│90 Field Hospital. │90 Field Hospital.

│Vet. Hospital. │92 Field Hospital.

│ │18 Vet. Hospital.

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

Transports. │M. T. Col. │551 M. T. Col.

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

Attached. │47 Anti-Aircraft │

│ Section. │

│505 Anti-Aircraft │

│ Btry. │

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

HISTORY.

(9th Corps District—Schleswig—Holstein.)

1914.

BELGIUM-MARNE.

1. At the outbreak of the war the 18th Division (of the 9th Army Corps,

with the 17th Division) formed a part of the 1st Army (Von Kluck).

Entraining at Aix la Chapelle August 8–10, it was before Liege on the

13th, went into action at Tirlemont on the 18th, at Mons on the 23d,

entered France on the 25th, crossed the Marne at Chateau Thierry on

September 3, and took part in the battle of the Marne on September 6 and

7, at Esternay and Courgivaux.

AISNE.

2. After the retreat it took up its position north of the Aisne, where

it remained for more than a year in various parts of the sector.

1915.

In March, 1915, the 84th Infantry Regiment was taken from the 18th

Division to help in the formation of the 54th Division.

AISNE.

1. Until October, 1915, the 18th Division occupied the sectors of the

Aisne. On June 3 the 86th Fusiliers attacked at Quennevieres, suffering

enormous losses. (Between June 18 and July 3 its 5th Company received at

least 115 men as replacements; the 8th Company, 120.)

CHAMPAGNE.

2. From October, 1915, until June, 1916, the 18th Division was in

Champagne (Souain area).

1916.

1. On February 25, 1916, the 31st Infantry Regiment suffered heavy

losses south of St. Marie a Py; its 11th Company was entirely destroyed

or captured.

SOMME.

2. From July to September, 1916, the 18th Division was in action along

the Somme (south of the Somme). At Belloy, on September 4, the 4th

Company of the 86th Fusiliers was destroyed with the exception of 23

men.

ARTOIS.

3. From October until the beginning of December the division was in the

Arras area (east).

4. It left Artois about December 12 to take over a sector along the

Somme (Grandcourt).

1917.

SOMME.

1. About February 18, 1917, the 18th Division was withdrawn from the

front, then sent back into line at the beginning of March, at Puisieux-

Gommecourt (Somme).

ARTOIS.

2. At the end of March it was transferred to Artois, north of the

Scarpe, and went into action at Roeux and Fampoux, from April 10 to

April 23.

3. Relieved at the end of April, it went back into line about May 8, in

the area south of Arras, and from that date until the end of August

occupied sectors in the vicinity of Cambrai (Villers-Plouich,

Havrincourt, Marcoing).

FLANDERS.

4. On August 27 the 18th Division was relieved from the Cambrai front

(Ribecourt-Marcoing sector) and entrained for Flanders, where it was

made an army reserve in the Ruddervoorde (northeast of Thourout). It was

there reorganized with replacements coming from troops of the 9th Corps

District stationed in Russia (taken from the 426th Infantry Regiment,

the 31st Landwehr Regiment, and the 3d Ersatz Reserve Regiment).

5. It went into the sector Mangelaere about September 16 and underwent

the Franco-British attack of October 9, which caused it rather serious

losses.

RUSSIA.

6. The 18th Division was relieved about October 14 and transferred to

Russia, where it made a rather short stay in the Vilna area.

ALSACE.

7. It was back in Upper Alsace about the end of November, in the region

of Mulhouse, at the beginning of February, 1918.

RECRUITING.

The 18th Division is recruited from Schleswig-Holstein (Prussians and

Danes). A certain proportion of Poles from Silesia appeared in the

replacements of 1917 (especially in the 31st Infantry Regiment).

VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.

The 18th Division has always passed as being a good division. However,

in the course of the Franco-British attack of October 9, 1917, none of

its elements carried out the counterattacks described by their leaders;

however, in order to form a correct judgment of this, one must take

account of the intensity of the bombardment, the state of the terrain,

and the weakness of the effectives in line at that moment.

1918.

CAMBRAI.

1. The 18th Division left Alsace, entraining at Mulhouse, about the 12th

of February, and traveled via Thionville and Sedan to Bertry, where it

detrained after a journey of 2½ days. It relieved the 107th Division

near Gonnelieu (south of Cambrai) the 16th. It was withdrawn the

beginning of March, and had a few days’ training near Ligny en

Cambresis.

2. It left here on the 17th and marched to Malincourt, where it stayed

three days.

ST. QUENTIN.

3. It reenforced the battle front near Hargicourt (north of St. Quentin)

on March 21. The next day the division commander was killed. The

division was withdrawn about the 26th.

SOMME.

4. During the night of March 29–30 the division relieved the 1st

Division near Sailly le Sec (south of Albert). Here again heavy losses

were suffered. The division received a draft of 500 men, mostly returned

wounded. It is not clear just what happened during this period and as

late as about the 18th of May, when the division was withdrawn, but it

seems as though its regiments and the regiments of the 50th Reserve

Division and the 199th Division inter-relieved each other.

TOURNAI.

5. The division went to the Tournai region, where it rested, was

completely reconstituted, and trained.

SOISSONS.

6. On August 1 it reenforced the battle front near Launoy (southwest of

Soissons), after having left Tournai July 21 and having detrained at La

Fere the following day. Toward the end of its tour in line (it was

withdrawn during the night of Oct. 12–13), it retreated along the line

Froidmont-Eppes.

OISE.

7. The division was transported by truck and relieved the 22d Reserve

Division near Bernoville (northeast of St. Quentin) on October 15. On

the 17th it withdrew to Grougis, and then to the Sambre Canal. During

these operations it lost more than 500 prisoners. It was withdrawn about

the 28th.

8. On November 4 the division reenforced the front near Hannapes (north

of Guise) and withdrew, with the remainder of the line, through Iron,

the Nouvion region, Boulogne sur Helpe, and Etroeung. It was still in

line on the 11th.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 18th Division is rated as being first class. Since the spring,

however, it has not been used to any great extent where heavy fighting

was in progress, and it may well be it has deteriorated. It is known

that part of the 6th Company of the 86th Regiment refused to go into

line on October 25 until it was threatened with being shot.

18th Reserve Division.

COMPOSITION.

│ 1914 │ 1915 │ 1916

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

Infantry. │53 Res. │84 Res. │35 Res. │84 Res. │35 Res. │31 Res.

│ │86 Res. │ │86 Res. │ │84 Res.

│36 Res. │31 Res. │36 Res. │31 Res. │ │86 Res.

│ │90 Res. │ │90 Res. │ │

│ 9 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 9 Res. Jag. Btn. │ 9 Res. Jag. Btn.

Cavalry. │7 Res. Hus. Rgt. (3│7 Res. Hus. Rgt. │7 Res. Hus. Rgt.

│ Sqns.). │ │

Artillery. │18 Res. F. A. Rgt. │18 Res. F. A. Rgt. │18 Res. F. A. Rgt.

│ (6 Btries.). │ (8 Btries.). │ (10 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. 9.│ Pion. Btn. No. 9.│ Pion. Btn. No. 9.

│ │18 Res. Pont. Engs.│218 T. M. Co.

│ │ │

│ │18 Res. Tel. Detch.│18 Res. Pont. Engs.

│ │ │

│ │ │18 Res. Tel. Detch.

│ │ │

Medical and │ │ │

Veterinary.│ │ │

│ │ │

Transports. │ │ │

Attached. │ │ │95 Labor Btn. Anti-

│ │ │ Aircraft Section.

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

│ 1917 │ 1918

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

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

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

Infantry. │35 Res. │31 Res. │35 Res. │31 Res.

│ │84 Res. │ │84 Res.

│ │86 Res. │ │86 Res.

│ │ │ │

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

Cavalry. │3 Sqn. 6 Res. Hus. │2 Sqn. 16 Hus. Rgt.

│ Rgt. │

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

Artillery. │112 Art. Command: │112 Art. Command:

│ │

│ 18 Res. F. A. Rgt.│ 18 Res. F. A. Rgt.

│ │ 126 Ft. A. Btn.

│ │ 757 Light Am. Col.

│ │ 1250 Light Am.

│ │ Col.

│ │ 1304 Light Am.

│ │ Col.

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

Engineers and│(318) Pion. Btn.: │318 Pion. Btn.:

Liaisons. │ │

│ 1 Res. Co. 9 │ 1 Co. 9 Res.

│ Pions. │ Pions.

│ 2 Res. Co. 9 │ 2 Co. 9 Res.

│ Pions. │ Pions.

│ 218 T. M. Co. │ 218 T. M. Co.

│ 9 Res. Searchlight│ 48 Searchlight

│ Section. │ Section.

│ 418 Tel. Detch. │418 Signal Command:

│ │ 418 Tel. Detch.

│ │ 115 Wireless

│ │ Detch.

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

Medical and │513 Ambulance Co. │513 Ambulance Co.

Veterinary.│ │

│400 Field Hospital.│400 Field Hospital.

│Vet. Hospital. │44 Res. Field

│ │ Hospital.

│ │418 Vet. Hospital.

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

Transports. │M. T. Col. │717 M. T. Col.

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

Attached. │ │

│ │

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

HISTORY.

(9th Corps District—Schleswig—Holstein and Mecklenburg.)

1914.

1. The 18th Reserve Division formed the 9th Reserve Corps, with the 17th

Reserve Division.

BELGIUM.

2. From the outbreak of the war until August 22, 1914, the 18th Reserve

Division was guarding the coast of Schleswig-Holstein. Entraining about

this time, it went into Belgium, where it advanced rapidly. After taking

and sacking Louvain (Aug. 25) it occupied Hamme (Sept. 1), Termonde

(Sept. 4).

OISE.

3. On the 9th it was hastily transferred by way of Tournai and

Valenciennes to the Oise area. Entraining on the 13th at Chauny, it

reenforced the front south of Noyon and went into action between

Carlepont and Lassigny (Sept. 15–21).

4. At the beginning of October the 18th Reserve Division was taken to

the valley of the Avre. It fought in the vicinity of Roye (Laucourt,

Oct. 2–3). At the beginning of November the division front extended

between the Avre and Beuvraignes.

LASSIGNY.

5. On November 15 it bore to the south and held the region of the Loges-

Lassigny wood.

1915.

In March, 1915, it gave the 90th Reserve Infantry Regiment to the 54th

Division, a new formation.

1. The 18th Reserve Division occupied the Lassigny area until October,

1915, without any serious engagements. In October it took over elements

of the Hartz Division (6th Army), among others the 3d Battalion of the

31st Infantry Regiment which contained four battalions from May, 1915,

to September, 1916.

ARTOIS.

2. About October 23 the division was sent to Artois (Givenchy), where it

launched several local attacks.

1916.

1. The 18th Reserve Division remained in the Liévin-Givenchy sector

until July, 1916.

SOMME.

2. After a few days at rest, July 13 to July 28, it took part in the

battle of the Somme, north of Pozieres, in several serious attacks.

3. It was reorganized in the Valenciennes area during the second half of

August.

4. At the end of August, it was sent northeast of Lens (Pont a Vendin).

5. At the beginning of October the 18th Reserve Division again went into

action along the Somme, north of Combles, (Morval, Sailly Saillisel). It

suffered heavily in a series of local attacks.

FLANDERS.

6. Withdrawn from the front about October 12–16, the division was

transferred to Belgium. On October 23–25 it went into line north of

Ypres.

1917.

1. The 18th Reserve Division occupied the Ypres salient (Pilkem) until

the end of March, 1917.

ARTOIS.

2. After a short rest at Roulers, the division was concentrated at Vitry

en Artois (Apr. 1). Going into action southeast of Arras (Heninel), it

underwent the British attack (Apr. 9), which caused it heavy losses (500

prisoners).

3. The division left the Artois front about April 15, and after a few

days at rest took over the sector of Cherisy-Guemappe (southeast of

Arras in May).

4. At the beginning of June the 18th Reserve Division was relieved and

sent to rest.

FLANDERS.

5. Transferred to Flanders about June 16, it first remained in reserve

behind the Messines front. On July 3 the division was in action west of

Houthem and suffered severe losses in consequence of local actions and

bombardments.

6. Relieved about August 8, it was at rest in the Cambrai area until

August 16. It then occupied the quiet sector of Queant (west of Cambrai)

until the middle of October.

7. It was sent to Flanders again on October 20, and went into line near

the Ypres-Menin railroad (Oct. 28–29).

RECRUITING.

The 18th Reserve Division is recruited in Schleswig-Holstein.

The Mecklenburgers, according to an order in 1917, had to return to

their national regiment, the 90th Infantry Reserve Regiment, which no

longer belonged to the division. A limited number of men from the 7th

and 10th Corps districts (Westphalia and Hanover) is found.

VALUE 1917—ESTIMATE.

The 18th Reserve Division has the same value as the 17th Reserve

Division. At the end of 1917 it is difficult to form an opinion as to

its combat value. It has not been in any serious action since the battle

of Arras, having arrived in Flanders when the autumn operations were

about at an end. The morale of the division may be considered as

passable. (British Summary of Information, February, 1918.)

1918.

1. The 18th Reserve Division was relieved by the 214th Division in the

Gheluvelt sector on January 6. It went to rest in the vicinity of Menin

and while there was intensively trained in open warfare.

YPRES.

2. On February 18 the division relieved the 214th Division in its former

sector north of Gheluvelt (east of Ypres). It was relieved by the 7th

Reserve Division about March 31.

LA BASSEE.

3. It reinforced the battle front near Locon (northwest of La Bassee) on

April 9, and was withdrawn about the 18th, going to rest in the Sainghin

area (southeast of Lille).

4. On May 14 it relieved the 25th Division west of Locon, and was

relieved by the extension of fronts of the neighboring divisions about

the 18th of June, when it went to rest in the region of Gondecourt (east

of La Bassee).

5. About the 14th of July it relieved the 1st Guard Reserve Division

near Givenchy (north of the La Bassee Canal—west of La Bassee); relieved

September 3, it went to rest in the region north of Denain.

CAMBRAI.

6. On the 29th of September the division reentered the line near

Proville and Rumilly (south of Cambrai), and was still in line when the

armistice was signed. It was thought that it had been withdrawn October

8, again on the 18th, and on the 4th of November, but considering the

speed with which the German withdrawal was executed, the confusion

necessarily incident thereto, and the fact that the division always

turned up a day or two later in the same relative position it had

previously occupied, it seems best to assume that it was continuously in

line.

VALUE—1918 ESTIMATE.

The 18th Reserve is considered a second-class division. It did not

distinguish itself in the Lys offensive, and it is reported that

thereafter it was to be used only as a holding division. At any rate, it

engaged in no other German offensives, and, indeed, no other heavy

fighting, until the beginning of October or sometime after practically

the whole front had become active on account of the combined allied

push.

18th Landwehr Division.

COMPOSITION.

│ 1914–15 │ 1916

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

Infantry. │19 Ldw. │19 Ldw. │20 Ldw. │19 Ldw.

│ │47 Ldw. │ │47 Ldw.

│ │72 Ldw. │28 Ldw. │133 Ldw.

│ │133 Ldw. │ │57 Ldw.

│ │ │ │72 Ldw.

Cavalry. │ │Ers. Sqn. 1 Horse Jag. Rgt.

│ │Ers. Sqn. 1 Uhlan Rgt.

Artillery. │ │5 Ldw. F. A. Rgt.

│ │835 F. A. Btry.

Engineers and│ │2 Res. Co. 1 Pions.

Liaisons. │ │

│ │344 Pion. Co.

│ │166 T. M. Co.

│ │

Medical and │ │

Veterinary.│ │

│ │

Transports. │ │

Odd Units. │ │Cyclist Co.

Attached. │ │43 Labor Btn.

Histories of two hundred and fifty-one divisions of the German army which participated in the war (1914-1918) · 第 30 / 78 段